One of the events organized by the Toledo Chamber of Commerce is the community market held at Memorial Field every Thursday from June through September. (Toledo Chamber of Commerce photo)By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle
Lincoln County’s two commissioners released nearly a half million dollars to seven tourist-oriented organizations Wednesday, but not without a letter from the city of Toledo critical of the county’s slow decision-making.
The $494,000 to the seven organizations comes from transient lodging taxes collected by the county when visitors pay for short-term rentals or motel rooms in unincorporated areas. A portion of those taxes must be used for tourist-related organizations or projects.
The contracts agreed upon Wednesday were dated to be effective July 1, after the county’s budget was approved and in time for the start of the nonprofit’s 2026-27 fiscal year.
Four of the contracts were on the commission’s agenda July 15 when Commissioner Casey Miller put a hold on the disbursements because he wanted to look further into the allocations and their relationship to economic development in the county.
The issue came up again Wednesday, but this time with three more contracts added for approval. Miller said he had looked at the contracts and allocations – they’ve been the same the past several years – “and I’m satisfied with these agreements.”
Commissioner Walter Chuck agreed, so commissioners approved grants to:
- The Lincoln County Historical Society, $280,000;
- The North Lincoln County Historical Museum, $87,000;
- Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society, Toledo, $31,000;
- Toledo History Center, $6,000; and
- $30,000 each to the Toledo, Waldport and Yachats chambers of commerces.
The organizations can use the money for general operating expenses – and that’s what generated the letter from the city of Toledo chiding commissioners for the delay, saying the funds were needed so the Toledo organizations “can continue without interruption.”
Huebner“Delayed execution of these agreements is of great concern to the city, as well as the organizations these agreements support,” wrote Toledo city manager Rich Huebner. “It is our understanding that the purpose and funding amounts of these agreements are the same as previous years, and the Toledo-based organizations listed above have each indicated these funds as critical to their operational stability this fiscal year. Each was notified to expect these funds before the 2026-2027 fiscal year began, has set its budget, and has designated significant resources based on this expectation.”
Huebner said the Toledo chamber and railroad historical society “indicated that these funds are essential to maintaining staff.”
Chuck and Miller agreed on the disbursements but also that they wanted to see early next year how tax collections are going and to discuss changes by the 2025 Legislature to allow more of the taxes to be spent on non-tourist programs.
Appointment stalemate, again
While Chuck and Miller could agree on allocating tourist taxes, they once again disagreed how or who to appoint to fill the remaining two years of Position 2 vacant since the Jan. 4 death of Commissioner Claire Hall.
The vacancy has been on agendas since April, but the two cannot agree on the process or an appointee. Acting as chair Wednesday, Chuck asked Miller if he wanted to again discuss the appointment.
MillerMiller added another name – Robert Barnhill – to his previous suggestions of possible appointees and said he was “ready for us to do whatever creative process we can to move this forward.”
But Chuck said he would not favor anyone other than Cristen Don of South Beach, his original nominee and who is facing Joe Steere of Lincoln City in the November general election. Chuck said they should appoint Don to “let people see what she can do.”
Miller has consistently objected to Don’s appointment because of the potential effect first on the May primary and now the November election. Any appointee would only serve until January, when the November election winner takes office.
ChuckChuck made a motion to appoint Don, but Miller did not second it.
“What can I do to persuade you to choose someone else to serve,” Miller asked.
That prompted Chuck to ask if they should continue to have the appointment on agendas of their twice-monthly meetings. Miller said yes.
- Quinton Smith is the editor of Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]
If Commissioner Chuck will only consider appointing Cristen Don “to let people see what she can do…”, then why not consider appointing her November opponent Joe Steere so people can also see what he can do? Why such the preference? Nothing against Cristen Don but Walter Chuck doesn’t appear to be acting very honestly. At least the other commissioner is offering alternatives.
Agree, if anything Chuck is blackening Don’s chances for being elected, which is fine with me. I’m thinking he is so persistent about her that she would be no different than what we have been dealing with.
There is an election coming soon. Regardless of who these two choose or don’t choose, it’s time for all new members. Chuck is already being replaced by Landers. We have great new candidates on the upcoming ballot. “Throw the bums out” comes to mind. Let’s get all new commissioners and start a fresh new board.
I tend to agree with you, except I think Miller deserves another shot, so we can see what he can do without the interference from Chuck and the rest of the Hall Cabal.
I think Cristen is an excellent choice, especially since she is already serving on the Budget Committee. Continuity and a depth of knowledge saves valuable time. She is easy going, very methodical and has significant experience with coastal issues and intergovernmental cooperation. Why not appoint her?
Flip a coin. Steere or Don. Or, choose or don’t choose. I’m running out of popcorn.