Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves relocation of county finance offices to Oregon Building to widen hiring pool
Summary
To address recruitment and retention challenges, commissioners approved moving the finance office to the Oregon Building (north county), where staff said a larger applicant pool and better access could improve hiring; the move will be funded from existing furniture/improvement budgets and staged so key records remain accessible.
Facing ongoing staffing shortages in the finance office, Morrow County commissioners voted Oct. 7 to relocate the finance manager and two additional finance positions to office space in the Oregon Building (the county's north-end satellite facility).
County administration presented a floor plan that would convert existing, underused office space into a finance manager office and a two-station workspace (hard-wall cubicle or high wall). Administration said the move is expected to broaden the candidate pool by making positions more accessible to residents of Boardman, Hermiston and other north-end population centers, where county staff said potential applicants are more likely to live.
Administration said the relocation would be funded from an existing furniture/improvement appropriation (estimated under $30,000 for walls and furnishings) and that long-term archives and some filing would remain at the courthouse. The finance director would continue to spend time on the south end as needed to meet with elected officials and department heads; staff argued the move is aimed at improving recruitment and retention for positions that have cycled through multiple hires in recent years.
Commissioners approved the relocation after discussing candidate availability, commute times and the county's need for experienced accounting staff; several commissioners said the change is not intended to be permanent policy for all county employees but rather a targeted measure to stabilize finance staffing.
Ending: Administration and facilities staff will implement the move, purchase furniture and construct the workspace; staff said they will continue to evaluate staffing and whether hybrid or remote options are feasible for specific positions.
