[1:20] Testing Microphone check.

[1:22] One, two, three, Four, five Good morning,

[4:13] everyone I will call the meeting to order at 9 a.m.

[4:18] and we will do a quick round of introductions.

[4:21] I'm Nancy Wise, Commissioner and chair pat Malone

[4:25] Commissioner Gabe Shepard.

[4:27] Commissioner and Scrutiny.

[4:28] Kenny Counsel.

[4:29] Rachel mcInerney County Administrator

[4:31] and elected officials.

[4:32] Online.

[4:33] And Jeff and also Ben County Sheriff

[4:36] ryan Johnson, District Attorney Thank you Welcome, everyone.

[4:41] Are there any changes to the agenda or none?

[4:46] I will consider that approved.

[4:47] Are there any announcement outs ?

[4:51] It's April Fools Day, so i'm, like really

[4:53] scrutinizing every one of you.

[4:55] I'm ready for it All right.

[4:57] Well, that will take us to proclamations.

[5:00] And first up, we are going to hear a proclamation proclaiming

[5:03] April 2025 as national child abuse and neglect prevention

[5:07] Month We have Carson O'Brien with us,

[5:12] the executive director of ABC House oak One of.

[5:23] Well, thank You for having me.

[5:25] Good morning, everyone.

[5:26] I just wanted to say a few words before I read the proclamation

[5:29] about our work and how thankful we are for Benton County's

[5:33] partnership It's an honor to be here before you today

[5:36] and express our deepest gratitude

[5:38] for your unwavering partnership in the fight against child

[5:40] abuse.

[5:41] Your leadership, dedication, and commitment to the well-being

[5:43] of children in our community.

[5:44] Make an undeniable impact because of your support.

[5:48] ABC house is able to continue its critical mission

[5:50] of prevention, intervention, and healing for the most vulnerable

[5:54] among us.

[5:55] At ABC House we serve as a lifeline for children

[5:58] and families facing the devastating realities

[6:00] of abuse and neglect.

[6:02] We provide comprehensive forensic interviews

[6:04] medical assessments and trauma informed counseling,

[6:07] ensuring that every child has a safe place to share their story

[6:10] and receive the care they need to heal.

[6:14] We work long on law enforcement, child protective services,

[6:17] medical professionals and other agencies

[6:20] to give these children a voice and put them

[6:22] on a path to recovery And this year

[6:25] marks 20 years since the tragic loss of Three

[6:27] year old Carly Sheehan.

[6:29] Born and raised right here in Corvallis.

[6:31] Her death was a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need

[6:34] to protect children from abuse.

[6:35] And her story led to the creation of Carly's law, a law

[6:39] that has transformed the way, Oregon responds

[6:42] to suspected child abuse.

[6:43] Carly's law ensures that children with suspicious

[6:46] injuries receive timely medical assessments preventing further

[6:49] harm and saving lives It's a powerful legacy born from

[6:52] tragedy, and it is a reminder of why we must do this work

[6:57] The work we do is not easy, but it is necessary Last year alone

[7:00] nearly 12,000 children in Oregon were victims of abuse Each one

[7:04] of these children deserves to be heard, to be protected and to be

[7:07] given the opportunity to heal.

[7:09] This is why ABC House exists It's why we show up every day

[7:14] and it's why we support leaders in why the support of leaders

[7:17] like you is so vital Your partnership helps ensure

[7:20] that no child in Benton County slips through the cracks

[7:23] Your commitment strengthens our ability to provide lifesaving

[7:25] services and to educate our community on how to recognize

[7:28] and prevent child abuse.

[7:30] When we come together as a county as advocates

[7:33] and as neighbors, we create a safer and stronger

[7:35] future for all children.

[7:37] So on behalf of ABC House, on behalf

[7:39] of the children and families.

[7:40] We serve and on behalf of our grateful community,

[7:42] thank you so much Thank you for your compassion,

[7:45] for your advocacy, and for believing in a future where

[7:47] every child is safe, heard and supported

[7:51] And i can read the proclamation, whereas children

[7:55] are some of our most valuable and vulnerable community

[7:58] members.

[7:59] And we'll continue to shape the future of Benton County Child

[8:02] abuse and neglect can have long term

[8:04] psychological, emotional and physical effects that

[8:06] have lasting consequences for victims of abuse

[8:09] and is a serious issue that impacts

[8:10] every aspect of our community.

[8:13] Addressing child abuse and neglect requires actions

[8:15] and solutions from all within the community,

[8:17] including partnership with child welfare professionals, community

[8:21] based organizations and programs, local businesses, law

[8:24] enforcement agencies and families Child abuse and neglect

[8:27] is considered One of our nation's most serious

[8:29] public health problems The physical,

[8:31] emotional and financial impact of abuse and neglect impacts

[8:34] children from all socioeconomic racial,

[8:37] cultural, and social backgrounds and impacts children

[8:39] of all ages and abilities.

[8:41] Children who are victims of abuse and neglect

[8:43] who are heard and protected, will likely

[8:45] be more capable of disclosing their victimization

[8:48] and continue in the justice and recovery process.

