The County discussion about the grants and associated trail projects will continue at this week’s commission meeting, Thursday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m.
Watch meetings here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfoZQSvH1V2JrpU3nFCgIA
Agendas and other meeting materials available here: https://www.co.yamhill.or.us/meetings
Write to commissioners here: bocinfo@co.yamhill.or.us, cc nmontesano@newsregister.com
Updates from last week:
“Trails in our community have always been the #1 item that people have identified as a resource that they would like in their community,” Lisa Rogers, Board President of the Chehalem Park and Recreation District, told Yamhill County commissioners last week.
Lisa said that CPRD would like to talk with the County about acquiring the Yamhelas Westsider Trail right-of-way if the County is not going to move forward with the trail. County commissioners said they need to have a better idea of their future direction before having those conversations.
County counsel Christian Boenisch told commissioners their options for the right-of-way include sale, lease, transfer to another public entity, exchange, donation or retaining ownership. Each option has its own statutory requirement. The trail right-of-way was acquired as a transportation corridor and is listed as such in the county’s transportation system plan and comprehensive plan.
Christian said transferring the corridor as an intact parcel and for use as a transportation corridor may not trigger repayment of the $1.6 million ODOT Transportation Enhancement grant for acquisition of the right-of-way. Transfer for non-transportation use probably would trigger that repayment requirement.
Commissioners also directed County staff to ask ODOT for a proposal on how the county could pay back the Connect Oregon VI grant for the bridge design, engineering and construction. They hope to have an in-person executive session conversation with ODOT once there’s a proposal on the table. ODOT had declined to negotiate repayment options in a public meeting.
Thank you to everyone who has continued to write letters to County Commissioners and tune-in to their meetings!