Commissioners Meet with Santiam Canyon Residents on Wildfire Recovery Framework
More than 50 people crowded into the Gates Fire Hall on Saturday, March 25, to hear and participate in a discussion around a draft recovery framework for the Santiam Canyon and provide input on future actions for wildfire recovery.
Marion County Commissioners attended the meeting alongside City Councilors from Gates and Detroit, and representatives from partner organizations like Oregon State Office of Emergency Management, the Long Term Recovery Group, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Santiam Hospital Service Integration Team. Together, they discussed ownership of the framework and next steps to deliver a final product to each community. The recovery framework is something Marion and Linn County Commissioners have partnered on since immediately after the fire.
The meeting opened with a presentation to update everyone in attendance about the current draft framework status regarding infrastructure development (such as sewer and septic), housing for fire victims, and what residents wanted the downtowns of Detroit and Gates to look like in the future. Public input was positive after the presentation. Business and property owners in the vicinity of Detroit had questions about the development of the community septic system in Detroit and how it could support future business growth. Others voiced concerns regarding the ongoing need for housing, recognizing that the Santiam Wildfire Relief Fund was not able to cover every uninsured or underinsured canyon resident. Commissioner Danielle Bethell shared information about the county’s recent win in securing $12 million from OHCS for fire victims who lost their homes. Residents were happy to hear the news, and they voiced a desire to ensure that there were limits in place to ensure new housing went to displaced fire victims as intended.
At the end of the presentation and the question and answer period, residents were asked to show their sentiments regarding the draft framework by a show of hands in favor or against. All appeared to be in favor.
Marion County Community Services is still accepting feedback on the proposed framework, which can be read and commented on here. Additionally, Marion County Commissioners will be in the Canyon again for community meetings on April 5 at 6:00pm at the Elkhorn Fire Station in Lyons, and on April 11 at 6:00pm at the Mehema Community Center in Lyons. For more information on the Commissioners’ public meetings, view their calendar with time and location details here.