Yamhill County commissioners approve contracts, grants and ODOT bridge agreement; partition decision delayed by court writ

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners met April 23, 2026, and unanimously approved multiple contracts, grant agreements and a bridge intergovernmental agreement, while postponing action on a land-partition request because counsel reported a writ of review in circuit court.

Commissioner Kit Johnston called the formal session to order at 10:00 a.m. and the board recorded Commissioners Mary Starrett and David “Bubba” King as present. County staff in attendance included County Administrator Ken Huffer and Public Works Director Mark Lago.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included B.O. 26-103 (approval of Formal Session minutes from April 2, 2026). The board then approved B.O. 26-104, a conditional use permit (Planning Docket C-09-25) to allow establishment of a church in an AF-10 zoning district for applicant Chehalem Christian Fellowship; Commissioner Johnston moved approval and the motion passed with all three commissioners voting aye.

The board did not take action on Planning Docket P-10-25, a request to partition an approximately 37-acre property that relied on transfer of Measure 49 development rights (Final Order E122333). Assistant County Counsel Kaleb Raever told the board that Board Order 26-071 contained a scrivener’s error and that counsel had received an order for a writ of review from the Yamhill County Circuit Court; as a result, the board was not able to act on the partition at this meeting.

Other business items approved unanimously included:

- B.O. 26-105: a sole-source Master Service Agreement with Axon Services for body-worn cameras and tasers, $244,413.90 for the period July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 (moved by Commissioner David “Bubba” King).

- B.O. 26-106: Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG 25-535) from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, $85,287 for FY2025–2026 (moved by Commissioner Mary Starrett).

- B.O. 26-107: Oregon State Marine Board grant amendment #1, $62,024 for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 (moved by Commissioner King).

- B.O. 26-108: an agreement between Yamhill County Public Health and the Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) for Medicaid administrative claims processing, effective July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 (moved by Commissioner Starrett).

- B.O. 26-109: Amendment #2 with Providence Medical Group to operate the Newberg School Based Health Center, $65,000 per year (retroactive to July 1, 2025) (moved by Commissioner Starrett).

- B.O. 26-110: Amendment #7 to Agreement #185833 with the Oregon Health Authority de-obligating $989,697.80 from Public Health Services (moved by Commissioner Starrett).

- B.O. 26-111: Amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation adding right-of-way and construction phases for the Ash Swale / Patty Lane Road bridge replacement, total amount $5,198,400. Commissioner Johnston said the grant funding covers replacement of a wooden bridge and that the county’s local match is just over $500,000; Public Works Director Mark Lago confirmed plans for an additional bridge replacement in 2027.

- B.O. 26-112: authorization for Public Works to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for the Cove Orchard Sewer District. Mark Lago said a survey of 52 homes showed the district qualified as low-to-moderate income; he noted some residents declined to participate, so he applied a 10% error estimate when analyzing results.

There were no public comments or public hearings at the meeting. Commissioners closed with routine announcements about advisory committee vacancies and accessibility information. The session adjourned at 10:21 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- B.O. 26-103 — Approval of minutes (April 2, 2026): approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-104 — Planning Docket C-09-25 (Chehalem Christian Fellowship conditional use permit): approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - Planning Docket P-10-25 / B.O. 26-071 (Del Boca Vista partition using Measure 49 Final Order E122333): no action; counsel reported a writ of review in circuit court. - B.O. 26-105 — Axon Master Service Agreement (body cameras/tasers), $244,413.90: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-106 — EMPG 25-535, $85,287: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-107 — OSMB grant amendment #1, $62,024: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-108 — MESD Medicaid administrative claims processing agreement (effective FY2026): approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-109 — Providence amendment #2 (Newberg School Based Health Center), $65,000/year: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-110 — OHA Amendment #7 de-obligating $989,697.80: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-111 — ODOT IGA amendment for Ash Swale / Patty Lane bridge, $5,198,400 (county match just over $500,000): approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye. - B.O. 26-112 — Authorization to apply for CDBG for Cove Orchard Sewer District: approved, Johnston/Starrett/King — aye.

What’s next

Board records and public hearing notices are available on the county website. The partition request tied to Measure 49 remains pending while the writ of review proceeds in Yamhill County Circuit Court; the board took no further action at this meeting.