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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2021)
2 Columbia Gorge News Wednesday, October 13, 2021 www.columbiagorgenews.com Forest parking fees considered HOOD RIVER — The Hood River County Board of Commissioners is consider- ing an ordinance to establish a parking permit program for Post Canyon. If adopted, designated fee parking zones on county forest land would be identified with the goal of managing recreational use in the county’s tree farm, according to a press release from the county. A public hearing on the proposed resolution is sched- uled for the Oct. 18 meeting of the Hood River County Board of Drectors. Fee parking zones would be added to properties in county forestlands near popular recreation areas including Post Flats, Seven Streams, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley Reservoir and Pinemont. Zones would be clearly established by signs and information. Revenue from the program would be dedi- cated to support the County Tree Farm recreational use and maintenance of the trail system. Annual or daily parking permits would be purchased for $30 or $5 respective- ly, valid for all county fee parking zones between dawn and dusk. It is expected that permits would be available for purchase online as well as with one or two vendors in town. A kiosk to purchase daily permits may also be considered. Permits would be required year-round for all hours that the zones are open for all licensed vehicles, including motorcycles or motorbikes. Parking validation numbers or permits would need to be clearly displayed through vehicle windshields or on vehicles without windshields. Failure to comply with parking fees would be subject to warning or citation. The County would operate, manage and provide oversite of the program, including investigating observed or reported violations, issuing warnings or citations and general enforcement of the program. Daily and annual fees will be established within the county fee schedule, which is reviewed as necessary by the Board of Commissioners. A fee parking program has been discussed by the county with input from recreation- al trail and forest advisory committees over the past year. A first reading of the or- dinance occurred at the Sept. 20 board of commissioners meeting. A second reading and public hearing will occur at the Oct. 18 meeting which begins at 6 p.m. A decision is expected to be made by the board this fall and the pro- gram could begin in spring of 2022. For more information, visit hoodrivercounty.gov. Parking fees have been proposed for popular trails in Hood River County forestlands. The second of two public hearings on the proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 18. Bingen City Council enacts water payment plan Jacob Bertram ■ By Columbia Gorge News them past due bills, and two options they make take to satisfy the fees, according to Bingen Deputy City Clerk Bingen water customers may be eligible for a payment Dena Riggleman. Customers can either plan on late water bills. contact Bingen City Hall to Under an ordinance enroll in the payment plan approved by Bingen City program or contact WAGAP Councilors at their Oct. 5 to enroll in a similar program, meeting, water customers who are 30 days past due on according to the letter sent out to city utility customers. water bills with a minimum Under a WAGAP-Bingen charge of $300 may request partnership program, cus- a payment plan if they meet the following criteria: If they tomers behind on water and are on a fixed income and sewer payments since the receiving all applicable city start of the COVID-19 pan- discounts; if they incurred demic may enroll in a CARES severe financial hardship due Act-funded program to fund to the COVID-19 pandem- their water and sewer debts. Customers do not have ic, water leak, or medical to demonstrate hardship emergency/condition; or if their water cannot be shut-off to receive funds under the due to the health conditions Bingen-WAGAP partnership, nor to determine eligibility of the persons living on the premises, or due to the age of under the new payment plan program, Riggleman said. the occupants. The ordinance was en- Customers who meet the criteria will be receiving a acted in conjunction with letter from the city notifying a statewide moratorium on utility late fees and shutoffs that expired Sept. 30, said Riggleman. “For the past 18 months, the city was not charging late fees or implementing water shut offs for past due utility accounts. However, the monthly base fees and water usage fees were assessed to the account each month,” the letter said. “These balances will continue to compound if payments are not made on the account.” The basic terms of the payment plan, accord- ing to the ordinance, will require customers entering the payment plan to fully pay off their outstanding balance within one year; if a balance is outstanding past one year of the plan, minimum monthly payments will increase to $100 until the balance is paid off. Any variation of the terms of the arrangement must by the new rules have