Coos County commissioners approve behavioral health IGA, corrections access, personnel changes and awards
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Summary
At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Coos County Board of Commissioners approved an 18‑month, $6.2 million behavioral health IGA with the Oregon Health Authority, an amendment to the county’s Medicaid network agreement, an election equipment IGA with the Secretary of State, an IGA with DOC for phone access, personnel and pay‑grade changes, and a series of routine items and commendations.
The Coos County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 29 approved a package of contracts, personnel changes and recognitions, including an 18‑month intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Health Authority for behavioral‑health services worth about $6,200,000 and an amendment to the county’s Medicaid network agreement with Southwest Oregon IPA/Advanced Health.
Commissioners said the behavioral‑health IGA followed protracted statewide negotiations. “All 36 counties refused to sign the original agreement proposed in June or July,” a commissioner said, and the board praised staff for securing terms more similar to past contracts; the measure was approved and Department Head Mike Rowley was authorized to sign.
Other approved items included Amendment 8 to the county’s Medicaid network provider agreement (presented as a sizable contract that county negotiators reduced from an initially larger cut), authority to pay a December Indeed invoice for $14,722.09 to advertise open positions, and approval to declare parks equipment surplus and sell it at public auction.
Elections staff presented an IGA with the Oregon Secretary of State to accept an "enhanced remake kit" — hardware and five years of service provided through a federal grant applied for by the state. Elections staff Julie described the device as "a computer and a printer" that will print validated ballots and test decks for adjudication, reducing the manpower needed to build test decks for multiple ballot styles; the board approved acceptance of the kit and authorized the chair to sign.
The board approved a revised job description and posting for a tax accounting specialist 3 to help with property tax workload, and approved a non‑union pay grade revision (8‑22) to align merit steps at 4% effective Feb. 1, 2026. Community Corrections received approval for an IGA (7,108) with the Oregon Department of Corrections to access a phone review system for parole and investigative work; staff said there is no direct cost to the county for that agreement.
The board also approved a resolution of commendation for Detectives David Ritz and Bradley E. Davis after the Coos County Sheriff’s Office presented Distinguished Service Medals for meritorious investigative work.
Commissioners directed County Counsel and staff to draft a uniform policy for board and committee appointments following a procedural glitch that delayed public comment on budget committee appointments; the directive will return as a staff proposal for board consideration.
The meeting closed with several commissioner reports, including discussion of a federal appropriations change restoring a larger share of O&C timber receipts to counties and reports on public‑safety call volumes and staffing for deputies and Oregon State Police troopers.
Outcome at a glance: all listed motions were approved by the board during the meeting.
