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3 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 Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... OUR VIEW Our View: Money makes the county go round, apparently MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Jackson County officials have made two decisions recently that appear to be motivated by money. In both cases, community values should have played a larger role. Most recently, two of the three county commissioners voted to allow the airport to sell advertising rights to the baggage carousel, transforming it into a roulette wheel to advertise the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville. Back in August, the county gave the Storytelling Guild 90 days to find storage space to replace what the Guild has been receiving for free for nearly 50 years. In the case of the airport, Commissioners Doug Breidenthal and Rick Dyer said they felt compelled to uphold free-speech rights and avoid legal risks by voting against the advertising based on its content. That's not a very strong hand. Commercial speech is not protected to the extent that political speech is, so long as all advertising is treated equally. In this case, voting no would have obligated the county not to sell any advertising at all on the baggage carousel — which wouldn't be a bad idea. It was not long ago that the county decided against selling giant lighted advertising on the outside of the airport control tower after a public outcry. Seven Feathers already has advertising elsewhere in the airport. There is no particular reason why a casino an hour's drive away needs to decorate the baggage carousel — except for the $30,000 a year the county stands to make from the deal. Is this the welcome message we want to give visitors when they arrive in Jackson County? The Storytelling Guild appears to be the latest victim of county officials' desire to rid themselves of anything connected to the former county library system, which is now operated by a special taxing district. The guild, whose volunteer members put on the Children's Festival every year at the Britt Gardens, has for many years stored its two litter-eating dragons plus many nearly 100 folding tables, canopies and all manner of props and other equipment at the county public works facility in White City. The space was free until several years ago when county departments began paying for storage they used. Because the guild is affiliated with the libraries, the library system paid the charge. The county would be happy to continue providing storage — for $18,000 a year. The guild can't afford that. The county ought to be willing to work with the guild beyond insisting on market rates for a nonprofit group that contributes great value to the community. Apparently, 50 years of providing a magical experience for the county's children doesn't buy what it used to. Guild leaders are being very diplomatic, saying it's time for the group to find its own way. "We can't be cross with the county," founding member Pat Blair said. We can. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 7, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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. 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