[Originally published in the OTHER paper, Eugene, Oregon in October, 1996.]

In June, the City Council took a look at staff's proposed changes to systems development charges (hook-up fees) for wastewater service. The new fees proposed to charge big users one-third what the city charges everyone else. The Council decided not to make a decision, and tabled further discussion for the summer recess, to be taken up again on 9/15.

But on 9/15, City Manager Linda Norris informed the Council that they had already signed the contract with Hyundai and HMT, granting a $9 million giveaway. [HMT is another semiconductor plant which has quietly come to town. It is not as large as Hyundai and will be remodeling a local building.]  It received a $2 million tax break and will be using 500,000 gal. water/day. The use of nickel figures prominently in its operations, a highly toxic substance.

Mayoral candidate Jim Weaver is holding a press conference Friday noon on the issue in the City Council chambers.

At the County level, Metro Wastewater Commissioner Duemler's motion to charge Hyundai at the same rate as other users failed. At the Sept. 16 meeting a motion to charge Hyundai at the same rate charged Sony by Springfield also failed, the swing vote in both cases was that of Commissioner Jerry Rust. Duemler has again moved to charge.