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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Fund firefighting first, fight forest battle later ... Medford grad competes for millions in video-game tournament ... 9:30 p.m. update: 17,500-acre Stouts fire racks up $4.4 million cost ... Our View: Fund firefighting first, fight forest battle later ... Medford grad competes for millions in video-game tournament ... 9:30 p.m. update: 17,500-acre Stouts fire racks up $4.4 million cost ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Aug. 3 Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Reunite the bills A July 15 Mail Tribune article stated almost 1,000 Medford utilities accounts were at least 90 days delinquent resulting in an $855,000 debt. It also pointed out that since separating from the Medford Water Commission, the city has no way to force a payment. Separating services was a hassle I never did understand; now it makes even less sense. The business manager for Medford Public Works, Lorraine Peterson, stated: “We don’t want to raise the rates because of the bad accounts.” Two or three days later I got my utility bill dated the same day as the article. It contained an explanation about the fact that my rates are increasing beginning next month, as I understand it, by about 9.75 percent. So, the thanks I get for being responsible is a rate increase that is much larger than any cost of living increase I will get! How disingenuous to tell us they don’t want to raise rates when a raise is in the works for the same day. So, it seems to me the simple solution is to again reunite the two bills. It worked for years. Fed up? Complain! Merry Harris Medford Protect wildlands Situated in Southwest Oregon and extending almost to the California border is a remarkable area noted for its wild, clear rivers and incredible plant diversity, the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and adjacent South Kalmiopsis roadless area. This area is currently under threat by two foreign-owned nickel mining companies. How could this be, in this era of environmental awareness? It all goes back to an 1872 law designed to promote development and settlement of publicly owned lands by allowing mining interests to take valuable minerals without royalties or remediation. Until this archaic law is repealed, we must do what we can to protect sensitive areas from what amounts to desecration. To that end Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio and Rep. Jared Huffman of California have introduced legislation — The Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act of 2015 — that would permanently withdraw threatened areas from new mining activities. Please go to Kalmiopsiswildrivers.org to learn more. Then sign on in the public comment section to support this important legislation. Dianne Fristrom Ashland Mental goosebumps I emailed my two grown daughters who were born and raised in Ashland articles and opinions about the proposed synthetic grass. I also included a picture of the "grass" installed by Omar's restaurant. One of my comments (among others, as I am not a fan of the idea) with the photo was it's too perfect looking and doesn't look real. One daughter's response was, "That's the problem with fake things, they look too perfect. The definition of perfection is unattainable, and when you see it in everyday life it gives you mental goose bumps." My other daughter simply said, "Gross." Every day as I drive by the already installed "grass," I now have "gross mental goosebumps" at the thought of our beautiful boulevard median being replaced with the synthetic product. Paige Jensen Ashland MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 3, 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... 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