Coburg Disability Act Committee
Coburg, Oregon

TO:  U.S. Dept. of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
P.O. Box  66738
Washington, DC   20035-6738

REF:  Civil Rights Violation
Disability Rights Violation

Accessibility Specialist.

We, the Coburg Disability Act Committee, which were created by the Coburg City Council.  Would like to file a complaint, for a possible future suit.  We believe that the Lane County Highway Dept. Eugene, Oregon, has and is discriminating against the disabled, handicapped and elderly.

We, believe that the highway Dept. Chief Engineer (Ollie Snowden), has violated the disability act and continues to do so!!  That he refused to correct it!

We believe, with the combination of these factors, the higher speed limit of thirty-five m.p.h. from the lower speed limit, a main through-fare that is heavily traveled, with app. Twenty-five hundred cars a day, that is dividing our small town into two distinct parts.  Plus, the lack of marked crossings at the inter-sections on both it and Willamette street our two major streets.   Constitutes a dangerous and physical barrier to the disabled, handicapped and senior citizens, with a very large percentage of disabled and senior residents.

That this apparent barrier and the associated danger, limits our ability to move freely around our small town.  That this is a serous violation of disability act, with, it’s various rules and regulations. 

That this dangerous condition has cause by, the Lane County Highway Department, and it’s chief engineer, (Ollie Snowden) when they rebuilt.  These two streets in our town and raised the speed limit to thirty-five, from twenty –five and widened these to streets without any marked crosswalks at the intersections.

We have made both verbal and written complaints to the Lane County Engineer and our City Council expressing our serious concerns over these apparent violations.

Our city council and our chief of police (Mike Hudson) has in turn, asked the chief engineer Ollie Snowden, to correct this dangerous situation, only to have a very (adamant) refusal!!!

Our town even offered to pay the cost, or do the work ourselves!!

We, believe that these conditions, violate both the primary considerations and the physical barrier provisions of the disability act.  Plus, any other rules and regulations that might apply, by putting the disabled and elderly into a very situation.  Trying to cross the street to visit, or the only grocery store in town and the city hall.

That the extreme dangerous walkway, to our main city hall entrance.  That the county built, to  replace the one they took out when they made the street wider, violates every law, rule, regulations, the state, county, and Federal has!  (including the disabled act)

That this be replaced at the county expense – it’s dangerous.  Our disabled, includes people who are blind, crutches, plus wheelchairs, both electric and manual, canes, crutches, plus one’s who are elderly that are extremely slow of movement, who are at extreme risk of being caught at the quick-changing stop light, in the middle of the street by cars.  The light was installed at the intersection of Pearl and Willanmette, when they rebuilt the two streets. 

We might be taking some of this out of context, but we believe and contend, that the lack of marked crossings higher speed limits, wider streets, and the quick stop-light, the illegal and dangerous walkway, creates an insurmountable barrier and a serious violation of the disability act which require immediate emergency action. 

You can contact Mayor Mike Dean, or Police Chief Mike Hudson at [...] for verification of this complaint.

S.H. (Dick) Pettet
Virginia Beebe
Barbara Pettet                                               

cc:  U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
 

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