ODOT closing Coquille office, consolidating staff in Coos Bay
The Oregon Department of Transportation is closing its Coquille office and moving the staff to Coos Bay in December. The building at 307 Highway 42E is for sale. The owner, VPC Inc. of Eugene, has listed the three-quarter-acre property and building for sale with Pacific Properties. Julie Denney, public information officer in ODOT’s Southwest Regional Office, said the agency decided not to renew its lease for the building, which it has occupied since the 1990s. “Cutting the lease and utilities will create a savings of approximately $9,800 monthly, or $235,200 per biennium, from our regional budget,” she said. “We do not yet have a hard move-in date for our workers in Coos Bay. We will be vacating the Coquille office sometime after Dec. 9 and our lease will expire at the end of the year.” Denney said the Coquille office has about 13 employees, but generates little walk-in business. “It supports employees like construction inspectors and others who do not often work with the general public,” she said. “Most of our services are provided in the field, by phone or online.” Chris Hunter, ODOT area manager in Roseburg, said maintaining its presence in Coquille just didn’t pencil out. “We looked
