Commissioners approve grants and agreements, sign letter seeking legal clarity in Marion County litigation

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine and substantive items on Sept. 11, each by unanimous voice vote. Actions included grant applications, contract amendments with the Oregon Health Authority, updates to departmental fee schedules, and a board order delegating emergency-authority actions to the HHS director. The board also approved a letter asking Oregon Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney General to seek judicial clarification in the Marion County v. Kotek litigation.

Why it matters: The approvals authorize funding applications and acceptances that fund law enforcement, corrections, youth services and behavioral-health programs; they update county policy on community justice fees; and they formalize county participation in national opioid settlement proceedings.

Votes at a glance (motions approved unanimously)

- J1: Authorized the sheriff or designee to apply for FY25-26 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management in the amount of $75,637. (Outcome: approved)

- J2: Authorized the sheriffs office to apply for and, if awarded, accept the CIS property and evidence public safety grant to renovate the evidence-processing area, $4,979.71. (Outcome: approved)

- J3: Authorized application for a CIS law enforcement public safety grant to purchase less-lethal 40 mm launchers, kits and munitions, $4,381. (Outcome: approved)

- J4: Authorized application/acceptance of CIS corrections public safety grant for replacement automated external defibrillators, $5,000. (Outcome: approved)

- J5: Authorized Jessica Beach or designee to apply for FY25-26 CIS public safety grant funding for the Yamhill County Youth Services Center, $2,582.99. (Outcome: approved)

- J6: Approved a revised fee schedule for the Department of Community Justice, effective Oct. 1, 2025. (Outcome: approved)

- J7: Approved allowing current solid-waste service providers to receive glass allocation funding directly from the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) per the Recycling Modernization Act (option B). (Outcome: approved)

- J8: Approved a board order granting authority to the HHS director and designated staff to take actions allowed by ORS 426.327 and rescinding Board Order 24-327. (Outcome: approved)

- J9: Approved Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 184213 between Yamhill County and the Oregon Health Authority for the Nurse Family Partnership program, adding funding language and extending term dates to Sept. 30, 2026. (Outcome: approved)

- J10: Approved Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180824 between Yamhill County HHS and the Oregon Health Authority for Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) tort-liability coverage through Dec. 31, 2025. (Outcome: approved)

- J11: Approved Amendment No. 13 to Agreement No. 026028 (HHS and OHA), board order 24-029, in the amount of $27,400 retroactive to July 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025. (Outcome: approved)

- J12: Approved Agreement No. 44300-00044812 between Yamhill County and OHA for substance-use disorder residential and day-treatment services, $185,438.48, retroactive July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. (Outcome: approved)

- J13: Approved grant agreement No. 44300-00051389 between Yamhill County HHS and OHA for substance-abuse treatment and support services in the amount of $3,420,000, retroactive July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. (Outcome: approved)

- J14: Approved a letter addressed to Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi encouraging parties in Marion County v. Kotek to seek a detailed judicial opinion providing clarification requested in the pleadings. (Outcome: approved) Public comment earlier in the meeting (Dennis Gax) urged the board to sign this letter.

- J15: Authorized county counsel to sign final participation forms and related documents to include Yamhill County in the proposed national opioid settlement agreement with Purdue/Sackler and other settling defendants; authorized acceptance of participation if terms are consistent with the boards interests. (Outcome: approved)

Consent agenda and other non-controversial items: The board also approved the consent agenda (surplus property listings, committee appointment for Jerry Turgison, minutes) by unanimous voice vote.

Vote summary: All listed motions were approved by unanimous voice votes during the Sept. 11 meeting. Where a specific mover or seconder was not recorded in the public transcript, the board voted by voice and the clerk recorded unanimous approval.

Speakers quoted in this summary are limited to those named in the meeting transcript.