The Dalles City Council rolled through its first meeting of the year in less than an hour, perhaps with an eye to catching as much of the Alabama – Georgia national college football title game as possible. Along the way they voted a one-time contribution of $25,000 to Central Oregon Animal Friends, which recently merged with Home at Last with the goal of rescuing the financially troubled nonprofit group which has been operating the animal shelter in The Dalles. Central Oregon Animal Friends operates a highly successful shelter in Madras and several people from The Dalles already serve on the organization’s board. The city contribution is contingent on a matching contribution from Wasco County. Commissioners meet next week on the 17th. Mayor Steve Lawrence noted that Central Oregon Animal Friends has a long track record of success
“When thse individuals went to Madras,” he said, “they were like $40,000 in the hole. Right now they’re finishing the construction of a half a million dollar building, which they’ve done through grants and fundraising.”
And City Manager Julie Krueger called it “a really big win for the city and the county and mostly the sheldter and the community at large.”
Council members also approved fixed base operator lease and airport manager contract at Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, and an enterprise zone agreement with a company that plans to invest $12 million and creat 40 new jobs with construction of a 4-story Holiday Inn Express with 93 rooms on West Sixth Street.