[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6505871,"mediaKeyId","5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3","parentId",5479252,"title","Morrow County transit director reports ridership gains, new real‑time tracking, and funding caution","audioSeconds",781,"startMs",3449000,"endMs",4230000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3&start=3449&end=4230","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3/thumbnail_3449000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505871/Morrow-County/Oregon/Morrow-County-transit-director-reports-ridership-gains-new-realtime-tracking-and-funding-caution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505871-7ecfd14752c07b03e462a40dfc462a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917177&Signature=NZJFVd2mSktMQwj4p5fXKWR1gpiuut9JG1yvRVZCIgl9ikUFeg6o-~CfzPuQxoHgUJwodwdBYksy2HpqViKT7tNArYAl9h4mT5KNuLKuViclg2zgO~8TiI5~qdxCmDuZP1TMeShpEQBWAmxQ3K8-EYAHjPb1gxZ~JzlJ5ALPrsCa1L1bfaIcqhZ2lSmpbq8YM6-lyjjeLiLvGP2LPe25x1XF8tXwtiu3VvVU63E~~B~2cViHu78WMjaCjq41pD3bo~PRxLVRS00roX0Kz2AM9AcibLIOgjiP6iEQ47U4xh64Pigp68htv1~vLjpL4PAiQh4czf~6Akj7gNhH60VzDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Morrow County, OR","date","2025-07-25T00:45:50.987Z","article","The Morrow County transit director reported to the Board of Commissioners that ridership increased this quarter after the launch and promotion of fixed-route service, demand-response trips have been scheduled more efficiently, and the system has begun publishing real-time vehicle locations.

The director said demand-response service delivered nearly as many rides as prior periods while using about “50% less resources,” and that fixed-route service exceeded initial expectations: “Since the changes, you know, over a thousand,” he said, referring to recent fixed-route riders. Overall ridership across demand-response and fixed route rose from 619 in an earlier quarter to almost 1,500 during the most recent quarter.

Boardman’s circular fixed route was the most-used route, the director said, and summer youth programs created a notable ridership spike: the system recorded a daily single‑day high of 62 rides on May 30 and then 83 rides on July 7 as summer youth trips increased demand.

Operational highlights and partnerships: the transit program ran a two‑week test route to Boardman’s West Glen area (one rider during the test), and regional partners such as Eregan Parks and Rec used the fixed route to transport up to 20 youths daily to Hermiston swim activities (the county added a second bus to accommodate the loads). The Port of Morrow has offered bus shelters to the county; Boardman and Eregan are installing stop infrastructure.

The director reported a recent compliance review by ODOT and the state compliance reviewers and said inspectors left “exceptionally satisfied” with the county’s progress compared with prior reviews; staff expect four findings in the preliminary report that should be resolved once new financial software is fully implemented.

Equipment and interagency moves: the county plans to transfer an underused large bus to the City of Pendleton to help that agency while recovering replacement-credit and proceeds. The director said donated surplus vehicles are being transferred to neighborhood centers and other community partners.

Technology: the county has deployed iTransit Northwest for real-time vehicle tracking; schedules and live bus locations will be published to the public soon after staff verify map data.

Budget note: the director warned the board that the program started a new fiscal period with about $600,000 less funding than previously expected for future years and said staff will monitor quarterly spending closely; he signaled that service reductions may be needed if reserves fall short.

Next steps: finalize real‑time tracking publication, continue partnership work for shelters and vehicle transfers, monitor ODOT findings and financial software updates, and review potential service changes if budget projections decline.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Morrow County Board of Commissioners Meeting: July 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Morrow County transit director reported to the Board of Commissioners that ridership rose substantially after fixed-route service launch, demand-response scheduling is more efficient, and real-time vehicle tracking will be available shortly.","taxTitle","Morrow County, Oregon","taxId",73539,"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},6505876,"Morrow County planning staff unveil interactive survey explorer and brief commissioners on new state solar-siting rules",1326,1039000,2365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3&start=1039&end=2365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3/thumbnail_1039000.jpg","/articles/6505876/Morrow-County/Oregon/Morrow-County-planning-staff-unveil-interactive-survey-explorer-and-brief-commissioners-on-new-state-solar-siting-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505876-0579002f3fe93f75253fd307e569ca27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917177&Signature=AaoBBfZ1FyGO4~eYtPUzdk6zI6tgTVE0tjcCmBoGKf5iuGpGD~jJ-9NU3VJbAiu2p4kYJJZjbDTb-yjhauLCbYX~1AKFiSZJuEyzOiO6LP53tzxxg4VyQ01pKd5DjlY3p9PIheR0cwF3nlnfkJ52kgpwhVxo0CfjnqwrP24ZxNotr8wwPHqix9MppGuNuZsChxNoTQdG~3V040hKcG~0RZSWqyqx2vh0oEVt4q2L5vlrHPb-qp6a2tz8nsreNJbAf027MoChDRHboUbV9tFaDhNCQ9QHmRVS8jrMqOhks54RGihPcQg1YrPVzY-E-ipQxHqYmZ682gSzaXXsNnVvhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tamara Mabod, Morrow County planning director, and county GIS staff demonstrated a new interactive “survey explorer” that maps recorded surveys and public land corners, and she briefed the Board of Commissioners on recently adopted Eastern Oregon solar-siting administrative rules and the county’s options for implementing them.

