Psilocybin question is on the agenda
By Terry Murry on Monday, July 25th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston City Council meets at 7 p.m. today (Monday) at the Hermiston Community Center. The council will vote on whether to place a question on the November ballot regarding psilocybin services.
Oregon voters legalized the controlled use of psilocybin, even though voters in Umatilla County voted the proposal down. Now, it is up to voters in counties and cities to opt out of those services. The communities that allow psilocybin will not receive any special taxes for doing so. According to the new law, every area in Oregon is automatically opted into allowing the controlled use of the hallucinogen unless the voters opt out.
Also on the agenda, the council is considering annexing 0.45 acres of land at 120 E. Oregon Ave. and 1650 N.E. North St. The owner, Jesus Pena, is asking for the annexation to allow an emergency connection to the city’s sewer system.
The council will also consider awarding a contract for roadway improvements on Northwest Third Street. The project would pave the gravel portion of the road between Marie and Standard. The low bidder for the project was Tapani, Inc. with a bid of $142,241.
The council will also vote on supporting a group of citizens who want to raise money to develop 20 acres at the Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center for sports fields. The group with interests in lacrosse, soccer, and football. The full project includes lighting, irrigation, and turf development with a cost of more than $2.5 million. The city’s portion of the project would be the estimated $150,000 needed to connect the fields to the infrastructure. The meeting, which is open to the public, can also be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel. Comments may also be submitted to meetings@hermiston.or.us.
