Winter doesn’t stop some wildlife from being out and about.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News.................... 4 Nature Center................ 8 Calendar...................... 13
Public Safety................ 27 Classified..................... 38 Letters......................... 39
The Sunriver Library features two artists on exhibit in February. Page 16
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY • 2020
VOLUME XLVI • NUMBER 2
SROA names new general manager SROA NEWS – Shortly after SROA General Manager Hugh Palcic declared his resignation at last year’s August annual meeting, the SROA Board of Directors also announced the formation of a General Manager Search Task Force to conduct a nationwide hunt for his replacement. The job opening was broadcast to industry-related job boards across the nation and received more than 50 applications. The task force pored over the applications and narrowed the field to a short list of seven. First interviews were held – both in person and over the phone. The seven was narrowed to three (with one dropping out). Second interviews, including reference checks and community tours, were then conducted for the final two candidates, followed by third interviews in front of the board of directors. At the Jan. 17 meeting of the SROA Board of Directors, the board unanimously voted to offer James J. Lewis the job as the association’s next general manager. Lewis accepted and is expected to start with the association on Feb. 10. A resident of Bend and Central Oregon for more than 25 years, Lewis has an extensive experience in both public and private sector organizational management and administration. He is currently serving as the Property manager for Deschutes County in Bend. Prior to that position, he served the public sector as the Planning Manager for the City of Redmond, Transportation Planner for the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and the Community Development Director for the City of Bend. Previous private sector experience was as a land use consultant, project manager and principal/owner of a land use planning, government administration and real estate consulting firm. His expertise includes budget creation and management, recreation and parks planning, personnel management and management of facilities and natural resources. “I am excited for the opportunity to use my varied public and private manTurn to Manager, page 21 SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLVI • NUMBER 2 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
North Pool before & after the blasting.
North Pool renovation project ‘breaks ground’ SROA NEWS – The North Pool renovation project started off with a bang – literally – following a Jan. 9 blasting to loosen up a shelf of lava rock located where the new leisure pool will be. The blasting was set up by Quality Drilling & Blasting of Bend, which specializes in the removal of the lava rock that is prevalent throughout Oregon and Washington. SROA General Manager Hugh Palcic had the honor of “pushing the button” that detonated the 400 individual explosive charges. The blast heaved rock and dirt some 10-15 feet skyward. “These guys are super skilled… the rock went nowhere but up,” said Mark Smith, SROA Public Works Director. Marcum & Sons of Redmond, who constructed the new circles at Abbot
and Beaver, is now doing the demolition work to remove the extra dirt and lava rock and prep the site for construction. Some of the rock will be stored by SROA to use in other projects – such as the remaining landscape work to be done on the Abbot Drive circle and for restoration. “The snow is slowing them up a bit, but both old pools are already gone,” said Smith. “It’s taken a lot of effort and time to get to this point.” A request for proposal has been sent out for contractors to bid on the project. “We’ve already had some interest and should have a pretty good response,” said Smith. Ongoing, behind-the-scenes work includes obtaining the building and pool permits required by Deschutes County.
SROA General Manager, Hugh Palcic holds the trigger to detonate the charges and loosen up lava rock at the North Pool renovation site.
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213