Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Declaration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Klamath County board declares local emergency after Homefront water line failure
Summary
The board unanimously approved a declaration of local emergency under ORS 401.305 and ORS 401.309 after cold-weather damage tapped a main water line at the Homefront property, forcing tenant relocation and immediate repairs.
The Klamath County board voted to declare a local emergency on Jan. 27 after county staff reported a broken water line that flooded a unit at the Homefront property.
An unidentified county staff member told the board the property "tapped into a main line with a smaller line," and that cold weather and insulation exposure likely caused the failure. The speaker said staff had stopped the water and moved tenants out of the affected unit so repairs could begin.
Chair Commissioner Minty moved that the board "sign off on the declaration of local emergency, under ORS401.305 and 401.309 related to the pipe broken water line at Homefront." A second was given and the board voted in favor; Commissioner Minty recorded an "aye" and another board member likewise affirmed the motion.
The declaration authorizes the county to take immediate steps to restore water service and return tenants when it is safe to do so, and was supported by board members as a necessary response to the cold-weather damage. No deadline or dollar amount for repairs was specified at the meeting.
The board did not provide further public-session details about repair timelines or temporary housing for displaced tenants; staff said tenants were not in the unit at the time of the incident and had been relocated prior to repair work.
