Redmond managed camp back on track after funding uncertainty
Tracee Tuesday
REDMOND, Ore. {KTVZ} — After weeks of uncertainty, plans to open a managed camp in Redmond by winter are moving forward following approval from both the City of Redmond and Deschutes County to cover unexpected construction costs.
The camp, a joint project between Deschutes County and the City of Redmond, saw costs rise significantly above the initial estimate. The low bid for construction came from Taylor Northwest, at $676,118.75 — roughly $145,118.75 over the original projection.
Under a proposed amendment to the intergovernmental agreement (IGA), the City and County agreed to split the increased expense. Redmond’s total contribution now stands at approximately $322,559.38, with Deschutes County covering $353,559.38.
In October, the Redmond City Council had deadlocked on whether to fund the additional costs, delaying the County’s decision. However, during an October 28 meeting attended by returning Mayor Ed Fitch, the council voted to move the project forward. Days later, during a joint session on November 3, Deschutes County Commissioners agreed to follow Redmond’s lead and contribute their share, clearing the way for construction to begin.
“Construction should be starting by the end of the month,” Mayor Fitch said during the meeting. “We anticipate the camp will be completely built by the end of January. Our job now is to finalize the camp rules and issue an RFP for an operator to manage it for at least the next couple of years.”
County considers expansion of Board districts
The joint session also included discussion on expanding the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners from three to five members. The District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC) has been tasked with redrawing district lines to reflect population growth fairly across the county’s urban and rural regions.
Jen Patterson, Deschutes County’s Strategic Initiatives Manager, said the committee aims to keep precincts intact while balancing district populations. “They’re looking at current voter registration data, as well as building permit data from the past three years, to understand where growth is occurring,” Patterson explained. “It’s a big responsibility for the committee to ensure growth trends are represented fairly.”
Residents raise concerns over park and road project
A few community members also voiced concerns about the newly approved High Desert Ranch subdivision and its related road project through the future Pershall Way Dry Canyon Community Park.
Victor Borghese, a Redmond resident, urged city leaders to protect the park from private development. “Let that be the park for posterity,” Borghese said. “Let it stand for generations to come.”
Mayor Fitch responded that the issue was not on the evening’s agenda. “We do have a park plan and a transportation plan,” he noted. “Those will need to be reconciled at a future date.”
KTVZ will continue tracking progress on the Pershall Park project and the finalization of Deschutes County’s new commissioner districts, including how the transition from three to five members will align with upcoming election deadlines.