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Community group secures nonprofit, engineering steps for Tumalo roundabout artwork
Summary
Stakeholders reported progress on installing community‑funded artwork in the Tumalo roundabout. A local nonprofit has formed to raise construction and maintenance funds and will pursue an intergovernmental agreement with ODOT; permitting, engineering drawings and maintenance obligations were outlined.
A group of Tumalo stakeholders updated the Deschutes County Board on plans to install artwork in the roundabout at U.S. 20, reporting that a nonprofit has formed to raise funds and that the project will proceed through engineering, ODOT permitting and a county intergovernmental agreement.
Chris Doherty, department director, and local stakeholders said ODOT permits artwork in roundabouts provided the local government signs an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that assigns long‑term maintenance responsibility to the local government or a community group. Stakeholders reported they have formed a nonprofit, are collecting donations and will commission engineering drawings to initiate ODOT's application process.
Nathan, who said his company (Nathan's Custom Wooden Steel) will be the installer, described design concepts the community favored: irrigation windmill imagery, horses to reflect local horse properties, trout representing the river and native, low‑maintenance vegetation. Stakeholders said the project budget will include a maintenance reserve to fund ongoing upkeep; ODOT requires an agreement that specifies repair timelines and removal if maintenance obligations are not met.
Board members asked about safety, maintenance and permitting. Staff explained ODOT design standards limit moving parts, lighting and require breakaway features similar to street signs. The group said they are lining up donated services for traffic control and foundation work and that they will apply for the state permit to work in the highway right‑of‑way. No construction start date was set; stakeholders said parts of the budget are already raised.
Ending: Staff said the county will negotiate a standard IGA with ODOT and a side agreement documenting maintenance expectations with the new nonprofit; the board welcomed the update.
