This article was in Sunday’s (April 23rd, 2017) Herald and News

Written By: Holly Owens

More than 25 employers hiring summer staff will be on hand to meet with job seekers at a Klamath Community College job fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release.

The Summer Jobs-Job Fair will connect job seekers directly with employers hoping to fill full-time and part-time summer positions. The fair is open to college and high school students, and to the public.

A range of employers, including the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lake of the Woods Resort, Crater Lake Zipline, Klamath Vector Control District, and Stewart’s Firefighter Food Catering, will be at the event.

Many other employers offering seasonal summer employment in resort, manufacturing, construction, retail, health care, public service and various other industries will also attend.

No on-site interviews are planned, but there will be opportunities for job seekers to ask questions and arrange interviews. Job seekers should have resumes to hand out and should dress appropriately for meeting a potential employer.

KCC WorkSource Career Center staff will be available to help participants apply for jobs online if needed.

For more information call 541-880-2251.

This article was in Wednesday’s (April 19th, 2017) Herald and News

Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter

Klamath County Commissioners expect there will be few changes to the 2017-18 budget as revenue for the coming fiscal year is predicted to remain stable.

On Tuesday, Board Chair Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris said the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 should differ little from the present budget and few cuts have been recommended for county departments.

“It’s a pretty status quo budget this year,” she said.

The county’s budget committee held the first in a series of meetings with department heads Tuesday to evaluate budget proposals. Regular budget hearings will take place through April 25 at the commissioners’ hearing room and are open to the public.

Minty Morris said signs of growth in the local economy have bolstered expectations for the budget. She said cuts so far have been meant to streamline departments rather than achieve drastic reductions in expenditures.

“We’re not anticipating any major cuts,” said Minty Morris.

In the past, a significant point of budget contention has been sheriff’s office funding. The department is the largest draw on county resources and is supported by often-unreliable federal revenue.

This year, Sheriff Chris Kaber said he does not expect the heated budget negotiations of years past and said he believes his department has the full support of commissioners to maintain county law enforcement. Kaber is expected to discuss his budget with the committee Thursday morning.

Though the 2017-18 budget is expected to remain stable, commissioners have not ruled out significant changes in the future. Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said, between himself and Commissioner Donnie Boyd taking office this January, the new board of commissioners is looking for ways they may need to refine county services later on and how those services should be funded.

“Right now we’re in the process of evaluating the county,” he said.

Despite few changes forecast for the next budget, DeGroot said residents are still encouraged to attend budget committee hearings and provide input. A tentative scheduled of committee hearings is available at www.klamathcounty.org and with this article at www.heraldandnews.com.

This article was in Wednesday’s (April 19th, 2017) Herald and News

Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter

The study of industrial and commercial sites downtown is slated to spur long-term financial momentum in the area, and catalyze funding for a proposed multi-million dollar development at the site of the former Balsiger Motor Co. building.

The Klamath Falls City Council approved a contract with a private consultant to study the feasibility of an urban renewal district in commercial and industrial areas that spans east of Main Street, heads toward the railroad, and travels up the bypass toward Crater Lake Parkway.

Council members voted 4-1 to move forward with a $33,400 contract with Elaine Howard Consulting to conduct the study, which will examine the area’s annual growth rate, percentage gain in assessed value assumptions and percentage gain in assessed value plus assumptions on the future development of the site of the former Balsiger building.

Mixed uses

The study area contains a mix of zones, according to the city’s management assistant Joe Wall, with heavy industrial zones along the rail corridor.

“This area overall, I think we’ve seen a lot of disinvestment, deterioration,” Wall said. “It was originally plotted as heavy industrial, primarily served by rail corridors. That’s really no longer the case. You have a lot of small lots.”

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) would be generated through redirecting a portion of property tax revenues to the urban renewal district area, according to Howard’s consulting document on the proposed district.

Most taxing districts have approved of the urban renewal district, according to City Manager Nathan Cherpeski. Fire officials have tentatively supported the concept but are still determining whether to approve being part of the district.

