Deschutes County

            1300 NW Wall Street, Ste. 200 Bend, OR 97701-1960

            Phone (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org

MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nancy Blankenship, 388-6544

Bend, Oregon

October 24, 2008

County Clerk Confirms Local Rule Referendum Signatures

Referendum Qualifies for Spring Ballot

The Deschutes County Clerk’s Office has confirmed the 2,314 signatures to place the Local Rule Referendum on the spring 2009 ballot.

Ordinance #2008-12, also known as “An ordinance adding Chapter 13.14 to Title 13, Public Services, of the Deschutes County Code,” now qualifies to be placed in front of County voters next year.

The referendum asks County voters to make the decision to approve or reject the “Local Rule” approved this past July by the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. The ordinance is not effective until after the vote.

The Local Rule applies only to development using onsite wastewater treatment systems in the non-sewered areas from the area primarily south of Sunriver to the Klamath County border. The Local Rule would require those properties to reduce nitrogen discharges, connect to sewer systems or take some other nitrogen-reduction measure within 14 years of the effective date of the ordinance. The rule does not prevent communities in south Deschutes County from pursuing new or expanded sewers under the existing State regulations. 

For more information about the signature verification process, please call the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office at 388-6546.

For more information about the Deschutes County Local Rule, please visit the County’s website at www.deschutes.org and search for the words “Local Rule” in the upper right corner of the home page.

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Deschutes County Government provides for the safety, security and health of Deschutes County's 160,000 citizens through public safety, human services, adult parole & probation, juvenile justice and many other valuable public services. For more information, please go to www.deschutes.org .