Author: Ashley Adelman

Behind the scenes at the library

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By Kris Wiley Library News

Roseburg Public Library remains closed for the foreseeable future, and that has been quite an adjustment for us. Since the library opened in December 2018, more than 400 people visited every day, and we miss the interactions, whether it was helping with technology questions, connecting at storytime or talking books.

Even though the doors are locked and we see patrons only once a week, library staff remains committed to public service. Youth Services Librarian Aurora Oberg, Circulation Supervisor Liz Hendershott, RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) AmeriCorps Participant Katie Fischer and I juggle several projects and tasks.

Drive-up service for patrons to pick up physical items continues every Thursday from 3-6 p.m. Behind the scenes, that means we handle the book drop following professional recommendations regarding disinfection of circulating materials. We pull books from the shelves and prepare them for pickup. On Thursdays, we check out all requested materials and facilitate their transfer to patrons’ vehicles. In the first three weeks, we provided items to 126 drivers.

New patrons may apply for a library card by email at library@cityofroseburg.org. The library card application form is available at www.roseburgpubliclibrary.org — click on Policies and Forms. Nonresident payments of cash or check (made payable to City of Roseburg) may be placed in the outside book drop or mailed to the library at 1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd., Ste. 100, Roseburg, OR 97470.

Aurora is preparing for the Summer Reading Program, “Imagine Your Story,” recognizing the program will be different than what we imagined just a couple of months ago. She is navigating new territory with other librarians and considering an appropriate online component for delivering a summer literacy program that will reach our local youth.

Aurora, Liz and I spend a significant amount of time developing the collection, including purchasing new material. We also weed items that are outdated, no longer circulate and/or are in poor condition. Weeding is essential to maintaining a vibrant, relevant collection, and it’s important to provide enough space for the materials that actually are used by patrons.

Our volunteers tell us it’s difficult to shelve books when they’re crammed together; we are making their job a bit easier by shifting the collection to accommodate shelving and browsing.

Katie and Aurora maintain our Facebook and Instagram platforms (@roseburglibrary), and I update our website, particularly the Library Resources page because a number of vendors are providing free access to their electronic books and audiobooks.

I monitor the Imagination Library program, which includes approving registrations, answering questions and troubleshooting issues. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available to children from birth to fifth birthday, and one book is mailed to each participant for free every month.

Our service area covers children who live in the following zip codes: 97443, 97447, 97470, 97471, 97494 and 97495. Those who live outside the area should contact their local public library; there are Imagination Library service areas throughout Douglas County and the state. The library’s website has a link to the registration process.

As always, we remain available by phone at 541-492-7050 and email to answer reference questions and reserve materials. Thank you for continuing to support the library.

With help of McKenzie River Trust and UO, Yachats gains a “RARE” intern for 11 months to help with community water issues

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By Dana Tims

As a kid growing up in the cornfields of south-central Ohio, Sam Hillman heard the stories and saw the pictures of mile after mile of Pacific Northwest forests and ocean.

Someday, he promised himself, he’d make the trek west to see them for himself.

Now that dream is coming true as the 22-year-old embarks on an 11-month stint in Yachats, where he will put his own science background to work helping map and plan the future of the city’s sometimes-overwhelmed water supply.

“I can’t imagine a better way to spend a year in Oregon,” Hillman said in an interview. “Definitely the chance of a lifetime.”

He is one of 21 new members of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) program now being deployed to small towns across the state.

RARE, an AmeriCorps program administered by the University of Oregon, aims to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social and environmental conditions. In doing that, it places trained, graduate-level members in areas needing assistance in a variety of areas.

Other current placements include the cities of La Grande, Veneta and Sisters, as well as with the Wasco County Extension Service and the Roseburg Public Library, among others.

“We draw talented young people from all over the United States and put them to work in all areas of rural Oregon,” said Titus Tomlinson, the program’s director, who served two different stints as a program member. “In Sam and the city of Yachats, we found as perfect a match as you possibly could have imagined.”

