City of Sisters to hire hearings officer

The City of Sisters plans to hire Christopher Eck as a hearings officer for certain land use decisions.

Eck, a Bend attorney, has served as a hearings officer for Deschutes County.

The Sisters City Council agreed to the hiring at its Thursday, May 13, meeting. Eck will hear complex cases where a complicated decision must be rendered within a short timeframe.

According to city attorney Steve Bryant, a hearings officer could hear applications such as annexation requests. Sisters Mayor Steve Wilson asked Bryant whether a hearings officer would be appropriate for controversial issues such as the siting of park trailers at Mountain Shadow RV Park - issues where parties have expressed concerns about bias and fair treatment. Bryant said that such cases "would certainly be an appropriate use of a hearings officer," but any appeal of his decisions would still go before the city council.

Back Issues