City plans to help largest employer

The Sisters City Council wants to help the growing Multnomah Publishers find a place to stay in Sisters.

The council unanimously decided at its Thursday, September 14, meeting to examine working together with Multnomah Publishers to secure a 20-acre parcel of Forest Service land for the company's private use.

In a a one-hour workshop prior to the meeting, the publisher's president, Don Jacobson, unveiled a presentation detailing the company's size, demographics, and economic contributions to the local economy.

Jacobson noted that his 114 employees were currently scattered among three different buildings in Sisters. That fact, according to Jacobson, coupled with the company's 5 percent annual growth projections, makes relocating the company within 18 months a critical necessity.

He also emphasized he had looked at land in other parts of the county, including Bend.

Jacobson's comments moved Mayor Steve Wilson to state that "It would be a mortal blow (to Sisters) to lose this employer."

Wilson also said that the city could benefit from teaming up with the company to acquire land for a city conference center. He said "It would save on the redundancy factor... (it would be) like a three-legged stool -- the Forest Service, Multnomah Publishers, and the city could address their needs at the same time."

When the council convened in its regular meeting, Councilor Lon Kellstrom took the lead in proposing a partnership.

"We need to keep them, they need our help to make this work," he said and moved that the city partner with the company.

Councilor Dave Elliott provided a quick "second" and a vote was imminent. However, Councilor Tim Clasen objected to the pace of the proceeding, and said he had concerns about committing the city without having any citizen input.

The council stepped back and proposed only that the city "start the public process... of acquiring land with Multnomah Publishers."

There was no mention of the city's proposed conference center in either proposal. When a councilor questioned that omission, Wilson responded that there was no (direct) linkage and that it was too early to proceed with that issue.

During comments before the council motions, Jacobson said he had already looked at the only sizable pieces of property available in Sisters, Barclay Meadows and Lundgren Mill (owned by the Sisters School District).

He said negotiations had proved unsuccessful over both properties,

According to US Forest Service District Ranger Bill Anthony, individuals or private entities have no chance of purchasing that Forest Service parcel.

"The agency would only entertain proposals from the city... which best knows the interests of the city...and (which) acts on behalf of the community," Anthony told The Nugget.

Anthony said the burden of proof that there was no other available and suitable property would fall on the applicant.

He emphasized that the agency only sold property under special circumstances and as a last resort.

The City of Sisters recently purchased National Forest land for its sewage treatment facility.

Anthony said the agency's regular practice in such circumstances is to exchange for privately held property within federal lands.

The mayor directed staff to place the issue on the next city council agenda.

The council next meets Thursday, September 28, at 7 p.m.