Some Damascus residents can’t vote to dissolve city

DAMASCUS, Ore. (KOIN) — More than 10,000 people live in Damascus and just 12 years after the city was founded, it may become a thing of the past.

On May 17, voters will decide whether or not to dissolve the city, per Measure 93. If the measure is approved, the city would no longer exist as of July 18. The land would become part of unincorporated Clackamas County.

Some voters though, won’t get the opportunity to vote on Measure 93 at all.

Pennie and Alan Shaw have lived in their Damascus home from 6 years, and owned property in the city for 25 years. Last year, they got approval from the city to de-annex.

“We were really excited about the opportunity to either annex into Happy Valley or stay unincorporated Clackamas County,” Pennie said.

They made the decision after learning they couldn’t grow their business because the city doesn’t have a comprehensive development plan. Supporters of Measure 93 say disincorporating the city would allow development as part of Clackamas County, just like before Damascus became an official city.

“We have to get our maps corrected in order to satisfy the Department of Revenue and metro,” Pennie said. The Shaws believe the city should be taking care of those documents.

The Shaws are still considered Damascus residents, and still pay city taxes. They learned recently that despite being Damasus residents, they can’t vote for Measure 93.

“We have no rights according to the city because the city considers us de-annexed even though the map says we are not,” Pennie said.

There are 306 voters in the same situation as the Shaws. Sherry Hall at the Clackamas County elections office said those people will get their ballots later this week, and can still vote, just not on measure 93.

“The ultimate decision was made by legal council for state elections and they sent us that ruling and so that’s what we are following,” Hall said.

For now, the Shaws hope the city steps up soon and finalizes their de-annexation.

“They have the ability to do the map and so once those maps are done, then it’s just a matter of passing them along to the department of revenue,” Pennie said.

“That would just get rid of a lot of unhappy citizens,” Alan said.