Hillman, working as a coastal conservation associate, will spend at least 40 hours a week on a work plan that is still being refined. What’s certain, however, is that the bulk of his time will be spent helping the city complete ambitious, long-term plans for identifying future sources of drinking water – a commodity that is in short enough supply that the city has had to impose water restrictions two of the past three years.

“We are very excited about the skills that Sam brings to the table,” said Rick McClung, Yachats’ water and streets supervisor. “He’s coming here to better himself and do great things for the community.”

Yachats group spurred intern idea

Hillman’s placement took roots months ago, when members of View the Future, a decades-old Yachats conservation nonprofit, began talking with the McKenzie River Trust, a Eugene-based organization dedicated to preserving water quality.

After learning more about the university’s RARE program, the two groups approached the city of Yachats to see if all three were interested in sponsoring a RARE intern for a year-long stay to help with water planning.

“We all knew we could use the extra assistance,” said John Purcell, View the Future’s co-chair. “And we’re all thrilled at how this is all working out.”

Purcell and others say they were impressed by Hillman’s work at Ithaca College in New York, where he graduated with a degree in environmental studies and minors in both politics and philosophy.

While at Ithaca, Hillman managed the college’s 560-acre nature preserve. He directed the operations of up to 14 staff members and conducted water-quality assessments at six different sites around the preserve.

“That should serve as a good spring board to the kind of work that needs to be done in Yachats,” Purcell said. “He’s a great fit.”

Hillman will split his time, working Monday through Wednesday for the McKenzie River Trust, and Thursday and Friday for the city.

Daniel Dietz, the Trust’s conservation director, said the timing of Hillman’s work couldn’t be more opportune.

“We have been expanding our reach outside the McKenzie River watershed since about 2010,” he said. “But there has been something of a vacuum in water-quality planning on the central coast. This is really about determining if the Yachats area could use more capacity and, if so, how do we go about planning that?”

City looks at ‘water security’

The city currently gets its drinking water from Salmon and Reedy creeks. However, it does not own lands in those respective drainages. Warning lights indicating that additional sources might be needed flashed about five years ago, when commercial logging on Salmon Creek led to increased acidity and turbidity levels.

“When that happened, the public in general said ‘Wow,’ ” said McClung. “Now, we are going about the business of determining how and where we might get new sources that will provide quality drinking water for years to come.

“Water – it’s the next oil. He who owns the water rights is pretty secure.”

Both McClung and Hillman will be involved Monday when the city hosts an online community meeting at 11 a.m. to discuss water security. The city has a $30,000 state grant to find ways to protect its drinking water and is beginning the process of determining how to do that.
From wilderness to Oregon coast

Hillman has already moved into a rental unit, which comes replete with a view of the ocean. During his term of service, he will receive a $1,750 monthly living stipend and health care benefits. Assuming he completes his 11-month placement, he will be eligible to receive an award of $6,195 that can be used for future education expanses or to pay back existing eligible student loans.

He is already thinking of applying for graduate school at the University of Oregon, but has yet to choose a specific major. If the future is anything like his past, water and land conservation are likely to be high on the list.

First, however is figuring out what to do with the relatively little downtime he can expect. After spending the past few months as a wilderness ranger in Washington, he is certain that long coastal hikes are ahead.

“I’m used to 10- and 15-miles days, and right now I’m down to about half a mile a day,” he said, laughing. “I have all the work I could ask for, but I’m really excited about starting to explore this beautiful community.”

Originally published by Yachats News

Sam Hillmann, RARE Program Participant begins 11-month assignment in Yachats

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By Bette Perman

View the Future, McKenzie River Trust (A 501(c)3 regional land trust) and the City of Yachats have partnered in sponsoring a participant from the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program, sponsored by AmeriCorps, and administered through the University of Oregon. The mission of the RARE Program is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions, through the assistance of trained graduate-level members who live and work in communities for 11 months. assist communities and agencies in the development and implementation of plans for achieving a sustainable natural resource base and improving rural economic conditions while gaining community building and leadership skills.