[8:51] Child abuse and neglect prevention provides children

[8:54] and families with the knowledge of their rights and available

[8:56] resources to empower and improve their ability to restore a sense

[8:59] of safety and stability And County will support

[9:02] the empowerment of child abuse survivors and victims including

[9:05] their non offending family members working toward

[9:08] prevention of abuse and neglect of children Now,

[9:11] therefore be it proclaim the april 2025 National child abuse

[9:14] and neglect prevention Month in Benton County and all community

[9:17] members are encouraged to join in this

[9:19] observance Thank you Thank you.

[9:24] Comments from Commissioners Or a motion A move

[9:31] to adopt a proclamation.

[9:33] Be 2025 days or proclaiming April 20, 25.

[9:39] Will file abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in county.

[9:44] Second, all those in favor say i.

[9:47] I Motion passes.

[9:49] Thank you.

[9:51] All right.

[9:51] Next up, we have another proclamation proclaiming

[9:54] April 7th through April 13th, Public

[9:57] health week in Benton County.

[9:59] And with us, looks like we have Sara Hartstein Good morning

[10:21] April 7th through 13th is the 30th anniversary

[10:24] of National public Health Week.

[10:26] So thank you so much for providing us

[10:30] with the opportunity to express our gratitude

[10:34] to our public health staff and our community partners who help

[10:38] keep our communities safe and healthy

[10:42] Whereas with a national theme, it starts here highlighting

[10:45] the importance of making a difference in our home community

[10:48] and state and county is proclamation of National Public

[10:52] Health Week 2025 celebrates the leadership dedication,

[10:56] and innovation of many partners throughout the county,

[10:59] including the Board of County Commissioners our county Health

[11:02] Department other jurisdictions community

[11:05] based organizations, health systems, and many others.

[11:09] The Benton County Health Department

[11:10] aspires to foster foster healthy people and healthy communities

[11:14] through a wide range of evidence based public health approaches.

[11:17] Every day, public health professionals

[11:19] at the health department and throughout the community

[11:22] help communities prevent, prepare for,

[11:24] withstand and recover from the impact of a full range of health

[11:28] threats, ranging from infectious disease outbreaks

[11:31] to natural disaster preparedness.

[11:34] The Robert Wood Johnson foundation

[11:36] recently released their 2025 State

[11:38] and County Health rankings.

[11:40] And Benton County was identified among the healthiest

[11:42] in the state.

[11:43] This ranking takes into account population, health

[11:46] and well-being, community condition, including

[11:49] social and economic factors, physical and vironment

[11:53] and health infrastructure However, there

[11:56] is still much more work to be done

[11:59] Many Benton County residents still face health challenges.

[12:02] The recently published 2024 2020 Regional Community Health

[12:06] Improvement plan created in collaboration with a broad group

[12:10] of regional partners and agencies,

[12:12] lays out a long term vision for addressing access

[12:15] to affordable housing access to quality care, behavioral health

[12:19] and inclusion, diversity anti-racism and equity

[12:23] It takes a village to create a healthy community

[12:25] where all community members can thrive.

[12:28] While the efforts of the Health department

[12:29] are vital to sustaining and improving community health,

[12:32] it takes the efforts of every person in Benton County

[12:35] to bring passion, expertise, innovation and care

[12:38] to our community through the countless actions

[12:41] of our community based organizations, community

[12:43] partners and community members.

[12:45] We can work to build a safe, healthy and caring community

[12:48] together Therefore, be it here by proclaimed that April 7,

[12:53] Two 13th, 2025, is National public

[12:56] Health Week in Benton County Thank you Comments or Motion?

[13:08] I want to thank our Health Department staff.

[13:09] Yesterday was transdev visibility.

[13:12] And I noticed that our benton County Health Department posted.

[13:17] Posted.

[13:17] Posted about it and highlighted it So

[13:19] I wanted to just while we're talking about this proclamation

[13:22] also mention that.

[13:23] And thank you for for doing that Yeah So I'm

[13:29] also ready to make a motion.

[13:31] If it's okay I move to adopt proclamation number P 2020 5-006

[13:37] proclaiming April 7th through April 13th as public health

[13:40] Week in Benton County okay.

[13:45] All those in favor say i.

[13:46] I. I Motion passes Thank you And April is a busy month

[13:54] for proclamations I'll just note that we have three

[13:56] other proclamation is on the consent calendar, which we will

[13:59] not be reading but it's also national Library week

[14:02] and Benton County Crime victims Rights Week and Native Plant

[14:06] appreciation Month All right.

[14:11] With that, we will move to comments from the public.

[14:13] Are there comments from the public?

[14:16] We will give each individual up to three minutes First

[14:22] on the list, Jim Hoyt please.

[14:27] Come on up to the table and when you turn on the microphone,

[14:32] it'll turn red at the top here You

[14:37] can bring that right up here Oh okay Sorry Now it's off again.

[15:06] I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir.

[15:08] Press the button one more time.

[15:09] Oh Oh, you just press you on.

[15:14] Leave it down.

[15:15] Yeah Thank you.

[15:18] I'm here to ask if the county commissioners will change

[15:22] the no noise ordinance in this county is too broad It could

[15:29] almost mean that someone could just make all the noise

[15:33] that they want as perfectly legal.

[15:35] And I don't think it's right I live

[15:37] across the road from a winery that at first, they had where

[15:43] they were permitted five musical events a year Since then,

[15:48] they've are using some kind of a new code.

