[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.