A preschool near a planned drug counseling center in Multnomah County has filed a lawsuit against the county and some of its top elected officials to comply with Oregon’s public meeting law.

Escuela Viva Community School threatened to sue two weeks ago if the county did not abandon its plan to open a diversion center at 900 SE Sandy Blvd., citing safety concerns and the fact that the diversion center plan was hatched behind closed doors.

The county has postponed the opening of the center until October of this year to allow for more citizen participation and to meet staffing and training goals. The center was originally scheduled to open on September 1.

The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges that the county and officials who formed the leadership team that developed the diversion center plan did so in a series of confidential meetings that were not in compliance with Oregon state law regarding public meetings.

In addition to the county, the lawsuit also names Multnomah County Executive Jessica Vega Pederson, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt and Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrissey O’Donnell.

We have asked the county, sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office for comment, but all have declined our request.

The school’s attorney says the school could seek a court order to prevent the center from opening in October if his clients feel the county’s plans to operate the center have not evolved to their satisfaction.