[15:53] They call it agritourism that they can

[15:57] have unlimited musical events.

[16:00] I am a disabled combat Vietnam veteran.

[16:05] I'm rated a 100% having PTSD.

[16:08] And this just drives me up a tree there just across the road

[16:12] from me.

[16:13] And it's amplified music.

[16:14] 3 nights a week or a summer and fall.

[16:18] My wife is also disabled.

[16:20] She lives in a hospital bed in our house.

[16:24] She can't even roll over.

[16:26] I have to provide over food.

[16:28] And everything for.

[16:30] And we can't escape from this noise.

[16:34] So that permit I handed you, there's no restrictions on it.

[16:41] I think there ought to be restrictions

[16:43] on the amount of noise or a decibel meter

[16:46] or that they can only make so much noise.

[16:49] You're not being amplified Something like this I

[16:54] think something could be done.

[16:56] If you all do it.

[16:57] That's what I'm asking Thank you That's it Next on the List,

[17:13] we have Scott Ramsey right to get this done in three minutes.

[17:26] I'm a few years back.

[17:27] I bought the what used to be the newman Lower Rock quarry.

[17:31] Next to or next to the Marys River And Falmouth

[17:35] is a rock quarry that amazingly, they were able to dig it.

[17:38] And 50 foot layers are down there.

[17:40] 150 foot layer when they finally hit,

[17:43] water would shut down the quarry.

[17:45] It filled with water.

[17:47] So they dug it from 1969 to 1998 1998,

[17:51] they hit water and by 1999.

[17:53] It was full.

[17:55] I then purchased it here a few years back

[17:58] and we've been trying to figure out what

[17:59] to do with this muddy water.

[18:02] One of the first things we had done

[18:03] was had our shoes been very interested in coming

[18:06] out and using this body of water for its efforts on Fern Road

[18:13] but using it for all the experiments

[18:15] and diving dive training, the ROV testing

[18:20] instrumentation testing.

[18:21] They've been oh, she's been coming out using it for.

[18:24] One of the things was back in the great.

[18:25] I'm really encouraged because I got the map.

[18:27] I got map mapping.

[18:28] It allowed me to then calculate the volume of water.

[18:32] I would like note that the definitions

[18:35] by Google on the internet what our definition of a lake

[18:37] is over a pond.

[18:39] It is defined by two things.

[18:41] One depth.

[18:42] If it's too deep for four or lily pads

[18:48] cattails are not necessary to grow from the bottom.

[18:50] That's typically 60ft.

[18:51] The white penetrates to get them photogenic,

[18:54] like at the bottom of that.

[18:57] But then also you could have a well that's 150ft deep,

[19:00] but that does make it a lady because it's not a volume or so.

[19:02] Typically they want to have at least a hectare of water

[19:06] hectares, 10,000m³ of water by having us

[19:09] mapped by OSU we determine it's between

[19:12] 3 and 4 hectares of water.

[19:15] It is its average depth is 125ft.

[19:19] So by volume.

[19:21] I do believe unless somebody prove me wrong,

[19:23] it is the largest body of water in Benton County.

[19:27] And by volume.

[19:28] It is.

[19:29] It's a big deal.

[19:30] And so far so far we've been finding really great uses

[19:33] for our shoes used to the lot for about ten different partners

[19:37] Six different barbells.

[19:39] But we've also had Salem dive teams

[19:41] They've been coming up doing their certifications

[19:43] and dive training up there.

[19:44] We've had the salem and Albany and salem teams coming in

[19:49] and doing certifications and dieting instructions

[19:52] and stuff of their a.C.T., doing their arctic diving is great.

[19:57] They love it because the towns are really call those being fed

[20:01] from this underground river But part of the problem we ran into

[20:05] is we also listed with the ocean for certain

[20:07] with the USGS Forest Service as a dip site

[20:10] because the first year I it.

[20:12] I noticed helicopters flying right over

[20:14] started using this large body of water in an emergency.

[20:17] So we filed with the U.S. Forest Service to have it as listed

[20:20] as a dump site But currently it's to its listing

[20:25] as a gPS coordinates location It doesn't there's nobody's

[20:30] ever bothered naming it a name.

[20:33] When I started.

[20:33] This is what going to say.

[20:35] Yes, but you can take a few seconds to wrap up.

[20:37] OK.

[20:38] When I start when I went through the process of trying to name it

[20:42] I noticed that it got i was immediately

[20:47] notified that it's been coming.

[20:48] Commissioners are going to be state

[20:50] that I've applied for it to have a day

[20:53] When I started the diving part.

[20:55] And I started a new company called a ramsey Rescue Work LLC

[20:59] and we were using that as a dive location

[21:02] for doing diving instructions and stuff.

[21:04] But there is no physical address for this place right now.

[21:07] And certain other than the house is up on the hill.

[21:10] That's almost in Riker's is the only address

[21:12] where I got to be nice.

[21:14] And we had a name for it I picked that just because that's

[21:17] the name of the company But it was also up for I don't care

[21:24] if somebody got a better idea or want to call this place

[21:27] or name is just for sit for as far

[21:30] as distractions for the for the dip site,

[21:35] for the forest service, I think it

[21:37] would be better to have a manger rather than a location.