Mabod said the survey explorer is intended to replace a manual Excel-and-PDF system and to provide a map-based, user-friendly interface for searching recorded surveys, partition plats and public-land survey corners. GIS staff showed a prototype that allows queries by subdivision name, surveyor or plat number and displays links to survey documents. Planners said roughly 573 surveys were already uploaded and that the team aims to reach a working threshold of about 600 records before wider launch, with a longer-term plan to add many more historical surveys.

Planner and GIS staff described the corners and monument records that surveyors use as part of the public-land survey. Matt Kenny, who maintains the county surveyor records database, said the county currently has only a small number of restored public-land-corner records available in the tool and that those will be added incrementally as coordinates are compiled.

On solar siting, Mabod summarized the policy choices the county faces after the state issued updated Eastern Oregon rules (administrative rules cited as “division 44” in planning materials) that affect thresholds and screening criteria for utility‑scale solar on farmland. Mabod described three paths: (1) opt in to directly implement the new division 44 rules by resolution, (2) adopt the new division 44 rules in addition to the county’s existing division 38 standards, or (3) pursue a countywide planning approach under Statewide Planning Goal 5 (a broader, mapping-based approach analogous to some mineral/aggregate siting processes). She said the county previously sought to increase local siting thresholds and to avoid an opt‑in requirement but did not prevail on those points during the rulemaking.

Mabod explained differences in acreage thresholds under current section 38 versus the new 44 rules and said the new rules add more detailed siting criteria (for example, slope limits, avoidance of high‑value soils and wildlife corridors, and a suggested 19% solar resource threshold for utility-scale arrays). She told commissioners the state statute referenced in her memo (ORS 469.300) was not changed in the rule package and that adopting division 44 by resolution would make those rules effective locally unless the board formally opts out.

Commissioners set a work session to discuss the rules and mapping options on August 6; Mabod recommended inviting farmers, fish-and-wildlife staff and solar-industry representatives to that session. She also said staff could model how existing permitted projects in Morrow County would fare under the new standards so the board could see likely effects before deciding whether to opt in, adopt both sections 38 and 44, or pursue a Goal 5 mapping process.

Mabod and GIS staff emphasized the survey-explorer project is still in development and depends on additional uploads, quality control and a future workflow for planners and the surveyor to keep the map current. The tool, they said, could speed research on partition plats and recorded surveys and would be useful to county staff, surveyors and municipalities that lack their own public access tools.

Next steps: an August 6 work session on solar siting and ongoing roll-out of the survey explorer with additional uploads and quality checks.

","Planning staff demonstrated a GIS-based “survey explorer” intended to make recorded surveys accessible across the county and summarized Eastern Oregon solar-siting rules, presenting three implementation options and scheduling a work session for August.",{"_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},6505880,"Morrow County public health highlights new outreach, well testing and 10 pertussis cases",463,133000,596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3&start=133&end=596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3/thumbnail_133000.jpg","/articles/6505880/Morrow-County/Oregon/Morrow-County-public-health-highlights-new-outreach-well-testing-and-10-pertussis-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505880-1fd46efc4da353a13050a1cd51679001/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917177&Signature=jcxhpGTM6XbColXhTysMMk-bRrsaOWmMomOAIhwcvjxBphoaApvDn9AjvCSqpLE1yZUVvfri8DANvfbzg7kj8S4HBX4nfRFUp2bCPdO9KrPrWzQghe~nd7rovJJh6v0kicM1JH5eGOAK4Vt9bU8X~J1o76OkGBvONZ8jtBxCgjrs4VEW7g-hlnM68SMlH4ellLV0JwcSIbeqS8Pq7uct0WahtmyjAitjTLy5n~o9XKm-QDHVcZ-FjLTFHJt8Z-QuS8ZV7HPGjP6WoFq8tfd6igMJSaHwncZflHYglzOHiLG6sbLFwt6gkL3DBOwBU-dKVcLoJKqTwVaNjNK4-YFs0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robin Canaday, Morrow County public health director, reported to the Board of Commissioners that the department expanded services and community outreach during the most recent quarter, and that it detected 10 cases of pertussis in the county.

