County releases Westglenn feasibility study; community meeting Tuesday to weigh water options

Morrow County staff distributed feasibility reports on water and wastewater options for the Westglenn/Westland area and announced a final community outreach meeting at the Sage Center with Spanish translation, a data walk, and an informal (nonbinding) temperature-taking survey for residents.

County staff said the feasibility study examines four broad options: deepen or refurbish private wells, install whole-house filtration systems, construct a decentralized community system, or connect properties to the nearby municipal system. The study’s engineers concluded deepening existing wells is uncertain, whole-house filtration presents regulatory and certification questions and costs that vary widely, and connecting to the municipal system generally offers the most reliable outcome for long-term service — though it can be expensive and some residents object to relying on municipal supply.

County staff emphasized outreach: the feasibility reports will be posted on the CWC and county websites, door-to-door outreach was used to invite residents, and the Sage Center meeting will include Spanish-language materials and translation devices. Staff said they will hand out an FAQ in English and Spanish and run a short, nonbinding vote at the end of the meeting for households in the targeted area to express preferences.

Staff also described a recent county mapping effort that estimates roughly 900 domestic wells in Morrow County and noted that many outlying parcels would be prohibitively expensive to connect to a municipal system. The county's project team said they will continue smaller-group engagements (cottage meetings) and invited advisory-committee members to meet with groups of Westglenn residents to discuss details in a less formal setting.

The consortium is supporting city-led project work through letters of support, grant-work collaboration, and targeted studies such as income surveys. Staff recommended scoping an income survey through Portland State University’s Survey Research Lab if the board wants to pursue CDBG public-works eligibility — those surveys typically take 6–9 months, cost about $10,000–$20,000, and produce an area-level result that can be used for up to five years.

Next steps: county staff will post the feasibility report, hold the Sage Center meeting (Spanish translation provided), gather survey results, and continue door-to-door outreach and smaller advisory-group meetings to collect detailed local input.