BEND, OR -- Deschutes County's public hearing for creating a new city is Wednesday morning. The proposed city of Mountain View is a 265-square-mile site east of Bend, with Millican in the center. The population just meets the state-required 150 resident minimum. 

“The official numbers from the Portland State Census Bureau shows over 160 people. Just from personal account going to every tax lot that had an individual living on it, I would say there are over 200 people from my tally count,” Millican resident Andrew Aasen tells KBND News city incorporation would allow improved resources to those people. “It just stems from the inability to come up with any major solutions to the county or local government to improve the area. The main areas of concern were the lack of fire services and medical protection, as well as inadequate zoning. The Oregon statute defines zoning as areas that meet the current economic and social trends of the area. And that's not the case for that region.” Aasen says the plan to incorporate Mountain View has been in the works for three years. A petition signed by more than 20% of people who live in the area was certified in April.

For the county to approve Mountain View’s incorporation and send the decision to a vote for those residing in the proposed city boundary, three criteria must be met, including a plan for how to pay for services.

Aasen believes the money can be found, “I think that there are a lot of notions as to funding availability. But with over a billion dollars available for small cities, there is a substantial amount that can be sought after to start these improvements right away.”

Aasen will give his proposal for City of Mountain View incorporation at Wednesday morning’s public hearing; part of the Commissioner’s regular meeting starting at 8:30 AM.