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Commission discusses CDA/Aragon requests: annexation, enterprise-zone area, roads and water sourcing; no formal action
Summary
The Morrow County Board of Commissioners discussed multiple requests tied to the Columbia Development Authority and the City of Aragon covering enterprise-zone boundaries, annexation for fire protection, road-development priorities and potential use of a 640-acre parcel for water sourcing, and directed staff to return with further legal and planning information.
The Morrow County Board of Commissioners held an extended discussion with county staff, fire officials and other stakeholders about several requests from the Columbia Development Authority (CDA) and the City of Aragon involving enterprise-zone boundaries, fire protection/annexation, road development and potential use of the 640-acre parcel for water sourcing.
On enterprise-zone/area-of-influence requests, commissioners said such boundary changes normally go through the CREZ (enterprise zone) board and the Port of Morrow; several commissioners said the CDA and city should present their request to the CREZ board for a formal recommendation because the CREZ board would then make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners and the Port.
Regarding annexation into the Aragon Rural Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Mike Hughes and other fire officials described an existing contract framework and mutual aid arrangements that currently provide fire protection to adjoining CDA properties. Chief Hughes said fire districts agreed to provide protection until a formal annexation occurs and that a legal description from the CDA is pending and necessary for a formal annexation request. Commissioners discussed the county's role and the process for annexation; County Counsel agreed to research and return the legal process for annexation and incorporation/annexation of property into a fire district as a business item for future discussion.
On roadway development, staff and commissioners discussed prior federal/state funding and planning to improve access to CDA property from I-82 and the depot entrance; Commissioners noted that some parcels remain federal property and that the Port of Morrow would have responsibility for later road-building on port-owned parcels. Commissioners and the Port representative discussed sequencing of improvements east and west of the depot and the split of earlier $7 million in planning funds between Umatilla and Morrow counties.
Commissioners also discussed a suggestion to examine the suitability of the 640-acre parcel for a water source (wells/storage) and asked the water consortium and roadmap project staff to consider whether that parcel could serve regional water needs. Staff noted additional federal earmark funds and ongoing roadmap and consortium initiatives that could support feasibility work.
No formal board action was taken on any of these items; staff were directed to return with more information and legal analysis where appropriate.
