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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Hear them out ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The importance of being earnest ... OSF will spend grant on improving disability access ... Our View: Hear them out ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The importance of being earnest ... OSF will spend grant on improving disability access ... OUR VIEW Our View: Common sense prevails Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Congratulations to Mayor John Stromberg for casting the deciding vote to proceed with a rest area and welcome center on Interstate 5 that isn't even within the Ashland city limits. Stromberg broke a 3-3 tie Tuesday night by voting to extend city water and sewer service to the center. Residents of the Oak Knoll neighborhood, which is nearby but hardly next door, fought the proposal to the end, arguing that the center would pose a security risk and a fire hazard. The Oregon Department of Transportation has been trying to start work since the former Siskiyou Safety Rest Area was closed in 1997 after a fatal accident. Federal regulations require a rest area at least every 60 miles, and the state has been under pressure to replace the Siskiyou stop. The site is on county land, a quarter mile from the nearest house. Trucks will be barred from stopping there, addressing safety concerns, and the area will be surrounded by a 6-foot chain-link fence; neighbors had asked for 8 feet topped with barbed wire. The welcome center, intended to showcase Oregon and especially Southern Oregon attractions, will include a work station for Oregon State Police and will be staffed some of the time. The center will use about as much water as two residential houses. City councilors voting against the agreement were responding to the vocal protests of neighbors, although it's likely the state would have built the rest area even without  city utilities. In the end, common sense prevailed. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501