Deschutes County will close Ward Road starting Monday as work begins on a project to rebuild a 1.27-mile stretch east of SE 27th Street. The project involves reconstructing Ward Road between U.S. Highway 20 and Stevens Road, plus paving adjacent local roads. Temperature changes over time have caused expansion and contraction of the structure of […]
Deschutes County
Posted inOpinion
If Residents Want an Opt-Out on Marijuana, Let Residents Put It on the Ballot Themselves
An opt-out measure is looming, costing taxpayers money on a question they’ve already answered
Ahead of the November 2018 election, then-candidate Patti Adair ran for Deschutes County Commissioner on two key platforms: Fiscal conservativism and being anti-marijuana. Since winning that election—by a narrow margin—and serving on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, she’s held true to being against marijuana growing in the county. On being a fiscal conservative, however, […]
Posted inNews
Opt Out Afoot
Deschutes County plans to add a measure to the 2020 ballot, asking residents to weigh in on future marijuana growing operations
In making a decision during their Aug. 8 Deschutes County Board meeting to “opt out” of allowing further marijuana business applications, commissioners have ensured that the country mouse/city mouse fight over cannabis farms will go through the 2020 election. And perhaps beyond. If you haven’t been closely following the county’s marijuana soap opera, here’s a […]
Posted inNews
DA Cautiously Optimistic with Budget Result
‘Hybrid’ solution involves some new staff, some work changes
District Attorney John Hummel is looking forward to seeing how a “creative” solution plays out after a back-and-forth with the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners in the spring over funding he requested for nearly a dozen new positions. “We ended up in a good place,” Hummel said. Hummel had argued that due to a high […]
Posted inNews
Filling a Void
Public housing projects aim to combat flat wages, high housing costs
More public housing will open over the next year or two, providing a much-needed supply of homes for a growing Central Oregon population that faces rising housing costs and incomes that fail to keep up. In an annual update to Deschutes County commissioners July 24, David Brandt, executive director of the local public housing authority, […]
Posted inNews
County Commission Holding Marijuana Hearing
People invited to share their thoughts on the County’s new rules, ahead of LUBA review
The Board of County Commissioners is holding a public hearing to go over the regulations of growing marijuana on rural lands.
Posted inNews
Added Support for Disadvantaged Kids
COPY program marks 14 years helping Deschutes County youth
Incarceration can affect so many more people than just the person serving time. One Deschutes County program is meant to help the children. The Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth program is managed through the Deschutes County Sheriff‘s Office. The program made their very first mentor match back in 2004, and they’re always looking for new […]
Posted inNews
County Changes Pot Rules
Commissioners declare an “emergency” to implement new rules sooner
The Deschutes County Commission has implemented a series of changes to its rules around growing recreational marijuana—and declared an “emergency” to make sure the rules go into effect sooner than the typical 90 days. The rules, which commissioners voted on Wednesday, include new regulations around odor, noise, lighting and reporting, among other changes. Although a […]
Posted inNews
A New Place to Call Home
A donation from Deschutes County will add 19 more affordable homes to the community
The high costs of land and construction labor are some of the factors making housing so expensive in Central Oregon and elsewhere. But recently, Deschutes County stepped in to help. The County just donated 1.85 acres to Habitat for Humanity in La Pine, soon be home to 19 multifamily townhomes—a new type of home for […]
Posted inNews
Rule Changes Ahead?
County Commissioners look at marijuana growing rules, but have made no changes just yet
The Deschutes County Commission is looking at proposed rule changes for marijuana growing in unincorporated areas of the county, which focus mainly on sound, noise and smell. The Commission looked at those proposed changes on Oct. 17, but has yet to vote on them. Deschutes County already has a number of regulations for marijuana growers, […]
