Mayor of Creswell resigns, updates on COVID protocols, Springfield progresses on Glenwood development

Mayor of Creswell resigns

Amy Knudsen resigned as mayor of Creswell citing “undue stress that recent events have caused me and my family” The resignation comes a little over a month after the Proud Boys and other far-right agitators led an unpermitted July 4th parade down the town. Organizers received citations from the Lane County Sheriff for the parade, and in response they held a protest outside the mayor’s house.

Knudsen stepped into office after Richard Zettervall resigned as mayor of Creswell close to a year ago after facing backlash on a proposed equity initiative. The Chronicle has a summary of key events surrounding the resignations of both mayors.

County gives update on COVID, State expands vaccine mandates

Speaking at Lane County Public Health’s press conference last Thursday Dr. Harry Scholtz, an infectious disease doctor at McKenzie Willamette, says what we are facing now with COVID cases and hospitalization is what they feared since the beginning of the pandemic. Dr. Scholtz, along with Dr. Jim McGovern of PeaceHealth, and Jason Davis of LCPH alll agreed that the situation will only get worse before it gets better.

The good news the County had was that vaccinations at its clinics have risen ten fold, which they attribute to $50 cash card incentive along with people seeing the rise of the Delta variant. The County announced they will start providing third booster for the vulnerable community, decisions on administering a third booster for the rest of the county has not been made yet.

LCPH is set to present a draft order with recommendations for business and other organization at Tuesday’s County Commissioners/Board of Health meeting. Some of the things they will be calling for are for businesses to limit capacity and consider requiring proof of vaccination for entry.

Gov. Brown expanded the health care worker vaccine requirement to get rid of the testing alternative. The State will also now mandate all K-12 staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated by October 18 or six weeks after FDA approval, whichever is later, the same time that healthcare workers are required to be vaccinated.

Springfield moves to accept applicants for Glenwood development

The Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) board approved the release of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Glennwood Riverfront property, a document that the agency will use to solicit interest and allow them to select a developer. Courtney Griesel the City’s economic development director says the document is more than 95% done and just needs some minor edits. According to the timeline put together by staff members it will be formally released to public on Aug. 30th.

The board originally heard two proposals for the property at the beginning of the year, but then decided to take a step back and go the route of releasing a RFQ. SEDA says this will give them a “transparent and cohesive process to identify and select a development partner for the Glenwood riverfront area.”

The Board aims to select a “qualified” developer for the property by the end of the year.

Local links

  • CLDC and Black Unity amended their lawsuit to allege that the Springfield Police Department engaged in politically-motivated surveillance and spying.

  • Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals dismissed the appeal relating to the EWEB forest on 40th & Patterson. Loggers began cutting down the bigger trees that were left at the site on Friday.

  • “A former Eugene Water and Electric Board meter reader filed a U.S. District Court lawsuit against EWEB on Aug. 3, alleging that the company failed to protect him from repeated instances of racial discrimination, including death threats and attempted violence.”

  • The City of Eugene released its Hate and Bias Report last week showing a rise in hate crimes and non-criminal incidents in 2020.

  • UO, and the Hult Center added its events to places that are requiring a COVID vaccination or negative test. The Register Guard has compiled and is updating a list of venues in Lane County that are requiring proof of vaccination or recent negative test.

  • James Croxton provides an update on Eugene Pride and how they can make it more inclusive

  • Fash alert: The Church at Planned Parenthood intends to disrupt those seeking healthcare at the West Eugene Planned Parenthood on September 4.

  • Environmental groups sue over post-wildfire roadside logging plans

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