Coos County commissioners approve staffing contracts, corrections agreements, grants and 3% pay increase for nonunion staff

Coos County commissioners approved multiple contracts, intergovernmental agreements and budget measures during their April 15 public meeting, actions county leaders said are intended to sustain corrections services, support public safety and complete several county projects.

The board approved a master services agreement with Emeritus Healthcare Staffing Inc. to bring temporary, in‑person therapists into county facilities to help reduce a backlog. Department head Mike Rowley said the county is looking at “potentially 1 or 2 for 90 days to start” to address the backlog and that the staff will work on site.

The county also approved a series of Community Corrections agreements funded by state grant aid from the Oregon Department of Corrections: a dispatch services contract with the City of Coos Bay for $10,400 per year; a seventh amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Reedsport for one jail bed at $43,800 per year (with an option for an additional bed up to $10,000); and an amendment with Coastal Center for offender treatment services at $30,000 per year. In the same program area the board approved a contract amendment with Bay Area First Step for 13 clean‑and‑sober beds at $113,100 per year to support transition housing for people leaving custody.

County staff presented several grant‑funded purchases for approval. The board authorized payment of $18,752.61 to Carahsoft for software used in evidence processing (paid from the marijuana enforcement/CJC grant) and $11,028.75 to SysTech from a COPS technology grant to support dispatch consolidation technology.

On policy and personnel matters the board approved an amended PERS retiree policy presented by county staff member Caroline that requires rehired PERS retirees to receive board approval. The board also ratified the hire of Jeremy Geyer as IT systems administrator at a step 4 rate and approved reclassification of Amy Dibble to Administrative Development Manager (step 4 + 6%), effective May 1, 2025.

In a budgetary measure the board approved a 3% pay increase retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, for current nonunion county employees, excluding commissioners and elected officials; county staff said the increase will cost roughly $70,000…