March 25, 2009

Home Rule meetings begin Thursday in Tygh Valley

     What should Wasco County government look like in the future?
     The Wasco County Home Rule Committee will hold a series of meetings to explain the proposed Home Rule Charter, which would seriously change the way the county government goes about its business.
     Thursday night, the committee will be at the Tygh Valley Community Center, 57594 Tygh Valley Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
     The committee met nearly two dozen times between November 2007 and December 2008, and crafted a charter that would expand the number of commissioners from three to five, dividing the county into four electoral districts, one per commissioner, and electing the chair at large from the whole county.
     It would also vest day-to-day governing power in a hired administrator, leaving commissioners to handle policy issues.
     Members of the Home Rule committee want to be sure the public understands the complex changes involved.
     At Thursday’s meeting there will be a slide presentation entitled “A Home Rule Charter for Wasco County,” and maps will be on display showing the proposed voting districts for commissioners.
     The committee will also receive public testimony on the proposed charter and address questions from the public. There will also be a survey available in the form of a written questionnaire, which will be collected at the end of the meeting.
     Future meetings are scheduled in Mosier April 9, Dufur April 16 and in The Dalles April 30.
     Current law requires that a charter election be held during a general election. The next general election will be in November 2010.