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Klamath County approves $500,000 to start statewide well‑drilling apprenticeship with Klamath Community College
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a $500,000 intergovernmental agreement with Klamath Community College to help launch a statewide well‑drilling apprenticeship program; county commissioners framed the move as a response to drought-era shortages of drillers and as a potential platform for groundwater monitoring work.
Klamath County commissioners on July 15 approved a $500,000 intergovernmental agreement with Klamath Community College to seed a statewide well‑drilling apprenticeship program.
The funding will come from the commissioners’ miscellaneous grant fund and is intended to support KCC as it finalizes curriculum and seeks approval from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). "We intend to launch this program as a statewide apprenticeship program, and serve the entire state to train the next generation of well drillers in the state of Oregon," Mark Griffith of Klamath Community College said during the meeting.
Commissioners and KCC staff said the apprenticeship responds to a persistent shortage of well drillers that hampered emergency responses during recent droughts. "It almost seems like a long time ago to remember how desperate we were for well drillers," Commissioner Minty said, adding that the county had faced not only drought but also limited contractor capacity.
KCC told the board it is completing the curriculum and plans to seek BOLI approval; the college aims to launch in the fall if approvals are timely, or in the winter term if not. Commissioners discussed the potential to pair the apprenticeship with locally focused groundwater work, including managed aquifer recharge pilot projects and monitoring wells, noting conversations with state water regulators and local water users.
Commissioner Minty moved to approve the agreement; Commissioner Nichols seconded. Chair Minty called the question and recorded the motion as passed.
The intergovernmental agreement does not set a launch date beyond the expected academic timelines and remains subject to regulatory approvals required for apprenticeship programs. KCC said it will continue outreach and finalize program details as it completes the BOLI submission.
The motion authorizes county staff to sign the agreement and obligates the county to the stated $500,000 fiscal impact from the commissioners’ grant fund.
