It was good to hear from County Commission Chair Roger Nyquist last week as he outlined his vision of where Linn County stands in a variety of fields (see page 5).
Nyquist, who spent most of his 40 minutes at the dais basically winging it, with minimal notes, demonstrated the kind of grasp of the issues that we should appreciate as the people who elected him.
And there were plenty of issues. We’re not going to discuss them all here, but a couple beg our attention.
One is the Pipeline program.
Sweet Home has committed to participating in this effort, which focuses on preparing young people for trades and manufacturing jobs, the ones that pay a liveable wage, unlike, say, a career at the counter of the local fast food joint.
It’s no secret, at least to anyone trying to run a business, that it’s an increasing challenge to find qualified and dependable workers. Without going into a long diatribe on why that’s the case, the reality is that many of our kids need to be taught how to work. It’s to all of our benefit to make sure that happens.
That’s what the Pipeline is all about, and that’s why Sweet Home, particularly with our logging and other heavy industries, stands only to gain by full and enthusiastic participation in this program. Our kids need this as much or more than those in Albany or Lebanon or Central Linn.
The program focuses on hands-on skills, the kind that, as Nyquist put it, could set a kid up for a job that pays $50,000 a year right out of high school.
We love college – for some young people. For others, the kind of path provided by the Pipeline will be a sure way to connect with the employers who need their talents and interests. The fact that the Pipeline program was largely created by employers is a plus too. They know exactly what they need and they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is.
A red flag that Nyquist discussed is Cleaner Air Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown’s plan to impose air pollution controls beyond what the federal Clean Air Act already requires to ensure that major pollutants like lead and ozone are controlled.
The plan did not receive funding from the Legislature this year and although public hearings are being held on it and written comments are being accepted through Dec. 22 at http://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/cao/Pages/default.aspx, it probably hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves outside of urban areas.
Nyquist, though, warned that it could become “the spotted owl of this decade.”
Hmmm. Anyone who thinks that might be over-dramatizing the situation needs only to remember how, less than a year ago, a coalition of state agencies descended on Entek, questioning the company’s pollution controls.
Whether or not any of that was justified, it was a clear indication of what our state bureaucracies are capable of, particularly under this governor – who had just left town after an apparently friendly visit herself.
We’re not saying that businesses require no restraints, but we agree with Nyquist’s characterization of our state legislature and governor’s track records as being strongly focused on the needs of our larger cities, with little apparent regard to real needs in the other 95 percent of the state – where the rural residents live.
Plus, the fact that he and fellow commissioners actually understand how business works is a benefit when too many in Salem apparently don’t.
That’s why we should appreciate the steps our civic leaders have taken, lobbying and going to court when necessary, to try to turn some heads and get our governing leaders’ attention.