Residents urge county review and oversight of Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District at public comment

Multiple Jefferson County residents used the Aug. 13 public-comment period to press the Board of Commissioners to intervene in governance, finance and permitting problems at the Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District (MACRD).

Why it matters: The MACRD operates a taxpayer-funded aquatic facility used by residents and school teams. Commenters said the district has used county tax-anticipation loans, spent bond or levy revenue in ways residents question, and taken actions that they say threaten public trust and the ability of the pool to serve the community during emergencies.

What residents told commissioners

- Financial management and tax anticipation loan: Judy Hogan, identifying herself as a lifelong Jefferson County resident, said she reviewed records showing what she described as inconsistent certification of bond payments and transfers from the district's general fund to cover shortfalls. She asked the county to publish a plan for how tax-anticipation funds will be approved going forward and said, "This is simply not an opinion versus another. Numbers are numbers." (Judy Hogan, public comment.)

- Ethics and public-meetings complaints: Carrie Graham read a statement on behalf of Susan Kabari alleging MACRD had active ethics complaints under review by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) and alleged public-meetings-law violations. That statement asked the county to "initiate a review of MACRD's governance, financial management, and compliance practices" and to engage oversight bodies such as the state Department of Justice if warranted.

- Permitting and safety risks: Vanessa Millis (participating remotely) said a county building permit pulled for HVAC upgrades at MACRD "has never been finaled" and warned that the district could face denial of insurance coverage for an incident tied to an unfinaled permit. She told commissioners the permit lapse was discovered while community members were reviewing other district actions.

- Community access and services: Several speakers, including Nikki Carson, Michelle Boynton and Thomas Carson, said the pool has been closed for public rec swim while school and competitive teams continue to use it; speakers said that leaves vulnerable residents without cooling space during heat events and reduces community access to services funded by their taxes. Michelle Boynton said the pool spent funds on items while services were shuttered and questioned expenditures such as equipment purchases.

- Requests to county commissioners: Petitioners asked the board to reconsider providing future tax-anticipation loans, to require stronger reporting and transparency, to review grant compliance and permitting, and to ensure that legal fees were not being paid from county loans in ways that shield governance questions from public review.

What county staff said

Derek Payne, community development director, acknowledged he would follow up on permitting questions and investigate the permit-finalization claim. Commissioners suggested members of the public also raise the issues with the City of Madras, since the city also has relationships with the district.

Ending: Commissioners closed the public-comment period after hearing several speakers. They thanked residents for coming and pledged staff follow-up on the permit questions and to consider the county's role in assisting or financially supporting a special district tied to county loans.