Sam Hillmann is our RARE participant who will be spending 11-months working on projects focused on future water sustainability, with his time and expenses split between View the Future, McKenzie River Trust, and the City of Yachats. Sam will be under the supervision of Rick McClung, Yachats Public Works, to help with the completion of the Water Source Protection Plan. He will also expand his work to look for and document future water sources in consultation with a team for the City. Sam will be living in Yachats and will be spending his spare time getting to know the environment and community of citizens.

Sam grew up in Ohio and is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Natural Resource Management. While at Ithaca he was the manager of their 560-acre nature preserve. Sam spent his junior year in Sikkim India observing the effects of climate change and learning how communities were responding to it. His long-term goal is to pursue a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialization in conservation and climate adaptation. Sam arrived in Yachats on September 6; you may be seeing him around town. Please welcome him.

Originally published by View The Future

City of Sisters Chosen To Host AmeriCorps Participant

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By KTVZ News Sources

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Sisters was recently selected to host a Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps participant. The term of service will begin in September and run through July of 2021.

We are happy to introduce Emily Shoup as our RARE Assistant Community Engagement and Program Coordinator. Emme graduated from Portland State University in June of 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Community Development with an emphasis on sustainable food systems, public health, and urban planning. Emme will be moving to Sisters in early September.

The Assistant Community Engagement and Program Coordinator position will address a multitude of needs through various projects both in the City of Sisters and Sisters Country.

Ms. Shoup will be working in partnership with the Community Development Department to update the Comprehensive plan; she will assist the Vision Implementation Coordinator with the Sisters Country Vision and help facilitate community outreach for both the Vision and Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Shoup will be a critical team member on both projects.

The mission of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions, through the assistance of trained graduate-level members who live and work in communities for 11 months.

Members assist communities and agencies in the development and implementation of plans for achieving a sustainable natural resource base and improving rural economic conditions while gaining community building and leadership skills.

RARE is an AmeriCorps program administered through the University of Oregon.

RARE AmeriCorps has been in operation since 1994. RARE AmeriCorps has been supported over the years by grants from the Corporation for National & Community Service (AmeriCorps), The Ford Family Foundation, the University of Oregon, the Oregon Food Bank, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and other agencies. In addition, each participating community provides $23,500 to help place, train, and support a full-time RARE member.

The City of Sisters received a $10,000 grant from The Ford Family Foundation to partially fund the RARE position. The Ford Family Foundation was established in 1957 by Kenneth W. and Hallie E. Ford. Its mission is “successful citizens and vital rural communities” in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Foundation is located in Roseburg, Oregon, with a Scholarship office in Eugene.

Renewable Energy Is A Benefit To Everyone

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

by Tina Buttell

Sometimes we forget that we’re all in the same boat. Despite our differences, we all prefer clean air and water, safe homes, good jobs, convenient transportation, and we mostly don’t even disagree about climate. We want livable futures for our children, abundant crops, lush forests and recreation opportunities.

Unfortunately, some organizations pit us against each other by exacerbating perceived differences. The Cascade Policy Institute, one of about 160 right-wing think tanks under the SPN umbrella, is one such organization in our area. SPN is a deceptive acronym for State Policy Network, which makes it sound local. It is not. It’s a nationally funded membership group of extremists in the Republican Party that pretends to support low-income, rural folks but is closely aligned with wealthy, corporate business interests, including the fossil-fuel industry. They are known for union busting, voter suppression, climate denial, expanded law enforcement and are associated with ALEC, a notorious ultra-conservative lobby.

Another detractor from our common good is J.P. Morgan Chase Bank that invested over $67 billion between 2016 and 2018 in environmentally destructive tar sands, ocean drilling, LNG (liquid natural gas) and coal. Bank of America and Wells Fargo are right up there too, with more than $39 billion and $35 billion respectively, in oil and gas during the same time. Whether you drive a Tesla or a large pickup truck, where you save and invest, and which credit card you carry, may matter more.

