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County administrator praises employees, announces year-end recess
Summary
Clackamas County's administrator used the last business meeting of 2025 to recognize employees for customer service and statewide awards, highlighted life‑saving dispatch work and accessibility efforts, and announced a board recess Dec. 19–Jan. 12 and the next meeting on Jan. 15, 2026.
The County Administrator opened the board's last business meeting of 2025 by recognizing county employees for a year of public service and several statewide honors. "I'd like to recognize our incredible county employees for the work they do all year long," the administrator said.
The administrator read public notes praising individual staff. An assessment and taxation specialist, Yumi Little, was commended as "the very best in customer service and professionalism." Jason Kemarich, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation aquatic park manager, was lauded for patience and professionalism while juggling difficult patrons and maintenance demands. Water Environment Services technical services specialist Galen Hoshofsky was praised for "excellent customer service."
The administrator also highlighted life‑saving work by 9‑1‑1 dispatchers Liz Bailey and Liesel Grobert, who helped a mother deliver a baby over the phone — a recognition the administrator described as a "stork award." The county's tourism staff supported accessibility at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival by providing special sunglasses for colorblind visitors; the administrator quoted a festival attendee: "I've never seen color before in my life."
On statewide recognition, the administrator announced that Water Environment Services received the 2025 Outstanding Member Agency award from the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies. She also reported awards in the district attorney's office: Deputy District Attorney Tory McConnell was named juvenile prosecutor of the year for Oregon, and Deputy District Attorney Bill Stewart was named drug and property crime prosecutor of the year for Oregon. The administrator noted that members of the sheriff's office received statewide honors, and that Sheriff Brandenburg was recognized by a statewide sheriffs' organization.
The administrator closed the update by thanking staff for their daily service as the board wraps the year. She announced that the board will be on recess from Dec. 19, 2025, through Jan. 12, 2026, and that the next board business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. "That is my update," the administrator said.
The remarks were delivered as recognitions and scheduling announcements; no motions or formal votes were recorded during this update.
