Six Rivers Community Mediation

Serving the Residents, Businesses, and Agencies of Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Klickitat Counties

Examples

Neighbor to Neighbor:

Two neighbors had been feuding for several years over noise and parking. Law enforcement responded to several calls by these neighbors and referred them to the local Mediation program. During mediation, each party agreed to behavior changes that have allowed them to live peacefully as neighbors. Several months later, both parties reported that they were able to work together to solve a new problem of concern to both of them.

Animal Control:

Two neighbors had developed a very tense relationship over the uncontrolled behavior of one neighbor's dog. Animal Control referred this case to mediation. During the mediation, the neighbors were able to agree that the dog owner would pay for fence improvements and that they both would work together to install the materials.

Landlord/Tenant:

A woman was evicted from her apartment. She needed her security deposit back quickly, as she was now homeless. A social service agency referred her to the local mediation program. The property manager did not have a mailing address to forward the renter's deposit, but had refused her entry back into the apartment complex. The Mediation program communicated with both parties and arranged for a speedier return of the deposit.

Consumer/Business:

A consumer took her car to an auto mechanic for a repair. The repair solved her problem, but not for long. When she returned to the mechanic, he reminded her that the work was not under warranty. The consumer felt cheated. The mechanic thought he had communicated clearly, but didn't want an unhappy customer. Through mediation, the two worked out a creative resolution, whereby the mechanic made an unrelated, minor repair at no charge. The mechanic is now recommending mediation to his colleagues.

"Bee"-lieving Makes a Difference:

Two boys were out on some Bureau of Land Management land one fall day when they came across beehives. Being curious, they accidentally knocked over one of the hives. Out of fear of being caught and stung, they ran away. Within a couple of days, the owner of the beehives came to check on the hives. He saw that one was knocked over and since the weather was getting cold, all the bees had frozen to death. The victim was very upset that someone maliciously knocked over the beehive and called the police.

When the boys were caught, the local Mediation program set up a mediation. During the course of the mediation, the bee keeper educated the boys (and the mediator) about the importance of bees. It was obvious that he loved bees and that the loss of the hive would take over a year to replace. The boys were able to express that it was purely an accident brought on by their interest and curiosity about bees and bee keeping. Both boys asked if they could help the bee keeper watch over the hives, since they lived near the BLM land that the bee keeper leased. Now when he goes out to tend to the bees and collect honey, he brings extra gear with him so the boys can help him.