Umatilla County commissioners approve gate permit, wellness app renewal, grant and equipment purchases

The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners on March 26 approved a series of permits, renewals, appointments and purchases affecting county operations and local services.

Minutes and procedural approvals The board approved minutes from its March 12, 2025 meeting. The motion was moved and seconded; the transcript records an affirmative voice vote but does not record individual vote names or a numeric tally.

Gate permit for Ross Road The board approved a property owner request to install up to three gates on Ross Road (two interior gates and one at the intersection). County road staff reviewed the application and recommended approval; the presenters said all affected property owners had signed off. The motion to approve was moved and seconded; the transcript records a unanimous voice vote without a recorded roll-call.

Sheriff’s office wellness app renewal (Cortico) Undersheriff Jim Littlefield asked the board to renew the county’s subscription to the Cortico wellness app, a Lexipol-related service used by sheriff's staff for 24/7 anonymous wellness resources and self-assessments. Littlefield said the app’s annual renewal cost is $15,000 and that the cost is already budgeted within sheriff’s office divisions. He told commissioners the county’s engagement rate with staff on the app is "about 70 to 75%." The board approved the renewal on a motion and voice vote.

AWARE grant funding to Athena-Weston School District The Athena-Western Education Resource Enhancement (AWARE) grant committee recommended funding $79,000 to the Athena-Weston School District for completion of a land-lab swine barn project. The board approved the AWARE committee’s recommendation and granted a minor extension for track-lighting materials that were delayed. A board member noted the AWARE program has funded multiple local school and facility projects over the years and said this may be one of the program’s last cycles due to dwindling funds.

Airport forklift purchase The board authorized the airport to proceed with a quick RFP to purchase a used reach forklift estimated to be in the $40,000 range. Staff said the previously donated forklift (about 17 years old) is not the correct reach type for the airport’s new storage layout and that the new machine will be moved between grounds frequently during the year. The board approved the authorization on a motion and voice vote.

Budget committee appointment The board appointed Mike Plummer to the Umatilla County budget committee to fill a vacancy. Commissioners cited Plummer’s background in agriculture and health-industry finance during the appointment discussion.

Emotional support animal policy for the district attorney Human Resources representative Jennifer Blake, speaking on behalf of District Attorney Dan Premise, asked the board to authorize a county policy allowing use of emotional support animals in certain victim-contact contexts described by the DA. Blake said the program is tied to demonstrations at a local correctional facility and could provide trauma-focused support for victims. The board moved and approved the policy authorization by voice vote.

Votes and tallies Most motions recorded in the meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote; the transcript records "all in favor, say aye" and affirmative responses but does not provide roll-call vote tallies or the names of movers and seconders for each motion. Where vote details or mover/second names were not recorded in the transcript, those fields are listed as "not specified."