Marilyn Kittelman

Marilyn Kittelman

In the past two weeks local papers have featured front page stories on the current health of our county, or lack thereof. Douglas County unemployment is just under 10%, considerably above the state average of 6.4% and nearly double the national average! The number of children now living in poverty in our county is 5,736 according to a report from Children First for Oregon, again among the highest in the state. I have often mentioned our high rate of unemployment, child abuse, meth abuse and low rate of job creation since having our timber jobs replaced with a “safety” net.

Marilyn Kittelman

Isn’t it amazing, that in today’s society, those screaming the loudest about toleranence are oftentimes the least tolerant of all of us? I have learned to be highly suspect of those preaching the gospel of tolerance. It occurs to me that they have come to expect that they have a ‘right’ to live in a world that doesn’t offend them…at all, while requiring that we embrace their views as if they were our own.

Marilyn Kittelman

I use this weekly column to share with you the happenings in the Commissioner’s office, other county business, and important matters affecting our citizens. This week the biggest ‘eyebrow raiser’ was a Friday public meeting, very well attended, requested by a group identified as Liberators 11 (formerly called The Lawmen). These folks have been raising the issue of proper recording in the Clerk’s office.

Marilyn Kittelman

Well, I’m back from Washington D.C. and running full speed! What a great conference! We worked on a wide variety of issues. The national committee I serve on is the Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and three subcommittees including Native American Affairs.

Marilyn Kittleman

I am writing to you once again from Washington D.C. and the NACo (National Association of Counties) meeting. This article will need to be continued later as the conference officially begins today and there will likely be much more to share with you after its conclusion.

Marilyn Kittleman

Imagine your family income was reduced by 50% after the unemployment ran out. Instead of $100,000 a year (a round number for explanation sake) you must live on $50,000, half of your usual income.

Marilyn Kittleman

At my house, I cannot dial in a Roseburg radio station. I do not subscribe to the Roseburg daily paper. We get no television reception and I do not have satellite TV. Each day, I am inundated by problems in my capacity as Commissioner. So, when I come home, I want peace and a needed break from the real world. I love to read, surf the internet, and we rent movies, but we get to pick the story and the subject matter. However, when morning comes, I want to know what is going on outside our hard earned and debt ridden 71 beautiful acres in Douglas County.

Marilyn Kittleman

Over time, as more programs may face the budget act, out of necessity, voters may decide if other cut or reduced services should be put on the ballot. Now that the illusion of prosperity under ‘Safety Net’ is coming to a close, the people of Douglas County will recognize that there are only two ways to affect the budget shortfall, increase fees or cut services. Ask each and every candidate running for office if they support more taxes, look at their voting record, do they have a propensity to push for more taxes on people or to act to implement new fees?
In a county with a high level of unemployment and poverty, the Commissioners imposing higher taxes is, in my opinion, not the answer. For the short term, we must live within our means, make the tough decisions and protect our savings account for future unforeseen emergencies. For the long term, we need to take legal action to demand that the Federal government return to us the $2.2 billion we invested in O & C Lands for future increased timber production, and the promise that we could reap the economic benefit for the counties in which these unique lands reside. These are times that require decisions that tax our very existence!

Marilyn Kittleman

Did you attend the Face the Nation symposium on “Global Warming” at UCC last week? I, personally, was too busy shovelling snow. However, my two associates did attend and it seems they discussed what Douglas County is doing to combat global warming.
Before discussing how to fix this “problem” we must first agree there is a problem and that people can influence it. I have an inherent distrust of the media, and all the hype they lend to this issue (gee, I wonder why?). I also believe, as do many renowned scientists, that global warming is nothing other than a natural cycle. You see, I grew up as one of the children who feared (thanks to my teachers) that we were soon to freeze to death. We were taught that the earth was growing steadily colder, growing seasons shorter and the sky darker. Soon plants would stop growing – would we freeze first or starve I wondered?

Marilyn Kittleman

On Friday, January 18, 2008, the opportunity to submit a bid to build a hotel and restaurant at the Douglas County fairgrounds closed and there wasn’t even one interested bidder and no bid submitted. What does this mean to Douglas County?