Development tool

TIF funds could be utilized for projects, ranging from infrastructure to developer assistance to accumulating parcels and compiling them, according to Wall.

“We just see this as one of the few tools that we have for an area that’s largely languished the rest of the city, and trying to make something happen in that area that hasn’t done much unfortunately,” Wall said.

Councilman Bill Adams, the sole vote in opposition, questioned the use of the urban renewal solely for the purpose of primarily moving forward on a project to build out the former Balsiger site.

“Isn’t really this whole thing really being put together to provide funding to give to a contractor to put a building on the old Balsiger site – isn’t that the main reason for all of this?” Adams asked Wall during the meeting.

“I really object to us spending more money on that property and moving forward with this urban renewal district to try and dig up money to give to somebody else from another area to come in and build this building,” Adams added.

Pivotal point

Wall said, “It’s one of many projects and it would certainly be one of larger value ones, but that said, the city does own the lot, so we have to do something with it.”

“That certainly would be a catalyst site,” Wall said, of the Balsiger. “Probably would give off a lot of tax increment to fund the rest of the area, but that is a discussion we have to have.”

The city is currently in an extended negotiating agreement with Tokola Properties for possible development of The Esplanade, a multi-level apartment and retail complex that would sit on the Balsiger site. A disposition and development agreement would be needed to move forward with the proposed development. The city would need to provide at least $2 million toward the multi-million dollar project, according to Wall.

Councilman Dan Tofell said he understands Adams view, but wants to see something done with the Balsiger site.

“Nothing commits us to moving ahead with the urban renewal district until we see that document and vote on it,” Tofell said.

“Initially, I was somewhat reluctant, but as I’ve stated prior, we have to do something with that end of town. It’s an eyesore as it is right now, and I think for Klamath to move ahead, and to increase our tax base in the downtown area, this is almost vital.”

With approval by council, Howard will compile a proposed feasibility study report that would next go before Klamath Falls Planning Commission and return to council for approval at a later date.

Request for Proposal – Online Reputation Management and Community Image Campaign

Summary

With this Request for Proposal (RFP), KCEDA seeks to acquire the services of a qualified marketing and/PR firm to support its marketing initiatives. KCEDA on-behalf of several community partners invites proposals from interested marketing agencies with experience in brand development/management; marketing; social media strategy, implementation, and management; website design and development; and market research. Preference will be given to agencies providing a broad range of services; subcontracts with local providers are acceptable. Bidders must follow exactly, and be responsive to, ALL requirements of this RFP. It is the bidder’s responsibility to provide all specified materials in the required form and format. Responses that are not in the required form and format will not be considered.

The contract period will be from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018. Based on performance, the contract maybe extended on a no-bid basis. Details pertaining to a contract extension are to be determined.

Objectives

Several community groups, organizations and companies have identified a need to launch an image campaign and reputation management strategy for Klamath County. The idea is to create a positive brand reputation, building confidence in the region for visitors, businesses and professionals looking to move or work in the basin. The concept is to thoughtfully develop and leverage online content, messaging and public relations efforts from a variety of community partners. The successful firm will initiate the launch of a coordinated Online Reputation Management and Community Image Campaign. That engages at minimum social media, online forums, blogs, news sites, search engines and other Internet sources. The strategy and approach will address the following tasks:

Improving the tagging and search engine optimization of company-published materials, such as white papers and positive customer testimonials to push down negative content.^[17]
Publishing original, positive websites and social media profiles, with the aim of outperforming negative results in a search.
Submitting online press releases to authoritative websites to promote brand presence and suppress negative content.
Submitting take-down requests for news and posts that do not highlight Klamath County in a positive light.
Getting mentions of the business or individual on third-party sites that rank highly on Google.
Creating positive reviews of the individual or business to counteract negative ones.
Proactively responding to public criticism stemming from recent changes.^[20]
Removing or suppressing images that are embarrassing or violate copyright.^[22]
Contacting Wikipedia editors to remove allegedly incorrect information from the Wikipedia pages

