The Wasco County Commission unanimously approved Elaine Albrich to be the County’s representative on the Gorge Commission. Albrich is a lawyer with a background in land use, permitting, and policy issues, and recently purchased a house and moved to the Dufur area from the Willamette Valley. County Commissioner Scott Hege noted while they heard some concern about her relative recent arrival in the County, he said her experience with the Gorge Commission as a lawyer overrides that for him. Albrich succeeds Rodger Nichols, who served for 12 years in the position.
Rand Road Housing Project Receives State LIFT Funds
The City of Hood River’s proposed housing project on just over seven acres on 780 Rand Road received a major funding boost as Oregon Housing and Community Services approved $15.1 million in Local Innovation Fast Track, or LIFT, program funding for the development. It was the second time project partners Community Development Partners and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation had sought the LIFT funds that would go towards 129 units of rental housing for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen says the next steps will be for CDP and CCHC to complete site designs and apply for land use approval in the lead up to a sale agreement with the City. He says it is anticipated that within the next couple months the application materials will be complete and site review will begin. CDP and CCHC plan to apply to OHCS for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bonds next year to complete the project’s financing.
Agencies Seek Forest Service Grant For Community Wildfire Defense
Wasco County Commissioners gave their go-ahead to a group of 15 state and local agencies that will seek a five-year, two million dollar Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the Forest Service to develop a county-wide wildfire mitigation program and support risk reduction. The grant would cover hiring a County Wildfire Coordinator, conducting fuels treatment, public engagement and education, and mapping development and maintenance. Kristin Dodd of the Oregon Department of Forestry says the coordinator position has been identified as a need for some time. The program would be modeled after Deschutes County’s nationally recognized Project Wildfire program. No funding match is required from the County due to the fact it is considered a high-risk community with heightened socioeconomic vulnerability to wildfire. The County would serve as the fiscal agent and manager of the grant.
Boulder Fire At 75% Containment; Information On Origins Sought
Containment of the Boulder Fire has been increased to 75% today. Size of the fire remains at 233 acres southeast of Mt. Hood on the Barlow Ranger District near Boulder Lake Trailhead. Northwest Team 10 Operations Section Chief Bert Thayer says mop-up objectives have been completed. Fire investigators are asking anyone who might have been in the area of the Boulder Lake Trailhead and Little Boulder Lake located off Forest Road 4880 on July 8 to come forward with any tips, photos, or videos as they try to determine the cause of the fire. Please submit any information that could assist fire investigation efforts to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov
WS Schools To Approve Budget Next Thursday
The White Salmon Valley School District Board will be approving a budget for the 2023-24 school year at its meeting next Thursday. The budget was developed with the backdrop of a projected shortfall of around $2.5 million, but Interim District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says they have gotten everything in order, and after a lot of hard work they have a balanced budget that will include an ending fund balance to carry over from the current school year projected at about $900,000. Lewis does say the target for an ending fund balance for a district with the budget White Salmon has should be $2 million. Lewis will be stepping away from the interim superintendent role after the budget approval, with Rich Polkinghorn stepping into the permanent position.
Industrial Fire Protection Level Increases
With increasing fire danger, the Oregon Department of Forestry will move lands in its The Dalles Unit under its MH-4 protection area to Industrial Fire Precaution Level 3 as of Thursday. This effects all industrial operations west of Highway 35. There will be a 2-hour fire watch required after operations are complete. Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level 3, the use of fire or power-driven machinery in any operation area is unlawful unless such use falls within the time period of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. That includes power saws at loading sites, loading or hauling of any product or material; blasting; the welding, cutting, or grinding of metal; and any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned. Other equipment can be used under if mechanized equipment is immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start and construct fire lines. Contact the Oregon Department of Forestry for specific information.
New HR Parks & Rec Camps For Kids Offered
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is offering two new camps for kids in the upcoming days. One is a comedy mini-camp on Monday and Tuesday at Wy’east Middle School’s Performing Arts Center, and the other is a yoga camp this Tuesday through Thursday at Hood River Middle School. For information on all Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is available at hoodriverparksandrec.org.
HR Planning Recommends Approval Of Westside Urban Renewal Plan
The Hood River City Planning Commission found the proposed Westside Urban Renewal District conforms with the municipal comprehensive plan, and recommends the City Council adopts it. It’s the latest step toward making the district designed to assist in increasing Hood River’s housing stock a reality. Planning Commissioners spent over an hour discussing the district with City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen and urban renewal consultant Elaine Howard. Nilsen told the panel the district can provide funding to establish infrastructure to get housing built in that area, using road needs that are preventing a developer from building homes right now as an example. The vote keeps the plan on track towards adoption by the City by the end of August.
White Salmon Council To Discuss West Klickitat Fire Authority
The White Salmon City Council will be discussing the proposed West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority at a pair of meetings in the coming days. The Council will talk about the proposal to bring together City and Klickitat County Fire District 3 fire services at their regular meeting on Wednesday and at a special meeting on Monday. If Councilors give the go-ahead, the proposed authority would go to voters in November. It includes a 76 cent per thousand dollars of assessed property value tax levy, something City taxpayers have not had for fire service before. Mayor Marla Keethler says the City has been behind in spending on fire protection for a number of years, and residents have been concerned about growing wildfire risks. The regular White Salmon City Council meeting is Wednesday at 6 p.m., with the special meeting on Monday at 6 p.m., both at the White Salmon Fire Hall.
HR County Commission To Hold Worksession On Forest Carbon Project
Hood River County Commissioners continued discussion of entering into an agreement with The Climate Trust for a carbon project on County forestlands. The County Forestry Department, County counsel, and The Climate Trust have drafted a carbon development agreement that would follow standards required by the American Carbon Registery. It could generate an estimated $23 million for the County through carbon credit sales, and commits the County to 40 years of sustainable forest management, much of which the County already practices. Commissioners said they want to make sure harvest levels remain where they are currently, with Arthur Babitz noting the concept is a good one but it also is a major decision for the County’s fiscal future. The Commission are planning a worksession to discuss the proposed agreement on August 7 at 3 p.m. Commissioners would have to hold a public hearing before approving any agreement.