Ben
Botkin
Lane County

Grace
Chinowsky

Eugene

Lillian
Schrock-Clevenger

Springfield

At Lookout Eugene-Springfield, we dig deeply when warranted and push hard to get vital information to readers and the public. 

Our deep dive into Lane County’s proposed CleanLane recycling facility published last week is a prime example of that kind of journalism. 

Here’s the story behind the story: Before former Lane County counsel Rob Bovett left the county, he warned in a memo of a “looming fiscal catastrophe” linked to potential liability the county faced with the CleanLane facility. 

Bovett then laid out a series of allegations in an internal whistleblower retaliation complaint he filed with the county a month before leaving the job with a one-year severance package. Lookout Eugene-Springfield obtained those documents and others as part of its reporting.

Among his allegations: Lane County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky intentionally withheld vital information from county commissioners about the anticipated $20 million annual net profits for the project’s contractor, Bulk Handling Systems. That financial figure plays a key role in the county’s liability if the project fails.

Bovett also alleged he faced retaliation from Commissioners Laurie Trieger and Heather Buch. Our story gave the county administrator and all five commissioners a chance to respond.

A county public information officer also made an ask that we don’t usually run into: Please return the documents to the county as soon as possible.

We did not do so.

The words of the First Amendment appear on the wall in our newsroom, a constant reminder of our rights — and our responsibilities. We’ll keep pushing to hold government accountable, even when people in power would prefer that we walked documents back over to the county building.

The newsroom of Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
On the wall of the Lookout newsroom.

Have a confidential tip about Lane County government? We protect our sources and don’t return records. Email: ben@lookoutlocal.com

Data center confidentiality unpopular in Lane County. Quarry decision delayed. More drop-box locations for election ballots

Of course, we have plenty of other news throughout Lane County. 

Ban on data center confidentiality: While we’re on the topic of secret stuff, Lane County commissioners discussed a potential ban on confidentiality agreements for data centers. The policy would ban staff from signing nondisclosure agreements when data centers are considering coming to the county.

Oakridge quarry proposal continues: Lane County commissioners also delayed a decision on a quarry proposal until December.

If that’s not enough, you may have heard an election is upon us. Voting has already started.

Ballot drop boxes: Here’s a look at increased ballot drop-box locations and a test the county is undertaking with one drop box that could become a new technological model for Lane County. It malfunctioned briefly on Tuesday.

Eugene Clean Energy Fund backers file complaint: The Eugene Clean Energy Fund campaign filed a complaint that its opposition broke campaign finance rules. No ruling yet from the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, which is pretty busy at the moment.

— Ben Botkin

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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

Making the interview: The Eugene City Council narrowly approved changes to how it fills city boards and commissions last week. The updates are in part meant to increase the pool of applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

Data centers: City manager Nancy Newton confirmed during a City Council meeting last week there are no active discussions between the city and data center companies or developers about putting or expanding a facility in Springfield. She also said the city does not participate in nondisclosure agreements in economic development. 

Sign dispute: Two candidates for City Council last week offered conflicting views of a campaign sign incident. Jill Cuadros held an event outside Springfield City Hall with elected officials. She said someone who supports her opponent had come onto her property without permission, and that her campaign signs had been removed from places where she had permission to display them. She called for more respect in the election for the Ward 4 seat.

The campaign of Cuadros’ opponent, Callee Ackland, said community members were returning signs to Cuadros’ campaign after businesses decided to remove the signs. Ackland said Cuadros and her campaign were “attempting to manufacture a scandal, first by arranging to have material returned to her home, and then using out-of-context footage to depict it as trespassing.”

Cuadros has responded by saying no one had been invited to her property. 

Payroll tax: Springfield will begin collecting a payroll tax from employees and employers starting Jan. 1. Revenues from the new tax, which is part of the city’s effort to address the growing general fund deficit, will support city services.

Housing in Springfield: Paradigm Properties recently broke ground on a 128-unit garden-style apartment project at 22nd Street and Marcola Road in Springfield.

beyond lane county

School funding for safety: The Oregon Capital Chronicle has a look at the school safety measures voters have approved at school districts across the state in the last eight years. The issue is front and center after the tragic school shooting in Bend.

Election monitors to Multnomah County: The Trump administration’s Department of Justice will send federal election monitors to Multnomah County, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. 

Social Security cost-of-living bump: The Oregon Journalism Project has a piece on a cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients, who also have concerns as federal cuts loom.

Public Meetings this week

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

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Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.

Grace Chinowsky graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in journalism. She served as editor-in-chief of the university’s independent student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, and interned at CNN and MSNBC. Grace covers Eugene’s city government and the University of Oregon.