Wasco County Commissioners and The Dalles City Councilors held the first public hearing on Google’s proposed Strategic Investment Program agreement for development of the former aluminum plant and rodeo grounds property it has purchased.  It includes a 20-year window for two potential projects estimated at $600 million each, both with a 15 year partial tax abatement, state prescribed taxes tied to the total investment in each project, a state prescribed community service fee based on 25% of full tax capped at $2.5 million, and a locally negotiated guaranteed annual payment.  In his report, County Administrative Services Director Matthew Klebes said the first project would bring about 54 million dollars to local governments for the life of the agreement, and the second over 60 million dollars.  He also noted the Strategic Investment Program involves tax dollars going to all taxing districts, unlike the payments in the Enterprise Zone program under which Google built its first three projects in The Dalles.  But County Commissioner Kathy Schwartz and City Councilor Dan Richardson both pointed out that how the guaranteed annual payment is divided up still needs to be determined.  Another joint hearing on the subject is set for Monday at 5:30 during a City Council meeting, and log-in information is available at the City of The Dalles website.

Private forestland owners in central Wasco County can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve their forest health with conservation assistance available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service.  The Central Wasco County All-Lands Project is funded by the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Initiative, a partnership between the two USDA agencies that reduces wildfire risk on both public and private forests.  NRCS is offering assistance to help private landowners treat and improve their woods and forests, and the Forest Service will be performing similar restoration on the federal side of the project boundary in the Mt. Hood National Forest.  Project funding will help forestland owners implement conservation practices, such as forest stand improvement and woody residue treatment.  Interested landowners should submit applications by April 16 to The Dalles Service Center field office at 2325 River Road, #3, The Dalles, OR 97058.  For more information, call 541-298-8559, extension 113.

North Central Public Health District reports there have been 5,517 COVID-19 vaccines administered in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties as of last Saturday.  The district has given 1,995 doses, local long-term care facilities 1,406, and Mid-Columbia Medical Center 1,307.  Seven different entities along with the long-term care facilities have been involved in providing the vaccines.  The district also says long-term care facilities have completed giving their doses.  In addition, Deschutes Rim Clinic in Maupin began to administer vaccines this week.

Hood River County Health Department Director Trish Elliott told County Commissioners on Tuesday that they are prepared to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations, they just need more vaccine.  Elliott says that they will receive 300 new doses this coming week, and the Oregon Health Authority has indicated that number won’t change for the next few weeks.  She added a surge in vaccine availability is still probably a few weeks out.  Elliott says the health department will be holding a clinic on Friday at which they will give out 650 does of the vaccine, 600 of which will be second doses to those who have already received their first.  

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told the Wasco County Commission that COVID-19 case counts continue to go down.  They’ve dropped steadily since early January, and for the two-week period that ended last Saturday there had been 53 newly reported COVID cases in the County with a test positivity rate down to 2.2%.  The next time the state will revise County risk levels is next week, and McDonell is hopeful Wasco County can leave the extreme risk category.  If that occurred, among other things indoor dining could take place in restaurants at 25 percent of capacity or 50 people, whichever is smaller, gyms and studios could operate under similar limitations, and inside visitation would be allowed at long-term care facilities.

The Hood River County Library District, Library Foundation and Friends of the Library are launching a fundraising campaign for the Library District to purchase a bookmobile.  The Library District plans to use the mobile library to provide literacy and lifelong learning opportunities for community members of all ages by bringing library materials, staff expertise, services, WiFi access, technology and programs to off-site events and locations to serve patrons in underserved areas of Hood River County.  The Library District’s fundraising goal is $175,000 and it has already raised $91,250 from fundraising by the Library Foundation.  The Library District is applying for several grants to fund this project and has already received a $2500 grant from The Hood River Cultural Trust to support this project.  Donations can be made to the campaign through the Library Foundation.   Please visit https://hoodriverlibrary.org/bookmobile/ for more details.

Seventh and eighth graders returned to in-person instruction in the White Salmon Valley School District Wednesday, and District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says Columbia High School students will begin to return on Monday.  Lewis says so far the return to classrooms for elementary and middle school students has gone fairly smoothly.  He added that Klickitat County COVID case levels have dropped low enough to bring back high schoolers.  All grades are in hybrid set-ups, with students there two days a week and split into separate groups.  

Victor Mondragon and Dr. Joe Robertson have been elected to the board of trustees of Mid-Columbia Medical Center.  Mondragon was born and raised in The Dalles and grew up working with his parents in the local seasonal cherry harvests.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in 2014, Mondragon returned to the Gorge, where he currently works at the Hood River County Health Department as an outreach and enrollment specialist for the Oregon Health Plan, and he brings to the MCMC Board a background in social services with expertise in serving sexual and domestic violence survivors in rural communities.  Robertson has lived in the Gorge for many years and is now semi-retired, but still has an appointment as Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology for Oregon Health Sciences University and remains clinically active in his role as Director of the Ophthalmic Ultrasound Service.  He serves as OHSU Director of Global Health and is also a member of the board of the Ford Family Foundation.

Washington House Republicans released their operating budget framework for the upcoming biennium, saying it is not necessary to raise taxes or cut any vital services.  14th District Representative Chris Corry is assistant ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, and says the state’s revenue forecast could be the budget into positive territory when it comes out again next month.  Corry adds the budget proposal does include tax cuts for low and middle-income families.  Republicans are in the minority in both chambers of the Legislature.