Canaday said the department’s “primary goal in public health is to make sure every household in Morrow County is safe, protected, and connected with services so they can thrive and be the healthiest they can be today and into the future.” That work, she said, included vaccine clinics, a diaper bank run from a church donation, a new drug take-back program, partnership with WIC for nutrition services, and bilingual outreach at Mexican and Guatemalan consulate events.

Canaday summarized several ongoing projects and service updates. The county has resumed family-planning services at the school-based clinic after completing required certifications. The immunization program is scheduling a fall calendar for flu clinics and conducts outreach to businesses and schools. The department also is holding open houses about nitrate and well-water concerns, including one July 30 at Riverside High School for well owners.

On drinking-water work, Canaday said the state Office of Resilience and Emergency Management helped with earlier well testing but has reduced its support now that the situation is in a maintenance phase. “To fill that gap, Umatilla County has stepped in and is gonna help us with some well testing,” she told the commissioners, saying Umatilla staff will visit every other week to collect samples under state-funded program element 75.

On communicable disease, Canaday said the county recorded 10 pertussis cases in the first half of the calendar year and tied some of those cases to a related outbreak in neighboring Umatilla County. She told the board that pertussis “can be really bad for young babies, children” and reminded residents that protection comes from the DTaP vaccine. She also said the county’s triennial review of reproductive-health services is under way and that the department met program requirements with only charting recommendations.

Commissioners and staff asked whether the Umatilla outbreak is over; Canaday replied that the county “We've had our 10 cases, and we expect it to stay that way” and that statewide respiratory illnesses were down in recent OHA reports.

Canaday also provided operational details: 316 households are currently receiving water deliveries, 113 filtration systems have been installed, and 290 wells tested above the 10 μg/L threshold (reporting format in the department’s packet). She closed by listing two current job openings in the health department — a clinic RN and a part-time Spanish translator — and the department’s hours.

Less-critical details and next steps: public outreach events are scheduled for late July and the department is creating its fall immunization calendar. Commissioners asked for continued updates on testing and on any changes to vaccine-demand or staffing.

","Public Health Director Robin Canaday told county commissioners the department expanded outreach this quarter, resumed family-planning services at the school clinic, started a drug take-back program and reported 10 pertussis (whooping cough) cases; Umatilla County will help with ongoing well testing.",{"_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},6505864,"Votes at a glance: Morrow County commissioners approve agenda changes, planning appointment and contract renewals",5332,98000,5430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3&start=98&end=5430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6505864/Morrow-County/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-Morrow-County-commissioners-approve-agenda-changes-planning-appointment-and-contract-renewals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505864-51cbfcaa8c955a4531de772e4827e409/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917177&Signature=cQAx5r5E2DBnGGe7ynZzQl3old9OQ4oTJEC3HG5J7TQnCFFbcl2IM9l3ZfFUuW3OV5~bs1bH78mfosBMlUURhufg54VfC~eB-plmqkDFCJpaQlVx36PcQR6rs7To1ytwiGBOTi78SfXZpHTDdBKT-yqE8z3Xvn0nPzSmD4ghBBtTHFaF8o8R1p6vi9EDskXbkSV6XbibqnzaO4o1IFRjKKaC8sGEq68V2ThJEuPz6lAtaw-Pi9UhPrMczhPG7tlKccPpdkTXJ2PYFkxmMHdzfzuVcYi0KEa0OIEwWJj6B4H5QvMD6kXuy7j7WMltONbJjHffFyNwLhQOrKlnWMH7RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morrow County Board of Commissioners took several formal actions during its July 16 meeting. Where vote totals were not recorded by name, the board used voice votes and the clerk recorded the outcome as passed or carried.

- Agenda acceptance: The board accepted the agenda as presented with the deletion of item 4(f). The motion passed on a voice vote (clerk recorded “Aye”; motion carried).

- Consent agenda: Commissioners moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Ordinance adoption (second reading): The board conducted the second reading by title only and adopted Ordinance ORD 2025‑02, which amends Morrow County’s comprehensive plan and zone map designations for parcels associated with the Malcolm Farms/three‑mile Canyon application and adopts limited‑use overlay provisions and exceptions to statewide planning goals 3, 11 and 14 as described in the staff packet. Commissioners also approved the final findings of fact for the decision with minor typographical edits noted in the meeting. The motions to approve the findings and adopt the ordinance were seconded and passed by voice vote; the recording shows “Aye” and “Motion carried.”

