[{"_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",6466072,"mediaKeyId","5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901","parentId",5825980,"title","Clatsop County plans consolidated Health and Human Services department to cut admin costs","audioSeconds",881,"startMs",683000,"endMs",1564000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901&start=683&end=1564","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901/thumbnail_683000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466072/Clatsop-County/Oregon/Clatsop-County-plans-consolidated-Health-and-Human-Services-department-to-cut-admin-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466072-3824d4f57bbd1b7e4205000c92cb8ac5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205083&Signature=OnG3fxmj2UL5R9OH1qXJA1jTaUm1HkYt7xKXYBhyfop3ZZpf0ZGLPnRexK9Sf9HyK6wIGxOVHxYeEbUQDq7G~6DtHhR6X~7~7RCmz5LORsVO8ySLUu3LNSOhKy~oluovxtUKtmF26Ty3UEO5ldhh2B5xFcN4A~k7ljcSAem9rECF456S71eN~4iplTte1UhwRYagWap0aijShmQQu6iJzFYBzhYCHbxLcB56vgREHFL9QeXZflcbvm~7JoeigVDTwtxEZPd59H5ScGAAfy92dgH3SFik3ZLF3zeqvmIHeQnpV6pQ8V8OqhurLctz9yvPE30xS0PVJ2n-s-Dy19RDnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clatsop County, OR","date","2025-09-25T02:12:21.36Z","article","Clatsop County officials told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 that staff will bring an ordinance to consolidate the county’s public health and juvenile services into a single Department of Health and Human Services.

County staff said the change is an administrative reorganization aimed at reducing overhead while maintaining front-line services as state funding tightens. The proposal identifies a one‑time personnel reorganization and a permanent shift in how director‑level costs are charged to county funds — together producing an estimated $230,000 reduction in overall county expenditures.

The county manager said the consolidation was first discussed during the 2024–25 budget process and arose from a need to reduce administrative costs while preserving service delivery. Under the plan, the county would not refill a vacant public health director position; instead the existing juvenile director position would become director of the new department. The deputy public health director would become a public health division manager who would serve as the county’s Local Public Health Authority (LPHA) while reporting to the consolidated department director.

Staff described how the previous structure placed the entire public health director salary on state funding, and juvenile director salary on the general fund. The proposed structure would split the new director salary roughly 50/50 between the general fund and state‑funded public health, creating the estimated $115,000 per side share of the $230,000 savings. County staff said those savings were part of a broader set of budget moves that already eliminated seven vacant positions as of the 2025–26 budget.

County presenters framed the consolidation as one of several options to address fiscal pressure caused by reduced state and federal funding, state caps on property tax growth, inflation and rising costs for health care and retirement. Staff emphasized the change is intended to be an administrative reorganization rather than a cut to direct public services and said the change is already built into the current fiscal year budget.

County staff also said the consolidation requires a formal amendment to the county’s administrative code and will proceed through an ordinance process. They told commissioners they expect a two‑hearing ordinance process starting in October and will return with draft ordinance language for consideration. Commissioners in the meeting expressed general support and said the change should position the county to respond more flexibly if future public health demands increase.

The board did not take a final vote on an ordinance on Sept. 24; staff were directed to return with the formal ordinance and associated administrative‑code changes for formal hearings and approval.

The county noted its general fund reserve stood at about 36% — above the board’s 20% target — and that the reserve provides runway as officials plan longer‑term adjustments. Staff cautioned that further changes could be needed depending on state funding decisions and other external factors, including federal program shifts and potential FEMA impacts.

