(MT) – The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners (BCC) cast a
unanimous vote to accept a staff report approving the expansion of the
Rhododendron CPO boundaries that the CPO had requested.

The approval, which came at a March 18 meeting, marked the culmination of
an effort to expand the boundaries that was initiated in 2007.

“This is a red-letter day for the Rhododendron CPO Board who has worked
tirelessly with Clackamas County to get the boundary to be more
representative of the community they serve,” Rhody CPO President Steven
Graeper said. “My congratulations extend to the entire RCPO Board and my
sincerest thanks to county staff and the BCC.”

The result of the effort expands the Rhody CPO boundaries east to Road 39 –
also known as Kiwanis Camp Road – and west to Lolo Pass Road to include the
north and south compounds of the Zigzag Ranger Station.

The new boundary will: address inclusion and greater representation of the
residents; resolve issues caused by the physical gap between the Government
Camp CPO and the Forest Service cabins; formalize the historical perspective
that Rhododendron is the center for planning and development for the
Rhododendron community and all those impacted should be included; and
consolidate all properties served by Lady Creek Water System and
Rhododendron Water Association into one boundary area.

Combining the two water systems will qualify the CPO for low-income funding,
according to Graeper.