Meanwhile, there are some hopeful examples of constructive collaboration. Rural Development Initiatives, a nonprofit based in Eugene, assists communities to create jobs, connect to financial opportunities and coordinate value chain projects such as the Cottage Grove “Food Hub” and the Garibaldi “Fisheries Hub,” to generate long-term community wealth and economic vitality. Their goal is to shift rural economies away from inequitable extraction of resources and towards a collective, inclusive vision of the future.

A frequent argument against Timber Unity and allies is that “they don’t get it.” This isn’t really true. They are resisting taxation and other changes because they do “get” the threat of rapid, impending change to their way of life. The climate justice movement needs to ease the transition to sustainable industries and lifestyles for those most at risk for loss. In contrast, a frequent complaint against environmentalists is that Oregon’s carbon emissions are too small to matter. Oregon is small in size but is a significant global model for land-use policy, forestry, livable cities, ecotourism and more. Just as each vote counts, each person’s carbon footprint adds up and sets an example. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

An interesting new Clackamas County-Americorps partnership is the RARE program — Resource Assistance for Rural Environments — which will focus on local solar projects and carbon-emission reduction. The Urban Rural Ambassadors Summer Institute between students in La Grande and Portland is yet one more example of a collaborative vision for the future, involving a summer student exchange program with discussions of shared goals, as well as appreciation of differences.

We all can benefit from the transition to renewable energy. Besides contributing to a cleaner, cooler environment, renewables will become more prevalent and affordable even as oil and gas prices continue to rise. Rural communities are earning income from solar and wind farms, and PGE is scheduled to shut down its coal-fueled Boardman plant very soon, closing Oregon’s era of coal-generated electricity.

There are rarely simple solutions to complex problems, but together we can keep our boat afloat. As said by Abraham Lincoln, “We can succeed only by concert. It is not ‘can any of us imagine better,’ but ‘can we all do better?'”

Tina Buettell has lived in rural and suburban Clackamas County for 44 years.

Originally published in Clackamas Review.

Urban Renewal Authorizes $400,000 For ReVision Monuments

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By Mark Brennan

The Florence Urban Renewal Agency (FURA) met Feb. 26 at Florence City Hall with a short agenda but faced a decision on whether or not to spend thousands of dollars for two gateway monuments on Maple Street, as one of the final pieces in this phase of the ReVision Florence Streetscaping Project.

The agency began the meeting with Chairperson Bill Meyer welcoming new member Mark Tilton to FURA. The attention of the group was then directed to issues related to the ongoing ReVision Florence project.

The original ReVision Florence called for monuments to be built to welcome people to Historic Old Town Florence. The plan was to have a total of three built and to place two on Maple Street and one on Quince Street.

Unfortunately, the cost for all three of the pieces exceeded the monies budgeted for the project, according to Florence Project Manager Megan Messmer. The scope of the project was reduced by eliminating the Quince Street component from the equation.

In a memorandum Messmer provided to FURA directors explaining the decision she wrote, “The budget for this project was $396,000. Unfortunately, both bids came in above the budget and the engineer’s estimate of $416,000, which included a construction estimate of $396,000 and $20,000 in contingency. … Staff does not believe that removing the Quince Street monument would have a large impact on the integrity of the ReVision Florence Project as a whole.”

Messmer’s memorandum also pointed out that when these monuments were originally designed, the Quince Street property across from the FEC was not owned by the agency. Now that FURA has control over that property and is seeking lodging or related developments there, she believes there is value in waiting to construct a gateway at Quince.

The future gateway at this location could include additional directional signage for Old Town that includes lodging, shops, restaurants and the Florence Events Center.

Messmer also wrote that the current ODOT contract will construct the base for a monument at Quince Street that will be usable for another type of monument at a later date.

During the meeting, she recommended that directors accept the negotiated bid and to enter into a contract with Specialty Metal Fabricators LLC in the amount of $375,000, for the construction of the two gateway monuments at Maple Street, which they did.

Messmer also asked directors to authorize the City Manager to enter into Amendment 5 with the Engineering firm Murraysmith for construction administration, engineering and inspection for $57,000, which will result in a net change to the contract of approximately $34,000. The total expected expenditures for the two monuments on Maple Street will be approximately $409,000.