[21:39] Also, when people come there to get their desert vacations

[21:43] they say, what is this place?

[21:45] Oh, what do we put down that I started?

[21:46] Because i'm like Here's location.

[21:49] I got an address for the house on the hill

[21:52] Our current plan is to continue to expand

[21:55] it as a current feature.

[21:57] Is mainly for diving dive training certification

[22:01] and we're going to try to expand that part of it.

[22:03] But so just let you guys let it in the background.

[22:06] You know that one of the first things that was notified

[22:08] to me from the USGS was that the county

[22:11] commissioners are going to be notified trying to name a body.

[22:15] So basically, you're just bringing it to our attention,

[22:17] bring educating us from outside and get getting something

[22:20] in the mail so that that I'm trying to name this

[22:24] And we're going to consider if there is a better name.

[22:27] But it's not by name.

[22:28] So there was a name, something different, I'm sure.

[22:30] OK.

[22:31] Well, thank you.

[22:32] It's very interesting I had no idea that it was there

[22:35] and I'd driven by there many times.

[22:37] I was not very observant.

[22:38] Sometimes maybe I'm focused on the road.

[22:40] That's going to hit.

[22:41] OK.

[22:41] We had all water tested in a service, 50 foot, 100 foot,

[22:45] and it's basically 20 million gallons of fresh, straight or is

[22:50] there's no amount in it at all.

[22:52] Well, best of luck and well, we'll keep an eye out for that.

[22:55] OK.

[22:55] Thank you Is there anyone else in the room that would like

[23:02] to provide public comment Hearing none

[23:07] is there anyone online that would like to provide

[23:09] public comment Hearing none We can move

[23:20] on to the consent calendar.

[23:22] I hear a motion of will to approve the consent.

[23:26] The second.

[23:27] All those in favor say I can I motion passes on to new business

[23:34] Let's see.

[23:35] First up, looks like acceptance of right of way dedication

[23:40] from Norton Creek Road bridge replacement

[23:52] reading commissioners.

[23:53] I mean McGuire with the department I'm here today

[24:01] to ask you well, it's just the chair that needs to sign it.

[24:05] And county council to accept to accept to accept two right away

[24:12] documents one from sticker force, one from Parkview Tree

[24:15] Farm And it gives us extra room or enough room

[24:19] to install bottomless fish passage,

[24:21] culvert and replace of an aging timber bridge

[24:24] out there on Norton Creek Road The creeks also called

[24:27] Norton Creek Not really a whole lot to the project beyond that.

[24:32] So it's kind of the limit to make comments unless you have

[24:36] specific question, any questions is oh,

[24:42] what's the timetable on the culvert replacement We're

[24:47] hoping to start.

[24:48] We can't start in the creek until July 1,

[24:50] but we figured we'd start after the 4th of July weekend.

[24:53] And we're hoping to have it for the most

[24:56] part done in two months.

[24:59] Thanks.

[25:00] Your questions or motion.

[25:02] I moved to accept the right away dedication from Air

[25:05] Force inc in the right of way.

[25:06] The dedication from Peak View Tree Farm, LLC.

[25:10] Again all those in favor say a motion passes.

[25:15] Thank you.

[25:16] You.

[25:16] Thank you, Ian Next step, we have acceptance

[25:21] of the juvenile crime prevention plan

[25:24] with Matt Weatherill Morning Commissioners on excuse me.

[25:53] All right, so what I brought today in front of you

[25:57] for consideration is the 2025, 2027

[26:00] juvenile crime prevention plan.

[26:02] This is administered through the youth development organ, which

[26:05] is part of the Oregon Department of Education

[26:08] The plan is part of the juvenile departments array of services we

[26:11] offer basic services, which focus mainly

[26:14] on youth that have been referred to the Department

[26:15] for Law violation.

[26:16] These youth can be diverted based on formal accountability

[26:20] agreement or be placed on probation All of this

[26:24] is dependent on the risk factors of the individual youth

[26:27] and the type of crime alleged The next is diversion.

[26:32] This is where we attempt to divert

[26:34] youth from escalating further into the juvenile justice

[26:37] system.

[26:38] This is where various programs come in, come in.

[26:41] These programs include our mental health services

[26:44] and alcohol services, which we have to go across the river

[26:46] for And then different cognitive groups that we offer today.

[26:51] We're speaking specifically about prevention

[26:54] This is where we hope we can divert youth prior to entering

[26:57] the Juvenile Justice system.

[27:00] We have staff that are focused on this in the local area.

[27:03] However, the plan in front of you

[27:04] focuses on the rural areas of the county.

[27:07] I pass the funds that we receive from Youth Development Oregon

[27:11] through to strengthening rural families

[27:13] and they use those funds to conduct prevention groups

[27:16] with youth and families This pass through

[27:19] allows this organization continue the good work

[27:21] that they've been doing for a number of years.

[27:23] I have passed these dollars through to strengthen

[27:26] rural family since 2019.

[27:29] Over the past biennium, since 2023, 102 youth

[27:34] participated in programming offered by strengthening

[27:36] real families I do not have the information

[27:39] at hand to say how many youth have been served since 2019.

[27:43] That is information that I can get if needed.