Scope of Work

This contract requires a firm with the technical expertise and knowledge to guide the community through an innovative strategy and in-depth implementation

The scope of work will include the following:

Phase I Strategy Development

Serve as contractors (Community Groups) expert advisor for the development and implementation of the campaign.
Inventory existing and future stakeholders that are required to participate in campaign
Identify the primary and secondary audiences to focus the efforts of campaign on (i.e. new home owners, professionals, businesses, exiting residents, etc.)
Develop a three-year strategy based on the Klamath County attributes, business climate, tourism assets and quality of life.
Describe the tactics and technology used to implement the strategy. Please indicate any software purchases or technology requirements.
Develop actions to regularly monitor online content for negative postings, blogs or content that affect the image of Klamath County.
Develop a budget including revenue sources and expenditures both in cash and in-kind to support the efforts on the campaign.

Phase II Implementation

Based upon item A-F recommend a detailed implementation plan that includes quantifiable outcomes and metrics, as well a timeline for completion. The plan should define roles, responsibilities of the contractor, consultant and stakeholders. Budgets should address a range of options that will provide an impactful program of work.

Submission Requirements

Interested firms are encouraged to keep their proposals brief and relevant to the Scope of Services. All proposals should include the following:

Cover letter with name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the contact person; identify the capacity this person should manage and execute a marketing strategy and branding campaign of this magnitude.
Identify the project manager and the personnel to be assigned to this engagement (including names, addresses, current phone numbers, and e-mail addresses). Please include resumes for all team members, identify how many years this team has worked together, and a list of projects this team has completed or is currently working on.
Identify all sub-consultants (including names, addresses, current phone numbers, and e-mail addresses) and include a resume of related experience, how long the sub-consultant has worked with the marketing consultant, and how many projects the sub-consultant has completed, or is currently working on, with the marketing consultant.
Background on the firm and its experience in preparing comprehensive and strategic marketing programs and campaigns, especially for cities and public agencies.
A narrative that presents the services a firm would provide detailing the approach, methodology, deliverables, and client meetings.
Description of overall knowledge of Klamath County and the basin.
A list of online tools and techniques used to measure reach and effectiveness of the campaign.
A summary of any suggested approaches the City should consider for this effort.
A timeline for the preparation and implementation of the tasks/activities being proposed per Scope of Services.
At least three (3) public or private references for projects of similar nature to this engagement.
List of billable rates for all personnel assigned to project, including hourly rate, media commission percentages, and any other charges that are proposed.
A summary of the professional insurance coverage the firm maintains.

Submit the proposal in a separate sealed package entitled “Online Reputation Management and Community Image Campaign”. Respondents should submit 3 bound copies and 1 unbound reproducible copy by mail or courier. Submittals should not exceed 15 pages,. All hard copy submittals should be directed to the contact below no later than 5:00 p.m. May 20^th, 2017:

Contact:

Andrew Stork
Operations Manager
andrew@teamklamath.com

205 Riverside Drive, Suite E
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
541.882.9600
ChooseKlamath.com

This article was in Thursday’s (April 13th, 2017) Herald and News

Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter

Local recommendations for the next Klamath County district attorney were well received Thursday when delivered to Gov. Kate Brown’s office in Salem, while a DA appointment could be announced by early next month.

County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said Brown and her legal staff were “all very kind, very receptive” when DeGroot, Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Tramp and Joe Spendolini —who had organized the Klamath Falls review committee — personally delivered the recommendations to Brown’s office in Salem.

“They were impressed and very thankful,” said DeGroot.

He said Brown’s staff will soon be coming to Klamath County to conduct a second round of candidate interviews. Brown is expected to appoint a new DA within the next four weeks, said DeGroot, possibly as soon as the beginning of May.

Committee approval

The position of DA has been vacant since Rob Patridge resigned March 10 and on March 21 Brown gave approval for a local committee, formed by Spendolini through the chamber and commissioners, to interview DA applicants.

