City of Florence
Attn: City Manager Jon Taylor
Florence City Council
P.O. Box 340
250 Highway 101
Florence, Or 97439

Dear Mr. Taylor,

I would like to thank you and Mayor Burns for your time and consideration regarding the comments and actions that transpired at the council meeting on Monday, October 4.  After listening to the comments on tape of that council meeting, reviewing past minutes, and reviewing the facts with you and the mayor, KCST Radio offers the Florence City Council the following synopsis outlining the station’s concerns:

Please find enclosed excerpts from previous council minutes that would indicate there was a current council policy requiring timely media notification of “any spills.”  In addition, former mayor and Interim City manager Roger McCorkle is prepared to confirm that he again clarified that policy in a meeting in my office between City Public Works Director Ken Lanfear, McCorkle and myself in February of this year.  At that time Coast Radio News reported that city staff did not follow council direction on reporting all spills.  Mr. Lanfear at that time disputed that policy, however, Mr. McCorkle specifically instructed Mr. Lanfear to report all spills or discharges on public property whether it occurred at the treatment plant or anywhere in the system.  That clarification was a critical part of the station’s agreement to cooperate in the settlement between the city and the Oregon Shores Coalition.  As a courtesy and with the understanding that the policy was now very clear, the station agreed to modify its news report regarding the lack of notification by the city in this instance.

Mr. Lanfear’s comments at Monday night’s council meeting claiming that the station retracted or pulled its story on the next broadcast was inaccurate.  Mr. Lanfear’s statements regarding that meeting and the clarification of that policy were also inaccurate.

KCST Radio was disappointed in what appeared to be a lack of support of the current policy by members of the city council, particularly from councilors who previously made statements on the public record regarding this policy.  We commend the mayor for his diligence and commitment to open communication between the city and its taxpayers.

KCST Radio also takes offense to the disparaging comments regarding the media made by Mr. Lanfear and a councilor at the October 4 meeting.  We do not believe stereotyping the media, questioning reporters’ ethics, or media bashing in general in a public forum reflect the
professionalism and courtesy expected of city department heads or elected officials.  We believe it to be a poor example of conduct and contrary to many public statements regarding the council’s efforts to bring decorum and professionalism back into public meetings.

In conclusion, we believe the evidence presented will show that Mr. Lanfear has been clearly
instructed by current and past councilors, mayors, and city managers to report any and all spills related to the sewer system and that he has failed to follow those instructions and that a current policy reflecting those instructions does exist.  We believe that Mr. Lanfear’s response at the October 4 meeting contained inaccurate statements and inflammatory and unprofessional remarks regarding the media.

We also believe the relationship between Mr. Lanfear and the radio station has been irreparably damaged and could result in poor communication and cooperation in the future.  We are also concerned about our relationship with the City of Florence which could impact the dissemination of information and result in poor public relations.  We also believe that the violation or future violations of our agreement with the city regarding this policy could jeopardize the court settlement between the city and Oregon Shores Coalition.

We believe that current City manager Jon Taylor and Mayor Alan Burns will support these facts as presented.  We conclude that the radio station has responded to these issues professionally and responsibly and is making every effort to improve the flow of information to the public and the relationship between the KCST and the City of Florence.

Sincerely,

(signed)
Jon Thompson
General Manager