[27:46] We just needed to pull it from a couple of different systems

[27:51] so the plan in front of you needs to go through two steps.

[27:55] It has to be approved first by our local public safety

[27:57] committee or the Willamette Criminal justice Committee

[28:02] and the Board of Commissioners This is already taken and been

[28:05] approved by WCG And now I just need to have your approval

[28:10] as well Once this plan is submitted

[28:13] after signature by the chair it'll be submitted

[28:16] to new development Oregon.

[28:18] It'll go through the through their process of a committee

[28:23] and then the grant funds will be awarded sometime around

[28:25] the 1st of July, just depending on what

[28:28] the legislature looks like.

[28:29] And with that, I will stand for any questions questions,

[28:34] comments or a motion Oh, I'll move

[28:44] to accept the Juvenile Crime Prevention plan for the 2025

[28:49] when he Seven biennium.

[28:51] Second, all those in favor say aye.

[28:54] Aye.

[28:54] All right.

[28:55] I motion passes.

[28:56] Thank you.

[28:56] You.

[28:57] Thank you, Matt Next up, personnel policies

[29:03] update We have Tracy Martineau and Joe

[29:08] Missler Thank you Pardon me.

[29:34] Appreciate it. don't seem to get this right the first time.

[29:37] Good morning, commissioners So.

[29:40] So what we have for you today is our updates of the personnel

[29:44] policies we're presenting them to you

[29:49] a little differently than how they have

[29:51] historically been arranged.

[29:53] What we've done is we have take and we're bringing these to you

[29:57] in batches and we're trying to categorize the policies

[30:00] according to how they apply to our employees working

[30:04] at the county We've combined the older

[30:07] individual personnel rules into overarching policies

[30:11] based on relevance.

[30:12] We've modernize the policy format

[30:15] we've updated for modern pronoun usage

[30:18] and revised to reflect either current practice

[30:21] or other housekeeping changes But the specific changes

[30:25] to the policy are noted in this section called version Control,

[30:29] and you'll find that at the towards the end of the policy

[30:33] we're looking for you today not just for your input

[30:36] on the policy content and direction

[30:38] but also on how you would like us to bring these

[30:41] forward to you Like I said, we're bringing

[30:43] them in batches right now.

[30:44] We want this to work for you There

[30:46] may be some certain aspects of a policy

[30:48] that you're really going to care about that.

[30:50] You're going to want to us to take back your input

[30:54] and make other revisions So please feel free to just chime

[30:57] in with whatever direction you'd like to give us in that

[31:00] regard as we go through these policies Oh, I should point out

[31:06] that on the agenda packet you have or policies listed,

[31:11] one of those policies is a duplicate

[31:13] And so we'll be bringing the policy number 103 back to you

[31:17] in the next batch.

[31:19] That's our cultural proficiency policy.

[31:22] Apologize for that.

[31:22] We're still learning how to navigate civic class So

[31:28] with that, I'm going to turn it over to our senior analyst, Joe

[31:30] Missler, who's been instrumental in these policy updates

[31:36] the morning Thank you for allowing us to come

[31:39] and present these to you.

[31:40] We're just going to do a quick overview.

[31:42] If you have any questions, please feel free to stop

[31:45] me or ask at the end as well.

[31:47] We're going to start with i think one on one

[31:51] is the first One that's on the agenda.

[31:53] Oh, is that Hundreds administration

[31:55] of personnel policies What we've done here is

[31:59] we have combined three other policies

[32:02] and really tried to make this a little

[32:05] more streamlined for the employees

[32:07] when they are looking things up.

[32:09] We have combined personnel policy,

[32:12] administrate administration classified and unclassified

[32:15] service and general statement of roles

[32:18] to be to administration of personnel policy

[32:21] and another thing that you will find when you look

[32:23] through the packet for this policy is that includes

[32:26] a procedure and a form that will be attached to the policy

[32:30] and available on the be for employees to print out or fill

[32:33] out online and submit This it's going to make things easier

[32:37] for employees to find this and to be able to request

[32:40] their personnel records A few of the policy changes

[32:44] also include that we removed cultural provision because,

[32:48] as Tracy mentioned earlier,

[32:50] that will be a standalone policy and we'll

[32:52] be bringing that to you later We also remove gender designation

[32:56] because the policy has been updated to reflect appropriately

[33:00] our gender identities in regard to classified and unclassified

[33:04] service.

[33:05] Updated language to include the elected officials

[33:08] and more succinctly recognize that there could

[33:11] be appointments to that position for various reasons

[33:15] on this policy.

[33:16] That is the major changes.

[33:18] Are there any questions for us on this policy?

[33:21] I always there's a couple of things i'd like

[33:26] to point out to you for that.

[33:27] You might want to take note of any questions,

[33:30] comments on page two with the section that starts.

[33:37] Number one exception variances In the past,

[33:42] the board has delegated operational authority

[33:44] to the county administrator or to also make exceptions

[33:47] to the policy that has been kind of an informal agreement

[33:50] between the board and the county administrator,

[33:53] because these policies were drafted at a point in time when

[33:56] there was no county administrator

[33:58] And so I would just call this out for you,

[34:00] too if you would like to make a change to the policy to state

[34:05] something like or the sheriff's or designee or something

[34:09] to that effect, or leave it as it as is and rely

[34:12] on that informal agreement.

