[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6561785,"mediaKeyId","3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5","parentId",3287492,"title","Klamath County hears presentations from incumbent Casita and national consulting firm Better City as EDO contract nears end","audioSeconds",3358,"startMs",298000,"endMs",3656000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5&start=298&end=3656","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5/thumbnail_298000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561785/Klamath-County/Oregon/Klamath-County-hears-presentations-from-incumbent-Casita-and-national-consulting-firm-Better-City-as-EDO-contract-nears-end","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561785-4facc12da5233fb4fb66aa467d1339b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197275&Signature=kdKv3kRyjuLouXieC9o6lznOFL3q00ZQwhYijOwqGltbvccjrPC5Rif1dWKrL65S7AiIeh6ZTB-JVui4A0myR15cYp~HFFAWKAq7Rw4fFO8UvwLiXEYR2S8EILSLs8JTN1Yo-HbD2iRl3DXPGYL1voDXaXXv8qbnwFwLk6ozuN6JFBMrZ6wH51RNHQZDFths46WxrkERog6hFIhUjDTqIGAye52ZZNJoKpP10COmWDI56KHjJTaa2pJE47MoDUYexQQqvp92vV2OYClk1epSk84RMNEHmlLL6F~lGcRoO0ZHgq~YSu~-kov0KtuNlXsrDGb4jZIWuVg2NrIh73iXxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Klamath County","date","2025-05-14T11:12:46Z","article","Klamath County commissioners heard 20‑minute presentations from the two respondents to the county’s request for proposals (RFP) to provide economic development services after the current contract ends at the close of the fiscal year.

Vicky, the county finance director, told the board a five‑person committee reviewed and scored both submissions but had not yet released scores or recommended a winner. Marcus Henderson, county counsel, summarized the RFP’s written selection standard, noting that price is one factor balanced against other criteria: “The proposed fee is one factor in determining the successful proposer… No single factor such as cost will determine the final decision to award,” he said, and that the board and finance office could recommend an award and authorize negotiations.

Casita presentation: Randy Cox, president of Casita (the incumbent local economic development organization), asked the board to renew Casita’s contract at the same funding level and reviewed outcomes the group said it had delivered over five years. He said Casita manages a budget “of over $800,000” and is handling 53 active projects with roughly $4.9 billion in proposed capital investment in the pipeline. He listed program areas Casita provides: site selection, infrastructure and operating‑cost assistance, workforce and talent pipelines, marketing and demographics research, stakeholder engagement and advocacy, administration of enterprise zones and strategic investment programs (SIPs), and placemaking.

Cox provided Casita’s funding mix as discussed with the board: “the county's portion funds 36.8%,” private enterprise about 38.6%, other sources 15%, and the city about 11% after recent adjustments. He described housing work that Casita helped catalyze, a private equity fund to create local builders, and enterprise zone expansions tied to a $50 million sawmill investment in Gilchrist.

Better City presentation: A representative of Better City (a national economic development consulting firm) and team member Trina described Better City’s approach of tailoring strategies to local assets, building grassroots coalitions and using incremental (“win‑first”) steps to catalyze investment. The presenter emphasized a “fractional economic development” model: a local hire embedded in the community supported by a broader remote team with specialized capabilities (grant writing, industrial recruitment, downtown development) that can be deployed as priorities shift.

Board reaction and next steps: Commissioners asked questions about who contracts with Casita besides the county, Casita’s principal investors, and whether the city’s contract was finalized (staff said city approval was in process but one minor execution step remained). Commissioners also asked for clarity about the RFP review process: one commissioner asked who appoints the five‑person review panel; staff said the panel is not appointed by the board. The board did not vote to award the contract at the meeting; counsel and staff were asked to provide additional process information and bring the item back to a future meeting for a decision.

