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City administrator reports hires, grants and policing updates; county URD to study North State Road intersection
Summary
City Administrator Miller told the council July 8 that the city recently hired five employees, received grants for a fire-department drone and handheld speed devices, and expects a sworn-in officer July 9; county urban renewal staff said a study of the North State Road intersection will proceed.
City Administrator Miller reported at the July 8 North Bend City Council meeting that the city hired five new employees in the past two weeks and is reviewing its business license process with the finance and public-works departments to improve efficiency and online capability.
Miller said the city received an $8,355 grant from The Ford Family Foundation to help purchase a drone for the fire department’s growing drone program. He also reported a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to acquire two handheld speed-enforcement devices that can be used from patrol vehicles, on foot or on bicycles. Miller said Police Officer Keller Salmon will be sworn in July 9, bringing the department to full staffing “on paper,” but the department still expects to reach full operational capacity once four newly hired officers complete academy training—estimated in the meeting as summer 2026.
Miller also noted that two school resource officers are attending DARE training in Miami; he said wages, lodging and related costs for that training are paid by grant funding. Separately, the street department will operate with a reduced crew through mid-July while a team member recovers.
In committee reports, a representative for the county urban renewal district (URD) said the county is moving forward with a study of the North State Road intersection to develop recommendations for reconfiguring the area to better accommodate trucks. The committee cited truck traffic volumes, saying a truck leaves that intersection about every three and a half minutes during the week.
Councilors used the administrator’s report to remind residents about upcoming July Jubilee events and to thank staff for the recent work on onboarding and public-safety coverage. The administrator’s written report was distributed electronically, Miller said, and supporting grant and hiring documentation should be available in the city’s posted materials.
