Jackson County commissioners approve continuity-planning software, program reaccreditation, engineering contract and gate rules

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners on April 8 approved a set of routine and programmatic measures, including software to modernize continuity planning, a reaccreditation agreement for a youth residential program, a piggyback engineering contract to assess streambank damage at West Evans Creek, and a new procedure for gate requests on county roads. The actions were approved by motion and unanimous aye votes of the two commissioners present.

Commissioner Rick Dyer opened the regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Courthouse Auditorium. County Administrator Danny Jordan explained that Jackson County will use BOLDplanning Inc.’s Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) software to "review and revise the County’s planning ability to maintain essential government functions during emergencies, disasters, and other disruptive incidents," saying the platform would "modernize and centralize continuity planning" and align county planning with federal guidance. Commissioners approved Order No. 86-26 to authorize the agreement (motion by Commissioner Randy Sparacino; second by Commissioner Dyer; both voted aye).

The board also approved an agreement with Social Current to seek reaccreditation for the Barriers 2 Bridges (B2B) residential treatment program. Jordan said accreditation would provide a framework to manage resources, adopt best practices and pursue continuous improvement for youth behavioral health services. That action passed as Order No. 87-26 with the same motion and vote pattern.

For infrastructure response, the board approved joining a piggyback Master Services Agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., under Order No. 88-26. Jordan described storm damage to West Evans Creek in 2025 that led to streambank erosion beneath a roadway at risk of failing and said HDR would provide data collection, bank repair and stabilization analysis and design, hydraulic modeling, permitting assistance, and a technical memorandum summarizing design requirements and plans.

Commissioners also approved Order No. 89-26 to establish procedures for considering requests to install gates on public right-of-way under county jurisdiction. The discussion cited Oregon Revised Statute 368.056 as the statutory authority allowing a governing body to permit a gate on a public road; county staff said such requests typically arise from concerns about fire hazards, vandalism, nuisance and safety risks.

The Consent Calendar was approved at the start of the meeting and included Order No. 85-26 proclaiming April 12–18, 2026, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Jackson County. All recorded motions during the meeting were made by Commissioner Sparacino and seconded by Commissioner Dyer; both commissioners voted aye on each listed order. Commissioner Colleen Roberts was noted as absent.

There being no further business, Commissioner Dyer adjourned the meeting at 9:39 a.m. The minutes were recorded by Megan Cook and later signed; the document shows approval on April 29, 2026.