The committee was the first of its kind in Oregon, as the governor has unilateral authority to make an appointment and local input is not required.

A letter from Brown to the committee said she would retain the authority of her office but would take local recommendations “into very serious account.”

On Tuesday the committee recommended Klamath Falls-based defense attorney Evelyn Costello and Klamath County Deputy District Attorney Michael Swanson as their top candidates for the position. On Wednesday commissioners gave their approval to the candidates as well.

DeGroot acknowledged Brown is not obligated to act on these recommendations but said the committee’s research “will have a bearing on how they proceed with the second round.”

In addition to discussing the appointment of a DA, DeGroot said Brown asked about other ways her office could help Klamath County. Though DeGroot did not have specific concerns or projects at the time, he said he sees this as evidence doors are opening between state and local government.

“I believe that a relationship is being formed where we’re able to work with the governor’s office,” he said.

Klamath County unemployment rate drops to a record 5.8 percent, the lowest since 1990

Klamath Falls, Oregon (March 28, 2017) – The most recent unemployment rates for Klamath County – just released from the Oregon Employment Department – is cause for celebration county-wide. From January’s rate of 6.1 percent, the February unemployment dropped significantly to 5.8 percent. Klamath County has never posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate below 6 percent since comparable records began in 1990.

The year-over-year comparison of February 2016 to February of this year is 7.4 percent versus the current 5.8 percent. The state Employment Department asserts that the declining rate is driven by a surge in employment of local residents primarily concentrated in health care, retail positions and local education (which now includes the Oregon Institute of Technology.)

Greg O’Sullivan, director of the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), hailed the new unemployment rate, saying, “I am thrilled with the newest unemployment numbers for Klamath County, as posted by the state’s Employment Department. This clearly validates the work that KCEDA has done in helping to make Klamath County the place in south central Oregon where people want to both live and work.”

O’Sullivan continued saying, “But we don’t do it alone. Dozens of business owners have invested in this county and the trickle- down effect brings jobs to our residents who in turn have the resources to purchase homes and other discretionary items that further fuel our local economy. These numbers are clearly worth celebrating.”

Specifically, Klamath County added 170 jobs in February. Overall, since February 2016, Klamath County has added 540 new jobs (+2.5 percent). Job losses in the past 12 months tend to be concentrated in leisure and hospitality.

Also of note, neighboring Lake County is also seeing a drop in unemployment. Their seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in February, down from 6.3 percent in January. As with Klamath County, this is the first time in comparable records began in 1990 that Lake County’s unemployment rate is below 6 percent.

About the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA)

Since 1975, KCEDA has reflected the best of private enterprise, responsibility and dedication. Its mission is to provide tailored recruitment and retention/expansion programs, new opportunities for jobs, and a diversified, value-added industrial base/expanded economic development climate in southern Oregon. Learn more at www.ChooseKlamath.com.

This article was in Friday’s (March 10th, 2017) Herald and News

Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter

Seven judges, seven teams of Oregon Tech students, and multiple hours of preparation will all come together in May as students vie for a $15,000 cash prize from Catalyze Klamath, an entrepreneurial pitch competition.

But first, students participating in the Fourth annual Catalyze Klamath competition tested their project’s mettle with a panel of “Shark Tech” judges Wednesday.

“Shark Tech”, modeled after the entrepreneurial television show “Shark Tank”, features a wide variety of project this year from students on concepts such as tiny house manufacturing, micro-malting for beer production, an internal wind turbine and a mobile pool vacuum.

Oregon Tech student Jimmy Finch and his team — which includes students Jennifer Berdyugin, Kelsey Sampson, Reece Ishiyara, Miles Taylor, Jacob Thompson, Keith Omogrosso, and Eric Pahl — presented their proposal to manufacture micro-malters for the beer industry.

The group built a 10 1/2-foot tall prototype malter with funding from an Oregon State University Extension grant in 2016 for the project, a project Finch described as a one-of-a-kind horizontal barrel with an automated system that malts grain.

Funding through the Catalyze Klamath competition would mean the ability to buy more equipment and kick-start the business.

