The Crook County Board of Commissioners held a regular session on December 4, 2024, where several significant topics were discussed, including personnel appointments, procurement for a new water truck, and a grant for medication to treat opioid use disorder.

One of the key decisions made during the meeting was the appointment of Lanner Warner as the third mechanic for the road department. The board authorized Will Van Vactor to sign the necessary paperwork to finalize this appointment.

In another important discussion, the board reviewed bids for retrofitting an existing lowboy trailer into a new water truck, following damage to the previous vehicle. Brad, a staff member, recommended accepting a bid from AMCO for $115,205, citing the company's local presence and expected quality control. The board moved to accept the staff recommendation, allowing staff to proceed with the procurement process.

Additionally, Andrew Asmasen from the Crook County Sheriff's Office presented a proposal to accept a grant from the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) for jail-based medications aimed at treating opioid use disorder. This initiative is in response to the recriminalization of drugs in Oregon and aims to provide necessary medical care to inmates. The grant could provide up to $236,400 for purchasing medications, which will be administered by BestCare Addiction Medicine Clinic under a memorandum of understanding. The board discussed the importance of this program in maintaining community standards of care within the jail and ultimately voted to authorize staff to accept the grant once the final award document is issued.

Lastly, Kelly Coppell, the airport manager, sought the board's intent to award a contract to 22 KG Contractors for a T-hangar construction project, valued at $1,148,885. This project has been a topic of discussion for the past couple of years, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance local infrastructure.

The meeting concluded with a clear direction for the board to proceed with these initiatives, reflecting Crook County's commitment to improving public services and addressing pressing community health issues.