Wasco County considers Mosier fire station land request; garbage rates could rise 2.57%
Wasco County Commissioners will discuss the proposition of making a portion of the county road department’s land, above, available for a new Mosier Fire District station which is estimated to cost $3.2 million.
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 20, 2026 — The Mosier Fire District is asking Wasco County commissioners to make county-owned land available for a proposed $3.2 million fire station, one of several community-impacting items on the board’s Wednesday agenda.
The district wants to use about 27,000 square feet of a roughly 120,000-square-foot county Road Department lot at State and Carroll roads in Mosier. The property is currently used for gravel storage and distribution.
In its request, the district says the station would not interfere with county road operations or access. It also identifies potential benefits to the county, including water access, restroom facilities and added security at the property.
Location of fire station at State and Carroll roads at the Wasco County Road Department site. The fire district says its three existing stations, built between the 1960s and 1990s, lack adequate training space, restrooms, showers, decontamination areas and modern apparatus bays.
The district estimates construction would cost about $3.2 million, based on a review of seven recently built regional fire stations. It says it has secured half the money needed and is discussing a medium-term loan with Business Oregon. A bond measure in May 2027 is another possibility.
The district says its three existing stations, built between the 1960s and 1990s, lack adequate training space, restrooms, showers, decontamination areas and modern apparatus bays. Some fire trucks do not fit in the current facilities.
A county commitment on the land could help the district pursue financing. The packet does not specify a proposed purchase price, lease rate, lease term or other financial terms for use of the property. The request is before commissioners for consideration; the packet does not establish that the board has approved it.
Waste Connections proposes rate increase
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed 2.57% average rate increase for Waste Connections, which operates The Dalles Disposal. If approved, the new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
In a Sept. 21 letter, District Manager Jim Winterbottom cited operating and disposal costs, health care, fleet maintenance, fuel and containers. The letter also noted that the West Coast Consumer Price Index rose 3.02% from July to July.
The proposed increase would vary by service. Examples include:
Rural customers with one 32-gallon can collected weekly would pay $27.55, up 69 cents from $26.86.
Urban growth area customers with one 32-gallon can collected weekly would pay $24.65, up 61 cents from $24.04.
South County customers with one can collected weekly would pay $31.34, up 79 cents from $30.55.
The proposed schedules also cover other residential and commercial services and special charges.
The company’s rate schedule lists a $6.31 monthly reduction for qualifying low-income, elderly or disabled customers. The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council handles qualification.
The rates remain proposals ahead of the board’s Oct. 21 consideration.
District attorney reports victim-services expansion
Wasco County DA Kara Davis
District Attorney Kara Davis will update commissioners on victim services, including a grant of more than $80,000 to expand development of a local Children’s Advocacy Center.
The office has also begun hosting a Haven advocate about 27 hours a week. The advocate helps victims with restraining-order paperwork and provides support at hearings.
The district attorney’s office is seeking another competitive grant to fund an advocate who would respond to high-risk and high-need victims in Wasco County or frontier counties. The packet does not establish that the additional grant has been awarded.
Davis’ report says the team has spent a year working without a contract with a local Children’s Advocacy Center. During that time, staff have trained people in forensic interviewing, contracted with a medical professional who specializes in child abuse, and created spaces for interviews and examinations.
The report also notes gaps in regional victim services. Wheeler County has no victim advocate, while Gilliam and Sherman counties each have one.
The packet does not state the total cost of developing the Children’s Advocacy Center or detail all conditions attached to the new grant.
County asked to share community information survey
Commissioners also will be asked to help distribute a survey about how residents find, trust, share and use local information.
The project pairs the University of Oregon’s Agora Journalism Center and an engaged journalism class with The Dalles through the Sustainable City Year Program. The assessment is intended to identify information gaps and examine how residents learn about public services, participate in civic life and receive emergency alerts. The project also considers information needs following a fire.
The university has conducted similar assessments eight times since 2018, with more than 2,100 participants statewide, according to the packet.
The county is being asked to share the survey through its website, social media, newsletter and offices. The packet lists in-person listening sessions for Nov. 20-22 and says findings will be presented to the city in December.
The documents give conflicting survey deadlines: The memo says the survey closes Nov. 5, while the accompanying flyer says Sunday, Nov. 8. The flyer describes the survey as taking about 10 minutes and offers participants a chance to win a $25 gift card; the memo estimates eight minutes.
Residents interested in participating should confirm the deadline before relying on either date.
Fish and Wildlife payment totals nearly $39,000
Multiple sections of land along the Deschutes River in Wasco County are owned by ODF&W. The agency makes an in lieu payment on their total property tax bill, at a reduced rate. Payments in lieu of property taxes are intended to maintain local county tax revenues when the state acquires private land for wildlife management areas.
The board’s packet includes a proposed in-lieu-of-tax payment from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife covering 56 properties and 30,802.18 acres in Wasco County.
The schedule lists a total real market value of $17.25 million and taxable assessed value of about $3.1 million. The payment before a listed discount is $40,138.05. After a $1,204.14 discount, the net amount due is $38,933.91.
The county memo says a signed notice and tax bill summary must be mailed by Oct. 24. The schedule lists Nov. 16 as the deadline for payment with the discount.
Appointments to the Wasco County Fair Board. Colleena Tenold-Sauter and Tracee Sallee are listed for terms ending Dec. 31, 2026, to complete terms left vacant rather than begin new terms ending in 2028.
The Wasco County Board of Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the county offices, 401 E. Third St., The Dalles. The agenda lists the Waste Connections rate proposal for 9:20 a.m., the district attorney’s update for 9:35 a.m., the community information assessment for 9:50 a.m. and the Mosier fire station land request for 10:05 a.m. Agenda times are approximate.
