By Chelly Bouferrache
For The New Era
The Brownsville City Council meeting held June 30 tackled a range of issues, from community objections to the proposed Muddy Creek solar project, budget approvals and public safety updates. The meeting drew attention to ongoing tensions over land use and local governance.
Troy Jones and Steve Hood, representing the “Friends of Gap Road,” provided an update on their opposition to the proposed 1,600-acre Muddy Creek Solar Park, a photovoltaic solar plant. The group has been vocal about the project’s potential impact on farmland. Jones highlighted that the project developers sent a letter to the Oregon Department of Energy on April 6, but have yet to engage with the Department of State Lands or complete a required two-year land study or resource study, a requirement to proceed on the project.
“It’s not about power or clean energy; it’s about dollars,” Jones said, emphasizing the group’s stance against using farmland for commercial energy projects.
Mayor Dee Craven expressed support, stating, “We will continue to support you,” and echoed concerns about the use of tax dollars.
The group also reported efforts to influence legislation, including sponsoring a bill to prohibit solar projects on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land. The bill reached a hearing before the climate committee, chaired by Rep. John Lively, but was ultimately rejected.
Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist is consulting legal experts on the issue of commercial energy usage on EFU land. Councilor Dave Hansen inquired about possible modifications to the solar project’s plans, noting the developers’ failure to address a wetlands study with the Department of State Lands saying this was “poorly done.”
In other business, the council opened the public hearing for the 2025-2026 budget. No public comments or council discussions were recorded, and both the use of state revenue sharing funds and the budget were unanimously approved.
Linn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Frambes provided a public safety update, noting a relatively quiet May with one arrest for unlawful use of a weapon in a domestic violence incident that resulted in a deputy employing a taser and a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash tied to a “relationship issue between a couple gentleman and a female.”
No property crimes, Frambes continued, “Love to see that.” June, however, was marked by multiple fatal crashes and hiking incidents in the county, including the deaths of several teenagers, straining resources.
“Just terrible to deal with,” said Frambes.
Public Works Director Karl Frink reported a busy period preparing for the Pioneer Picnic, fixing a water main break and maintaining the cemetery.
City Administrator Scott McDowell discussed the weed and nuisance season, noting only two forced mowings this year compared to the usual 12 to 20.
“We had a really good year,” McDowell noted.
He also highlighted upcoming events, including Rally on the River (July 16-22) and Stand By Me Day (July 26), and reported vandalism in public restrooms, which he described as a “norm” requiring regular maintenance.
The council addressed citizen concerns, including Michael Humphries’ objection to the placement of community comments at the start of meetings.
“My concern is the placement on the agenda,” he said, noting he preferred comments at the end to allow residents to respond to agenda items. Craven responded that “part of the function of it, it forces you to do your homework, look at the agenda and then you’re at the front of the legislative and all the decision making processes.”
McDowell noted the second comment period was rarely used in his 19 years with the city, and gave support to keep comments earlier in the meeting.
Another resident, Jack Alsam, raised concerns about public restroom conditions, saying, “It’s discouraging. It’s a bad light if anyone from out of town uses it.”
McDowell agreed city staff regularly check the bathrooms because it’s a common complaint.
“If you’re going to have public facilities they will be vandalized,” he said. “We will continue to monitor it. It’s disheartening to a degree, a complete disrespect to the common good.”
On the legislative front, the council adopted water and sewer rate adjustments, with a “reasonable increase” for water and a 3% sewer rate hike, as authorized by city code.
“We hate any sort of rate or raise, but we have to do it,” Councilor Mike Winklepleck said.
The council also approved the fiscal year budget, budget transfers from the previous year, and a delinquent assessment for one property. A request to close Pebble Street for a July 4 block party in the Rivers Edge development was approved, contingent on receiving an insurance certificate.
The city received a certified letter from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requiring the city to do a shade study along the Calapooia River to address water temperature concerns. The city must conduct the study, but faces challenges as there are no specific parameters at this point from the DEQ. The issue was referred to the communications committee for further review and drafting of a letter of response.
Winklepleck reported collaboration with the American Legion to display banners designed to recognize local veterans. The meeting concluded with Craven sharing a personal anecdote about his son’s lost helmet being returned from the park to City Hall by a good samaritan.
“It holds testament to Brownsville and the city we live in,” he said.
Craven also requested a moment of silence for first responders killed in a mass shooting in Idaho.
The council’s next meeting will include a Standard & Poor’s rating review, with expectations of maintaining or improving to at least an A to A-minus rating.
“I expect that could go up,” McDowell said.