Umatilla County commissioners approve procurement change, grants, appointments and routine authorizations

Umatilla County commissioners on a regular meeting day approved several routine and policy items, including a revision to the county public contracting ordinance that raises the threshold for formal competitive bidding, acceptance of a no-match state homeland security grant for emergency-event equipment, payment to the Oregon Department of Transportation for a bridge replacement match, two employee commute-authorizations, fair board appointments, support for an additional judge for the Sixth Judicial District and county participation in a regional Oregon Solutions mediation process.

The county adopted changes to its public contracting ordinance at a second reading and vote. County staff said the ordinance raises the dollar threshold that triggers a formal competitive bidding process from $10,000 to $25,000; procurements between those amounts would seek quotes if possible, while purchases above $25,000 would require formal procurement. "The limit for requiring formal, the bid process, for procurements, is going to be raised from the dollar amount of 10,000 to 25,000," said Doug, a county staff member presenting the ordinance. The board voted to adopt ordinance number 2024-11 during the meeting after a brief public hearing with no public testimony in favor or opposed.

The board approved a State…