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 and will be funded in part from the Forest and Parks Trust Fund. During discussion commissioners noted that elected officials’ salaries cannot be changed without the budget committee and that the budget committee had already provided a 5% increase for some elected officials in the adopted budget.

Other approvals included: - A purchase and sale agreement to acquire a roughly 3‑acre parcel near Whiskey Run Trails for a proposed campsite; funding will come from the Forest and Parks Trust Fund plus grant support, and planning and public input will follow before development. - A fourth supplement to a long‑standing permit with Weyerhaeuser to continue use of Naseca Park through March 31, 2045. - Authorization for Brad Burnett, chair of the Coos County Fair and Rodeo, to sign a general service agreement with Pacific Power for up to $12,851 to bring power to a new amphitheater stage area. - Approval to buy a used Parks tractor from Kubota for $38,000 (parks staff said the department is self‑supporting and has budgeted the purchase). - A $27,300 contract with Freedom Fence, to be paid from legislative opioid‑response funding managed through ADAPT and reimbursed via invoicing to ADAPT, to construct a fenced evidence area that will free space for a planned sobering center. - A resolution authorizing Northwest Natural to develop design work for a horizontal‑drill repair at the Mile 98 pipeline slide (to address recurring pipeline failures and associated public‑safety risk).

On the county’s noxious‑weed cost‑share program the board approved purchase authority for herbicides not to exceed $35,000 for one year, contingent on obtaining three competitive quotes and final county counsel review. Jill, a county staff member presenting the program, said the cost‑share program is grant‑funded and requires applicants to take a mandatory training taught by certified applicators and to use products labeled safe for aquatic use when needed. During discussion one commissioner expressed strong opposition to glyphosate and called it “a horrible product,” while the presenter clarified the county intends to use aquatic‑labeled formulations where required and will follow Oregon Department of Agriculture recommendations.

Public comment included several speakers who raised community concerns; the meeting concluded after the consent calendar and regular reports from commissioners.

Votes at a glance - Master Service Agreement, Emeritus Healthcare Staffing Inc.: motion approved (vote: ayes stated; names not specified). Funding/term: temporary in‑person therapists, start with up to two for 90 days; signer: department head Mike Rowley authorized. - Dispatch services IGA, City of Coos Bay: approved. Amount: $10,400 per year (paid quarterly). Funding: Oregon Department of Corrections state grant aid. - Seventh amendment IGA, City of Reedsport (one jail bed): approved. Amount: $43,800 per year plus up to $10,000 for an additional bed; term 07/01/2025–06/30/2026. - Fifth amendment, Coastal Center (offender treatment): approved. Amount: $30,000 per year; term 07/01/2025–06/30/2026. - Amendment, Bay Area First Step (clean and sober beds): approved. Amount: $113,100 per year for 13 beds; term 07/01/2025–06/30/2026. - Carahsoft software purchase: approved. Amount: $18,752.61 (marijuana enforcement/CJC grant). - SysTech IT services payment: approved. Amount: $11,028.75 (COPS technology grant funds). - CAFA/CAPA grant resolution (annual application): resolution 25.04.06 approved. - Herbicide purchase authority (Noxious Weed Board): approved 2–1. Amount not to exceed $35,000 contingent on three quotes and county counsel review. - Reclassification, Amy Dibble: approved. Administrative Development Manager, step 4 + 6%, effective 05/01/2025; resolution 25.04.05.8 approved. - Ratification of hire, IT systems administrator (Jeremy Geyer): approved (step 4 hire ratified). - PERS retiree policy: approved; resolution 25.04.057L signed; rehired PERS retirees must receive board approval under the policy. - Purchase and sale agreement for campsite near Whiskey Run Trails (seller: David Delbec): approved. Funding: Forest and Parks Trust Fund and grants; parcel ~3 acres; planning and public comment to follow. - Naseca Park permit supplement with Weyerhaeuser: approved through 03/31/2045. - Nonunion employee compensation increase (3% retroactive to 01/01/2025): approved (amount estimated ~$70,000); excludes commissioners and elected officials per budget committee action. - Pacific Power general service agreement for amphitheater power: approved. Not to exceed $12,851; signer: Brad Burnett (Coos County Fair and Rodeo chair). - Parks used tractor purchase from Kubota: approved. Amount: $38,000. - Freedom Fence contract for evidence area (to be invoiced to ADAPT): approved. Amount: $27,300; appropriation resolution 25.04.056B approved. - Resolution approving design work for pipeline slide repair with Northwest Natural (horizontal drilling design): resolution 25.04.071L approved.

Why it matters: The approvals preserve corrections capacity and treatment pathways, authorize grant‑funded technology and infrastructure purchases, and adjust county personnel costs and policies that affect operations. Several actions rely on state grant funding or one‑time county trust funds; commissioners noted some approvals use nonrecurring or department‑specific surpluses and that long‑term revenue constraints will require future solutions.

Details and clarifications from the meeting - Funding sources: many items were paid from state grant aid (Oregon Department of Corrections), targeted grants (marijuana enforcement/CJC grant, COPS technology grant), the Forest and Parks Trust Fund, or program revenues (parks). Several presenters emphasized that these expenditures are not from general fund discretionary dollars. - Herbicide policy: the Noxious Weed Board requires training for chemical use and follows aquatic‑labeled product guidance when spraying near water. Presenting staff estimated glyphosate‑type products constitute roughly 10% of expected purchases and noted the program uses aquatic formulations (e.g., Rodeo) where required. - Personnel rules: the amended PERS retiree policy reinstates a board approval step for rehiring PERS retirees; the board also clarified elected officials’ pay changes require budget committee approval.

Public process: For land acquisitions and campsite planning, commissioners said planning and public comment opportunities will occur before construction moves forward.

The meeting record indicates unanimous or near‑unanimous support for most items; where roll‑call counts were stated in the record (herbicide purchase), the vote was 2–1.