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On this day, November 21, 1992, Oregon Senator Bob Packwood, issued an apology but refused to discuss allegations that he'd made unwelcome sexual advances toward 10 women over the years.




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Oregon Launches Program to Put Heat Pumps In Rental Homes
Rebate amounts vary based on the project

The Oregon Department of Energy has announced that it is now accepting incentive reservations through the agency’s new Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program. Under this new program, owners of rental homes and manufactured dwellings or recreational vehicles in a rented space may receive incentives for installing energy efficient heat pumps and related electrical upgrades.

The heat pump program was established at ODOE by the Oregon Legislature with bill SB 1536 following the 2021 heat dome event, during which at least 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illness – often in their own homes.

Heat pumps, which move heat rather than create it, are becoming more popular in Oregon homes thanks to their efficient heating and cooling, lower energy use, and potential incentive savings (including a federal tax credit.

Oregonians interested in installing energy efficient heat pumps in their rental properties should contact an approved program contractor, who will be able to reserve rebates on behalf of their customers. After completing installation, the contractor will submit project completion information to receive the rebate from the agency. The full amount of the savings must be passed on to the customer.

Rebate amounts vary based on the project, and higher incentives are available for homes with tenants who have low or moderate incomes. For rental homes, rebates are available between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the efficiency of the heat pump and the income level of the tenants. For a manufactured home or recreational vehicle renting space in a manufactured home or RV park, rebates are available between $2,000 and $7,000 depending on heat pump efficiency and income level.

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Grants are also available for associated upgrades alongside the heat pumps, such as electrical wiring. For homes where tenants meet low- or moderate-income eligibility, up to a $4,000 grant is available. For those who are not low- or moderate-income, up to $2,000 is available.

“Renters are often limited in making significant energy improvements at home since they don’t own the property,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “The Oregon Department of Energy looks forward to helping rental home owners across the state make the switch to energy efficient heat pumps, which will make their tenants’ homes more comfortable – and safer – in the heating and cooling seasons.”

More information and a list of approved contractors is available on ODOE’s website. The agency also continues to recruit contractors statewide to participate in the program. Interested contractors can also register online.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-26 10:22:37Last Update: 2023-07-26 11:17:01



Effort to Refer Salem Payroll Tax to Voters
Approximately 4,000 valid signatures are due August 9th

There is now an ongoing effort to avoid yet another devastating tax in Oregon, this time in the state's capital city, Salem. Oregon Business & Industry (OBI) has launched an effort to refer the city of Salem’s recently adopted payroll tax to voters.

On July 10, the Salem City Council voted 5-4 to adopt a nearly 1% payroll tax despite overwhelming opposition during public comment.

OBI says the new tax will be a significant burden for employees, exacerbating the effects of steadily rising inflation and providing an incentive to seek work outside of Salem or stop coming to Salem for portions of work as they otherwise might have. For employers, the tax will create a significant compliance burden, especially for those with employees who work on the road, at various job sites, or on hybrid schedules.

“OBI is headquartered in Salem, and we care deeply about this community. We have no problem with Salem or any other city asking voters to support levies for important local services. However, this proposal is vague, the tax is high, the administrative burden is significant, and there is little assurance as to how funds will be spent. At a minimum the community deserves a chance to vote,” said Angela Wilhelms, OBI’s president and CEO.

Preston Mann, OBI’s director of political affairs and a Salem resident, filed the petition on July 14. The city approved OBI’s petition that same day. Approximately 4,000 valid signatures from Salem voters are due Aug. 9 to refer this to the November 2023 ballot.

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To account for possible errors and ensure success, OBI says they aim to submit 6,000 signatures. OBI stressed that time is of the essence, if the effort to avoid the tax is to be successful.

Those who are interested can find out more on the Let Salem Vote website, including how to sign a petition, circulate a petition among neighbors and friends, or contribute to the campaign

OBI is a statewide association representing businesses from a wide variety of industries and from each of Oregon’s 36 counties. In addition to being the statewide chamber of commerce, OBI is the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation. They boast 1,600 member companies, more than 80% of which are small businesses, and they employ more than 250,000 Oregonians.

Oregon’s private sector businesses help drive a healthy, prosperous economy for the benefit of everyone.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-25 14:28:11Last Update: 2023-07-25 14:58:51



Newport Seeking New Mayor
The application deadline is August 9th

The Newport City Council is seeking applications from residents interested in filling the vacancy of mayor on the Newport City Council. The vacancy was created by the resignation of former mayor Dean Sawyer. The selected applicant will fill the remainder of Sawyer’s term, which will expire on Jan. 6, 2025.

