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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 Flash flooding washes through downtown Ashland ... New pups confirmed in OR-7's Rogue Pack ... Police Reports ... Flash flooding washes through downtown Ashland ... New pups confirmed in OR-7's Rogue Pack ... Police Reports ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Yes on welcome center Comment By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Feb. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM By Rich Rosenthal Posted Feb. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM » Social News Few decisions by the Ashland City Council carry greater regional significance than the consideration of allowing municipal water and sewer connections to the proposed Siskiyou Welcome Center and Rest Area facility. The council decision represents the latest and possibly last obstacle in an 18-year quest by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Tourism Commission to build the $11.8 million complex along Interstate 5 at mile post 12.5, not far from the south Ashland freeway exit. ODOT is obligated by the Federal Highway Administration to replace the rest area that was shuttered near the Siskiyou summit in 1997. The inclusion of the welcome center in the project is the byproduct of advocacy from Travel Oregon and area chambers of commerce to boost tourism in Southern Oregon. Citing a litany of safety and land-use concerns, many people who live near the proposed facility are understandably opposed to the development. Numerous appeals of city, county and state decisions were rejected by courts, but the legal wrangling succeeded in delaying the project long enough that ODOT is up against the four-year completion deadline imposed by the Ashland City Council in June 2011. At that time, by a 4-3 margin, the City Council and mayor agreed to provide conditional use of water and sewer services — the same question facing us tonight. It's my job as your elected volunteer to weigh the pros and cons with a broad perspective: What's best for the community as a whole? What happens if we say no to providing water and sewer service now after saying yes in 2011? An operational welcome center certainly can't hurt Ashland's and the region's tourism economy, and it arguably aligns with the City Council's recently adopted economic development plans and goals. If Ashland denies the water and sewer connection and ultimately thwarts development of the welcome center, it is reasonable to conclude ODOT will construct a scaled-down version of the rest area at the same location with alternate resources, and without dedicated site supervision. Unlike a generic ODOT rest stop, the welcome center component would be staffed part of the day, including a work station for the Oregon State Police. When faced with the prospect of an unsupervised restroom in our community's front yard or a supervised welcome center/rest area, the best and safest option is clearly the latter. Perhaps as importantly, a no vote jeopardizes Ashland's intergovernmental relations with neighboring agencies for spurning a facility widely deemed beneficial to communities well beyond our city limits. Ashland certainly needs to do what's best for Ashland, but getting along with the neighbors is important, too. Keep in mind the state of Oregon, ODOT, Jackson County and the cities of Medford, Phoenix and Talent moved at warp speed last summer to allow the city of Ashland to connect to an emergency water source through their jurisdictions. And don't forget about the mutual-aid agreements with nearby agencies that came in handy when two dozen fire engines from all over Southern Oregon responded to fight the devastating Oak Knoll fire in 2010. Ashland also has a track record of fruitful collaborations with ODOT to secure state and federal transportation funds for important local projects like the East Nevada Street bridge and many other elements of the city's Transportation System Plan. Wish us luck in these collaborative regional funding venues going forward if we veto the welcome center. In my opinion, the city of Ashland's smartest approach is to negotiate site staffing, security and fire prevention terms for the Siskiyou Welcome Center and Rest Area via an intergovernmental agreement in exchange for access to municipal water and sewer systems. Rich Rosenthal is a member of the Ashland City Council. By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Feb. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM » 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... 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