Directors discussed the financial ramifications of the agreement briefly before approving both of Messmer’s requests.

Messmer also presented the directors with an update on the construction currently underway with ReVision and presented a proposal for a FURA Redevelopment Assistance Program, which included suggested eligibility guidelines, program application and an overview flyer.

Directors voiced support for the program and approved moving forward with the proposal.

The second major update of the meeting came from City Manager Erin Reynolds, who provided a recap of the steps taken to this point regarding the marketing of the Quince Street property which is owned by the city.

Community and Economic Development Assistant Sarah Moehrke also made a brief presentation on the property, asking the directors to approve the first phase of landscaping the area at a cost of approximately $5,000.

This phase would remove underbrush and forest debris from the location. A second phase of the landscaping effort would focus on delimbing trees and removing larger brush from the area. The second phase would be considerably more expensive, and Moehrke reported the city would continue to accept bids for Phase 2 of the project.

Directors then approved the request.

The next FURA meeting is scheduled to take place at Florence City Hall on March 25 at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ci.florence.or.us/urbanrenewal.

Originally published in the Siuslaw News

Oregon Coast Public Art Trail Back On Track

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By: Leslie O’Donnell

With new staff and new plans in place, the Oregon Coast Public Art Trail is on the path to a more promising future.

Marcus Hinz, executive director of the regional marketing group Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA), said he has hired three contractors to inventory public art along the entire coast, one for the north, one for the central coast and one for the south. By the end of spring, the goal is to have identified 80 to 90 percent of the public art along the Oregon coast.

Hinz said public art is defined as art that is accessible 24/7 without fees or admission charges. While murals and sculpture make up much of public art, OCVA will also be documenting what Hinz termed “obscure” art, such as artistic benches or ornate manhole covers.

Public art is a “soft” way to get people interested in coastal communities, Hinz explained. The public art trail is meant to be a shoulder season marketing campaign, he noted.

“Public art is a ‘soft sell,’” he said. “The whole point of an art trail is economic development.”

He explained that when people get interested in visiting an area to view public art, they can then be introduced to museums, theaters, galleries, art studios and other venues in the same communities.

While planning for an Oregon Coast Public Art Trail has been going on for several years, Hinz is optimistic about what is happening now. Acknowledging that they have not made a lot of progress recently due to multiple staff changes, OCVA has changed its strategy so that each newly hired contractor lives in the area he or she is responsible for inventorying, and will be making face-to-face contacts with city officials and others to complete the public art inventory.

“We divided everything into three, and the new staff are renewing relationships with city officials and the local art community, and taking an inventory of public art in their area,” Hinz said.

That inventory includes taking photos, noting the latitude and longitude and address, writing a paragraph to describe what inspired the art, defining who owns the land where it is displayed and citing the name of the artist.

“Then we’ll see what we have, and will break it into two phases — marketing public art and destination development,” Hinz said. “We’ll also look at communities where there are gaps, and try to work with those towns to get public art. And we’ll work with each community to see how they want us to build itineraries to market them.”

The contractor for the Central Coast — defined as Florence to Lincoln City — is Sarah Abigail Moehrke. Hinz said she is a RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) participant from the University of Oregon, works for the City of Florence as a community and economic development assistant and has a background in public art.

The information about public art that the contractors gather will go into OTIS — the Oregon Tourism Information System database created by Travel Oregon.

“That will allow destination marketing organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Discover Newport to input the information from OTIS onto their websites,” Hinz explained.

The project is extensive, with Hinz noting that there are more than two dozen incorporated cities on the coast plus tiny, unincorporated areas such as Otter Rock and Seal Rock, bringing the total closer to 40.

“The new contractors have been working about a month, and given the new structure and support from OCVA staff, we’re going to make some pretty quick progress,” Hinz said. “We’re a team now.”

OCVA Destination Management Coordinator Arica Sears is the project leader for the Public Art Trail and oversees the three art contractors.