[34:14] I made This is just something for you

[34:16] to consider You say again where that was

[34:19] or what page you bet it's on page Two of the administration

[34:25] personnel policies that Joe was just reviewing

[34:29] and it's under variances as and currently the current rule says

[34:34] the board of commissioners alone has the authority to vary

[34:37] or modify the application of the provisions

[34:39] contained here in Got it.

[34:49] Okay.

[34:50] You So thoughts on what Tracy just mentioned So essentially,

[35:06] you're asking us if we're comfortable with the language

[35:09] that the board of Commissioners alone

[35:11] has the authority to modify.

[35:12] Is that correct?

[35:14] That's correct.

[35:15] As I said, there's been a history of an informal agreement

[35:18] between the board of commissioners and the county

[35:20] administer rater, delegating authority to the county

[35:23] administrator to make exceptions to these policies

[35:26] It hasn't been codified in policy As they said,

[35:29] the policies were originally drafted at a time

[35:32] when there was no county administrator

[35:36] Do you have an idea of what other counties do if there is?

[35:40] I don't think there's like a best practice

[35:46] Comments from Commissioner Malone or county

[35:48] Administrator I mean, I think how my understanding

[35:54] on the county has been set up is that because the county

[35:59] commissioners don't supervise any county

[36:02] employee other than myself.

[36:04] And the coming the council, I don't know if the commissioners

[36:08] want to be weighed in on individual or personnel

[36:11] issues that just like when we went over earlier this year,

[36:17] the relationship and authority between the county administrator

[36:21] in the commissioners this possibly could be diverting

[36:24] into getting involved in personnel issues and exceptions,

[36:29] which could put you put the commissioners in a position

[36:32] that they may not want to be in or may want to be in.

[36:36] So it would bring you closer to the workforce.

[36:38] But at the same time, you would need a lot of information

[36:41] and to make those exceptions Thank you,

[36:44] Commissioner Shepherd So I'm not a huge fan

[36:48] of codified informal agreements And I think that the county

[36:53] administrator just made some very good points about like it

[36:57] is, you know the buck stops with the three of us

[37:00] and things could be appealed.

[37:01] But the day to day operations of the county,

[37:03] we have rightfully handed over to the county administrator,

[37:07] the overseeing of staff So I think that having something

[37:12] in there that says that the county administrator has

[37:15] the authority to make these exemptions,

[37:17] because I don't I don't frankly want

[37:18] to be talking in open session up here about making exceptions

[37:23] for some of these policy that's not something that anyone

[37:27] who doesn't work for a public agency

[37:29] would have to be subjected to.

[37:30] So I, I personally think that adding in a section codified

[37:35] in that agreement, which you know,

[37:38] that's found in our rules and things

[37:40] like that about how we are expected to operate

[37:43] is that county administrator is expected

[37:45] to handle the personnel issues.

[37:47] So thank you for bringing that to My attention

[37:50] because I hadn't even thought about that.

[37:52] So commissioner Malone, similar comment I would just as soon

[38:00] have or a policy be accurate and i

[38:08] think I remember when we didn't have a county administrator

[38:12] and now as they say in the arts.

[38:16] So were 15 years ago.

[38:20] I imagine going forward.

[38:23] And changing back and not having county administrator

[38:28] So I would appreciate getting this all lined up with the

[38:37] are we actually operate.

[38:39] And I will agree as well.

[38:42] I think that this is in the purview of the county

[38:46] administrator My preference would be to change it

[38:51] to the board of commissioners or there designee and remove

[38:55] the word alone Be happy to make that revision

[39:01] to the policy process.

[39:05] Why As we could either make a decision about where we want

[39:08] to consider this policy approval or if we'd like to wait until we

[39:11] go through all of the policies and approve as a batch.

[39:15] We're fine.

[39:15] Either way.

[39:16] Or if you'd like us to take it back, make that revision

[39:19] and for you to approve the final document,

[39:21] that's an option for you.

[39:23] Also Sure.

[39:24] Or can we the what about this?

[39:27] How about we vote on this one with the change?

[39:29] And then next one, a next one?

[39:30] Does that sound good?

[39:32] OK I've got a motion then.

[39:35] OK.

[39:36] I move to adopt revised personnel and policy

[39:38] number 100 as amended by Commissioner Wise

[39:46] And is that just process check?

[39:48] Is that motion good?

[39:51] Should we add in the words actual

[39:54] amended be helpful to add what you're directing

[39:57] the change to be ?

[39:58] OK.

[39:59] And in on page 2 under exception under variances.

[40:04] The Board of Commissioners is comma

[40:06] or their designee comma alone have

[40:09] the authority to vary or modify the application

[40:12] friendly amendment.

[40:13] Take out the word alone Okay Sounds good.

[40:18] Right?

[40:19] Do we do staff have that motion captured

[40:22] or feel comfortable with it Okay.

[40:27] Do I hear a second?

[40:28] OK.

[40:28] All those in favor say aye.

[40:30] Aye?

[40:30] Aye I motion passes and i'm moving

[40:38] on to the next two policies.

[40:40] And while we're going to review them separately,

[40:42] they are interdependent.

