ENTERPRISE — Wolf compensation, economic development and housing are among the issues Northeastern Oregon lawmakers are working on in the legislature, Wallowa County residents learned Wednesday, Feb. 19, during a town hall-style meeting hosted by the board of commissioners.

Commissioners John Hillock and Lisa Collier led the forum, held at the Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise. Commissioner Susan Roberts was on medical leave.

State Sena. Todd Nash gave an update via Zoom from Salem, where he is working on several bills. Chief among Nash’s priorities is a bill to increase compensation to livestock owners for animals killed by wolves.

That bill, SB 777, goes before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire this week. State Rep. Bobby Levy is sponsoring the bill in the House. It then has to clear the Ways and Means Committees in both chambers, where it failed to get a hearing two years ago. If it clears Ways and Means, it will go before the full Senate.

The bill removes payment for lost livestock, provides that compensation for injury to livestock or working dogs under the wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program must be based on fair market value and other factors. It would compensate livestock owners at a seven-to-one ratio, instead of the current one-to-one ratio and it caps compensation at $25,000 per animal.

Nash had been pushing for an increase in the compensation for several years as a county commissioner. He had the assistance of his predecessor in the Senate, now-retired Sen. Bill Hansell, as well as Levy.

He said that currently there seems to be “positive traction” on the bill.

Economic development

Hillock spent most of the town hall discussing a bill he is promoting sponsored by Levy, HB 2376. That bill relates to economic development in Wallowa County and declares an economic emergency here. It would establish the Wallowa Rural and Recreational Economic Development Board to develop and implement strategies for investment in workforce development, workforce housing and economic development in the Wallowa Rural and Recreational Economic Development Region, including a grant and loan program.

Hillock emphasized that this is more than a housing bill. Although Wallowa County is seriously in need of more affordable housing for workers, it has other challenges, too. One of those challenges is obtaining grants through the state agency Business Oregon. Such grants could help construct the estimated 100 new housing units needed to attract and retain local talent.

Also discussed was the idea of taxing second homes differently than workforce housing, with examples from vacation areas such as Sun Valley, Idaho, and Vail, Colorado. Those areas have city taxes on food and beverages, which adds local revenue.

However, Hillock said, that may not be permissible under state law and he is reluctant to advocate for it. He did say he would research how those cities handle similar taxation issues.

Hillock compared the housing bill to one passed several years ago to help Malheur County deal with competition from neighboring Idaho, where people can shop more cheaply and buy cheaper homes while still working in Oregon. Although Wallowa County is on the Idaho border, access to the neighboring state isn’t as easy, but out-of-staters do purchase second homes here for vacations or recreation. That is both an asset and a drawback for Wallowa County, since it brings in tourist dollars but also limits the availability of housing for the local workforce.

Hillock also brought up the need for new sources of revenue in the county. He mentioned that long-haul truck drivers must travel to get their commercial driver’s licenses and there could be a CDL school here. He also suggested a welding school here, as there are businesses that need welders.

One audience member suggested raising the hotel/motel tax to generate revenue for the county, but Hillock said that has met with strong resistance in the past. The lodging tax already is earmarked for specific uses, such as ambulance service and landfill maintenance.

Hillock said that HB 2376 is now before the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade. Like the livestock compensation bill, it needs a hearing before Ways and Means before it can get the vote of a full chamber.

The sheriff

Wallowa County Sheriff Ryan Moody also spoke during the town hall, particularly addressing outdated communication equipment that needs replacing or upgrades.

He also discussed the challenges of covering such a large county with limited resources and only four full-time deputies and the difficulties that presents.

Moody also brought up the issue of addressing dog control, which has been brought to the county commissioners and city councils.

He emphasized that his department relies heavily on the presence of the Oregon State Police and the Enterprise Police Department.

He said he plans to regularly attend city council meetings to address their questions and concerns.

Other bills

Nash and Collier both discussed other legislative efforts now underway.

Nash mentioned SB769, which would allow counties to vote on hunting cougars with hounds. He said expertise from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is needed on that issue.

He also expressed high hopes to fully endow the Oregon AgriStress Helpline with $2 million. The health line is under SB779.

Nash and Levy also are sponsoring SB780, which removes the annual limit of $1.53 million, adjusted for inflation, on allocations from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund to the county fair account. It would bring in money from the state lottery to local fair accounts. It is now before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.

Collier is promoting another bill giving local preference to student drivers who seek to obtain their driver’s licenses. She noted how with the Enterprise Department of Motor Vehicles office only open three days a week, sometimes locals have to travel to La Grande or elsewhere to get a license. She said that is particularly inconvenient for parents who often must take a day off work to get their kids to an out-of-town DMV.

The commissioners said they hope to hold a similar town hall every quarter to keep the public informed of county and legislative progress.