Klamath County commissioners approve developmental disability IGA, public-health agreement, fairgrounds construction and several grants

Klamath County commissioners approved a package of agreements, grants and a construction contract at their Aug. 5 business meeting, including a state intergovernmental grant agreement that will provide revenue to county developmental disability services and funding to support residents participating in a wood-stove replacement program.

The actions bundle revenue and expenses across multiple county departments. The county approved a state IGA for the county’s Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) for the 2025–27 biennium, a memorandum of agreement with Klamath and Lake Community Action Services (CLAS) to provide utility assistance tied to a Target Airshed Grant (TAG), a construction contract for a new maintenance shop at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, a domestic well financial-assistance award for an individual resident, and a 90‑day extension amendment to a professional services contract with the county economic development association (CASIDA).

The largest item was the intergovernmental grant agreement presented by Heidi Gaither, director of Klamath County Developmental Disability Services. Gaither asked the board to approve IGA PO100000047084 for the 2025–27 biennium and said the fiscal impact is revenue of $9,770,412, split evenly over the two fiscal years ($4,885,206 per year). The motion to approve the IGA was made and seconded on the record; the board voted in favor and the chair announced the motion passed.

Public Health Director Jennifer Little presented a memorandum of agreement between Klamath County Public Health and Klamath and Lake Community Action Services (CLAS). Little said the agreement will provide utility-assistance funding to qualified residents participating in a wood-stove replacement program funded by a DEQ Target Airshed Grant (TAG). Little said the agreement is effective through May 31, 2030, and that the fiscal impact is an expense of $337,000 from the public-health subdepartment (subdepartment 4041). The board approved the MOA by recorded motion; the chair announced the motion passed.

Derek Rowley, director of the Klamath County Fairgrounds and Events Center, presented a construction contract award for a prefabricated maintenance shop. Rowley said seven bids were opened and the winning bidder meeting the criteria was Wickwire Contracting LLC at $333,080.25. The board voted to authorize the contract; the chair announced the motion passed.

The board approved a domestic well financial assistance grant in the amount of $13,683.75 for a listed recipient, Ashley Shepherd, as part of a program the county established following the 2021 drought. The motion to approve the agreement and authorize signature was made and seconded; the chair announced the motion passed.

The board also approved Amendment No. 4 extending the 2016 professional services contract (and subsequent amendments) with the Klamath County Economic Development Association (CASIDA) for 90 days with a $75,000 fiscal impact to the economic development fund. One commissioner stated opposition to the extension on the record; the extension nonetheless passed after the vote was taken.

Votes at a glance - Developmental disability IGA (IGA PO100000047084): motion to approve made on the record; board approved; fiscal impact: revenue $9,770,412 (split evenly across two fiscal years). Presented by Heidi Gaither, Klamath County DD Services. - Public-health MOA with Klamath and Lake Community Action Services (CLAS): motion to approve made on the record; board approved; fiscal impact: expense $337,000 (subdepartment 4041). Presented by Jennifer Little, Klamath County Public Health. - Fairgrounds construction contract with Wickwire Contracting LLC: motion to approve made on the record; board approved; fiscal impact: $333,080.25. Presented by Derek Rowley, Fairgrounds director. - Domestic well financial assistance grant to Ashley Shepherd: motion to approve made on the record; board approved; fiscal impact: $13,683.75. Announced by county staff during the grants item. - Amendment No. 4 to professional services contract with the Klamath County Economic Development Association (CASIDA): motion to approve extension for 90 days, fiscal impact $75,000; one commissioner recorded a nay; motion passed.

The board recorded motions, seconds and votes for each item in the public meeting transcript. Several motions were moved by presenting staff (for example, Gaither, Little and Rowley each put motions on the record) and seconded on the record; the chair announced each motion passed. One commissioner registered a recorded dissent (nay) against the CASIDA extension during that vote. The transcript does not record an itemized roll-call tally for each commissioner on every motion.

The meeting concluded with a brief reports period and adjournment at 1:20 p.m.