“This is a great opportunity to see what public art exists along the coast and to identify where public art could be placed,” Sears said. “The project will provide excellent opportunities for off-season visitation at the coast, and is a good way to highlight communities.

“We’re hoping visitors can learn about and have a deeper understanding of ‘place’ while visiting the art trail,” she concluded.

Public art is thriving in many coastal locations, and a public art inventory is already in place in several communities. Catherine Rickbone, executive director of Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA), said she thinks the idea of a coast-wide public art trail is “great and wonderful.”

She chairs the Newport Public Arts Committee and said that anything that highlights public art — such as the Oregon Coast Public Art Trail — is a good thing.

Newport has 50 to 70 pieces of public art, Rickbone noted, adding that its inventory is geared to inspire cities to develop public art. Newport’s public art ranges from Bayfront murals to sculptures at city buildings and parks, as well as at the Newport Performing Arts Center.

She helped the City of Florence develop its own public arts committee and represented both OCCA and Newport’s committee when Florence unveiled a mural at the Central Lincoln People’s Utility District in that city.

“We continue to grow our public arts inventory,” Rickbone said, adding that the Newport committee is quite active and commissions new works of art.

Sears said that anyone on the central coast with information for or questions about the coastal public art inventory is invited to contact Moehrke at centralart@thepeoplescoast.com.

Originially published in Newport News Times

City Seeks Public Input For Villages At Cascade Head Property

Posted on by Ashley Adelman
By Justin Werner

The City of Lincoln City is holding two public forums to discuss the proposed urban renewal boundary and a list of potential capital projects to be completed at the Villages at Cascade Head, a 360+ acre parcel of land in north Lincoln City purchased by the City in 2013.

The first of two public forums is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Ace’s Bar and Grill, 3309 NE Clubhouse Dr. The second will be held 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Highway 101.

“The upcoming public forum is one step in creating the draft plan which we hope will be ready for Council consideration in July or August this year,” Urban Renewal Economic Development Coordinator Jodi Mescher said. “If City Council votes to adopt the Urban Renewal Plan for Roads End/Villages at Cascade Head area, it could be an important economic development tool to increase financing for priority projects in the new urban renewal area.”

If the Urban Renewal Plan is adopted by the Lincoln City Council, the Urban Renewal Agency can go ahead with capital projects, such as:

Construction or improvement of public facilities including streets, sidewalks, utilities, parks
Streetscape improvements
Storefront improvements
Participation with developers for property improvement
Rehabilitation of existing buildings

City staff has identified a list of potential projects to be completed and the first public forum is to discuss the draft plan and collect feedback on priority projects and projects yet to be identified.

The Villages at Cascade Head, previously a bankrupt vacant development, was purchased in 2013 by Lincoln City for $2.5 million.

For over 20 years the vision for 1,800+ homes at the Villages at Cascade Head has been troubled by foreclosure, developer concerns and expiring city planning approvals.

City officials have long-held to the idea that the Villages at Cascade Head will be an economic boon to Lincoln City but have struggled to advance the multi-million dollar investment despite spending an additional $2 million into the site for planning, utilities and other costs typically paid for by developers.

According to sources, developers have put in over $10 million to develop the Villages.

Developers are skeptical on a city-controlled situation where the City can drop hundreds of lots at any given time with a vote from the council. Builders believe they could not compete and the unknowns are too much to risk large amounts of money.

“If the City can sell lots at will or rezone adjacent properties it reduces the value and makes it unattractive,” a prominent Lincoln City developer who requested anonymity said.

Former Lincoln City Mayor Don Williams, who won in a 2014 landslide election, called for a sale of the Villages as part of his campaign.

“I don’t believe the City should be in the land development business,” Williams said. “We were assured repeatedly that we weren’t going to do this, but here we are in the land development business.”

Whatever the City decides to do, it will impact property values for improved and unimproved property throughout Lincoln City and North Lincoln County.

