Meeting scheduled on possible Dorman Center agreement posted on 03/31/2023
At a Tuesday, March 14 Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Board of
Directors meeting, Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull invited the HFD
board to a Clackamas Board of County Commissioners (BCC) executive session to
hear a proposal for the purchase of the Dorman Center properties to use as the
site of a new district fire station.
The executive session will occur on the morning of Tuesday,
April 4 and will be closed to the public. Community members will have the
opportunity to voice their opinions on the matter after the two boards have
their initial discussion.
“The Hoodland Board is excited to hear the county’s terms
for the transfer of the properties,” HFD Fire Chief Jim Price said. “Although
there are no numbers yet, it seems the county’s intent is a minimal cost (for
the district to purchase the properties),”
Shull stated that the BCC was not ready to put forward firm
numbers on their proposal for the Dorman Center’s transfer to the HFD. However,
Shull was able to present a preview of the county’s proposal without final
numbers or terms.
“The numbers don’t really mean anything; the concept does,”
Shull said.
Shull explained that the county was considering leasing the
property to HFD for five years. As a term of the lease agreement, if HFD
maintains the property, the community garden and parking for the park and ride
mountain express shuttle, the lease will be reduced by one third for each of
the three conditions met.
Shull stated that if HFD satisfies these requirements the
lease will be reduced to a nominal amount. The fire district will have five
years to secure grants, a bond and other funding for the construction of the
new station. If the district fails to secure funding for a new station the site
will be returned to the county. If HFD secures funding during the five-year
period, the property will be transferred to the district.
“A new fire station is very important; you need a new
facility. The five-year period will be an opportunity to get your ducks in a
row,” Shull said. “The Dorman Center has been sitting on the rolls of the
county for many, many years. It’s doing nothing positive (unoccupied).”
During the meeting, members of the HFD board highlighted
that a new station at the Dorman Center site would function as a community
focal point.
“It’s a really good place for a fire station. The site
offers a better location for serving the region, a better layout for a future
station and an easier undertaking than demolishing and rebuilding in the
current location,” stated Chief Price. “We’re currently optimistic that the
discussion is progressing right on schedule.”
After the April 4 executive session, the BCC will need to
vote on any agreement at a public meeting. No such meeting is currently
scheduled.
The BCC typically holds meetings at 10 a.m. on Thursdays at
2051 Kaen Road in Oregon City but will also hold evening meetings once a month
at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, typically the second Thursday of the month.
Anyone wishing to provide comments to the BCC during a
business meeting can register via Zoom when attending online or fill out a blue
card at the door when attending in person.
For more information on the BCC, including weekly schedules
and meeting agendas, visit https://www.clackamas.us/bcc. More info on the HFD
can be found online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT
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