made it more difficult for officers to intervene, and instead of an Officers risk officer responding, she say it may be a social worker or decertification fire and EMT services who is Continued from page 1 approach a person during a crisis. That an unarmed first standard,” Mosbrucker wrote responder is the responsible in the Sept. 20 essay. party, she said, is putting Mosbrucker said the more them in harm’s way. stringent standard creates “Some (law enforcement uncertainty when an officer officers) will respond but can respond to a situation. they’re risking decertifi- That uncertainty, she said, cation,” Mosbrucker said. has led to situations where “They’re trying to be there officers will wait “around the even though there’s not a corner” during a call for a crime.” mental health crisis. While Mosbrucker admitted before the changes it was law the Republican Party in enforcement’s responsibil- Washington does currently not have the political power ity to respond to such calls, to call a special session — which would require two- thirds of legislature’s votes, or the governor’s signature to proceed; however, her party is working on a suite of legislation to submit for consideration during next year’s regular session. One priority for Mosbrucker is to see the reasonable suspicion standard back to practice; as well, she said she hopes to see more training options, more de-escalation tactics, and a return of community policing — “in which officers get out of their patrol cars every shift, engage with the public, and show how they are people who truly care about others.” REFORM Contributed photo Mid-Columbia Medical Center names new board trustee THE DALLES — Healthcare executive Anthony Masciotra, Jr., MBA, CPA, has been elected to the board of trustees of Mid-Columbia Medical Center, effective immediately. “I am so pleased to wel- come Anthony to the board of trustees,” said MCMC CEO Dennis Knox. “He brings a wealth of knowl- edge and perspective to our board and will be an incred- ible asset as we continue our work ensuring MCMC is meeting our community’s growing health and wellness needs — now and in the future.” Masciotra is the chief ex- ecutive officer of the Oregon Health & Science University Practice Plan, a 2,100-mem- ber group of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other licensed independent providers who are integral to all aspects of clinical care at OHSU. He also serves as chief am- Anthony bulatory and professional Masciotra, Jr. practice officer at OHSU Health and is a member of the School of Medicine senior leadership team. Prior to joining OHSU in 2016, he was CEO of UNM Medical Group, Inc., the faculty practice plan sup- porting the clinical providers and employees within the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine. Prior to that he served chief finan- cial officer at UNM Cancer Center and has also for Lovelace Health Systems, Cigna Healthcare, Baystate Health Systems and Ernst & Young. Masciotra is a member of the Academic Medical Group Leadership Roundtable and the Group on Faculty Practice of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Medical Group Management Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association. He earned a Master in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. Founded in 1901, Mid- Columbia Medical Center is a nationally recognized hospital dedicated to serving residents of The Dalles and its surrounding communities. CANDIDATE FORUMS You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Oct 13, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: Trout Lake School Board 2021 Candidate’s Forum Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://nixongwiltlaw.zoom.us/j/94907263905 Or One tap mobile : US: +13017158592,,94907263905# or +13126266799,,94907263905# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 949 0726 3905 International numbers available: https://nixongwiltlaw.zoom.us/u/abYEmEpCna Breathe Healthier You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Live Better ' What s your reason to quit smoking ? TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM A TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST IS READY TO HELP! ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: HR 541-386-6380 ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: TD 541-296-4610 MCMC: 541-506-5819 When: Oct 14, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: White Salmon School Board 2021 Candidate’s Forum Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://nixongwiltlaw.zoom.us/j/93097905804 Or One tap mobile : US: +12532158782,,93097905804# or +13462487799,,93097905804# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 Webinar ID: 930 9790 5804 International numbers available: https://nixongwiltlaw.zoom.us/u/abFfyQvwBh This is an important race—and we want you the readers to participate. We want all local candidates to join the forum so voters have the information they need to cast their votes. Please join these ZOOM sessions to help choose your candidate! 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