Wasco County Commission Update - April 6, 2022
Meet the Wasco County Commissioners: Steve Kramer, Scott Hege and Chair Kathy Schwartz
Welcome to Quick & Easy Wasco County Commission Update
Get the highlights of the recent Wasco County Commission Meeting without having to sit through a 2 hour meeting.
The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on April 6th, 2022.
Watch the meeting: Watch Livestream here.
Read more: April 6th,2022 Agenda & Board Packet.
Submit public comments: Your County, Your Voice.
The Agenda Break Down
- Outdoor Mass Gathering Permit Hearing for SOAK 2022 Art and Music Festival
- County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Grant Application
- Wasco County Board of Property Tax Appeals Summary of Actions & Appointment
- Transit Open House
- Commission Call
- North Central Public Health District Intergovernmental Agreement Amendment
County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Grant Application
Video Time: 7:41
Wasco County Commissioners approved the Form 8 Resolution required for submission of the 2022-2023 County Assessment Function Funding Assistance (CAFFA) Grant Application.
The Oregon Legislature funds the CAFFA annual grant program to help cover assessment and taxation costs for counties. Funding for the grants comes from portions of document recording fees and delinquent property tax interest.
Each county must submit an application annually with an estimate of staffing, workload and expenditures to support their assessment and taxation program. The total cost to administer the Assessment & Tax Program is $1,263,664. The grant funds requested are allocated on a statewide pro rata basis but have been reimbursed in the neighborhood of 15%, resulting in an estimated amount of $189,550 to come back to Wasco County.
Wasco County Board of Property Tax Appeals Summary of Actions & Appointment
Video Time: 9:31
Chrissy Zaug gave a short presentation on the Board of Property Tax Appeals’ activity this year. Wasco County Commissioners also approved the Order 22-010 appointing Anthony Tarnasky to the Wasco County to the Board.
Transit Open House
Video TIme: 16:40
Commissioners encouraged Wasco County residents to fill out the Mid-Columbia Economic Districts survey asking for input on public transportation in the Mid-Columbia region.
Commission Call
Video Time: 21:38
Commissioner Steve Kramer gave an update on his visit to Washington D.C.
“The Community Outreach team participated with meetings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Capital. We met with Senator Merkley, and Congressman Vince. We got about seventeen minutes with each one. And we spent 45 minutes to an hour with their staffs,” said Kramer.
“We talked a lot about what we were doing in the area and what we need to be working on,” said Kramer.
Outdoor Mass Gathering Permit Hearing for SOAK 2022 Art and Music Festival
Video Time: 30:05
Commissioners held a hearing for an outdoor mass gathering permit for a music and art festival entitled “SOAK 2022,” (also known as “Burning Man Portland”) which is scheduled to occur on May 26-30th, 2022. The estimated attendance of the event is 1,900 people including staff and volunteers. The event will occur in White River Canyon, along Jake Davidson Grade Road, immediately south of Tygh Valley, Oregon.
Commissioners moved to not approve the application at this time, saying it did not meet the standards set forth in OAR 660-004-0025 of the administrative rule. Commissioners also moved to approve the request for a zone change of the land on which the event will take place.
Commissioners made a range of points about soil testing, a need for updating state land-use laws, not wanting to make things harder for landowners.
North Central Public Health District (NCPHD) Agreement Amendment
Video Time: 2:02:55
Commissioners approved an amendment to the NCPHD intergovernmental agreement between Wasco and Sherman County. The amendment was made to account for the fact that Gilliam County will no longer be included in the intergovernmental agreement as it will be developing its own public health district.
Enjoying our Quick and Easy Wasco County Commission Updates?
Please consider supporting us to keep the Wasco County Updates coming!
