Wasco County Commissioners this week were briefed on a proposed solar energy project east of Maupin between Highways 197 and 97.  Bakeoven Solar, a subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables, has submitted a “notice of intent” to submit an application to the state’s Energy Facility Siting Council to develop the solar project, which would encompass 3,030 acres within a site boundary of over 10,000 acres, and have a peak capacity of 303 megawatts.  Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says the Commission has a formal advisory status in the state process, adding at this point they are supportive of the development and looking forward to receiving more information.  The Oregon Department of Energy is taking public comment on the notice of intent through January 11, with a formal application expected to be submitted in March.

The Port of Hood River Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with Pfriem Family Brewers to allow the company to do a series of improvement projects to the Halyard Building on the waterfront that would increase its brewing capacity.  A three-phased multi-year construction schedule calls for internal improvements, additional utilities, and more equipment inside and outside of the building.  But the changes and ensuing staff increases will trigger a need for a City-required 26 additional parking spaces.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the agency will help find those spaces.  Pfriem is the only tenant in the Halyard Building.

Wasco County Commissioners decided Wednesday to have the County take responsibility for building codes services, rather than leave it to the state.  Commissioners made the decision after a number of weeks of discussions, trying to weigh the benefits of keeping the service local after state officials indicated they would not guarantee an office in The Dalles with the cost of starting and maintaining the service.  Commissioner Scott Hege says contractors told them the current temporary arrangement with the state after the dissolution of the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments was not working for them.  Hege noted financial figures show that over the last six years, average annual Wasco County building code revenue was $900,000, even though the numbers varied greatly from year to year.  Hege says the program will have to be developed that can live within that budget.  Disbursement of the approximately $4,000,000 in reserve funds from MCCOG’s building codes program between Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties still must be worked out.  Hege said a timeline for when Wasco County would start handling building codes also has to be developed.

An effort to review how Wasco County’s land-use planning accounts for wildfire has been underway over the past year.  The County received a grant through the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire program, which provides professional assistance to look at the land-use planning system and do a wildfire hazard assessment.  The County recently received recommendations, which include updating the wildland-urban interface map, changes to the natural hazards section of the County comprehensive plan, and continuing the process of updating the Natural Hazardous Management Plan and moving into the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.  Will Smith of the Wasco County Planning Department says the protection plan work will take place next year.  The work dovetails with the Wasco County 2040 comp plan revision work that is currently underway.

The White Salmon Valley School District has been joining with other districts in Southwest Washington to develop proposals for rectifying issues resulting from the Legislature’s recent overhaul of K-12 funding.  District Superintendent Jerry Lewis says 20 of the 30 districts in Educational Service District 112 were negatively impacted by the changes, many of them smaller.  For the White Salmon district, the impact is a loss of one-point-two million dollars per year, and Lewis says they are looking for solutions, adding limitations on local operations levies are taking a toll.  The Washington Legislature convenes in mid-January.

Boys Basketball Gresham 81, Hood River Valley 60 Horizon Christian 68, Condon-Wheeler 42 Arlington 62, South Wasco 38 Trout Lake 60, Echo 26 Goldendale 49, Highland 28   Girls Basketball Hood River Valley 48, Gresham 42:  The Eagles used a 14-2 run in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to grab the win.  Barrett Idhe scored 15 points and Morgan Baker 14 to lead HRV. Barlow 42, The Dalles 29:  Kilee Hoylman led the Riverhawks with nine points. Riverside 52, Columbia 25 South Wasco 47, Arlington 19 Trout Lake 42, Echo 34

Hood River County Commissioners continued their progress toward putting at least one, and quite possibly two, tax measures on the ballot in 2019 to deal with the County’s budget woes during their final meeting of the year on Monday.  Commissioners appear to have reached consensus on moving forward with putting a prepared food and beverage tax on the May 2019 ballot, even though the percentage is still to be determined, but likely to be somewhere between three and five percent.  The other possibility is a local option levy, as Commissioners asked for more detailed breakdowns on how those revenues would be distributed among County departments, and will get them at their January 7 worksession.  In other business, the Commission approved a 3.3 percent rate increase for Hood River Garbage, and Friends of Oak Grove Park presented the County with a check for $4,255 that it had fundraised to pay for park maintenance.  The meeting marked the final time Ron Rivers would hold the gavel as Commission Chair after 12 years in the position.  Rivers did not seek re-election earlier this year.  Mike Oates took the oath of office for the position, and will assume the seat in January.  Commissioners Karen Joplin and Bob Benton also took their oaths as they retained their positions during the 2018 election.

The White Salmon City Council will be finishing up its budget work for 2019 at its meeting Wednesday night.  Mayor David Poucher feels good about the budget that has been developed.  Poucher notes sales tax revenues have increased the last two years, and that’s from both residential and tourism growth.  Poucher does add the City’s budgeting approach remains conservative, continuing to estimate revenues low and expenses high.

The Hood River County School District is indicating preliminary data for 2017-18 shows it will have its highest graduation rate in history.  Superintendent Dan Goldman says community financial support through the recently renewed local option levy is a big reason for the continued graduation rate increases, adding the district has also focused on making sure no student falls between the cracks.  Goldman says much of their efforts are focused on reading and language development, engaging students in thinking about their future in a positive light, and emphasizing relationships with families.

Boys Basketball Stevenson 100, Goldendale 75:  Issac Hoidal scored 32 points for the Bulldogs while Jono Blackledge added 21. Columbia 61, Three Rivers Christian 54 South Wasco 65, Mitchell-Spray 49   Girls Basketball Stevenson 40, Goldendale 18:  Katie Rathgeber paced the Bulldogs with 12 points. Columbia 64, Three Rivers Christian 22 South Wasco 54, Mitchell-Spray 22