Originally published by Lincoln City Homepage

Port Purchase For Wetland Mitigation Could Be Beginning Of Costs

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

By Anna Del Savio

The Port of Columbia County board of commissioners authorized the purchase of 194 acres near Port Westward at their Jan. 8 meeting. The land, which the port bid on in November, will be used for wetland mitigation.

Bringing the land up to its full wetland mitigation potential, however, could cost as much as $45,000 per acre, Commissioner Larry Ericksen said at the port meeting.

The land itself cost $452,500. Making the land more effective for wetland mitigation could cost millions more.

“In terms of the wetland quality, it’s very low currently wetland quality. It would not be a valuable mitigation site until a lot of work is done there,” Commissioner Chip Bubl said.

The port only found out about the land auction shortly before the deadline for bids, leaving little time for studying the land quality.

The process to check for wetland mitigation potential “was relatively minimal,” according to Port Planning Coordinator Tabitha Tolsma.

“Basically, soil scientists came out and dug some small trenches and determined that the soil was hydric,” Tolsma said.

Projects that remove or inhibit natural wetlands are required to mitigate the impacts of the project by establishing wetland mitigation elsewhere or purchasing credits from a mitigation bank.

Credits would be available from the port, which would cover the costs of bringing the wetlands up to standards.

“Current practice has been — for PGE projects — they’ve been mitigating on our site, and they’ve been very free to give away our property to mitigation,” Commissioner Robert Keyser said.

Valuable wetlands can have deed restrictions placed on them, prohibiting any development on the land. That’s a concern when companies use unoccupied land for wetland mitigation, potentially jeopardizing any development future.

Keyser advocated for the land purchase over continuing the current practice.

The port is paying for the land out of the general fund but is also looking into financing options, explained Bob Gadotti, the port’s finance manager.

Originally published in Columbia County Spotlight

Falls City Looks To Rehab Building

Posted on by Ashley Adelman

FALLS CITY — The city of Falls City hopes to build a partnership with Polk County to redevelop a vacant property it owns on North Main Street into an operating business.

In 2017, the owner of the then-Little Luckiamute Clinic donated the property, located at 304 N. Main, to the city. It has since been vacant and falling into disrepair.

The next year, the city formed a committee to explore options to occupy the building, with the possibility that the new tenant would repair the building in exchange for little or no rent for a certain amount of time.

“The advisory committee made a suggestion and that is to partner with Turning Earth Farms, have them fix it up and do a contract,” said city manager Mac Corthell at a council meeting in December.

Turning Earth Farms would have made the building into a community/multi-use center and would have managed it.

“It didn’t work out. When we attempted to negotiate, I think there were some things they didn’t anticipate that they would need to be responsible for,” Corthell said. “It wasn’t a feasible agreement to be made.”

He said the contract was scrapped and so was the advisory committee.

Corthell said having the building vacant and deteriorating will eventually be a liability to the city, so he proposed a plan to put the property into use again.

“It’s in a prime location in Falls City, so we really need to look at moving that thing one way or another,” Corthell said. “We are looking into the cost to get it habitable, and my goal and plan is to discuss the potential of a two-part grant with the county. The county offers an economic vitality grant, if you will. They give out $30,000 for free to businesses that create jobs in Polk County. I’m going to attempt to partner with them.”

He said the hope is to get cost estimates to repair the property for occupancy and seek a grant to pay for the work. Then once a tenant has been identified, apply for an economic opportunity grant from Polk County to help the business get started.

He said the option could be more beneficial than selling the property, because it could eventually become a revenue source with a lease, and the city would have more control on what kind of business occupied the property.

William Sullivan, an AmeriCorps Resource Assistance for Rural Economics participant working for the city, said the first step is finding out how much it will cost to rehabilitate the building.

“We will have some contractors take a look at it and get some itemized numbers to bring back to council,” Sullivan said.

Mayor Jeremy Gordon said he liked the idea of spending money on the former clinic to help get it occupied.

“I think the city should invest a little in that property,” he said. “If we are asking people to clean up theirs, we should be taking care of ours.”

Originally published by the Itemizer-Observer