Morrow County commissioners approve routine finance items, hold bridge bids and decommission deputy’s badge; staff coordinate memorial events

The Morrow County Board of Commissioners voted May 21 to approve a slate of routine financial actions, hold bids for a county bridge replacement for engineer review, authorize the chair to sign a Title 20 county profile for Job and Family Services, approve a juvenile court grant application, appoint a finance coordinator under the county's line‑of‑duty policy, and adopt a resolution decommissioning a deputy's badge for presentation to his family.

The actions came as commissioners and staff also discussed logistics for a community vigil and a Saturday dedication and open house at the county engineering facility following the line‑of‑duty death the board referred to during the meeting. "There will be the open house from 9 to 11, 11 o'clock ceremony on Saturday," Commissioner Rucker said, noting organizers expect a procession between noon and 1 p.m.

Why it matters: the votes updated the county's routine financial and personnel records, advanced a juvenile court grant application and preserved a ceremonial gesture for a fallen deputy. Holding the bridge bids sends the procurement back to engineers for a technical review before awarding a contract.

Approvals and appointments The board approved a range of payments and bill approvals described in the meeting as "bills numbered 1 through 41," and a number of specified payments from local customers and vendors. The commissioners also approved transfers including a transfer to the county engineer's fund and a transfer for the treasurer's fund for tax lien sales.

The board authorized Chairman Timothy Siegfried to sign the Morrow County Job and Family Services Title 20 county profile; commissioners approved a juvenile court grant agreement and the pending application that authorizes the chairman to sign related paperwork. The board appointed Jimmy Broker as finance coordinator "according to Morrow County Sheriff's Office policy 1033 line of duty deaths," the meeting record states.

Bridge replacement bids County staff presented three bids for the CR‑23 (RW CR23‑1.12) bridge replacement project. The bids reported in the meeting record were: - Crawford Construction Company: $593,896.22 - RNI Construction: $591,664.90 - V O Menuez and Sun: $614,230.15

Commissioners voted to hold the bids for engineer review rather than award a contract at the meeting.

Memorials, public safety and logistics Commissioners and staff discussed arrangements for a public vigil and a dedication ceremony tied to the line‑of‑duty death cited in the meeting. Commissioner Rucker described coordination with the sheriff's office and other agencies, parking and traffic concerns, and short‑term accommodations such as portable toilets and use of the county engineering facility for overflow parking. Rucker said staff were contacting the Oregon Department of Transportation and the state police for possible traffic control and signage; the meeting record notes organizers asked that gates at the engineering facility be opened to accommodate parking and staging.

Resolution to decommission badge The board adopted a resolution to decommission Deputy Daniel Scherer's badge and to present the badge to his family. The resolution passed on a recorded "yes" vote by the three commissioners in attendance.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve bills numbered 1 through 41 and related payments: approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Transfer to engineer's fund: approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Transfer for treasurer's fund (tax lien sales): approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Authorization for Chairman Timothy Siegfried to sign the Title 20 county profile (Job and Family Services): approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Approval of juvenile court grant agreement and pending application: approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Appointment of Jimmy Broker as finance coordinator (per Morrow County Sheriff's Office policy 1033): approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Hold bridge replacement bids (RW CR23‑1.12) for engineer review: approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes). - Resolution to decommission Deputy Daniel Scherer's badge and gift to family: approved (Mason: yes; Abraham: yes; Siegfried: yes).

What the record does not specify The meeting record did not specify the dollar amounts for the transfers, the detailed terms of the juvenile court grant (grant size or funding sources), or the mover/second when the motions were made; those details are recorded in the minutes as "motion" and "second" but individual mover names were not provided in the transcript.

Next steps The bridge bids will return to county engineering for technical review before any contract award. Staff said they would continue coordinating logistics and traffic control with law enforcement and state agencies for the upcoming public events related to the deputy's death.

Ending: The board recessed and later adjourned after the actions above were taken. The transcript indicates all recorded votes were unanimous among the three commissioners present.