CleanLane gets another $300K

Presenter: Lane County commissioners on Tuesday approved another $300,000, as well as additional staff time and Planning Commission time, in hopes that they can salvage the controversial CleanLane project. On Aug, 18, Deputy County Counsel Mallory Beebe: 

Mallory Beebe (Lane County, deputy county counsel): In October of 2024, the Lane County Board of Commissioners authorized Lane County to enter into a contract for the development and operation of an integrated materials and energy recovery facility, also known by its acronym IMERF, on property purchased by Lane County for that purpose in Goshen, Oregon, commonly referred to as the CleanLane Project.

Now, despite the diligent efforts of Lane County to secure land use approvals necessary for the construction and operation of the CleanLane facility at the Goshen property, there have been a number of appeals in the state court system that have not resulted in final land use approval.

In light of those court challenges, Lane County has also been evaluating whether an alternative site for the project is feasible and has been considering moving the project site to the Short Mountain landfill.

But until a shift to Short Mountain can occur or be finalized, Lane County is contractually bound to continue to pursue land use approval at the Goshen site. The next step to pursuing land use at the Goshen site is the consideration of a possible code amendment.

Again, this is a procedural step required by the Lane County code and under the code, in order for a code amendment like this one to be considered, the Board needs to make that request to the Planning Commission.

So we have prepared a formal order to that effect and ask that you approve it here today. And unless there are any questions, I will turn it over to the board for a motion.

Presenter: Commissioner Pat Farr:

Commissioner Pat Farr: I move to approve order number 26-08-18-11 to request that Lane County Planning Commission consider an amendment to Lane Code Section 16.280 to allow an integrated materials and energy recovery facility as an outright permitted use on property owned by a unit of local government and for the Planning Commission to report its recommendation back to the Board of Commissioners.

Presenter: That motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Commissioners Farr, Trieger, and Buch voting yes. With a second request for up to $300,000, Mallory Beebe: 

Mallory Beebe (Lane County, deputy county counsel): We’ve been talking about exploring whether the site for the CleanLane project can be moved to the Short Mountain landfill. 

So (agenda) Item 10(b) relates to the additional costing work that needs to be done in order to determine the guaranteed maximum price for constructing the CleanLane facility at Short Mountain landfill.

So this Item 10(b) would authorize amendments to all necessary contracts for an amount not to exceed $300,000 for this costing work to be done, and would also authorize the county administrator to sign all necessary documents relating to completion of that work.

Presenter: Commissioner Farr: 

Commissioner Pat Farr: I move to approve Order Number 26-08-18-12 to approve an additional amount, not to exceed $300,000, to complete all necessary preconstruction work to determine the guaranteed maximum price for constructing the CleanLane facility at Short Mountain landfill, to amend the required contracts to complete the work, and to delegate authority to the county administrator to sign all necessary documents.

Presenter: Commissioner David Loveall:

Commissioner David Loveall: Yeah. I just want to say for the public record, due to the recent increases we’ve had in dump fees, user fees, and transfer fees, and a tight county budget, I can’t in good faith, by representing the majority of my constituents, support this motion. Thank you.

Presenter: Commissioner Ryan Ceniga:

Commissioner Ryan Ceniga: I will just second what Commissioner Loveall’s saying, that it’s really hard to spend another $300,000 on this project at this time. So I will not be supporting this motion.

Any further discussion? Seeing none, I’ll call for the vote. All those in favor signify with an ‘Aye.’ (Aye.) All opposed? (Nay. Nay.) Motion carries 3-2 with Commissioner Loveall and Chair Ceniga in ‘Nay.’ Thank you, Mallory.

Presenter: County commissioners are again split on CleanLane. Three hope to finally resolve the site problems and start construction. The other two have warned that with Springfield and other cities sending their waste out of county, the project no longer pencils out, and could cost taxpayers even more in the future.