“It could also help us start the patent process, if we choose to go that route,” Finch said.

Finch plans to graduate with a degree in renewable energy engineering in 2018, with hopes the team will manufacture malters in Klamath Falls.

“Klamath would obviously be the best place, mostly because of the amount of manufacturing students at Oregon Tech,” Finch said. “It’d be fantastic to offer jobs from somebody straight out of school.”

Finch and other students presented to a panel of judges, including Kat Rutledge, executive director of the Small Business Development Center. Each team tested its business acumen through their proposal Wednesday, with questions from inquisitive judges representing the economic development, education and business industries.

Finch said the team will now work on finalizing cost estimates for their proposal, as well as details such as graphics in their presentation in order to prepare for a final presentation in May.

“Catalyze (Klamath) presents a beautiful opportunity particularly for those students already working on a concept,” Rutledge said.

Rutledge regularly advises entreprenuers on their projects as head of the SBDC, and treated her role on the judging panel in much the same way, asking tough questions of the students to find real-world solutions.

“You have to clearly define the problem you’re going to solve,” Rutledge said. “Clearly define your solution to the problem. Tell us who you’re going to sell it to. They really need to know what it will take to get that launched.”

Hallie Neupert, interim dean of engineering, technology, and management, and Lita Colligan, associate vice president of strategic partnerships and government, oversee the contest. Assistant Professor of Management Mark Ahalt serves as lead faculty advisor to participants.

“We talk about hands-on applied education,” Neupert said. “We’re asking them to think about what their product would look like in our local economy.”

The Catalyze Klamath competition is sponsored by former legislators Gail and Doug Whitsett, Gaucho Collective, Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), Klamath Inspire Development – Energize Acceleration, Oregon BEST, city of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Black Canyon Woodworks, Avista, and the Herald and News.

Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris and KCEDA assist in introduction of Cyber Security Enterprise Zone legislation

Klamath Falls, Oregon (January 24, 2017) – House District Representatives Mike McLane (R-District 55-Powell Butte) and E. Werner Reschke (R- District 56 – Klamath Falls) recently introduced House Bill 3206 to create a tax credit for taxpayers located in qualifying county who purchase software or hardware for electronic commerce and those who hire graduates of Klamath County’s local community college (Klamath Community College) and the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT). The legislation was spurred by Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris and Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) director Greg O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan and the KCEDA leadership were instrumental in helping to create this new legislation for Commissioner Minty Morris which, in turn, was presented to HD Representatives McLane and Reschke. The legislation seeks to further the employment of local graduates of the local community college and OIT by local businesses and to provide tax credits to these employers. Tax credits would also be extended to taxpayers in qualifying counties who: purchase software or hardware for electronic commerce; establishes and implements employee training programs in collaboration with a local community college; rehabilitates vacant buildings for commercial use; increases the amount of qualified research expenses; and, increases the amount of alternative qualified research expenses.

“KCEDA is proud to work with Commissioner Minty-Morris and the bill sponsors to create a way to champion a stronger linkage between education, business, commerce and economic development,” said Greg O’Sullivan, KCEDA director. “When Commissioner Minty-Morris challenged KCEDA to find a way to incentivize business expansion in rural Klamath Falls, we brought together our economic development partners to craft policy to support innovation.”

O’Sullivan continued, “At the same time, we recognized that one of our biggest economic engines is the Kingsley Field Air National Guard base. It is our hope that this legislation HR3206 will be the catalyst of the Klamath County Cyber Security Enterprise Zone.”

About the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA)

This article was in Thursday’s (February 16th) Herald and News

Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter

A massive proposed shopping center and potential winery development planned for the intersection of Orindale Road and Highway 140 in the Stewart Lenox neighborhood is facing both support and opposition as it moves through the steps of going from concept to reality.

Badger Flats Lifestyle Center, a planned shopping center with 134,650 square feet of space for retail shops, moved ahead with council approval after a lengthy public hearing Monday evening. There are many more steps in the development process, including annexation to the city and a zone change, though council members approved the property being expanded into the urban growth boundary on the continuing road toward development.

