Robertson says stimulus may create Douglas County jobs
By Dan Bain, KPIC NewsROSEBURG, Ore. -- County Commissioner Doug Robertson is on the board of the National Forest Counties and School Coalition, that's been involved in the Secure Rural Schools Act, that provided safety net money to counties. MultimediaHe was in Denver last week, as the committee met to talk about where the counties go after the safety net runs out, but he said he came out of the meeting feeling optimistic. The safety net funding expires in just over two years, and Robertson says the board is looking to move forward on issues of forest management, and stimulus money that appears to be heading to the BLM and Forest Service. Right now, he says there is very little timber harvest to provide revenue to the counties, but stimulus money could help. "A large amount to the forest service and the BLM, a significant amount we believe will be coming to Oregon, and we've been meeting with the new region 6 director Mary Wagner in Portland, and of course, Ed Shepherd, the state director of the BLM, making sure that to the extent we can, help coordinate those efforts and identify projects in areas where we can put our folks to work. That's what this is all about, it's about jobs." Robertson says the committee is working with people that have the ability to put contracts together and get to work in the woods, clearing roads, brushing and culvert and ditch work. He says it's the kind of work that's been on hold in those agencies because they haven't had the funds to do it. Now, he says they have the funding coming, but they may not have the manpower, and that will create some job opportunities. |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV. Stay Connected |
Connect with KPICPOLL: Extreme Katie's Next Adventure |
February 9, 2012
- Roseburg, Oregon
