A Few Minutes with the Mayor – July 2023

The song, “Summertime” by George Gershwin, written for the opera Porgy and Bess, reminds me of long, lazy summer days and nights. The line “summer time and the living is easy” might be written as “summertime and the living is busy” here in Jacksonville. With an influx of visitors for tourism, winery visits, school vacation, and the Britt season, we suddenly become busier. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some necessary precautions we, and our visitors, might take.

First of all, it is officially Fire Season. Smoking and lack of care disposing of cigarette butts is one reason many fires start. If you do smoke, please try to limit your smoking to a safe place for embers and sparks, and place your cigarette butts in a proper receptacle. If you are towing any kind of trailer, please be aware of trailer chains dragging and causing sparks to land in dry materials. This is not a time to leave around any material that would cause a fire to start. Check your shop rags and any piece of equipment that might be leaking fuel. And again, please take the time to mow any vegetation that would cause a fire to spread. For more ideas, look in this issue for a related article by Councilor Andrea Thompson on next page.

Secondly, please watch out for our many wild animals who are wandering through town. You will see many deer and turkeys who roam freely, and who do not adhere to traffic laws. You might also see raccoons and foxes. While exploring, you will likely get a good look at all these creatures. This can provide some great photo opportunities, but it’s important to keep a distance. Remember, deer and other wild animals are not pets, and their behavior is unpredictable. For your safety, and the safety of our wild friends, don’t feed or try to touch any of our wildlife. If you spot a fawn curled up alone, this is not unusual. Please do not interfere with the natural cycle deer go through as they develop. For the first two months of its life, a fawn spends much of its time alone, with the mother nearby foraging. She is ready to lure you away from her baby and can be aggressive towards humans.

Thirdly, school is out for the summer and traffic can be a problem, especially for those drivers who violate speed and pedestrian laws. Our children and pets are out in force and active. They are frequently out on foot, scooters and bicycles. You will also see a lot of folks out for exercise when it is cooler in the early mornings and later in the evenings. Mealtimes are also a time people are out walking, thinking about eating at one of our terrific restaurants, not always being aware of traffic. If you are pushing a stroller, walking your dogs, walking or running, please stay in a safe area and out of traffic. The street is not the best place for any of these activities. Cross streets only in designated crossing zones. If you are a commuter, please slow down, you know the traffic laws! If you have out of town guests, please ask them to slow down and drive carefully. Not following traffic laws might earn drivers a traffic ticket per the Oregon Vehicle Code listed below.

In part, ORS 801.220 states:

“Crosswalk” means any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere that is distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface of the roadway that conform in design to the standards established for crosswalks under ORS 810.200 (Uniform standards for traffic control devices). ORS 810.220 is worth googling.

If there is neither sidewalk nor shoulder, a crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection, measuring not less than six feet in width that would be included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of the sidewalk, shoulder or both on the opposite side of the street or highway if there were a sidewalk. [1983 c.338 §36]

Oregon law requires people driving cars or riding bikes to stop for people in all crosswalks, whether they are marked or unmarked. ORS 801.220 states that if marked crosswalks have been indicated, such crosswalks and no others shall be deemed lawful across such roadway at that intersection. If you are unsure what constitutes a crosswalk when driving, it’s best to stop to avoid harming someone. Both people walking and people driving are expected to be courteous and are required to follow all state and local laws.

In closing, please enjoy all Jacksonville has to offer for both easy living and busy living. However, please be aware of the dangers associated with busier times and fire season. I hope you will join me for the Annual Mayor’s July 4th Picnic Celebration on the lawn at City Hall, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Hot dogs, chips, watermelon and water will be served at no charge. Join your friends and feel free to bring your favorite picnic side dishes to enjoy along with our hot dogs.