The mayor presides over and facilitates council meetings, preserves order, enforces council rules, and determines the order of business under council rules. The mayor is a voting member of the council and has no veto authority.

The mayor shall appoint committees and boards as provided by code, ordinance or council rules. The mayor shall sign all records of council decisions and acts as the representative of the city at all ceremonial events, but may delegate this responsibility.

Council members, including the mayor, receive no pay or other compensation, but may receive reimbursement for attending conferences, or other expenses in accordance with council rules.

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Applicants must be qualified electors and have resided within the city limits for at least one year immediately prior to appointment. In addition, the mayor may not be employed by the city.

The application deadline is Aug. 9 by 5 p.m. The city council will conduct interviews of the applicants at a work session open to the public on Aug. 14, beginning at 3 p.m. An appointment to fill the vacancy may be made by the city council at a special meeting on Aug. 14.

Anyone interested in applying to fill this vacancy shall apply using the city’s committee application found online. The completed form can be submitted electronically. It can also be printed and hand delivered to the city manager’s office at Newport City Hall, 169 SW Coast Highway.

Questions may be directed to Melanie Nelson by email or by calling 541-574-0603.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-24 13:24:48Last Update: 2023-07-24 13:51:42



$34.6 Million for Multi-Use Paths, Planning and Improvements
Grants in biking and walking facilities that are “off system”

The Oregon Department of Transportation has now announced that they are spending $34.6 million on 25 Oregon Community Paths (OCP) projects approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission. It was approved at the meeting last week in Pendleton.

“We had another round of outstanding applicants, requesting a total of $80 million,” said Alan Thompson, OCP program manager. “All 57 of them addressed needs for off-road paths or as necessary alternatives to busy roadways.”

The OCP program, created by the large transportation funding program HB 2017, is a program that is intended to provide federal and state grants in biking and walking facilities that are “off system,” meaning facilities that are not primarily on or along a roadway.

ODOT says they will now develop agreements with the successful applicants allowing the projects to start after October 1. Grantees will then move forward with their various construction and planning projects.

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ODOT says that staff reviewed and ranked applications according to procedures approved by the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The staff scored an initial list of projects as follows:

The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee then reviewed all applications for this second round of funding and recommended the list of applications to the Oregon Transportation Commission for approval.

More information about the program is available on the Oregon Community Paths Program website.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-23 13:52:17Last Update: 2023-07-23 15:02:38



National Forest Use Fee Increase Proposed
Many increases will be phased in over time

The Willamette National Forest is proposing fee changes at multiple campgrounds, group campgrounds, cabins, and lookouts.

“These fee increases will help us maintain the sites to the level and quality people have come to expect. Many of the proposed fee increases will be phased in over time, rather than all at once. We are also excited to bring on two new cabins into the popular program,” said Dave Warnack, Forest Supervisor for the Willamette National Forest.

The proposed fees by site are listed in the tables below.

Cabins/LookoutsExisting feeProposed
Timber Butte Cabin$80 per night$90 per night
Warner Mountain Lookout$85 per night$90 per night
Indian Ridge Lookout$75 per night$90 per night
Box Canyon$70 per night$75 per night
Gold Butte Lookout$80 per night$90 per night
Marion Forks Guard Station (new)$0 per night$85 per night
Gold Lake Cabin (new)$0 per night$85 per night
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to retain 80% of the revenue from these proposed recreation fees to operate, maintain and improve facilities.

Raising the revenue collected through recreation fees would help keep up with rising maintenance, utility and staffing costs. The fees help provide and ensure quality recreation opportunities and creates a more financially sustainable developed recreation program.