Looking ahead, the county intends to use the ordinance process both to create the new department in code and to “clean up” other department listings in the administrative code that no longer match the organization’s structure. Staff said future consolidation opportunities such as behavioral health contracts or veteran services questions could be examined once the department structure is established.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BCC Meeting 9/24/25","oneSentenceSummary","County staff told commissioners they will propose an ordinance to consolidate public health and juvenile services into a single Department of Health and Human Services to reduce administrative overhead by about $230,000 and preserve direct services amid constrained state funding.","taxTitle","Clatsop County, Oregon","taxId",55348,"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},6466061,"Clatsop County approves six‑month extension and funding increase for OHA mental‑health contract",315,5415000,5730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901&start=5415&end=5730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901/thumbnail_5415000.jpg","/articles/6466061/Clatsop-County/Oregon/Clatsop-County-approves-sixmonth-extension-and-funding-increase-for-OHA-mentalhealth-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466061-d74eb069d0ad0159e3ddd6e0595812b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205083&Signature=bTrXLC5-g1fpZl55VtfIvNN48Ypic3YytDARop~rsHYFc1d1bZVyQCFOxeY5DofhlNE8YHQ~cnRI9fg2z66gHlBQMeI1gcuDkkApbApC9Ipm6Q6wLjMg7G7PtS8tIRUcdLo9xg9StAvtM5y-eoBICtGJPLlSUIGotR6pT0gfb8GiwHqbSlkXnCaJ3Hbw6cHbKnD~yG0QIeF5PLPO5SYosXa0CBAo2GdbefZzBhslTQoYI5-IPhivsaa7DIB1lKr9JGLABeRcRAXj-~yBWRbW1cWrpiDmLsDIClFjC0xR2rKRkg0yMom9eeKtAuYpHfyiWMOamokcbTmbFATHGjOdgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 approved Amendment 9 to the county’s intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and a matching amendment to the county provider agreement with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare to extend funding for community mental health, addiction treatment, recovery and problem gambling services.

Amanda Revicek, the county’s policy and management analyst, told the board the amendment extends the existing agreements through Dec. 31, 2025. OHA initially provided the amendment in July but county staff identified incorrect funding allocations for several service elements; staff and Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare worked with OHA to correct those figures before presenting the revised amendment for board approval.

The board approved Amendment 9 to the OHA IGA, which increases the total contract amount by $1,365,343.91 and extends the agreement through Dec. 31, 2025. Commissioners then approved the corresponding Amendment 9 to the county provider agreement with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, which increases that agreement by $1,336,310.91 and also extends services through Dec. 31, 2025.

During the meeting, board members confirmed that the county retained funding for administrative costs in the IGA (service element 1) and that some service elements are handled through separate IGAs. County staff had previously been authorized by the board to sign subsequent amendments, but because the extension covers several months and significant funding the board reviewed and approved this amendment in open session.

The board voted unanimously to approve both amendments; Commissioner Thompson was recorded as excused earlier in the meeting.","The Board approved Amendment 9 to an Oregon Health Authority intergovernmental agreement and a corresponding county provider agreement extending community mental health, addiction treatment and problem gambling services through Dec. 31, 2025, and increasing funding by about $1.36 million (IGA) and $1.34 million (county contract).",{"_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},6466067,"Clatsop County environmental health staff cite inspections backlog, propose added inspector",1192,2292000,3484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901&start=2292&end=3484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901/thumbnail_2292000.jpg","/articles/6466067/Clatsop-County/Oregon/Clatsop-County-environmental-health-staff-cite-inspections-backlog-propose-added-inspector","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466067-4ef921f6f849d272c448955bf99634b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205083&Signature=YTHp82Gxm3Xvp6xDwNXpUniVavuK6Zuikpmo24bVQCGuCfK7634qZNctQ5bVaQS~p84AKVak0JCd-R7EPgYqEBpPIZnHXOyiNwnrhmG~7Vn6~hVkeAi52Y03zyY3~Ha5O5hlZXWWJW0fARzsg8GxJPe~jvwCdGFSLIKdbhr7hDUPOt18voTMun~Y5-r~rwW7nMv0lrrVohnzqSPuk~L3dlI8emC1RVTzKzxhw3fiA~m2Oc~NAa3jH5ozH9MnX6lfc-rrHCIZF-slLScYJmlTmxuw6OqnUNKGU1cPdCDHcgDZmgFSMm2ByGA98c~abRTHLjJslq-3QmUK3BLmqYDZdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clatsop County Health and Human Services staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 about environmental health workloads, staffing and inspection processes, and said they are considering hiring an additional inspector to reduce backlog.

Kathy Brockman, the county’s health and human services director, told commissioners the environmental health team has 2.8 full‑time equivalent staff (not including herself) and processes about 600 permits statewide, the largest share of which are food‑service facilities. Staff said inspections are time‑intensive because many permits require multiple site visits, including preopening plan review and re‑inspections after compliance failures.

Environmental health staff described how program fees fund all positions in the unit and that the department has pursued modest, cost‑of‑living fee increases rather than large jumps that would disrupt vendors. Inspectors follow state standards and classification scoring that divides violations into priority (5 points), priority‑foundation (3 points), and core (unscored) categories; a score below 70 out of 100 is recorded as a failure and triggers additional reinspections and a full follow‑up inspection within 45 days.

