Most Central Oregon cities and counties have recently signed a cooperative agreement to share public works equipment and sometimes services when the need arises.

Bend Public Works Director, Paul Rheault says Bend, Redmond and Deschutes County  have been informally doing this for over a year, and now other municipalities and counties are interested in the program.

"It's not just limited to those in Central Oregon; we've invited Grant County, Jefferson County to be part of this but right now what we do is a number of us communities, La Pine, Madras, Redmond, Bend, Prineville, Sisters, we all get together on a quarterly basis and have meetings and discuss many things related to the public works sector. For instance everything from chip seal projects to utility issues, you name it."

Rheault says they can easily share equipment for special projects, and that can bring costs savings to everyone in the long run, because it will eliminate the need for a city to have to purchase some equipment that would seldom be used.