The real life soap opera surrounding efforts by a few to build a bike path on an abandoned rail right of way through farm country in Yamhill County saw its first casualty from the ranks of the conspirators. County Counsel Timothy “Todd” Sadlo announced his pending retirement after a bar complaint showed clear duplicity in conduct of his official duties. His downfall came about when he claimed differing uses for a partially built bridge on the right of way the use of which was specifically detailed in the awarding of grant money. Ultimately, he told the Land Use Board of Appeals one thing and the Oregon Bar another.

The County must repay over $1 million grant money to ODOT and remove the partially completed but illegal bridge. It is not known if Sadlo will be personally charged with willful and wanton waste of public funds under ORS 294.100 which describes a "public official expending money in excess of amount or for different purpose than provided by law". Carrie Martin, grants administrator, facilitated the illegal actions but has not been charged as of this writing. Public records requests obtained through public records requests, include Martin emails showing duplicity. She runs a consulting business separate from her job with the County. Her clients include vendors to the County whose work is funded with grants. An audit of her activities could reveal more as several grants over several years were the subject of controversy.

The Yamhelas Westsider Trail episode began when the 2012 Yamhill County Commissioners were told farmers had no objection to a Trail. That caused the 2012 Commissioners to include the Trail in the Transportation Study Plan. Next, the Mid-Willamette Valley Area Commission on Transportation was told farmers had no objections to the Trail and the first of many grants was obtained. These false statements, verified false by 2012 Commissioner Kathy George, were the base upon which Trail advocates built a plan to realize their goal. Continued inappropriate manipulation of the public process was necessary for them to move forward. County authorities, including retired Administrator Tschabold, were enticed to participate and they, along with Sadlo, even encouraged some past and one present commissioner to shortcut due process.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Farmers who had been deliberately kept in the dark learned of the threat to their farming practices and sought legal redress through LUBA. LUBA ruled for the farmers in five of five cases, even awarding them attorney’s fees on the matter of the bridge. Conspirators have resorted to attacks on the newest Commissioner, Berschauer, as an outlet for their confused frustration. A solution to this conflict among cyclists and farmers will require compromise and perhaps painful acknowledgements of wrong thinking.


--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2021-08-11 12:57:27

Last Update: 2021-08-11 15:03:25