CampgroundsExisting feeProposed
Year 1-2
Proposed
Year 3
Alder Springs$10 per night$14 per night$16 per night
Blair Lake Campground$14 per night$16 per night$20 per night
Daly Lake$5 per day
$0 extra vehicle fee
$14 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
$16 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
Elk Lake - Single site$12 per night$14 per night$16 per night
Double site$22 per night$26 per night$30 per night
Harralson Horse Camp$5 per day
$0 extra vehicle fee
$14 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
$16 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
Horse Creek Group Camp$75 per night$100 per night$125 per night
Indigo Springs Campground$12 per night$14 per night$16 per night
Kiahanie Campground$14 per night$16 per night$20 per night
Piety Island - Single site$12 per night$14 per night$16 per night
Double site$22 per night$26 per night$30 per night
Roaring River Group Camp$50 per night$60 per nightno change
Sacandaga$14 per night$16 per night$20 per night
Scott Lake Campground$5 per day
$0 extra vehicle fee
$14 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
$16 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
Shady Cove - Single site$12 per night$14 per night$16 per night
Double site$22 per night$26 per night$30 per night
Skookum Campground$5 per day
$0 extra vehicle fee
$14 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
$16 per night
$6 extra vehicle fee
Timpanogas Campground$14 per night$16 per night$20 per night
Trail Bridge$16 per night$18 per night$20 per night
All fee changes are reviewed by a citizen’s advisory committee, which will make recommendations to the Pacific Northwest Regional Forester about whether to approve the proposed changes. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee changes to the developed recreation program.

The comment period is set to end by close of business on September 15, 2023. You can email your comments, or mail them to: Willamette National Forest, Attention: Matt Peterson, 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite D, Springfield, OR 97477. Comments can also be provided online.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-23 10:07:22Last Update: 2023-07-23 10:13:24



OLCC Sends $620M Back to Cities and Counties
Oregon liquor consumers are choosing higher-priced liquor options

Over the course of the past two years, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, under the direction of Marvin Revoal, has provided $620.7 million dollars to cities, counties and public health programs. This funding provides communities and statewide public health and safety programs with vital resources that benefit Oregonians daily and is a key benefit of Oregon's control state model for liquor.

At its regularly scheduled meeting on July 20th, Commissioners received the perspective of Rick Garza, Former Executive Director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board in a presentation on Washington State. Garza spoke to how in Washington – which formerly operated as a liquor control state prior to 2012 – consumers felt the effects of privatization in terms of higher prices and reduced selection for smaller brands. Garza additionally fielded Commissioners questions on compliance efforts, delivery and operations in the state.

According to the OLCC, Oregon liquor consumers are "buying up" and choosing higher-priced liquor options. This resulted in 2.4 percent increase in revenue over the prior year. This was an increase in profitability for the agency, but notably without an increase in consumer consumption. Information on the agency's budget can be found on the OLCC website.

The city of Portland's Cannabis Policy Oversight Team, an advisory group within city's Bureau of Development Services, provided the Board of Commissioners with a review of their annual report from 2022. The report focused upon issues facing Portland's cannabis industry as well as a summary of its Cannabis Emergency Relief Fund. Commissioners asked that the city work with the OLCC and industry partners to find consensus on improvements that could benefit the industry overall.

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With the legislative session complete, the Commissioners initiated rulemaking to respond to several bills that passed during the 2023 legislative session. The legislative changes include developing more robust requirements for alcohol delivery to consumers and technical changes to both the marijuana and alcohol programs. Staff will hold advisory committee meetings and public comment periods to allow industry and the public to weigh in on the proposed changes. Commissioners also finalized a relaxation on artificially derived cannabinoids to allow the industry more time to come into line with the requirements.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-23 06:02:30Last Update: 2023-07-22 13:55:14



Klamath Falls Tech Campus to Receive Full Renovation
The university has a unique geothermal heating and hot water system

Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) have now announced that they have successfully secured $18,160,000 in state bond funding to complete a full renovation of the university’s unique geothermal heating and hot water system at its Klamath Falls campus. This crucial funding will renovate the existing geothermal system that supplies the entire campus. Oregon Tech says that despite routine maintenance, the 60-year-old system was at risk of a full system failure.

In 1964, Oregon Tech relocated to its current location to tap into this valuable resource, which has made the university a leading institution in renewable energy.

“We take pride in our Klamath Falls campus that relies solely on renewable energy for heating, which saves the university over $1.4 million in annual energy costs,” Oregon Tech President Dr. Nagi Naganathan said. “We are grateful for the legislature's bipartisan support and investment in helping Oregon Tech be proactive in renovating our system, as it allows us to continue conserving resources and provides an exceptional teaching and research tool for our faculty and students.”

Oregon Tech says that the renovation project addresses urgent repairs, identified by a professional engineering firm in June 2022, needed to avoid imminent system failure and maintain life safety standards on campus.

Oregon Tech states that the consequences of a system failure would be catastrophic, causing no heat or hot water on campus, flooding in buildings, and power disruptions. The school insists that maintaining the system and addressing the deficiencies is substantially cheaper than replacing the system using electricity or gas.

