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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2021)
2 Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com City of Hood River to resume in-person meetings Summer Oasis Hood River sets June 28 for first in-person meeting its regular works session and business meeting. The Port of Hood River’s Board of Commissioners began meet- ing in person June 22. The return is far from HOOD RIVER — “Get “back to normal,” however. out of your fuzzy slippers, guys,” said Hood River Mayor All those attending the actual city council meetings must Kate McBride at the June 14 Zoom-based meeting of city show proof of vaccination. council. “You’re going to have Additional screens and cameras are being installed to put on your real shoes.” that will allow councilors to The council agreed that the next meeting, June 28, will be see virtual participants, and let virtual participants see in-person, although virtual councilors and reports from options are being installed guests. The port is working for both visitors and coun- cilors. McBride commended on a similar hybrid system, although it won’t be ready Hood River-area healthcare workers who have vaccinated for the June 22 in-person meeting. more than 70 percent of the The Hood River County county’s eligible population, Commissioners are prepar- for making it possible for groups to gather again. ing a similar hybrid set-up at The Hood River County the meeting room at 601 State Board of Commissioners Street. Beginning July 19, is on the same track. It will visitors may attend virtually meet virtually June 21, then as in the past, via the Zoom meet in-person — with webinar, or attend in person. virtual options — July 19 at A small group of birders explore the Klickitat Rails to Trails trail along upper Swale Creek in Klickitat County, accessed from a trailhead on Harms Road. The green of the small creek contrasts sharply with the dry lands that characterize the unirrigated areas of the valley west of Goldendale. Mark B. Gibson photo PROJECT improvements,” said Hons. As Hons gets set to spend Improvements more time with his family upon retirement, the City of planned Bingen named Brian Zabel Continued from page 1 as the person to take up the mantle as one of two opera- advanced automation system tors of the plant, along with Buckland. Zabel has worked for the plant’s operations, with the city since the project as well as surface repairs got underway as the project and replacement of older inspector. components. Outside the “The aim and goal of [the plant, contractors replaced project] is to be able to main- approximately 1,750 linear feet of existing 10-inch sewer tain with consideration for lines with newer and larger growth,” Zabel said. 18-inch lines, replaced older The project was funded lines with newer lines the through a variety of sources, same size, and rehabilitated with both cities of Bingen 22 existing manholes. and White Salmon pitching Hons said the improve- in, along with a loan from the Washington Department of ments have been in the works and been planned for Ecology. Vancouver-based firm Gray & Osborne is lead- nearly 10 years. All told, the improvements will mark an ing the engineering services increase in solids capacity of the project, while TEK from 20-30%, he said. Construction was hired for “It’s nice to see all work on the project. that work led to these Wasco County plans in-person meeting July 7 Mark Gibson ■ By Columbia Gorge News of the commissioners since the pandemic began — held at the Wasco County Fairgrounds in Tygh Valley THE DALLES — The June 16, with commissioners Wasco County Board of Commissioners will resume and staff seated outdoors at picnic tables. limited in-person board Commissioners will be meetings in July, with a hybrid format that will allow able to view those presenting via Zoom on two screens to continued access through either side of the commis- the Zoom platform. In- person public access to the sioners, and communicate meetings, which will resume via a single microphone. at the courthouse, will be One camera will broadcast contingent on the lifting of the full commission during state restrictions. meetings for those online. “If state restrictions are A second camera will be lifted, we could unlock the installed facing the audience door,” said Kathy Clark, so those online can see those executive assistant to the attending in-person, and an board, during a work session additional screen will give — the first in-person meeting those attending in-person a view of the Zoom interface. “All the meetings will also be on Zoom, Clark said. The core of the system is already installed, and has been tested, Clark noted. “I’m sure it will be awkward at first,” she added. “I’m confident it will be ready on July 7,” the next meeting of the board, she said. The commission also dis- cussed the county’s extended pandemic emergency dec- laration, which they agreed should be allowed to expire as scheduled on July 21. The declaration acknowledges the county will follow state guidelines in regards to the emergency, and does not implement any restrictions or policies of its own and will therefore have no impact after state restrictions are lifted. COVID-19 updates from North Central Public Health and Unified Command, which have led off commis- sion meetings since March 2020, will also be moved off the regular agenda. At the height of the pandemic, the commission met weekly to hear the updates, but have since resumed their regular meeting schedule. Updates on the pandemic and vac- cination efforts will now be made “as needed,” the board agreed. S c gn Forth launches CRuSE Program HOOD RIVER — Forth is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of The CRuSE Project, a program for community carsharing in Hood River, at 11 a.m. on June 24 at the Hood River Fire Department, 1785 Meyer Parkway. In-person remarks will be provided by program part- ners including Kate McBride (mayor, City of Hood River), Maddy Reznick (Columbia Willamette Clean Cities Coalition), Etta Lockey (vice president, Pacific Power), Patty Fink (executive director, Columbia Area Transit), and Kelly Yearick (senior program manager, Forth). The Clean Rural Shared Electric Mobility (CRuSE) Project is a three-year pro- gram to demonstrate a finan- cially sustainable model for plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) carsharing in rural commu- nities. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. The CRuSE Project launched on June 8, provid- ing residents and visitors access to five Honda Clarity Electric vehicles throughout Hood River at affordable housing sites, the city center, and tourist areas. Two cars are placed on City of Hood River property and one can be utilized by city employees for business-relat- ed travel. A third car is placed near the waterfront area of Hood River to provide easy access for tourists visiting the Columbia Gorge. The public is invited to begin reserving these vehicles at the following locations: Columbia Parking Lot, Hood River Fire Station, and along the waterfront near the Gorge Paddling Center. Two additional cars are placed at affordable housing sites in Hood River owned by Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation, which includes low-income and non-English speaking residents. These vehicles will be available to reserve later this summer. Skamania County Announces Special Candidate Filing Period The Skamania County Auditor’s Office will open a special three-day candidate filing period from June 29 through July 1for offices that did not have filings during the regular filing period. Online filing will not be available during this special filing period, so candidates wishing to file for office must do so in person at the Auditor’s Office during busi- ness hours (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) from June 29 to July 1. Offices open for this special filing period in- clude: Mt. Pleasant School District (Director Position No. 2), Mill A School District (Director Position No. 1), and Stevenson-Carson School District (Director Position No. 1). A complete list of offices and positions open for filing during the three-day period is available at the Auditor’s Get your smile back! ARE YOUR DENTURES: • Loose • Have food under them? • Cracked or broken • Making your gums sore? • Constantly in your pockets? 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