No formal award or contract authorization was recorded in the meeting minutes; the board scheduled follow‑up for procedural clarification and to receive counsel guidance before making a selection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5-13-2025 BOCC Admin Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Klamath County commissioners heard presentations from the incumbent economic development organization Casita and a national consulting firm, Better City, as the county’s current contract approaches its fiscal‑year end.","taxTitle","Klamath County, Oregon","taxId",52087,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561789,"Klamath County waives planning fee for proposed 1,300‑acre solar project, sets fee at $105,000",73,36000,109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5&start=36&end=109","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5/thumbnail_36000.jpg","/articles/6561789/Klamath-County/Oregon/Klamath-County-waives-planning-fee-for-proposed-1300acre-solar-project-sets-fee-at-105000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561789-0d0428a126c07a523d27445fdd245300/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197275&Signature=Ghgc2ooPqU5hBbBkseIRTaI6ut8JZ0rnwm83Cgs79cmiXy-pMQOVcKxDysgf6fr9Nrosm7OZIfYLg1B91v8LF97g-uPvyjOitXa8j4MHLoOZ~YaBm5hWz9zuoEw-wFYSRrb6R~VmDVox7byYLnPDBQwLqPOf2kg5CzkkAuD-pswKSVvBb1GFqzuNr5KiuOn8jfTVUJcuKm58KEk-zruWNLbHREbpfNtWig7LMFnm9U7uLfRPKTYn1gLFAUcUB9PZRTB1S-Xn9wuY1pUs4nIW5uqtxxuGRPQVTPfDiooJxJV9PdNp6HTbwSCkR26me8jZsx1XMUZzCbWsJYXcqY1pfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Klamath County Board of Commissioners voted to set the planning fee for a proposed 1,300‑acre solar project at $105,000, rather than the roughly $1.4 million the department’s standard rate would have produced.

Jeremy, a planning department staff member, told the board that the developer’s application covered the county’s largest solar project to date and that, under state rules, the county cannot charge fees that exceed the cost of the service. “The board has before you an application for a waiver fee. In the explanation, it basically says that our largest solar project that we've ever processed, 1,300 acres. And if you calculate that up for our planning department fee, it was hundreds of thousands of dollars. And, we have to abide by an ORS that says, that we can't charge a fee that is, beyond what our service time is for that,” Jeremy said during the meeting.

He said the county negotiated with the developer and the applicant agreed to pay $105,000. A motion to waive the higher fee and set it at $105,000 was moved and seconded; the chair called for the vote and said the motion passed.

Commissioners also discussed formalizing a fee cap for very large developments in the county’s planning fee code. “We are working on putting a cap in the planning fee codes. We are in the process; we'll wait till this fall so we can do it all at once,” one commissioner said during the discussion, noting the county had not previously processed a solar farm of this size.

No additional specifics about the solar project’s developer, project location within Klamath County, or the exact text of the waiver agreement were stated on the record at the meeting.

The board’s action reduces the immediate fee obligation for the applicant and signals staff will return to the board later this year with proposed code language to cap planning fees for very large projects.","The Board of Commissioners approved a motion to reduce the planning fee for a proposed 1,300‑acre solar farm from an estimated $1.4 million to $105,000, citing Oregon law limiting fees to reasonable service costs and planned code changes to cap fees for very large projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561775,"Commissioners agree to remain engaged on Kino Dam passage and approve East County Public Safety Service District release process",92,3657000,3749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5&start=3657&end=3749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5/thumbnail_3657000.jpg","/articles/6561775/Klamath-County/Oregon/Commissioners-agree-to-remain-engaged-on-Kino-Dam-passage-and-approve-East-County-Public-Safety-Service-District-release-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561775-2ba54075ffb95b4ed7186608a54e679a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197275&Signature=IetzZUs0tWhEHUK0qPtGxBBy1KeiuiHH9ikXR37Qk3~-FcW0I6pQHFH0927ezOKDc8mNJ-L7shFFZu-2acOAqLBiK9w~zT~0GcUDeceMipwMo91z-4fZbqEUhXsWxoT0bNygMTzXw5snRJ9ogSi8Ovo33lCsPIyH9k1VQukucF-GSU3MTINSLl-wmF1UqCwoN7O1aIlmVcB0bAZjsztFO0cbpXe8X4J2n-t8ibyhczRsAFc63pesGsNeVXSJkIKQNqxcmlA8~6rzlxYOgBiBbCHBihrxOCMqA7jwtTMHv4gSDcOtTRp8vy8~uAlXiO2x92QQSxCXwRNkwX17ZPXSkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Klamath County commissioners told staff they want active participation in regional discussions about Kino Dam fish‑passage modifications and agreed the board should send an independent letter in addition to correspondence sent by the Tri‑County group.