[40:46] All of these and something that we will note

[40:48] for you at the end of this.

[40:50] I'll see review And I remind you to put the microphone a little

[40:55] closer again apologize.

[40:58] You can I mean, you can each have your own.

[40:59] That's okay that you can also turn

[41:04] them off and on when you're.

[41:04] Yeah, there you go.

[41:06] Thank you Okay.

[41:10] So the next policy, then is equal

[41:12] opportunity employer Thank you.

[41:17] There are very few changes to this.

[41:19] Most of what you're going to see in this is an updated

[41:21] format, updated for proper pronoun usage

[41:25] and updated to reflect current practices throughout You'll

[41:29] see those at the end of the policy history.

[41:32] In version.

[41:32] This is the third version or iteration of this policy

[41:36] and again, it's more inclusive of

[41:39] and following county practices.

[41:41] At this time.

[41:42] We have also included in definitions a more robust

[41:47] definition for some of the protected classes

[41:50] and updated for human resources to be

[41:52] the contact for this policy So I'd like to go ahead and move

[42:00] on to the next part I'm sorry.

[42:05] We know that this is not the easiest to navigate system.

[42:08] I'm sorry.

[42:09] It's me I'm afraid I apologize We know

[42:13] that the this equal employment, equal opportunity employer

[42:19] is related to the affirmative action policy.

[42:21] And so we'd like to go over the affirmative action

[42:23] policy now before you consider approval of the equal employment

[42:28] I see.

[42:30] Thank you While these are very similar

[42:33] they were separate policies.

[42:34] And so we kept them as such.

[42:36] But could see where they could be combined The only change

[42:40] to the affirmative action policy you will find in the overview

[42:44] previously it said in the last sentence of the overview

[42:48] to recruit, hire and promote qualified women

[42:51] We have changed that to people Everything

[42:54] else remains the same.

[42:55] To follow county practices and guidelines.

[42:57] We have updated it for inclusion of proper pronoun usage

[43:01] formatting and updated contact for version 3 point level

[43:07] So we know that this is a hot topic right now

[43:10] and something that you may want to consider

[43:14] is the language that we use when we refer to some

[43:17] of these alternatives values and processes that we have

[43:21] internally as well as our obligations under the law

[43:24] for anti-discrimination rules Something

[43:30] you might consider is changing the name of

[43:32] the affirmative action policy.

[43:33] And actually moving away from that,

[43:35] we are not required by law to have an affirmative action

[43:37] policy We are required by law to report an equal employee met

[43:42] statistics to the feds.

[43:46] Many organizations have dealt with this by just title titling

[43:50] a policy, an overarching equal and equal employee

[43:54] opportunity policy and plan.

[43:57] And then the plan would become the procedure,

[43:58] and we would combine these two policies

[44:04] that sounds like something I would agree with.

[44:08] Other comments, questions I was fine So

[44:15] would you want to bring that back to us in the new format,

[44:18] then?

[44:18] I think that would make more sense

[44:20] to bring that back as well as the cultural proficiency policy.

[44:23] At the same time being as they are closely related.

[44:26] Okay.

[44:27] That sounds good.

[44:28] We need a motion for that or we just have it captured that staff

[44:31] will bring those back.

[44:32] Good.

[44:33] OK All right Thank you, Commissioner Shepard

[44:39] just to add, I agree with combining All right.

[44:45] We're happy to hear any further direction that you'd

[44:47] like to give us at this time.

[44:48] If this format works for you, if you'd

[44:50] like to see them presented to you in another way, please let i

[44:55] do like this batch thing.

[44:56] It allows us to actually read them.

[44:59] If you gave us 100 policies or ones or whatever it.

[45:03] We I, I frankly wouldn't be able to understand them all in time

[45:06] for in time for a meeting.

[45:08] So I feel like it would spread out your, your staff time

[45:11] and allow us to have a deeper comprehension of the policies

[45:15] that operate the counting So I appreciate

[45:18] it I just that makes sense.

[45:25] I have a theme and you know, the the number

[45:30] of policies that fit within that, the one

[45:33] and the the batch approach.

[45:37] I think makes sense And just like we've done today

[45:42] one refers to the other.

[45:44] And so it makes sense to proceed like this and one request

[45:57] when you bring it back could you include a copy of the original?

[46:02] And then the new one.

[46:05] So we can compare or we have red line versions Also, if you would

[46:10] like to see those as well Sure.

[46:12] It does get a little tricky because we took

[46:14] these personnel rules that were very individual in and not

[46:20] individually written and not really categorized

[46:23] So we're kind of pulling them from different areas

[46:25] So whatever we could do to help make that a little

[46:27] more coherent Sure do.

[46:29] So thank you.

[46:31] Just as a reminder about our policy oversight committee,

[46:35] the committee is the group of county employees

[46:38] are managers who review policy is as part of a process

[46:43] And also, they're able to provide some county wide input

[46:47] into a policy in terms of whether it's the procedure

[46:50] aspect of it or or any updating or anything that might be

[46:56] relevant to suggesting any revisions as part

[47:01] of that process Policies go out, even

[47:04] though these are current policies,

[47:05] they go out for review period,

[47:06] and days for staff comment and then

[47:09] they go back to the policy author who takes those comments

[47:12] into consideration We then republish them

[47:15] for an for another set of ten days

[47:18] to show what the questions were.