The shopping center could be anchored by a potential winery, according to applicant Mark Englander, in addition to a gas station, fast food establishment, grocery store, medical office and pharmacy. The plans are being drawn up by Adkins Engineering of Klamath Falls and are preliminary and subject to change.

Englander, of West Lake, Calif., has spent at least $300,000 toward the proposal since purchasing 23 acres in Klamath County for the project for an undisclosed sum a decade ago.

KCEDA support

One of the project’s most ardent supporters is Klamath County Economic Development Association, led by executive director Greg O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan said KCEDA believes Badger Flats Lifestyle Center is “the epitome of a great project.”

“It has advanced over a number of years and just out of sheer tenacity, the developer has hung in there for a long time,” O’Sullivan said. “During recessions, during downturns in the market, and uncertainties. This particular developer has put a considerable amount of investment into his application.

“KCEDA’s behind this because we think it initiates a new era of understanding between the local municipalities and the private sector and the developers that bring these projects forward,” O’Sullivan said.

O’Sullivan attended Klamath County Planning Commission’s lengthy meeting in 2015, where planning commissioners thoroughly vetted the concept of the project.

“We see a couple of hundred jobs coming out of this minimally, some of those full-time, some of those part-time,” O’Sullivan said.

“That creates opportunity right here in this workforce. We need an upward ladder into living wage jobs …. We think that this creates that. Beyond that, we also believe that the developments out there will benefit, that we’ll spur some opportunity for Ridgewater, for Southview, even as far as Running Y.”

Erik Nobel, planning manager for the city, confirmed the city believes the applicant used suitable criteria to determine the site for development.

Project opposition

Scott Edelman, Central Oregon representative for the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), spoke in opposition to the project.

DLCD submitted two letters to city officials, raising categorical issues with the project. Edelman cited the 2009 Economic Opportunities Analysis, stating there is more than 100 acres in excess of properties available for such a project already available in the UGB.

“In our opinion, this is urban sprawl,” Edelman said. “It has the characteristics of it. It’s not an efficient use of land, because there is already an excess of land in the UGB – vacant buildings as well as vacant properties. This would detract potentially from the use of those properties.

“You can’t get to these sites without driving to them,” he added.

Greg Hathaway, legal counsel to Englander, in rebuttal addressed concerns raised by DLCD, stating he believes the development proposal is consistent with the city’s and Klamath County’s comprehensive plans respectively.

“We looked independently at property inside the city, inside the urban growth boundary,” Hathway said.

“We did the analysis and concluded that those sites inside the city, inside the urban growth boundary that we studied, were not suitable to accommodate the sub-regional need that was identified in your EOA. I think we’ve done exactly what the law requires.”

Appeal opportunity

DLCD has the option to appeal to overturn the project, which Hathaway stated he believes the agency will not do.

“All we’re trying to do is implement your comprehensive plan,” Hathaway said.

Edelman said he is uncertain if DLCD will submit an appeal of the project, but said an appeal process within a certain time frame is available for those who oppose it.

Council members voted 4-1 to accept the UGB expansion, with a no vote cast by Councilman Bill Adams, after a positive recommendation was given by the city’s Planning Commission in the joint meeting held in Council Chambers. An ordinance must now be drafted by city staff for consideration to officially adopt the UGB amendment.

Adams, who cast the sole dissenting vote to welcome the Badger Flats property into the UGB, shared the reason for his vote.

“Somebody has come to us wanting to get property moved into the UGB that they bought,” Adams said. “They’re trying to make our parameter’s fit the use of that property, rather than coming to the community looking for a piece of property that fits the parameters that we would allow development on.

“I don’t feel good about this, I would just assumed see it turned down tonight,” he added.

Developer ‘frustrated’

Englander, who bought the property 10 years ago after viewing it a trip to Oregon, said he was “frustrated”when faced with questions from city officials and questions from the community about the intent of the project.

