Commissioners deny administrative-review request in Remington BESS appeal; one commissioner abstains

The Marion County Board of Commissioners voted on March 18 to deny an administrative-review application in Administrative Review Case #25-015 concerning the Remington BESS project. Commissioner Kevin Cameron moved to close the public hearing and deny the application; Commissioner Colm Willis seconded. The motion carried with Cameron and Willis voting aye and Commissioner Danielle Bethell abstaining.

Commissioner Bethell declared for the record that she has a conflict of interest because she is a user of the Santiam Water District and owns Exclusive Farm Use property in Marion County. She said she had reached out to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and was following its advice, and that she would not participate in the discussion or vote unless a split decision made her involvement necessary. Marion County legal counsel Steve Elzinga stated for the record that he strongly disagrees with the analysis that was provided but agreed that Commissioner Bethell should follow the ethics commission’s advice for today’s meeting.

The public hearing record shows four people signed up and provided public comment during the hearing; the meeting minutes do not list the commenters’ names or summarize their remarks. The hearing concerned an appeal of a hearings officer’s decision; the board’s action to deny the administrative-review application means the board did not grant the requested review in Case #25-015.

Commissioner Willis closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m.