HOOD RIVER — Hood River County Board of Commissioners’ last meeting of 2023 took place Dec. 18. It was the first for new County Administrator Allison Williams. She said it was day one, week three on the job and that she was happy to be in Hood River.
Williams reported Parkdale Sanitation District has continued to work on filing their audits, which are passed due, while Hood River’s audit was to be submitted Dec. 31, bringing the county up-to-date. The board agreed there should be regular updates about county audits, and to set a budget meeting in January.
Williams said other upcoming discussions and public hearings will include taxation details in Cascade Locks and a request from Wasco County Commissioners for a formal position on the vacation of Hood River Road (details below).
Current issues found by the Port of Cascade Locks concerning the Bridge of the Gods.
Screenshot from Dan Mahr's presentation
The board reviewed the Port of Cascade Locks’ seismic study update for the Bridge of the Gods and agreed to provide a letter of support as the port tries to raise $12 million for further studies and reinforcement plans. Lobbyist Dan Mahr said a definitive bridge reinforcement plan can be made after more research.
Belinda Ballah, director of the Hood River County Prevention Department, presented on new Tobacco Retail License Enforcement practices; two students from Hood River Valley High School’s Health Media Club accompanied her. As of July 1, 2023, two compliance checks are required per tobacco retailer with a possible third. Ballah said compliance checks are in place to ensure valid licensure and ID checks. A flat rate of $380 is written into the budget per retailer inspection for expenses such as hiring 18–20-year-olds to help with Minimum Legal Sales Age checks.
Commissioners approved the consent agenda as presented and approved a fee waiver request of $615 from Big River Community Land Trust for their minor variance application in Community Development.
Two public hearings took place at the business meeting, during which the board adopted amendments to the building fee code for more regular adjustments and approved supplemental budget adjustments for the 2023-2024 fiscal year as presented by Finance Director Sheri Patterson.
Dustin Posner also spoke at the public hearing to address questions about his proposal to vacate a portion of Hood River Road, or the Old Dalles Road, in Mosier. His proposal will be addressed in a future session when the board also crafts a letter to Wasco County on the same topic.
Commissioner reports
Commissioner Letti Moretti, District 1, who joined via Zoom, reported the county successfully acquired Creekside, a nine-bed, long-term housing facility for patients with mental and behavioral issues. Purchasing this facility opens the county up to more state and federal funding, she reported. Moretti also attended Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn’s Latino Advisory Council, where they discussed possibly rezoning Latino trailer parks within city limits to preserve low-income living options.
District 2 Commissioner Arthur Babitz gave an update on the Bridge Authority Board, which now has their own meeting location in White Salmon. They are still awaiting federal funding commitments to see if the bridge project will be on track for their set opening of October 2029. “There’s no guarantee at all that we get this federal money, but if we do then it’s full steam ahead,” Babitz said.
He added it was recently discovered that the original bridge, built in 1924, was not built on bedrock, but rather a rock shelf that they thought was the bottom. Construction for the new bridge will need to go 80-90 feet deeper to hit bedrock. Also, the design process will determine how many people such as engineers and construction workers will be required for the project. Jurisdictions will receive letters alerting them of the influx of people to the Gorge specifically for bridge construction, which will become an issue of housing and infrastructure support that needs addressing.
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