Jefferson County commissioners approve grant amendments, hiring and procurement items in omnibus vote

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a series of administrative items by voice vote during their regular meeting, signing grant amendments and subawards, ratifying labor memoranda of understanding, authorizing several salary orders and hiring waivers, and approving procurement and contract actions for county facilities and equipment.

In the meeting’s most immediate business, the board signed amendments and subawards connected to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) funding. Russell, Jefferson County Public Health, described one item as “just a little bit of cleaning up with OHA,” saying the state returned funds for services provided in fiscal year 23-24. The board subsequently approved a subaward to support a nurse home‑visiting program for children and youth with special health care needs; the packet described the award as roughly $10,000 for the county’s work with that population.

The board also approved the county’s 25-26 CAFA grant application after a short presentation from Bridal Solis, Jefferson County assessor. Solis described the application as “a collaborative work between the assessor’s office and the tax finance office.” Solis and staff discussed an indirect cost-rate question in the packet and noted the county used a 5% indirect rate as required by the state application rules for this submission.

Personnel actions approved in the omnibus vote included multiple salary orders and associated hiring steps. The board approved promotions and salary orders in the assessor’s office, including a salary change order for Craig Graham to GIS coordinator/cartographer and a request to waive the 90‑day hiring freeze so the office may post Craig’s prior position. The board also approved a salary order and employment agreement for Tim Marcille (title referenced in the packet) and a similar 90‑day waiver to post his replacement. Commissioners approved a salary order and employment agreement for Derek Payne as community development director (start date referenced as June 2) and approved the creation of a senior planner job description and directed staff to begin recruitment. The board also approved a salary order for Michaela West as deputy district attorney 1.

Procurement and facilities items passed included a change order for the Sheriff’s Office/Public Health storage building in the amount of $17,000 to add additional gravel and site prep after wet conditions delayed work. Tony (staff member) described the site work and said the change order will increase base rock and parking in the south corner of the site and that paving may be considered in a future budget.

The board approved a pre‑purchase requisition for a 2025 GMC Sierra 3,500 from Chevrolet GMC of Madras for $50,000 and an additional $6,000 quoted to outfit the vehicle with a lift gate and other equipment (total authorization up to $56,000 in the motion as stated in the meeting). Commissioners discussed vehicle‑replacement planning and the option to defer some purchases to the next fiscal year.

Commissioners authorized an emergency‑style contract with Tomco Electric, Inc., for replacement of the jail fire‑alarm system for the sheriff’s facility. Staff described the work as a full building replacement using a panel type already installed at the courthouse; the procurement was presented as urgent and was processed through a quick or emergency procurement route. The board also approved a purchase requisition for a camera system at the Community Corrections facility from Lehi Networks; staff said the new system will be installed initially as a live feed and will not be turned on to record until legal issues are resolved.

Labor and benefits updates were approved as memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The board signed MOUs with the Jefferson County Public Works Department Laborers Union Local 737 and with the Jefferson County Service Employees Bargaining Unit (Laborers Union local number referenced in packet). The board also approved a four‑year collective bargaining agreement update with the Federation of Parole and Probation Officers that includes wage adjustments and added bereavement leave language to match county policy.

Other items discussed but not decided in this meeting included the county logo refresh (staff will present one additional font option at the next meeting before final selection) and the county weed coordinator/fund status. County staff provided a budget printout showing the weed fund’s declining beginning balance and limited contingency; commissioners asked for fully loaded cost proposals and options (including possible transfers) to return at a future meeting before additional budget action.

County counsel provided an update on civil commitment hearings and representation. County counsel said the district attorney’s office historically represents the state in those hearings and reported that, at present, the county should keep the status quo, given limited local capacity and that outside law firms contacted either declined or reported travel/capacity constraints. County counsel said she “does not recommend changing it” at this time and will continue short‑term conversations with the district attorney’s office and the attorney general’s office as needed.

The meeting’s omnibus approval covered the actions above by voice vote; commissioners recorded “ayes” on each motion and chair-signed the documents in the packet. Exact roll‑call tallies were not read during the meeting and are not specified in the public record provided in the packet.

Ending: Staff were directed to continue follow‑up on the CAFA application indirect‑cost question with the state, to return with refined budget numbers for weed‑fund options, and to present one additional logo/font option for final consideration at the next meeting.