Is there an open period past tonight to object to the roads? (I thought it was said to be 30 days.) If that is the case, what exactly does the board want the objection to look like? The reason for the objection included? Anything else that would be taken into consideration by the board?
We just arrived home from a quick trip and have many people in town coming here for a dinner, so we may not attend tonight.
Please clarify.
Thank you.
Henry & Kerry Zenich
It would have been nice had a board member taken the time to address some of the questions and concerns above, prior to sending out their latest piece of mail. Perhaps they can do that now.
#1) When May 11 became the "final day" to object to the road improvements, where was that notification made that it would be the final day? We have looked through every document and the last couple of Sisters Nugget Newspapers, and are not finding that anywhere. REMINDER: At the meeting on the 11th, two letters of objections were read, and a few of us spoke up about it, for a total of maybe five or so objections. WHEN did you consider those? Within minutes a motion was made to move forward. Was that made prior to the meeting? Had folks known it was the last time to object, might you have received more?
#2) Again, when are the funds due from residents? We had understood at the completion of the project, but that sounded a bit mixed at the last meeting. It sounded like they were to be paid upon the signature of the notice we just received, we think you said within ten days of this date.
#3) We understand that this last figure again is an "estimate". When the FINAL contract is signed, as completed for anything we have ever done, will the "abouts and approximates" become firm figures? If no, why not?
#4) Reading the last correspondence from the board, received via USPS, it sounds like the only objections that will be accepted now would be to object only to the way that the assessments were done. Is this correct? So objections only to them being done by dividing the cost equally amongst all properties, not based on the assessed value of each lot, correct? Looking for clarification of the objections you are now accepting. Again, if giving until noon the day of the meeting, when will the board have time to review and give consideration to those objections? Again, thinking about the lack of time nor conversation given to the four or five objections that were read or spoken at the "Public Meeting" on May 11.
#5) We attended the meeting the other evening. We did not attend the meeting where the three candidates were discussed for the open board seat. Mind you, we have been attending meetings for almost twenty years now. It is unusual to have three people avail themselves to one position. We do not know what was said before with Mrs. Gannon, but to hold that type of decision at a board meeting where all of those seeking the position are not present, seems a bit odd, odd to even be discussed at a meeting. Is that in the rules and regulations of the small district road boards anywhere? We have always heard that folks apply for it by a certain date, and that person (as we have only ever heard of one) is chosen by the board and then elected to the position by Deschutes County. (This was brought up in a discussion on Facebook yesterday.) As far as discussions on Facebook, those should be here now in our opinion, if a board member, as discussed would be addressing them.
#6) At the May 11 meeting and in our letter, we mentioned (and wrote on the sidebar chat) that when the otta seal roads are done, as it certainly sounds like will happen now and soon, we will ask that the Road Board Committee pay for, with our tax funds, and request that Deschutes County does a speed assessment so that we can post signage and have it enforced. Kerry will be glad to call and arrange for this. We do know that they said they do not do speed assessments on gravel or dirt roads, and Otta seal is neither, it is a hard surface. With ours being a neighborhood that has two used ways in and out, we do not feel that we will have cross-traffic or be assessed higher than 20 mph. Committing to having this done, may help some feel better about having the hard surface, as many residents sound to be concerned about the increased speeds on the roads once otta seal is in place.
AGAIN, we want to point out that many who attend the meetings are guilty of speeding and cutting corners. One of the worse offenders is on the Special Committee. We do not need to use names, they know who does and does not keep it at 20 mph, and know who they are.
Thank you for taking the time to address these questions and concerns.
Henry & Kerry Zenich Green RIdge Loop Panoramic
If I understood Nyle's correctly we have 10 days after Tuesday's meeting to object and we should send those via email. But I may have misunderstood. If you read the ORS223.389 statute it states, "The recorder or other person designated by the governing body shall prepare the estimated assessment to the respective lots within the assessment district and file it in the appropriate office of the local government. Notice of the estimated assessment shall be mailed or personally delivered to the owner of each lot proposed to be assessed. The notice shall state the amounts of the estimated assessment proposed on that property and shall fix a date by which time objections shall be filed with the recorder." We have not received an assessment via mail or personal delivery with the amounts, etc., so I'm not sure why we're doing the objection process at this time. Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the statute, which is possible since I'm not a lawyer.
Looking for clarification, please. After attending the meeting, we are even more confused. Annie's reply to us was that the evening of the meeting was the deadline to object to the planned road improvements. #1) Where and when was that said? All we can find is this from the agenda for the May meeting, "OWNERS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED". (Also something was said about a period to object to the way the assessments were determined.) Is this the case? So the four or so objections, are not considered now? #2) When exactly would the money be due? We had believed at the completion of the project, but it sounds like you will want things signed soon and payment soon. #3) Are the figures now FIRM or are they still subject to increase? #4) Is the ability to object now gone? Some folks think that there are still ten days, others 30 days. What is the final answer on that one?
PLEASE clarify in a way that we will understand. We know we are not the only ones who do not understand the terms discussed. PLEASE ANSWER HERE AND NOT IN A PRIVATE EMAIL TO US, AS MANY HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS.
We also wrote in our letter of objection, that when the otta seal is completed since our roads have no major intersections or access, that the board should have Deschutes County do the Speed Assessment so that we can post signs and have speed enforced in Panoramic. Many of the guilty parties are present at almost every meeting. They know who they are. It has been asked by the board in the past, to please keep speeds at 20 mph, which is reasonable.
We also acknowledge the amount of work put into this project. We are not anywhere near land use attorneys and only have our feelings on this issue. If there is anything illegal about the handling of this, which it sounds like you have crossed your T's and dotted your i's, it should not be a problem.
Again, we hope (& pray) this is not the first step in becoming a Homeowner's Association, HOA. That we would object loudly too.
Thank you,
Henry & Kerry Zenich
Green Ridge Loop Panoramic