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.