The Myrtle Point City Council approved a resolution last week at its regular meeting granting an additional two-year Coquille Valley Enterprise Zone exemption to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort from paying property taxes.

Randy Whobrey, city manager, said the new legislation applies only to the resort's current $6 million addition project. Pending approval from the other three sponsors of the zone - Coquille, Coos County and Bandon - the nationally known resort will not pay the fees until 2009.

According to Eileen Ophus, community development coordinator for CCD Business Development Corp., the resort, in turn, is to provide jobs that pay some new employees 50 percent above the average annual county wage, which is $26,515, according to the Oregon Employment Department.

That means new hires would be paid at least $39,773 per year, with the optional health insurance plan values making up part of that figure. Also, Ophus said abatements happen on a project-by-project basis and for each break the resort is granted, it is obligated to institute a 10-percent rise in jobs.

The original abatement pact generated unrest last year within some of the member cities and from citizens, who contended the tax burden was being shifted onto county residents by the wealthiest landowners and that the jobs would have been created anyway.

Five of six councilors approved the measure Tuesday, with Joe Bouska dissenting.

In other business, the council:

€ heard from Ingrid Weisenbach, team leader for the Oregon Department of Transportation and Dave Fletcher, access management project coordinator, about the state agency's access management plan. No plans have been determined yet, they said, but Fletcher has surveyed the city's 121 driveways that intersect with state Highway 42 along the four-mile stretch of road through the city.

Owners of driveways that meet standards will be granted free permits, Fletcher said, and property owners theoretically shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for improvements, although there could be exceptions. He said property owners also have the option of applying during the project for additional entrances to property. The permit application fee is $50, Fletcher said.

"We're going to be working with the property owners on this," Weisenbach said. "They have the local knowledge, we don't."

Weisenbach said a yet-to-be-determined length of sidewalk will be installed adjacent to the highway just south of town. A plan for that should be presented at the council's second February meeting.

€ heard from Mayor Ed Cook, who said two positions on the city's Planning Commission and one position on the Budget Committee are open for applications. To apply, those interested should contact Myrtle Point City Hall at 572-2626.

€ learned that the Wastewater Facilities Plan will be delayed six months in lieu of an amendment to the mutual agreement order with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality concerning extra tests to be conducted this summer including smoke tests throughout the pipes.

€ were told Charter Communications cable rates will increase, effective Feb. 15. No rise will be applied to basic cable, but expanded service will increase $1.31 per month, with additional option plans on an increasing price hike scale.

€ heard from Whobrey, who said the city was considered ineligible for a DEQ clean-up event that provides an opportunity for residents to discard toxic household items like paint, batteries and cleaners.

€ approved a resolution to donate $100 to the Women's Safety and Resource Center, an organization dedicated to helping abused women. The city gave an additional $100 to Neighbor to Neighbor Community Dispute Resolution Center, an organization that attempts to mediate disputes between neighbors.