Jefferson County commissioners approve consulting contract, EIF application and multiple salary, contract and service items; OHA contract review held

At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a series of contracts, salary orders and administrative items and directed staff on a high-profile funding application and a state contract that requires further internal review.

What the board approved (votes at a glance)

- Consulting services agreement with SSW Consulting LLC for strategic planning and facilitation services: motion approved. The agreement will be signed by the commission chair. - Letter of support for North Unit Irrigation District: motion approved; chair authorized to sign. - Consent agenda (items 6.1 through 6.8): approved as presented. - Order establishing internal controls and procedures for petty cash and cash drawers, with an update to the custodial official at the sheriff's office: approved. - Annual fee schedule for several departments (annual adjustments highlighted in the staff handout): approved; one commissioner expressed reservations about some fee increases and requested follow-up with departments. - Annual agreement for Watermaster services (intergovernmental agreement with State of Oregon Water Resources Department): approved. - Jefferson County Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF/STIF-related contract) with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC): approved. - ODOT STIF formula program agreement (No. 35846) between Jefferson County and the Oregon Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division: approved. - Six-month extension (third addendum) for kennel services with Brightside: approved. - Settlement agreement and mutual release with Rockin' Easy Rescue Ranch: approved. - First addendum to personnel services contract with Blosier Outdoor Enterprises LLC: approved. - Fairgrounds sponsorship agreement with several local sponsors (Keith Manufacturing, Pratham Co-op, Bigfoot Beverages, Dreams Realty Group LLC, Next Era Energy): approved. - Commission chair authorized to sign the plat map for Sagebrook Estates Phase 2: approved. - Salary and personnel orders: approved salary orders and appointments including (as listed on the agenda) Isaac Blair (salary change moving him into permanent building official role, described as community development building official, grade 33 step 26), John McCullough (Public Works mechanic 2), Justice Amato (Sheriff's Office civil deputy), Stacy Shaw (public health promotion supervisor), Beth Ann Beamer (public health clinical services supervisor), and others listed on the agenda; motions carried. - Authorization for out-of-state travel for drone pilot training: approved for Josh Roth (June 2025, Lakewood, Washington) and Ashley Larson (June 2025, Lakewood, Washington). - Attendance and training authorization for public-health staff to attend the National Conference on Tobacco and Health (late August 2025, Chicago): approved. - Jefferson County EIF (Employee Incentive Funding) application: motion approved to submit an application to deposit $500,000 into an EIF site account; staff estimated a potential 25% FY match if funds remain available (matching funds ~ $125,000). Budget authority for the deposit was described as available in fund 217, and payment timing could be deferred until February if needed.

Held/continued items

- Oregon Health Authority (OHA) contract (agenda item 8.14): staff reported the contract cover sheet contained an incorrect dollar amount and that the county's review work group had not completed its review of the contract. Commissioners asked for the county work-group review and asked staff to bring an update; one commissioner said they would not sign the contract until that review was complete. The item was held for further review and moved to a future meeting.

Context and notable discussion

Staff said the petty-cash order simply updates the custodial official at the sheriff's office and reiterated standard cash-counting procedures; departments reported no requested changes to petty-cash dollar amounts. On the annual-fee schedule, staff said many increases were small and some reflected efforts to align fees (for example, some public-health fees increased by about $20); one commissioner asked for more background from departments where fees rose.

The PERS-related EIF application was discussed at length. Staff described the EIF program as a state match program first opened 2019'2023 that provides a 25% match to site-account deposits for participating entities; Jefferson County previously received $559,921 in EIF matching funds during the prior program cycle and requested commission approval to apply for a $500,000 site-account deposit in the current cycle.

Several routine personnel items were approved with brief remarks of appreciation for staff stepping into interim roles. Other administrative items, including travel, training and contract addenda, passed largely without extended debate.

Ending

The board completed the agenda items and scheduled follow-up: the OHA contract will return for review after the county's work group and staff provide recommendations; staff will execute the EIF application at the opening of the application window if the commission's direction is unchanged.