[47:19] The comments were that were made about the policy and the policy.

[47:22] Authors respond to those questions

[47:23] so that all happens All that vetting happens

[47:26] before you even see those.

[47:27] And even those these are current existing policies.

[47:30] We're going through the same process.

[47:33] Thank you.

[47:33] So that are you will, that add to the timeline

[47:37] of when you can bring them back, is what you're saying now?

[47:40] You're the last stop on that process.

[47:43] Okay.

[47:43] But with the combining of the two,

[47:46] you'll send that back to the policy committee.

[47:48] We will notify the policy committee of the board's

[47:51] direction on that.

[47:51] And then it will get once you assuming you you approve,

[47:55] it will get reposted for staff.

[47:57] Okay.

[47:58] Thank you Thank you You may be free All right.

[48:09] That brings us to the sponsorship request for

[48:12] the Rotary Club of Falmouth.

[48:13] There.

[48:13] Salmon and Jazz event And that is the last attachment

[48:18] in the packet Oh, I believe in the past,

[48:22] we have sponsored this at $150.

[48:28] And then that gives us one ticket

[48:30] and then additional tickets can be purchased if wanted

[48:41] So I'll open it up for conversation

[48:49] I'm familiar with this event and have attended in the past

[48:53] and then I think it is worthy of our sponsorship.

[48:58] And I guess the question is, at what level

[49:03] what And with the idea of a spreading

[49:09] our support around the county Mr. Shepard thank you.

[49:21] It's seems funny.

[49:22] I like the image of the famine plain, the side.

[49:26] I saw that too.

[49:27] He's just a little guy.

[49:28] But there's just a little salmon.

[49:30] Yes but i you know, if this is something we've done before,

[49:35] I'm happy to do it.

[49:37] And at the $150 level and have one of us go I this you know,

[49:48] we spoke last time about running out.

[49:52] We ran ran down our sponsorship budget.

[49:56] And then our assistant county administrator

[50:00] mentioned that we had funds that we

[50:03] could utilize to keep sponsoring things I just, absolutely.

[50:08] I think that the reason the budget was run down

[50:11] was because some of them ended up

[50:13] being more expensive especially the Celebrate corvallis

[50:18] increased its prices by a lot.

[50:19] But I just i'm I'm not I'm not a fan of overspending

[50:25] what we budgeted for this.

[50:27] But because we have the discretionary funds.

[50:29] And this is one that we've done before or not

[50:33] discretionary funds, we have the funds funds available.

[50:36] I will support 150 level sponsorship.

[50:41] So I just wanted to be out there about I'm concerned

[50:46] that we're how how far we're going over what

[50:49] we had budgeted for it.

[50:50] So I guess I'd say I'm not concerned about going

[50:56] over budget, but give me a it gives us an opportune

[51:07] to be preparing the next biennium budget to be

[51:14] more accurate in our budgeting.

[51:18] So Oh oh oh where this line item and and I

[51:25] think it would be helpful if we had a and maybe

[51:30] we already do, but oh list of organizations and events

[51:36] that we sponsor in the past and oh

[51:41] see what that adds up to and maybe oh grease it a little bit.

[51:47] So we have some flexibility We can provide that to you all

[51:53] probably at our next goal setting meeting

[51:56] right So I'm in support of this because it's

[52:03] it's not just Corvallis that helps us get out

[52:05] into other parts of the county.

[52:09] And I mean alternatively, if commissioners didn't want

[52:12] to use our budget, I mean, we could all just chip in 50 bucks

[52:16] and cover it and purchase our own tickets

[52:19] or you know, or not sponsor it.

[52:22] So there's options Yeah, I know I

[52:30] would make a motion that we answer

[52:34] the form with Rotary's Sam.

[52:38] And then as festival and $150 oh limit their second.

[52:47] All those in favor say I hope and we have Rick Craig sticking

[52:52] up to the table who staff would like to get clarification

[52:55] I think in your packet.

[52:57] It's suggested that in the past you had done $250.

[53:01] I just wanted to clarify if you wanted to go to the lower

[53:04] level of 150, but I believe the organization

[53:07] and requested to 15, that's what we had done before.

[53:11] Oh, my apologies Thank you.

[53:18] And i will admit it.

[53:21] Good.

[53:24] You're quicker than you look, Rick.

[53:25] Yeah I still see everyone every once in a while,

[53:28] I can move kind of quick and I would just

[53:30] respond quickly to the request.

[53:31] We will make sure the financial team

[53:33] gets you a list of all the sponsorships

[53:35] over the last Two years.

[53:36] OK.

[53:37] Thank you.

[53:37] You OK.

[53:42] Oh, I will revise my motion to sponsor

[53:48] the Falmouth Rotary Oh, they went

[53:51] and jazz event at the $250 level.

[53:54] And as a second.

[53:56] I agree All right.

[53:59] Anything else before I call for the vote and all those in favor

[54:05] say i, I, i motion passes unanimously Thank you.

[54:11] Is there anything else for the good

[54:13] of the order Seeing none I will adjourn the meeting at 9:50 a.m.

[54:22] You're welcome.

Board of Commissioners Meeting

Agenda

Transcript