Crook County officials are grappling with low numbers in their Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population, as highlighted in a recent special public meeting. The discussion revealed that the county's Spanish-speaking community, the largest subgroup, comprises only 0.65% of the population, equating to just 53 individuals.

This statistic raises concerns about meeting federal requirements, which stipulate that a threshold of 5% or a minimum of 1,000 people is necessary before certain services must be provided. The county is currently in the first step of addressing these challenges, focusing on understanding how often these LEP groups interact with essential services, particularly Cascade East Transit.

However, officials acknowledged a significant gap in data specific to Crook County, which hampers their ability to assess service needs effectively. The lack of information could impact the county's ability to provide adequate transportation services to its limited English-speaking residents.

As the county moves forward, gathering more data will be crucial in ensuring that all residents have access to necessary services, regardless of language barriers. The next steps will likely involve outreach and data collection efforts to better understand the needs of this small but important segment of the community.