HOOD RIVER — At the county’s June work session, County Assessor Brian Beebe and Hood River Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris presented an update on the Moderate Income Revolving Loan (MIRL) Program to commissioners, which is a necessary next step for the city’s affordable housing project.
As reported by Columbia Gorge News in April 2025, Big River Community Land Trust (BRCLT) purchased 2.7 acres on Avalon Drive from Faith Bible Church to create permanently affordable housing for the community’s workforce and families. More than 40 permanently affordable homes will be built on the site, serving households earning 60–120% of the area median income.
BRCLT announced this February that it had been awarded a $2 million grant from the 2026 Oregon appropriation fund, part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development budget passed by Congress. The MIRL would help subsidize these properties, but it would also impact the taxable revenue that the governments would access for the duration of the loan.
Commissioners acknowledged the housing need and instructed staff to follow up with the city for a “policy-level discussion.” But they also expressed concerns about the “rough edges” of the program, in the words of Commissioner Arthur Babitz, and policy and legislative issues stemming from an untested program.
Other business
In her administrator’s report, Allison Williams said that they were now working with the governor’s office to make an emergency declaration for the 2025 pear crop, and is “hopeful of some relief.” Commissioner Ed Weathers, president/CEO Duckwall Fruit Company, said 2025 was “the most challenging year we’ve ever seen,” but “whether it fits in the ‘disaster box’ is the question.”
The commission unanimously voted to adopt the recommended budgets for Hood River County, 911 Communications District, Windmaster Sewer District, and Windmaster Urban Renewal District.
Hood River County is also seeking a citizen member to sit on the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee, and one to sit on the Local Public Safety Coordinating Committee. Go to hoodrivercounty.gov/volunteer for more information on these and other volunteer positions. The deadline to apply is July 8 at 5 p.m.
And, as a reminder, fireworks are prohibited in unincorporated areas of Hood River County, aligning with the Regulated Use Closure implemented by Oregon’s Department of Forestry.
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