Klickitat County Commissioners got an update from Community Development Director Scott Edelman on development of an ordinance to require permits for short-term rentals. Some of the discussion centered on what kind of fee to charge. Edelman’s report included a wide range of options, and he noted that most counties charge $150 to $200, with some as high as $400. He recommended $200 to the board. Edelman added he expects the majority of staff time will be in the first three months a permitting system would go into effect. Commissioners plan to revisit the proposed STR ordinance at its October 27 meeting.
HR County Commission Approves Carbon Reserve Fund
Hood River County Commissioners approved establishing a Carbon Reserve Fund for the collection and administration of the sale of carbon credits from the County Forest. The move comes as the County anticipates receiving the first revenues from the sale of carbon offset credits after years of work and planning. The County agreed to set aside forestlands that would not be cut for a given period of time, which fit with the County’s already established conservative harvest practices. County Administrator Allison Williams says some of the revenue will go towards adding a position to the short-staffed County Forestry Department to administer the program. Carbon Contract Sales Revenue is anticipated in the amount of $904,000 in the current fiscal year. $67,800 is to be held in reserves. Up to $150,000 will be appropriated for the necessary and authorized forester position. The remaining $686,200 transfers to the Forest Land Division of the Forestry Special Revenue Fund, which can only be used to acquire more forestlands.
QLife Launches New Residential Broadband
A new community-owned internet provider is launching in The Dalles. Gorgeous Broadband is offering residential fiber internet over the QLife Network, a public fiber system owned and maintained by the city of The Dalles, Wasco County and Northern Wasco County PUD. QLife is expanding its network to reach an additional 2,750 households in The Dalles. Officials say the fiber service can deliver speeds up to ten times faster than what many residents currently experience, with equal upload and download speeds. Service packages will start at less than $70 a month, with several speed options available. Northern Wasco County PUD will manage Gorgeous Broadband, with service expected to begin rolling out by the end of the year. QLife Executive Director Liz Lance says the expansion is a step toward a more connected community for residents working, learning and communicating online.
TD City Council Hears Wastewater Plant Capital Needs Report
The Dalles City Council heard a report from the consulting firm Consor analyzing what kind of repairs and improvements the municipal wastewater treatment plant will need over the next two decades. The report showed $35 million in short-term needs over the next five years, another $46 million worth of work in six to ten years, and $40 million more in the second decade. The medium-term list includes $20 million to rehabilitate the outfall into the Columbia River. Later in the year, the City will be receiving a report on its wastewater rate structure.
Cherry Fest To Return To Three Days
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is expecting next year’s Northwest Cherry Festival to return to being a three-day event. It was reduced to concentrate on a single Saturday this past year due to the closure of 1st Street for construction. New Chamber CEO Lynn Cox says they found that last year, the businesses with live music did well, while others received more foot traffic as a result of the changes to the festival bringing people to them. Cox noted the Festival Street Plaza will be finished in the spring, which will give them some more space to use. Cox adds the festival will basically have the same footprint as it did last year, with an eye toward returning to 1st Street in 2028.
Port of Hood River To Search For Land Opportunities
With the Port of Hood River’s sale of Lower Hanel Mill property to Dominguez Family Enterprises, there is not much vacant light industrial land available in Hood River County. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says his agency still has waterfront properties, but a planned roundabout at 2nd and Riverside needs to happen before those are viable. He adds the Port is planning to look for more parcels that can be cleaned up in the same way the Lower Hanel Mill property was, in partnership with property owners. The Port is in the process of waiting to hear from potential funding sources for the roundabout construction at the gateway to the Waterfront, but Greenwood says their timeline remains for it to open in 2029.
Pikeminnow Fishery Extended At Six Locations
The 2026 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery has been extended through October 11 at six registration stations. The Bonneville Power Administration-funded program pays anglers to catch northern pikeminnow, which prey on juvenile salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Stations staying open are in Cathlamet, Washougal, Stevenson, The Dalles, Boyer Park, and Swallows Park. All other stations close September 30. Anglers have turned in more than 116,000 qualifying fish this season. The top angler has earned nearly $133,000. Rewards start at $6 per fish, increasing to $10 for higher catches. Tagged fish can be worth up to $500. Anglers must register each day and have a valid fishing license. More information is available at pikeminnow.org, or by calling 800-858-9015.
September 21 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Volleyball
Trout Lake-Glenwood def. South Wasco 3-1
Boys Soccer
Trout Lake-Horizon Christian 6, Damascus Christian 6
MCCAC Announces Launch Of Capital Campaign For Hood River Shelter
The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council on Monday announced the launch of a capital campaign to secure a long-term home for its Hood River Shelter. The shelter is currently located at 1733 Oak on land MCCAC leases. But Executive Director Leslie Naramore says they are looking for a one to two acres for a permanent location to place the twelve pallet shelters, along with space for community partners to provide services similar to, but smaller than, the Gloria Center in The Dalles. She says the first phase of the campaign is to purchase land, with a goal of $1.2 million. Once they can purchase the land, a second phase of the capital campaign will be to raise funds for construction of the facility. Donations are being taken at mccac.com.
Port of HR Strategic Plan Available For Comment
The Port of Hood River’s proposed updated strategic business plan is currently available for public comment. Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood says some this plan focuses on planning for a post-Interstate Bridge future, with a focus on finding revenue and reducing costs to have a world-class waterfront recreation area. That includes continuing moving toward a roundabout at Second and Riverside that would allow the trip counts to allow for continued development on the Waterfront. Moving the Ken Jernstedt Airfield to self-sufficency is also within the plan, along with continued efforts to redevelop properties. The proposed strategic plan can be reviewed at portofhoodriver.com.