A commissioner leading Tri‑County engagement said the Tri‑Counties’ letter would go out with that commissioner as lead, and asked whether the county board wanted a separate letter expressing Klamath County’s own position and to ensure the county remains “at the table” when kilogram (fish‑passage) modifications are discussed. Commissioners agreed they want an independent letter endorsed by the board; the lead commissioner said they would draft a board letter with signatures and meet with federal agencies (Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) the following week.

On a separate agenda item, the board reviewed a draft press release for a proposed East County Public Safety Service District and the draft policies that would apply if the district forms. Staff said the release could be published on the county’s channels and that the draft policies should be reviewed by each commissioner; staff will place the item on the next agenda and publish the release after any final adjustments.

No formal votes providing policy direction on Kino Dam were recorded; the board expressed consensus to stay engaged and requested staff and counsel follow up. For the East County Public Safety Service District, commissioners had no objections to the draft press release and asked staff to post it and bring the draft policies back for review at the next meeting.","The board signaled full engagement in Tri‑County discussions over Kino Dam fish‑passage modifications and approved a draft news release and associated policies for the proposed East County Public Safety Service District, asking staff to publish the release and place district policies on the next agenda for review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561780,"Klamath County approves funding for Graduation Sensation scholarships for local students",119,2000000,2119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5&start=2000&end=2119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3287492-cdcb5d1543f1ad2443123d1a168076d5/thumbnail_2000000.jpg","/articles/6561780/Klamath-County/Oregon/Klamath-County-approves-funding-for-Graduation-Sensation-scholarships-for-local-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561780-088564dc1982f01a684564a8cce8a842/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197275&Signature=RurT4TD0EHSpmMwgp6x2FRvSzp4VX-VviEXr12xY7k0c8DVqO0TjIS8wncLNGZYhwG~0-oNgefm-oebTcpQw3MXbSfmdzf-lhy7p3oAN5-BjlkgeWe71YIBwk124g9n5Dtt~j42by95aAfDodohW-WZ9c2V3T7LqLF5kPORaNKqgXvehtyGNQhmHL3Hzql7JSAOaRY3SywItEpPiXWc~bLl8fOlVBBqZ6HUVKTConL3D--2fXbdj1tTWSF7dk-VAYhhOK4ZRnkNt1SpQYaFWm-xByn~~XEqbyGMJzjuNSGguJWqVhRTdIJj3Sw2C~8QtIb8VpkFBjXvjzy-9FduWEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Klamath County Board of Commissioners voted to fund Graduation Sensation scholarships at the same level as the previous year, with the specific directive that the awards go to students from Klamath County schools.

County staff said the program includes multiple scholarship elements: historically the county supported two scholarships for Oregon Institute of Technology and six for Klamath Community College, and the county has also participated in a program that provides gift certificates and thank‑you notes to graduating seniors enlisting in the military. Commissioners discussed keeping college scholarships restricted to the local institutions and limiting awards to students from county schools.

A motion to fund the Graduation Sensation awards at last year’s levels, with the caveat they be awarded only to Klamath County School students, was moved and carried; the chair called the motion passed.

The meeting record did not include the dollar amount of the county contribution in the public discussion. Staff will execute the funding consistent with the board’s direction and the established scholarship program.","The board approved continuing the county’s contribution to the Graduation Sensation scholarship program at the same level as last year, with funds restricted to students from Klamath County schools and local higher‑education recipients.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Klamath County hears presentations from incumbent Casita and national consulting firm Better City as EDO contract nears end

Klamath County waives planning fee for proposed 1,300‑acre solar project, sets fee at $105,000

Commissioners agree to remain engaged on Kino Dam passage and approve East County Public Safety Service District release process

Klamath County approves funding for Graduation Sensation scholarships for local students