The Hermiston City Council announced Monday night that it has reached a settlement agreement with the owner of Auto Kool related to a proposed street vacation.
After meeting in executive session, Councilor Doug Primmer made a motion to authorize City Manager Byron Smith to sign a settlement agreement for the vacation of a portion of W. Ridgeway Avenue. Details of the settlement will be made public at the council’s Jan. 26 meeting.
The city initiated street vacation proceedings late last year to make way for a proposed hotel development on the former Tum-A-Lum property near Auto Kool. In order to accommodate the development, the city voted on Dec. 22 to vacate 15 feet of W. Ridgeway Avenue that is part of a 60-foot right-of-way west of N. First Street and east of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. Rhonda Sallee, owner of Auto Kool and five other tax lots, objected to the street vacation, arguing it would substantially reduce the value of her land by restricting access in and out of her properties. She told the council on Dec. 22 that she would sue the city for damages if the street vacation proceeds.
Since then, however, the two sides have worked out an agreement that will avoid a lawsuit.