“Before I even purchased it (the property) we had meetings with ODOT and other city officials to discuss the challenges and the problems that I could anticipate,” Englander said. “I was warned of the issue with the traffic. I was warned of the issue with the UGB. I chose to continue and allocated a large sum of funds to cover the cost of the annexation, the zoning, the UGB amendment … I’ve identified this property as the best property I’ve found to develop in this area.”

Englander believes the more than one dozen other sites within the UGB he reviewed were unsuitable for the project being proposed.

“They weren’t good enough for what I saw as potential development,” Englander said.

“My only mistake was I underestimated how long it would take and how much it would cost.

“I’m not a quitter and I see things through,” Englander added.

Neutral on project

Devin Hearing, a transportation planner for Oregon Department of Transportation, spoke neutrally Monday night on the project.

Hearing said there are shorterm and longterm mitigation requirements which must be met by the applicant in order to move forward, which will help determine how the applicant would fund the longterm improvements included in the project.

“We’re working towards agreement,” Hearing said. “What we’d ask for if is a little bit more flexibility.”

Planning Commissioner Greg Williams asked Hearing to share the kinds of modifications that would need to be included in the planned development.

“There may or may not be some improvements needed at the (Highway) 140 intersection, and I think that’s under revision by the applicant,” Hearing said.

“From what we seen, probably not a (traffic) signal, but we haven’t seen the analysis or the additional site plan.”

Residents’ concerns

Klamath County resident Greg Beckman believes that bringing the more than 20 acres of land into the UGB isn’t required for the development.

“There’s plenty of room within the urban growth boundary existing that can be utilized,” Beckman told council and commissioners.

Beckman believes the applicant hasn’t worked with residents of the area being considered for the development.

Englander’s legal counsel disputed this, saying a public meeting for residents to express concerns with the development was held.

“Do we want the ‘light pollution? Do we want the noise? Do we want the asphalt?” Beckman said.

“We don’t need this …. When I look out there from my porch, I see an open space, I see a beautiful field,” he added. “I don’t want to look up there and see a bunch of lights, and a bunch of buildings.”

Beckman’s wife, Debbie Beckman, also spoke in opposition to the project.

“We need to give thoughtful consideration in how we choose to grow by carefully choosing which projects will benefit Klamath Falls and which are the best locations for such projects,” she said.

“To me, that’s urban sprawl.”

Mitigating impacts

In a rebuttal statement to opposition comments, Greg Hathaway, legal counsel to Englander, directed a solution to residents who are concerned with the development.

“This developer is willing to work with the neighborhood, try to do what we can to mitigate any adverse impacts,” Hathaway said. “And before this development can even take place … we have to go through site plan review, which is a public process, which will be the details of exactly how this development’s going to occur.”

An appeal process for any individual or entity is available to those who oppose the project, according to Edelman.

Klamath County supercharges its tech and professional services engine

Bill Goloski/Oregon Tech Oregon Tech Optical Engineering professor, Scott Prahl, guides his student, Kelsey Leinbach.

To read the full article and others on the Oregon Business website, please refer to this link: Driving Change in Rural Oregon (OBM)

By: Erin J. Bernard, Oregon Business

Portland’s planted a Silicon Forest. Bend’s seeded a startup grove. And Klamath County is tilling the soils of Tech Hills Business Park – a 500-acre swath of shovel-ready industrial property at the apex of a broad economic revitalization gaining ground in central Southern Oregon.

Once, heritage industries like lumber and farming formed the economic backbone of the Cascade’s Range’s scenic eastern slope. Today, the county’s fast transforming into a livable, cost-effective technology-and-professional services hub.

How fast? The Klamath County Economic Development Association forecasts $1 billion in countywide infrastructure spending by 2021, with big growth in the energy, medical/health and education sectors. And rising right alongside the Tech Hills skyline is demand for a skilled workforce ready to drive this retooled economic engine.

500 acre shovel-ready Tech Hills Business Park

The operating costs are low, the collaboration is enthusiastic, and there are acres of room to grow.