“Future generations of students and faculty can look forward to a safe and sustainable learning environment at Oregon Tech for the next 75 years,” added President Naganathan.

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Oregon Tech stated that they deeply appreciate the dedication and tireless efforts of both Representative Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) and Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls), who were crucial in securing the funding.

“As a member of the House Committee on Higher Education and the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Education, I’m proud to have the state’s only polytechnic university in my district,” said Representative McIntire. “This funding will not only keep the heat on for students, it will further research and learning. My biggest thanks to all the stakeholders who worked so hard to get this funding request across the finish line. It is our partnership that makes these happen.”

“Investing in critical community projects is the right way for the government to return Oregonians’ hard-earned tax dollars. I am pleased to join Representative McIntire in announcing this historic funding for the Oregon Institute of Technology,” said Representative Reschke.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-22 14:41:39Last Update: 2023-07-22 15:06:15



Motor Voter Manual Updated
Most voters become registered through this process

Secretary of State Lavonne Griffin-Valade has announced that minor revisions have been made to the Oregon Motor Voter manual -- for the most part to account for the new software.

The amendment to OAR 165-005-0170 adopts current revisions to the Oregon Motor Voter Registration Manual. Revisions include changing how information is presented, clarifying the Secretary of State Elections Division information processing, and technical fixes necessary to conform to the new ORVIS (formerly Oregon Votes) centralized voter registration system.

The Motor Voter Manual is a key part of Oregon's elections process because most voters become registered and have their information updated through this process.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-22 11:12:32Last Update: 2023-07-22 11:29:53



Opportunities in Clackamas County
Serve in your local county government

Clackamas County Commissioners are seeking interested residents to serve on county Advisory Boards and Commissions (ABCs). These ABCs offer residents the opportunity to become very involved in specific activities and the goals of Clackamas County.

Individuals interested in this opportunity can apply online or via a paper form that can be obtained from the Public & Government Affairs Department by calling 503-655-8751.

Milwaukie Center Community Advisory Board

The board has three (3) openings, which carry a three-year term. The board is the primary policy advisor regarding the activities and operations of the Milwaukie Community Center.

The Milwaukie Community Center is a North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) facility. The community center provides programs that address the needs of senior citizens, people with disabilities, and others within NCPRD boundaries.

The board meets on the second Friday of each month at the Milwaukie Community Center. Board members must either live or work within the NCPRD boundaries.

Application deadline is Aug. 2, 2023. For more information, please contact the Milwaukie Community Center via email or by calling 503-794-8013.

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Enhanced Law Enforcement District Advisory Board

The Board of County Commissioners and Sheriff Angela Brandenburg are seeking seven (7) residents to serve for three-year terms on the Enhanced Law Enforcement Service District Citizen Advisory Board.

The eleven-member advisory board represents the various geographic and demographic interests of the service district. The board assists the Sheriff with identifying public expectations for the district, recommending service priorities, and supporting the Sheriff’s Office outreach functions. The committee meets every 2 months.

The Enhanced Law Enforcement District was approved by Clackamas County voters in November 1994 to increase the level of sheriff’s patrols and meet the increased demand of urban Clackamas County. The district serves the residents in unincorporated Clackamas County within the Urban Growth Boundary (as it existed in 1995), as well as the city of Johnson City.

Interested individuals must live within the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County and within the Enhanced Law Enforcement District. To find out if you live within the District, please call Sarah Comstock via email or at 503-785-5020. This application deadline is Sept. 13, 2023.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-21 16:35:35Last Update: 2023-07-21 16:48:34



Sherman County Sheriff Speaks Out on Measure 114
“Their solutions disrespect liberty”

The Sheriff's Office of Sherman County, Oregon has now put out a statement following the recent court ruling on Oregon's controversial gun control Measure 114. Sheriff Brad Lohrey expressed his concern over the absurdity of the recently proposed law.

His statement reads as follows:

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Attorney James L. Buchal has filed notice to appeal the recent ruling in U.S. District Court in Portland on behalf of the gun rights groups.

The Sherman County Sheriff is responsible for maintaining the peace within the county and is directly accountable to the people. Sherman County lies between the deep canyons of the John Day River on the east and the Deschutes River on the west in north central Oregon.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-19 19:09:17Last Update: 2023-07-19 19:34:34



Making Wastewater Usable for Irrigation?
Oregon State researchers say they are developing new technology

Researchers in the Oregon State University College of Engineering now say they are developing technology to convert wastewater into a product that would simultaneously irrigate and fertilize crops.

