Baker County approves purchase of St. Francis de Sales historic cemetery property; debate over event center plan and outreach continues

The Baker County Board of Commissioners voted to purchase the St. Francis de Sales historic cemetery parcel off College Street for $45,000, funding the acquisition from the county’s economic development account. The motion passed following a lengthy public discussion about a long‑planned proposal to develop a multiuse event facility nearby.

County staff and Economic Development Council (EDC) representatives described a multi‑year planning process and a feasibility study that, they said, shows potential revenue for the county from sports tournaments, conventions and other events. An EDC presenter said the county would use transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue and grants for acquisition and site planning and that no county general fund dollars were committed for land acquisition.

The planning effort and the proposed event center drew strong public comment. Several residents expressed concern about outreach and potential impacts on adjacent homeowners, traffic and the historic cemetery itself. Sharon Bass, who lives on College Street, told commissioners she had not received timely notification about plans and urged the county to slow the process and provide more community engagement. Another resident, Amber Mopah, said homeowners at the end of College Street had not been adequately contacted and asked how access changes would affect their properties.

The county and project advocates said they had done years of outreach, feasibility work and coordination with state agencies. The presenter described multiple studies and consultations with ODOT and said the plan includes new access points to reduce traffic through the neighborhood and work with the church to preserve the historic cemetery as a protected green space. The presenter said the Diocese of Bend and church leaders had agreed to the sale and that the county would include protective language and stewardship commitments in the purchase agreement.

Several residents warned against any use of eminent domain. Commissioners and staff said the purchase agreement does not include any plan to use eminent domain and that the county would not take private homes; they emphasized that the action under consideration was acquisition of church‑owned land only. Commissioners also noted that the cemetery would remain protected under Oregon historic‑site rules and that the county already owns and maintains other historic burial sites.

The motion: A commissioner moved that Baker County purchase the St. Francis de Sales historic cemetery parcel for $45,000 with funds from economic development account 02/18 (line item 5208001); the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The county clerk recorded submitted written emails from several residents opposing aspects of the project and the commission asked staff to include those communications in the public record.

Why it matters: The purchase transfers stewardship of a historic cemetery and helps the county secure an adjacent parcel for future development planning tied to an event facility the EDC says will generate tourism revenue. Opponents raised concerns about outreach, traffic, neighborhood impacts, the effect on local households (especially fixed‑income residents) and the prospect, which they said worried them, that the county might pursue eminent domain later in the process.

Next steps: Commissioners directed staff to finalize the purchase documents and incorporate stewardship and protections for the historic site. One commissioner said they expected more robust public outreach before further decisions on site design and road access; another commissioner warned the county would withdraw support if the project failed to demonstrate community backing by the end of the summer.