Staff also described a recent certification milestone: an inspector who spent a week with state staff completed a standardization review and was certified as meeting the department’s scoring standard. That certification, Brockman said, will help the county train new inspectors.

Brockman and Andrew “Andy” (environmental health inspector) told the board the county has been recruiting for an environmental health manager but that a preferred candidate recently declined. Given the workload, they said hiring an additional inspector who can perform field inspections — rather than a primarily managerial hire — is the most cost‑effective option at this time.

Staff highlighted operational challenges around temporary events where multiple vendors require inspections on weekends, and said they are exploring strategies to schedule inspections efficiently so events are not delayed. They also described how inspectors sometimes must close facilities immediately for on‑site correctable violations (for example, a single refrigeration unit out of temperature that cannot be remedied), and how the closure and reinspection process is designed to protect public health.

Commissioners and staff praised the unit’s work and the recent certified inspector achievement. Commissioners asked about workload and thanked staff for handling a heavy inspection schedule; no formal action was taken during the Sept. 24 meeting.

Staff said they will continue recruitment efforts and return to the board with any recommended staffing changes or budget requests.","Health and human services staff told commissioners that environmental health operates on permit fees, currently has about 2.8 inspection staff, manages roughly 600 permits (mostly food service) and is considering hiring an additional inspector to reduce backlog and improve service.",{"_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},6466056,"County continues public hearing on Goal 18 beaches and dunes mapping update to Oct. 8",549,5751000,6300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901&start=5751&end=6300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825980-e66aa3d786a854e3bb35da618857b901/thumbnail_5751000.jpg","/articles/6466056/Clatsop-County/Oregon/County-continues-public-hearing-on-Goal-18-beaches-and-dunes-mapping-update-to-Oct-8","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466056-972c44f2afd6696013aeb82cb2825568/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205083&Signature=INTXe-7eoHfctHt8OELo1mJEDZNEFDHpH7BAp8y9lPc5jf~kQizbM8Id17WXwA~y6SjAAxw8LwA8Uu3Uiv3YLgMQ-AF3PQETjvmPa8E6dm78R0EtMqE8BjlwYatPSZ2ZMy09LgWLhSqqqOEqi~ELh2QkFzg0bZECCtAX65hSAmwWyki1TrpWzWqKSx76qwVF1~sOQj6ALm20vlt7oSerIgOXVS0ovkEQRWyI5hCcfslVT1dzthTlcTgfqi2pSf6WY23eSafd-8970FBDPgUTIkQAp3-O7xJN7Nl6wkjxtmx0CdYEmCHOOEJ2DeVX4zmOsLFJO1hspTPzvedr10N5vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clatsop County planning staff on Sept. 24 presented Ordinance 25‑09, an update to the county comprehensive plan Goal 18 (beaches and dunes), and the Board of Commissioners continued the public hearing to Oct. 8 for a second reading.

David Cook, the county planning manager, said the two primary goals of the update are to replace outdated or paper maps with digital mapping drawn largely from the State of Oregon’s Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) 2025 report, and to update Goal 18 policies to reflect state and federal requirements adopted since the county’s last major revision in February 2003.

Cook said staff drafted several policy updates and additions, including new language addressing submarine cable‑landing locations in coordination with the Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee, and noted that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended adoption. Staff also held multiple public meetings and worked with a technical advisory committee that included state and federal agency staff and local stakeholders.

Planning staff asked the board to continue the public hearing to Oct. 8 to allow time for additional review and a second reading. The board voted to continue the hearing; no substantive changes were adopted on Sept. 24.

Cook told commissioners the updated maps and policies will be posted and that staff will use feedback from the continuing hearing to revise the draft before the board’s next meeting. Several commissioners praised the mapping work and said the updated materials will strengthen the county’s position for future planning and related processes, including responses to federal FEMA actions.

The public hearing will reconvene Oct. 8 for the ordinance’s second reading.","Planning staff presented an update to Comprehensive Plan Goal 18, including new digital mapping from DOGAMI and new policies on submarine cable landings; commissioners continued the public hearing to Oct. 8 for a second reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Clatsop County plans consolidated Health and Human Services department to cut admin costs

Clatsop County approves six‑month extension and funding increase for OHA mental‑health contract

Clatsop County environmental health staff cite inspections backlog, propose added inspector

County continues public hearing on Goal 18 beaches and dunes mapping update to Oct. 8