Jefferson County commissioners approve range of administrative items, investment rules, and emergency equipment purchases

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13 approved a package of administrative items including hiring waivers and job changes, updated the county's investment rules for pooled funds, authorized purchase of two emergency generators, and approved camera systems for county parks and the community center.

Why it matters: The investments-policy changes clarify how pool participants (cities, districts) notify the county before contributing or withdrawing large sums and shift any realized losses from forced sales to the withdrawing entity. The generator purchases and camera installations are county efforts to strengthen emergency response and reduce vandalism at county facilities.

What the board approved

- Waiver to hire for assessor office vacancy: The board granted a 90-day hiring-freeze waiver to post a vacancy in the assessor's office after a staff resignation; the motion passed on a voice vote. (Request from Assessor Ray; no roll-call tally recorded.)

- Consent agenda: Commissioners approved the consent agenda (items 6.1'6.2) by voice vote.

- Salary order: The board approved a salary order to hire Miriam Fisher as senior planner, Grade 29, step 9, with a motion to sign the salary order passed by voice vote.

- First reading of ADU ordinance: The board conducted the first reading, by title only, of an ordinance amending the Jefferson County zoning ordinance (sections 304, 306 and 434) related to accessory dwelling units; Commissioners set the second reading for Sept. 3. The first-reading motion passed by voice vote.

- Investment service agreement and policy updates: The board approved revisions to the Jefferson County Treasury Investment Service Agreement (including a 15-day notice for contributions/withdrawals over $5 million and language to assess losses to the withdrawing district) and adopted the county investment policy for fiscal year 2025' 26. The actions were approved on voice votes.

- Authorization to sign letter of support to Oregon Department of Energy: The board authorized a letter of support and application for the Oregon DOE's Community Renewable Energy Project grant to pursue a countywide energy resiliency plan. The motion passed by voice vote.

- General Code publishing agreement: The board approved a service agreement renewal with General Code Publishing to publish Jefferson County code online (eCode360), a contract the county expects to cost in the $7,500 range for the current update; motion approved by voice vote.

- Job descriptions and 90-day waivers for building inspectors: The board approved revised job descriptions for Building Inspector 3 (electrical) and Building Inspector 3 (plumbing), and granted the requested 90-day hiring waivers to recruit for those positions. Motion passed by voice vote.

- Purchase requisitions (generators): The board approved purchase requisition(s) to buy a 150 kW generator for the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and a 40 kW generator for Camp Sherman. Staff discussed vendor quotes and expected installation and ancillary costs; the motion passed by voice vote.

- Purchase requisitions (park and community-center cameras): The board approved purchase requisitions for camera systems at Juniper Hills Park, Panorama Park and the Madras Community Center to address vandalism and safety concerns; motion passed by voice vote.

- Amendment with Mazama GIS (tri-county resiliency project): The board approved Amendment No. 1 to the contract with Mazama GIS Labs for GIS work supporting the Tri-County resiliency project (approximately $6,100). Motion passed by voice vote.

- VOCA / CFA grant submission authorization: The board authorized staff to submit the VOCA (Victim of Crime Act) and Criminal Fines Account non-competitive grant application for FY25'27, authorizing final budget numbers to be signed off by the county finance director before submission. Motion passed by voice vote.

Board procedure and voting notes: Most approvals were taken via voice vote with Commissioners indicating "aye"; no roll-call tallies or individual recorded no/yes votes were recorded in the transcript for these items. Where staff discussed budget or contractual amounts, the board asked staff to return with more detailed estimates and to pursue grant match or capital-fund sources where needed.

What the board directed staff to do: Staff were instructed to pursue final contract terms, return with installation cost estimates (generators, cameras), coordinate grant-match strategies (energy resiliency planning grant), and bring finalized budget figures for the VOCA/CFA grant back for finance director sign-off prior to submission.

Ending: Commissioners recessed for lunch and set future dates for the second reading of the zoning ordinance (Sept. 3) and other routine calendar items. The board indicated some items will require supplemental budgets when installation and contractual costs are finalized.