- Planning Commission appointment: The board appointed Norma Ayala (Boardman resident) to fill the remainder of the term held by Andrew Siegel on the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

- County surveyor contract and appointment: The board moved to appoint Kinney (Kinney Land Surveying) as county surveyor per ORS 204.005 and authorized the county administrator to sign a renewed contract that maintains prior rates with a CPI increase. Motion seconded and approved by voice vote.

Motions that were made and recorded during the meeting were seconded and passed; the transcript records voice votes in the usual form (“Aye,” “Motion carried”) but does not include a roll-call tally for each vote. Clerk staff will hold the signed ordinance and findings and will circulate corrected signature pages and typographical corrections noted during the meeting.

","At the July 16 meeting the Board accepted an amended agenda, approved the consent agenda, adopted an ordinance amending plan and zone designations for a large parcel (ORD 2025‑02) by second reading, appointed a planning commissioner, and reappointed a county surveyor contractor under a new contract form.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505867,"Advisory committee delivers community-sourced priorities: housing, infrastructure and governance top the list",1131,6055000,7186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3&start=6055&end=7186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479252-752dd2e7e1585769dd2d5e25354f85f3/thumbnail_6055000.jpg","/articles/6505867/Morrow-County/Oregon/Advisory-committee-delivers-community-sourced-priorities-housing-infrastructure-and-governance-top-the-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505867-65072e4b1b2936faa366acb82229b738/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917177&Signature=O-IZWyUwhE2bRsZ8wTVdvAVIZNmRPedPuzjpDu8Q0Tqh0PXV-w~ZrEJ36sj280fk2fqDPWQflQrZJLGrrKH8PuHFrstOdbRMhOnLSfhHk~uiXuR2VafP0sNOSA~1Jk9unQhny9ox01ogLKMU5wNodRtLjoyM8JZmhWckG8zp6JAaOFQmzEbIUlNcO6KRFOfC~H3gwjE0Phq5Ivve1iuGIPMt737yR12nq1LNhZ5PdaDafJX6tsZLhzr9biKKsdki9D11Ha1Oq4yqGZ3HP7fJBB9fyMpTrbXiN0BXURSvpSE12eqkHxgaWsAnnTcQVuUGEJRfM0~ihY4NC3pa3vcQ5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A citizen advisory committee presented the results of countywide outreach and a community survey to the Board of Commissioners, delivering prioritized recommendations that place housing, infrastructure and improved governance among the county’s top concerns.

Matt Dixon, the consultant facilitating the strategic-planning process, described the outreach: the county held four public workshops, three stakeholder-focused meetings, mailed notices and gathered about 160 survey responses. The advisory committee met to synthesize the input and recommended priority areas for commissioner consideration.

The committee’s top recommendations emphasized workforce and affordable housing; infrastructure needs such as roads, water and sewer; and “healthy governance,” including improved city–county collaboration and greater transparency. Other clusters of recommendations covered economic development (workforce training, small-business support, tourism and childcare), parks and recreation improvements, behavioral health and senior services, and county human‑resources capacity for staff recruitment and retention.

Dixon summarized the advisory group’s view of the work as broadly organized around three themes: “improving quality of life, enhancing government services, and expanding economic opportunity.” He told commissioners the next step is the two‑day retreat with department heads, where commissioners will craft a vision and select priorities; staff will then translate those priorities into concrete projects and timelines.

Committee members who participated in outreach and volunteered on the advisory group included Don Russell, Katie Imus, Brenda Schockman, Edith Velasco and Tess Rehak. Several committee members told the commissioners they were prepared to answer questions and to provide additional context as the board develops the draft plan.

The board scheduled the commissioner retreat for the coming Monday and Tuesday and staff will circulate preparatory materials that Dixon asked attendees to complete to speed the retreat’s work. A draft strategic plan is expected in late summer with a final plan later in the fall.

","An advisory committee that ran county town halls recommended priorities including workforce and affordable housing, infrastructure (roads, water/sewer), improved city–county collaboration and economic development; consultants will use that input at the commissioners' two‑day retreat to draft a strategic plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Morrow County transit director reports ridership gains, new real‑time tracking, and funding caution

Morrow County planning staff unveil interactive survey explorer and brief commissioners on new state solar-siting rules

Morrow County public health highlights new outreach, well testing and 10 pertussis cases

Votes at a glance: Morrow County commissioners approve agenda changes, planning appointment and contract renewals

Advisory committee delivers community-sourced priorities: housing, infrastructure and governance top the list