Klamath County commissioners authorize bids and contracts, open hearings on land-corner and nuisance fees

Klamath County commissioners met at 1:00 p.m. and took several administrative actions, including entering a previously approved emergency expenditure for snow removal, awarding a quote for weed-control chemicals, authorizing invitations to bid on road-safety and pedestrian projects, approving contracts and appointments, and opening two first public hearings on proposed ordinance changes to local fees and nuisance enforcement.

The actions are part of routine county business but affect public safety, roads and several county funds. The board also set second and final hearings for both ordinance proposals for March 18, 2025.

The board read into the record a previously approved order to expend county road funds for snow removal in eastern Klamath County. The order, originally approved at a prior public meeting on 02/12/2025, was made part of this meeting’s minutes. The fiscal impact is an expenditure not to exceed $250,000 from the County Road Fund; the board recorded the justification as an emergency response after a significant snow event left over 200 homes without power. The order cited state law as the authority for the expenditure.

Public Works presented several items: the board approved awarding the low quote for 2025 weed-control chemicals to Nutrien Ag Solutions for $73,112.23 after Public Works said three quotes were received (Nutrien Ag Solutions, Basin Fertilizer, Wilbur Ellis). Director Morris moved the recommendation and the motion passed unanimously. Director Morris told the board that the chemicals cover both the road department and the county weed-control program.

Public Works also received authorization to solicit bids on two guardrail projects in the Chiloquin area. The projects were designed in-house and are expected to be reimbursed by the All Roads Transportation Safety grant. The board likewise authorized an invitation to bid for shoulder widening and a multiuse path on Holmdale Road (Oregon 140 to Brettway), a project funded in part with reserved bike-and-pedestrian gas-tax funds the county has been saving to deliver a larger project.

On finance and property matters, the board approved a $3,200 letter of engagement for BBG Real Estate Services to complete a commercial appraisal for 296 South Main; the appraisal will be paid from a COVID-19 pandemic grant fund previously allocated for the project. The board also approved the quarterly transient-room-tax distribution; Rick Vaughan, Klamath County tax collector, told the board the fourth-quarter collection totaled $585,567.52 and that the amount will be distributed under the county’s statutorily constrained revenue-sharing formula. Vaughan said the quarter represented an 11.48% decrease year over year.

Appointments and contracts passed with no opposition. The board appointed Jesse Guthrie and Chris McCowan to the predatory animal control district board for terms expiring July 1, 2028. The board approved Amendment 1 to Agreement 121-24 with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to extend the period of the targeted-airshed grant (TAG) used by Klamath County Public Health to reduce particulate matter 2.5 emissions in the Klamath Falls nonattainment area; the amendment adds federal funding compliance language and extends the performance period. Public Health also presented and the board approved a contract with speaker Derek Clark and the Klamath County Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee for a trauma summit on April 2; the fiscal impact stated in the staff report was $9,999 from the LADPC budget.

Two ordinance hearings were opened for public testimony. The first hearing concerned proposed Ordinance 52.04, which would amend Klamath County Code chapter 104 to increase the administrative fee for the Public Land Corner Preservation Fund from $5 to $10; the county surveyor noted, “It’s been since 1992 that this fee was increased.” The board set the second and final hearing and decision for March 18, 2025 at 1:15 p.m. No public testimony was offered at the first hearing.

The second hearing opened concerned proposed Ordinance 15.13, which would amend county code chapters 401 (nuisance control) and 800 (uniform civil violation procedure) to update enforcement procedures and the penalty structure. Mr. Fryden, representing weed-control staff, said the fee increase was initiated by the Klamath County Weed Advisory Committee because the existing fine—"the fine has been $720 for as long as I can remember," he said—has not kept pace with contractor costs and, as a result, noncompliance is sometimes cheaper than abatement. The board set the second and final hearing and decision for March 18, 2025 at 1:20 p.m. No public testimony was offered at the first hearing.

During public comment, James Farmer identified himself as a congregation member and offered remarks favoring local law-enforcement independence; his remarks were a public comment and did not prompt board action.

Votes at a glance: - 2025 weed-control chemicals: Awarded to Nutrien Ag Solutions, $73,112.23. Motion passed (unanimous). - Invitation to bid: 2025 guardrail improvements (Sprague River Road and South Chiloquin Road). Authorized (unanimous). - Invitation to bid: Holmdale Road (Oregon 140 to Brettway) shoulder widening/multiuse path. Authorized (unanimous). - Read into record: Prior emergency expenditure for snow removal in eastern Klamath County; expenditure not to exceed $250,000 from County Road Fund (recorded for minutes). - BBG Real Estate Services letter of engagement (commercial appraisal, 296 South Main): Approved, $3,200 from COVID-19 pandemic grant fund (unanimous). - Transient room tax Q4 distribution: $585,567.52 distributed per county code chapter 603 (unanimous). - Appointments: Jesse Guthrie and Chris McCowan to Predatory Animal Control District board (terms through 07/01/2028). Approved (unanimous). - DEQ Agreement 121-24 amendment (TAG2 targeted-airshed grant extension and federal compliance language): Approved (unanimous). - LADPC contract with Derek Clark for trauma summit (April 2): Approved, $9,999 from LADPC subdepartment budget (unanimous).

What commissioners said and next steps: County leaders noted the heavy staff effort during recent storms and asked residents to take road and infrastructure cautions. The board will hold the second and final hearings on Ordinance 52.04 and Ordinance 15.13 on March 18, 2025, at 1:15 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively, when the board may adopt, modify or reject the proposed changes after receiving additional public testimony and deliberation.

Meeting adjourned at 1:53 p.m.