Resident raises concern over public input as Polk County advances regional water-permit talks

A Polk County resident told the Board of Commissioners on May 7 that she could not find clear opportunities for public input on a draft technical memo about a proposed regional water supply that uses a Willamette River permit Polk County holds.

The comment came during the meeting's public comment period, when Sally Penna of Cloud Corner Road asked whether there is a process so the proposal "isn't a wet cemented project before we even have a chance for input." A county staff member responded that there is currently no public engagement process because Polk County is in "a multijurisdictional conversation" about use of a permit the county acquired years ago on the Willamette River and is negotiating intergovernmental agreements with Monmouth and Independence.

The staff member said Dallas had initially been part of the talks but has withdrawn "at least for now," and described the effort as part of more than two decades of county study to secure additional drinking-water resources. The staff member said the county intends to buy a water right from Adair Village, that the authorized maximum diversion is 25 cubic feet per second, and that there will be obligations to return some water to in-stream uses.

The staff member also said Polk County had sought a place-based planning grant to broaden public engagement but was denied a $250,000 application by the Oregon Water Resources Department. The staff member directed members of the public to materials posted on the Polk County community development pages and suggested contacting Austin McGuigan, community development director, for additional questions.

Penna said photographs in the draft technical memo showed apparent on-site activity on or near her property and repeated concern that the project might be advanced without meaningful local input.

Votes at a glance

Approval of agenda '025-05-07: Motion to approve the meeting agenda; motion moved and seconded; passed unanimously (tally: yes 3). Approval of minutes —/30/2025: Motion to approve minutes; motion moved and seconded; passed unanimously (tally: yes 3). Approval of the consent calendar: Motion to approve consent calendar; motion moved and seconded; passed unanimously (tally: yes 3).

The meeting opened with all commissioners present and concluded with the board adjourning after routine approvals. No executive session was scheduled or requested during the meeting, and the board did not take any formal action on the regional water-supply concept during this session.

Polk County officials have posted the technical-memo materials and related documentation on the community development section of the county website, according to the staff response. The staff member said the water-right entitlement at issue has been the subject of county study for more than 20 years and that final arrangements involve intergovernmental agreements for shared use of the permit by Polk County, Monmouth and Independence.

The transcript indicates residents' concerns focus on transparency and potential site impacts shown in draft materials; the county response emphasized the multijurisdictional negotiation status and existing permitting constraints. The staff member framed the work as part of long-running county water-resource planning and recommended contacting Community Development Director Austin McGuigan for further information or clarification.

The board's routine approvals (agenda, minutes and consent calendar) were the only formal votes taken at the meeting; the regional water-supply matter remained at the discussion/comment stage with no direction or formal decision recorded in this session.