Wasco County Commissioners approved a 2.57% rate increase for Waste Connections to offset rising operational costs and disposal fees. Waste Connections District Manager Jim Winterbottom told the Commission that they use the Consumer Price Index to benchmark their changes in operational costs. He added that the most recent July to July CPI comparison increased by just over three percent. Winterbottom also said that fuel costs were not a part of their calculation. The rate increase will become effective on January 1.
Category: Uncategorized
Security Part Of White Salmon K-12 Campus Planning
Security is a part of the planning as the White Salmon Valley School District develops its plans for a K-12 campus at the current location of the middle and high schools. In the aftermath of last week’s shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says security improvements are top of mind. Polkinghorn notes they currently have lockdown capabilities at the push of the button, but they are considering other steps to further harden interior doors and windows to prevent access during a lockdown. He adds there is a balance between having a school that is welcoming to the community while still also able to slow down and stop an intruder.
Hood River Police Station Bond On November Ballot
Voters in Hood River are deciding during the current election whether to approve renovations to the municipal police department in the bottom floor of City Hall. City Councilor Anna Cavalieri outlines what they will be looking to fix, including remediating health and safety hazards. The $8.7 million bond will have a tax rate of 34 cents per one-thousand dollars of assessed property value. It’s one of two money measures the City of Hood River has on the ballot. A bond for development of workforce housing is also being voted on during the current election.
October 21 Prep Sports Roundup
Big Sky Volleyball Playoffs
Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler def. Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat 14-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19
Ione-Arlington def. South Wasco 25-23, 25-11. 21-25, 25-20
Cross Country
Columbia’s Lilah Zimmerman won the individual girls’ title at the Trico League Championships at Vancouver Lake, leading the Bruins to a second place finish behind team champion LaCenter. Zimmerman ran the course in a time of 19:46, 18 seconds ahead of runner-up Daisy Jones of Stevenson. The Bruins’ Kathryn O’Connor was fourth. Stevenson finished third in the team standings. In the boys’ race, Columbia was third and Stevenson fourth, as Seton Catholic grabbed four of the top five places to win the team title. Owen Becker-Nunley was the top CHS finisher in eighth, while Colton Hollis was 20th for Stevenson.
Three top ten finishes lifted Hood River Valley to the boys’ victory at The Happy Hustle in Corvallis. The Eagles’ Gus VandenHeuvel took second, Sam Schwager fourth, and Joshua Carley ninth. In the girls’ race, HRV’s Savina Davis finished fifth.
Wasco Commission Supports Concept Of Fire Station At Mosier Road Yard
The Wasco County Commission gave its support for a concept to locate a new station for the Mosier Fire District at the location of a County road shop at the intersection of State and Carroll roads. The Mosier Fire District currently has three small stations that do not provide proper vehicle and equipment storage, a decontamination station, or classroom and training areas. Mosier Fire Captain Connor McKibben told the Commission a new station would lead to better responses to emergencies. The Mosier district is proposing using about 25 to 30 percent of the property for the station through a long-term lease or easement. County Public Works Director Arthur Smith said there are several questions that would need to be answered, but he generally supported the idea at its current level of impact to the road shop. Commissioners supported the concept to allow more study of what would need to take place for the idea to work for both the fire district and the County.
Columbia Gateway URA Approves SDC Assistance Program
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency board approved a commercial systems development charge assistance program for small businesses locating in existing buildings within the URA district in downtown The Dalles. Assistance would support eligible redevelopment and productive reuse while preserving the City’s SDC payment obligations imposed to mitigate impacts of development on public infrastructure. URA Manager Jacob Anderson told the URA board this program is specifically designed for small businesses. The proposed maximum is 100% of the two largest positive net SDC categories plus 75% of each remaining positive category, capped at $15,000 per Project. The program was made to be retroactive to the start of the current fiscal year on July 1.
Bridge Remains Serviceable, But Lift Span Seating In Need Of Repair
A bi-annual inspection of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge shows it remains serviceable with on-going maintenance, but there is an immediate need to repair the lift span not properly seating. Will Strehler of the engineering firm Burgess and Niple told the Port of Hood River Commission most elements of the bridge received fair to good ratings, but the lift span issue needs to be addressed, noting the issue is at the North tower. He recommends an in-depth structural, mechanical, and operational review of the lift span by engineering specialists to determine the breadth and depth of the needed repair. Strehler also recommended an annual bridge washing to help prevent corrosion.
Drop Box To Be Installed In Tygh Valley
Wasco County is going to add a new ballot drop box in Tygh Valley. It will be located at the Tygh School Community Center. County Commissioners approved the agreement for its placement on Wednesday morning. County Clerk Christy Zaugg says County staff will do the work to put the drop box in place, including security measures. Zaugg also told Commissioners they are encouraging voters to use drop boxes, noting they cannot control how long it takes for ballots to get to them through the mail. Wasco County also has drop boxes at the Wasco County Courthouse, city halls in Dufur, Maupin, and Mosier, and at the Three Warriors Market in Simnasho.
October 20 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Milwaukie 1: The Eagles won for the first time in Northwest Oregon Conference play this season.
The Dalles 5, Molalla 1: The Riverhawks maintain a narrow one point lead in the Tri-Valley Conference over North Marion with two games to play.
Girls Soccer
Hood River Valley 4, Milwaukie 0: HRV is now one of three teams unbeaten in the NWOC at 3-0, heading into a matchup with one of the others as Putnam visits Henderson Stadium tomorrow night.
The Dalles 2, Molalla 0: The Riverhawks record their fourth straight shutout and 10th in eleven games overall.
Columbia 8, Castle Rock 0
Seton Catholic 8, Stevenson 0
Oregon Episcopal 8, Trout Lake 0
Volleyball
Hood River Valley def. Milwaukie 25-16, 25-8, 25-11
The Dalles def. Estacada 25-21, 19-25, 25-9, 18-25, 15-6: The Riverhawks clinched the Tri-Valley Conference championship with the close win over the Rangers.
Echo def. Sherman 25-21, 25-17, 25-21
Columbia def. Castle Rock 3-1
Seton Catholic def. Stevenson 3-0
Cross Country
The Dalles girls rolled to an easy team title at the Valiant Invitational at Valley Catholic High School. Flamingo Ducyk finished third for the Riverhawks, while Alessandra Meza was eighth. Trout Lake’s Melody Stock was second. In the boys’ race, The Dalles was fourth, Luke Sorenson leading the Riverhawks with an individual fourth place finish.
HR County Moves Toward Side by Side Vehicle Trail
Hood River County Commissioners approved moving forward with a trail for side by side vehicles in the Northwest area of the County forest. A group of county and state agency representatives and the County’s Recreational Trail Committee developed the concept to involve 5.4 miles of recreational trail, 9.3 miles of forest road, and 13 more miles to be converted to trail including utilizing the Whiskey Creek Fire line. County Tree Farm Recreation Manager TJ Moloney says the design allows for a fire break if necessary. Moloney also noted the trail would be accessible from Kingsley and Binns Hill staging areas, and close to campgrounds. Actual development of the trail will require collaborative efforts between users, the County, and state agencies.