Tillamook County commissioners on May 28 discussed a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would change governance of the Salmonberry Trail project if the current intergovernmental agency STIA is dissolved.

County staff said the MOU would transition the rail lease and project backbone to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). Under the draft, OPRD would become the leaseholder for the rail bank corridor (the lease currently held by STIA via the Port of Tillamook Bay), provide staff and legal counsel for project governance, and host a trail steering committee. Partner entities — including Tillamook County, the Port of Tillamook Bay, ODF, Washington County, cities along the corridor and the Salmonberry Trail Foundation — would continue as steering partners with defined roles.

Staff described practical reasons for the proposed change: STIA has no permanent staff or legal counsel and faces an expiration timeline in September; during prior legal challenges the organization lacked capacity to respond. Moving the lease to OPRD, staff said, would ensure legal representation and a staffed program office to coordinate trail standards, operating agreements and oversight. A separate cost-sharing MOU sets partner contributions for a staff position at OPRD — staff said Tillamook County had previously discussed a $25,000 annual contribution from transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue to support the OPRD staff position.

Commissioners asked for more detail before committing: they requested indemnification and limits-of-liability language from county counsel, clarity on which county department or staff would serve as the local liaison for Tillamook County responsibilities, and confirmation of how OPRD’s in-kind staff contribution would be reflected in cost-sharing language. Staff said they will collect suggested edits and return a revised MOU for further consideration and that timeline is constrained because STIA’s legal status is set to expire in September.

The board did not take action but asked staff to solicit further input from local trail champions and county staff and to consider a board briefing to discuss departmental capacity and assignment of local responsibilities.