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The costs are piling up for Lane County’s clash with Commissioner David Loveall.
In the months leading up to the county board’s 3-1 vote to censure him, the county has paid nearly nearly $183,500 in legal fees and related costs, we reported Thursday. Here’s a look at where the costs are going and some takeaways about the spending.
The spending includes $300-an-hour attorneys, travel costs and professional services. They work for Lane County, but their law firms are based in Portland, Salem and Klamath Falls. Disclosure: Lookout Eugene-Springfield also helped keep the county’s lawyers busy, with public records requests and our appeals when we complained about them trying to hide stuff.
Sorry!
(Not really. It’s our job to request public records and dig deeper.)
Looking ahead, the county’s legal costs will likely increase from here: Loveall has filed a federal lawsuit against the county. We’ll keep an eye on this case, its outcome and the costs for Lane County taxpayers.
No Kings; PeaceHealth called a ‘disaster’; and Lane County euthanizes a coyote
No Kings: We were on the scene to document the No Kings protest in Springfield this weekend. Our reporters also caught up with a few participants who shared insights about why they gathered to protest.
“A disaster”: That’s how state Rep. Lisa Fragala, D-Eugene, described PeaceHealth’s decision to hire an out-of-state company to manage emergency department services at the network’s Lane County hospitals. Fragala spoke to the League of Women Voters of Lane County.
Coyote work: Lane County’s coyote euthanasia work was not so wily. Correspondent Ashli Blow reports on how a county contractor lost sight of the coyote in a blackberry thicket, unable to recover its remains. Tightlipped county officials weren’t willing to do an interview about their coyote work, so Lookout talked to leading experts about holistic wildlife and habitat management and what humane euthanasia looks like.
No ICE at Eugene Airport: A Eugene Airport spokesperson says no federal immigration agents will be at the airport amid the federal shutdown.
An election ahead: If that’s not enough news, remember: We’re also in election season. Here’s a look at the Dexter Rural Fire Protection District’s proposed renewal of a five-year local option tax.
— Ben Botkin
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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky
Downtown development: Downtown Eugene residents heard about plans for the mixed-use development on the southwest corner of Seventh Avenue and Oak Street.
The building will be between eight and 12 stories tall and offer between 80 and 100 units of housing, as well as potential storefronts and event space. The budget for the project is now in the range of $60 million, and developers plan to break ground in about 18 months.
Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger
EWEB eyeing the Willamette: The Eugene Water & Electric Board is working on plans to develop a drinking water plant on the Willamette River in Glenwood.
EWEB says an additional water source is necessary to ensure a steady supply for the community. The utility currently relies on the McKenzie River as its single source for drinking water, and EWEB says its sole treatment facility is aging.
The Springfield and Lane County planning commissions recently voted to recommend their elected bodies, the Springfield City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners, approve code changes to property EWEB owns in Glenwood, which would allow for the facility to be built.
Speaking of Springfield City Council, councilors remain on spring recess until Monday, April 6.
beyond lane county
Day care dollars: A state program to build up child care infrastructure across the state is winding down, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.
Dispute follows public records request: The Oregon Journalism Project reported on how the Service Employees International Union’s public records request for the names of long-term care workers has spurred opposition.
People migrating out of Oregon: The Oregon Journalism Project has a look at census data showing migration trends of people in 2024. Lane County is an outlier, with more people moving in, the report said.
Public Meetings this week
Tuesday
- Lane County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
- The Lane Community College Board of Education meets at 6 p.m.
Thursday
- The Springfield Police Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m.
Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com
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