Here’s what else you’ll find: affordable real estate (median single-family home cost is $128,300), fantastic outdoor recreation (Crater Lake National Park is an hour away), and energetic development efforts driven by KCEDA and supported by a dedicated band of local and regional economic development partners.

This county’s also got a community college and university, rail service and an airport, plus proximity to I-5 and the Willamette Pass. Portland, Reno and the Bay Area can all be reached in under five hours, and Bend’s just two hours distance.

Conspicuously absent: the rising costs plaguing Oregon’s larger cities. Land/lease rates, property taxes and cost of living are low here, and that benefits both relocating businesses and the workers they hire, says economist Sarah Murley, Principal at Applied Economics, a consulting firm that’s helped the county assess operating cots. “Costs are lower for both businesses and employees, and that’s important when you’re trying to recruit from other areas.”

These low operational costs have ensured a lean, efficient footprint for laser system and systems tooling manufacturer ESI, widely regarded as Oregon’s oldest high-tech company. ESI’s 54,000-square-foot Tech Hills tooling manufacturing plant began production in 2001 and has remained competitive with its offshore operations, ensuring stable jobs for employees. The company is eyeing Klamath operations as a future growth location in its long-term plans, says plant manager Allen Burns: “We have the land and room in our facility for future expansion. As a company, we are always looking at how to utilize what we have more effectively.”

Allen Burns, plant manager at ESI

Despite pay on par with timber wages, says Burns, filling full-time positions here, especially upper-level ones, can be challenging.

The county’s educational institutions are working overtime to meet Tech Hills’growing demand for skilled workers, particularly in the fields of engineering and health care, promises Jay Kenton, outgoing interim president for Oregon Institute of Technology. Around 700 students graduate each year from local college programs, and Kenton predicts the population at Oregon Tech – Oregon’s only four-year poly-technic university, located right in Tech Hills – could swell to 15,000 in a decade. The key now, he says, is enticing more of those outgoing students – especially the engineers – to go to work for the businesses located right at Oregon Tech’s front door.

A combination of on-campus solar and geothermal sources power the energy needs at Oregon Tech

“Rural Oregon, not unlike rural America, is really challenged economically today,” he says. “A lot of communities are having a hard time getting healthcare professionals and other professionals into the community and retaining them.”

This new groundswell of economic vigor has Kenton optimistic: “The raw materials are incredible here, and the opportunities are limitless. It’s a matter of getting everybody aligned, then getting their shoulder to the wheel and pushing.”

Just across the way from Oregon Tech’s campus sits Sky Lakes Medical Center. This private, not-for-profit community hospital – Klamath County’s biggest employer – offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services and, in partnership with OHSU, operates Oregon’s only rural-based residency program, plus a new rural doctorate program.

Paul Stewart, president and CEO of Sky Lakes Medical Center

Each yea, eight family medicine physicians graduate from the Sky Lakes residency program, and half stay on, says Paul Stewart, president and CEO of Sky Lakes. What sells them? Outdoor pursuits, 300 days of sunshine, good schools and multidisciplinary health care delivery approach, says Stewart: “We collaborate well with everybody in town. That’s what we try to promote. This isn’t just a job; it’s an opportunity to be a part of an organization and a network that offers long-term professional growth.”

Now, Sky Lakes and OHSU, in partnership, are expanding educational offerings across the board, with fundraising underway to grow the recently inaugurated OHSU rural health campus and to build allied programs at Oregon Tech.

Going forward, rallying efforts around such shared goals is key, say Stewart and Kenton, and that’s just easier in a small town.

“We’ve been successful as a community in saying, ‘Here are the things we want to focus on to change this community, to help it grow and become more vibrant economically – an attractive place for businesses and others to come to,” says Stewart.

With momentum like this, Kenton believes, the sky’s the limit for Tech Hills: “We’re well positioned. I feel like I work for NASA and I’m working on the next rocket launch. This thing’s sitting on the launch pad, just waiting for somebody to hit the launch button.”