The Dalles City Council unanimously approved adoption of a water systems master plan. The plan is highlighted by replacement of the Wicks Water Treatment Plant, which studies conducted during the planning process found has exceeded its expected useful life. While various funding sources, including Google funds, are cited to be used to help pay for the improvements listed in the plan, City staff will be bringing the Council plans to increase water rates by 7.3% by February. City Manager Matthew Klebes says the Council will hold a special meeting next Monday where those documents will be brought forward. Public Works Director Dave Anderson said the City has not adjusted its water rates in ten years.
Author: mbailey
The Dalles URA Maximum Indebtedness Increased
The Dalles City Council approved increasing the maximum indebtedness for the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency by $6.1 million, extending the life of the agency to 2029. Without the increase allowed one time by state law, the urban renewal district would have expired in 2026. The money would be used to assist project like the mixed-use Basalt Commons, reconstruction of 1st Street, redevelopment of the Tony’s Town and Country property, and use as leverage for funding of a Federal Street plaza. City Economic Development Officer Dan Spatz emphasized there would be no impact to the taxpayer as a result of the move, with the increase coming from tax increment financing that does reduce revenues for various agencies. The Council approved the increase unanimously in the wake of the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee recommending it by an 8-1 vote, with only the representative of the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue District dissenting.
December 9 Prep Sports Scoreboard
Boys Basketball
Columbia 61, Woodland 51
Girls Basketball
Columbia River 73, Columbia 30
Development Consultant Hired For Proposed Resolution Center
Wasco County Commissioners approved a contract with the Housing Development Center to provide development consultant services for the proposed Columbia Gorge Resolution Center. Mid-Columbia Center For Living has agreed to cover the cost reimbursement for services. MCCFL Executive Director Al Barton says this contract is a bridge to get them to a place before the real work starts. The Housing Development Center provided finance and construction management services for the recently completed Gloria Center in The Dalles put together by Mid-Columbia Community Action.
Wasco County Commission Delays Flood Plain Amendments
Wasco County Commissioners continued a planned hearing on amendments to the County’s Land Use Ordinance regarding a flood hazard overlay zone to May 7. County Planning Director Daniel Daugherty requested the delay after the County recently received a model ordinance and updated guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the agency requiring the changes. He notes staff needs to time to look at them. Daugherty adds planning staff will review the FEMA documents and determine if they provide additional options or clearer guidelines to meeting standards calling for No-Net-Loss to floodplain functions.
Pile Burns Planned In Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area fire managers are planning to conduct pile burning on National Forest System lands on the Washington side near the Upper Major Creek and Drano Lake areas and St. Cloud and Collins Slide, plus the Seven Mile area on the east Oregon side of the Gorge. The piles are comprised of woody and vegetative material from thinning and vegetation management activities over the last few years, which remove flammable natural fuels from the landscape to prevent them from carrying and intensifying wildfire. The actual day of ignition for the pile burning projects will depend on factors such as humidity, wind speed and direction, temperature and moisture levels of understory vegetation. Scenic Area officials say burns only occur on days when smoke management offices indicate suitable weather conditions for smoke dispersal are present. The target timeframe is Tuesday through February 28, 2025. Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. Updates on the pile burns will be distributed on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Facebook page.
Two Injured In Highway 141 Accident
Two people were injured in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 141 south of Trout Lake on Sunday night. According to the Washington State Patrol, the SUV driven by a 26-year-old Portland man was northbound on Highway 141 near milepost 21 in icy conditions after 10:30 p.m. Sunday. The WSP says the vehicle lost traction due to the icy conditions, swerved off the roadway into a field and then rolled several times before striking a tree. The driver and his 25-year-old female passenger were taken to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon for treatment of injuries. In its report, the WSP said the accident was caused by going a speed too fast for the conditions.
Klickitat County Approves 2025 Budget
The Klickitat County Commission approved its budget for 2025 along with the property tax levies for the year. The budget represents a 10% reduction from the 2024 amended budget, with the property tax levy amount the County receives moving up by 1% as outlined in state law. Commissioner Jacob Anderson pointed out that most property appraisals are up, which will impact the tax bills owners receive. Anderson added the Commission’s actions to approve the budget and the levy have no impact on assessed property value.
AOC Meeting Talks Transportation Funding
County officials from around the state gathered at the Association of Oregon Counties meeting last week. Hood River County Commission Chair Jennifer Euwer says state funding, or the lack of it, was a big topic. Euwer noted one main discussion point was ensuring that the split of Oregon gas tax dollars remain at 50 percent to the state, 30 percent to counties, and 20 percent to the cities. She adds with the gas tax funding diminishing as electric vehicles become more prominent, there’s a need to find another revenue source for transportation, but what to use is a matter of debate. Euwer said funding to replace aging infrastructure was another major discussion point.
Wolves & People Subject Of Sense Of Place Talk
The latest in the Sense of Place series this Wednesday will feature University of Washington People and Wildlife Lab PhD student Lara Volski discussing her research about the return of wolves and the establishment of the Big Muddy Pack, and how people feel about them. Volski says she originally was working on testing the use of livestock protection tools to prevent coyotes from predating sheep. But it evolved into working with communities to answer the questions around wolves together. In-person tickets for the Sense of Place talk December 11 at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Center for the Arts is sold out, but free access to the livestream is available at senseofplacegorge.org.