The three-year project led by Xue Jin, assistant professor of environmental engineering, will be supported by $750,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will involve partnerships with farmers, wastewater treatment plants and USDA scientists.

“Agricultural activity accounts for 70% of all available freshwater,” Jin said. “Worldwide, demand for food production continues to grow along with the population. As droughts become more frequent and severe, there is a critical need for effective treatment technologies that provide safe reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation.”

The project also aims to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, which are produced by mining and manufacturing processes that consume limited natural resources and create significant environmental impacts. Further impacts occur after fertilizers are applied to fields.

“Fertilizer runoff is a major source of pollution for surface water,” Jin said. “This results in algal blooms that contaminate drinking water sources and produce further harmful ecological effects downstream.”

The researchers are developing a two-stage, hybrid membrane filtration technology to treat the murky liquid discharge from anaerobic digesters, a type of bioreactor used in water treatment plants and on some larger farms. The digesters rely on bacteria to break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

In the first stage, an electrically charged membrane attracts ions such as ammonium, phosphorus and potassium and concentrates them into a fertilizer-rich brine. In the second stage, a forward-osmosis membrane removes contaminants such as bacteria, and the bacteria-free water is then recombined with the brine to produce a nutrient-enhanced solution that can be applied to crops.

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“In laboratory-scale testing, we were able to recover 80% of the water,” said Quang Ngoc Tran, a graduate student who has been a key participant in the research. “When the technology is scaled up with optimal operating conditions, that number could go even higher. The output is basically pure water, with a little bit of dissolved salts that are the plant nutrients.”

Tala Navab-Daneshmand, an associate professor of environmental engineering at Oregon State, and David Bryla, a research horticulturist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Corvallis, will conduct greenhouse studies to evaluate both the effectiveness of the treated water in plant growth and the biosafety of the resulting crops.

OSU says the team will also perform economic feasibility studies. Jin says the technology could potentially be deployed directly on farms that operate their own anaerobic digesters, or even on high-tech vertical farms situated adjacent to municipal treatment plants. Vertical farming refers to growing crops in stacked layers rather than just using the ground.

“We are examining multiple prospective use-case scenarios,” Jin said. “The fiscal impacts of this technology will prove to be a key consideration in whether it becomes widely adopted. The goal is to make agriculture more sustainable not just environmentally but economically as well. If we can develop an affordable system that will effectively reduce the costs of crop production, that could be very attractive to farmers.”


--Keith Hautala

Post Date: 2023-07-18 19:12:50Last Update: 2023-07-18 21:43:12



Brown Parolee a Suspect in Serial Killings
Oregon Senate Republicans: Consequences of Oregon Democrats’ soft-on-crime agenda

Willamette Week has broken news that Jesse Lee Calhoun, one of over 1,000 criminals former Governor Kate Brown let out of prison early, is a suspect in the killing of at least four women found dead this year around the Portland metro area.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) released the following statement:

“Even after leaving public office as America’s most unpopular governor, Kate Brown’s legacy continues to have dire consequences for Oregonians. If Jesse Lee Calhoun is found guilty of these murders, Kate Brown will have signed the death warrants of four innocent women in the name of ‘second chances’.

“Oregon Democrats have a pathetic record of putting criminals over victims and patting themselves on the back for it. We have not forgotten that the Democrat majority stayed totally silent while Governor Brown issued a record number of commutations and pardons for drug dealers, murderers, rapists, and other violent offenders like Calhoun. This is disgraceful.

“On behalf of all Oregonians, we demand that Democrat leaders govern to protect–not jeopardize–the lives of Oregonians by holding criminals accountable and allowing law enforcement to keep us safe. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and we pray for healing in the years to come. The perpetrator must be fully held accountable.”

Governor Brown, whose words have come back to haunt, had this to say about clemency:

“If you are confident that you can keep people safe, you’ve given victims the opportunity to have their voices heard, and made sure their concerns are addressed, and individuals have gone through an extensive amount of rehabilitation and shown accountability, what is the point of continuing to incarcerate someone, other than retribution?”

The Oregon Senate Caucus asks, rhetorically, "Are you still as confident as you were then, Governor?"


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-18 16:09:52Last Update: 2023-07-18 16:23:29



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