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Gilliam County approves summer youth work program at state minimum wage, 200 hours per participant
Summary
County court approved setting summer youth work program wages at Oregon minimum wage and authorized execution of contracts covering 200 hours per youth, and granted program manager signing authority.
Gilliam County Court on April 2 approved the county's summer youth work experience program wage and contract authority, setting pay at the state minimum wage and funding 200 hours per youth.
The county heard an update from Amy Nation, juvenile prevention director, who described recruitment of worksites across Arlington, Condon and other towns and said she requested county permission to set wages and sign contracts with participating employers. Nation said the program historically covered 200 hours per youth and that the county and grant funds would be used to reimburse employers who put youth on payroll.
"What I am asking of the county today is we need to set the wage for the youth for the summer work program. Historically, we've always just set it at whatever the state minimum wage is," Nation said. She told the court that the current state minimum wage was $13.70 and that the July 1 rate had not yet been released.
Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to approve payment at the state minimum wage, set each youth's allotment at 200 hours, and grant Amy Nation authority to execute contracts with participating businesses. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Nation told the court she had secured employer commitments in Arlington for grocery, hotel and other placements and had outreach underway to match additional youth with jobs. She said the program would continue to require employers to submit monthly timesheets and return unspent funds, as had occurred in prior years.
The juvenile prevention director also reported efforts to expand related summer placements through other grants and local partners, and that the county-funded portion of the program would be coordinated with grant funds such as the juvenile crime prevention grant.
The court gave staff authority to finalize contracts and work with the finance office to apply the correct minimum wage once the state rate is published.
Less critical details: Nation said some placement types (e.g., certain port equipment work) require youth aged 16 because of state rules; she also described outreach deadlines and an expectation of roughly 200 hours per youth in the county-funded contract.
