(Shared by Umatilla County Commissioner George Murdock.)
To: Public Officials
From: George Murdock
Subject: Weekly Public Officials Update – Providing Information, Advocacy and Commentary
Date: April 20 2021 – Volume 52
Total Cases – 7,963
Deaths – 83
Recent Counts:
Week 1 – 333
Week 2 – 237
Week 3 – 155
Week 4 – 96
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Week 23 – 435 – (including 170 at EOCI & TRCI)
Week 24 – 466 (including 198 at EOCI & TRCI
Week 25 – 456 (including 154 at EOCI & TRCI)
Week 26 – 231 (including 68 at the prison)
Week 27 – 171 (including 24 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 28 – 191 (including 62 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 29 – 108 (including 7 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 30 – 53 Note: The total count was 123 including two from adults in custody and 68 old cases
Week 31 – 80 (including seven from the Department of Corrections)
Week 32 – 49 (including 2 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 33 – 59 (including 4 from the Department of Corrections
Week 34 – 43 (including 3 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 35 — 27
Week 36 – 33
Week 37 – 54
Medical Report
We went backward last week and that is extremely disappointing after the long struggle to begin loosening the stranglehold of tighter regulations. What’s more, at 54, it is a hole that will be harder to dig out of since we need a two-week total of 82 or less. We will likely get a grace period for a couple of weeks but if we don’t take a dramatic drop, the news isn’t good.
The Governor is visiting the idea of eliminating the extreme risk category except in case where hospitalizations are an issue. There are other rumors on the horizon but if the State doesn’t stop spiking upward, we they are likely to be less dramatic.
Umatilla County once a leader in cases was bucking the trend going on in Western Oregon as our numbers remained lower than usual at a time when much of the rest of the state is spiking upwards. Our infection rate is about half that of the state average and our hospitalizations are also non-existent. One week doesn’t tell the whole story but we do know that outings and gatherings seem to be the issue.
Nationwide and in the county, the surge is among 20-year olds following by 30-year olds. Next come teenagers and 50-year olds. As summer and some of our most cherished events bear down on us, they remain in jeopardy no matter how we want to believe otherwise.
A factor we haven’t talked about is that somewhere near ten percent of our residents have been confirmed cases which adds a new wrinkle in our trek toward herd immunity.
During my weekly call with the Governor’s Office I learned that some major announcements are coming down in the near future with respect to COVID regulations. I am hopeful this will include a response to our letter asking for local control which would include returning oversight to individual counties.
As schools begin planning for the fall of 2021, I do hope it also includes full re-opening although I suspect some precautions might be in place such as efforts to distance and wearing masks from time to time.
As most of you are aware, the County never favored the closing of schools in the first place and we want our children back in the classroom. We have probably already inflicted immeasurable damage to their learning and we cannot exacerbate it further. I do know the schools will do everything possible to help restore what has been lost but that is a heavy lift.
Ways & Means Testimony
On Saturday afternoon, all three commissioners were supposed to testify to the Joint Ways and Means Committee of which Senator Hansell and Rep Smith are members. The meeting was held remotely. The topics were:
Commissioner Dorran – Fairs Bill
Commissioner Murdock – Jail Renovation Project
Commissioner Shafer – Water Project
Only Commissioner Dorran was provided the opportunity to speak. The other two commissioners were poised, but that’s as far as they got.
Capital Outlay Projects – Public Works
Last week Commissioner Dorran and Public Works Director Tom Fellows released a list of the major capital projects they have on the docket including:
Umatilla River Road ARTS Grant Grant amount $918,744 2021 completion
Mill Creek Road improvements FLAP Grant Grant amount $3,200,000 2023 completion
S. Fork W W River bridge SFLP Amount $1,500,000 2022 Completion
Thorn Hollow Bridge SFLP Amount $4,600,000 2025 Completion
Andrews Road oil mat Local agreement Amount $70,000 2021 Completion
Telephone Pole Rd. oil mat Local Agreement Amount $50,000 2021-22 Completion
Key
ARTS All Roads Transportation Safety Federal Grant
FLAP Federal Lands Access Program Federal Grant
SFLP State Funded Local Project State Grant (this is usually a fund exchange converting Federal dollars to state dollars)
Local Agreement These are agreements entered into with local property owners in an effort to partner with them for road improvements. Generally the county provides equipment and labor, the owners provide materials.
Jail Renovation Plan
For anyone who is under the impression our jail renovation plan is good to go, that’s understandable. Following the trail of that effort is like trying to corral an armload of jello.
Yes, it was approved by the Legislature and was approved for support by the sale of lottery bonds. However, the lottery revenues went south, the proposal was put on hold. We were told there is a great deal of sentiment on our side. We thought perhaps it would be drawn into the work of the Emergency Board but they tended to favor wildfire and COVID measures.
As far as I can tell, it could still be funded by lottery bonds. I have also been told it is in the regular state budget for consideration. Now it is also under consideration by the State as part of their proposed investments being provided by the latest round of stimulus funds. I do know the fact we invested $250,000 in planning and design now have a shovel-ready project adds to the popularity of the measure.
Personally I don’t care where it gets approved, I just want to secure another round of approval. Or, as our CFO Robert Pahl frequently reminds us, we will move forward after the check is in the bank. For those who might have forgotten about the Jail Renovation Project, here is our narrative:
“Just a few years ago, the average daily population of the Umatilla County Jail was 135 inmates per day. Under the leadership of Sheriff Terry Rowan and his command staff, the daily population has grown to about 235.
Part of this growth is the product of expanded utilization of the jail on a regional basis. The Umatilla County Jail currently houses prisoners from Umatilla, Morrow, Union, and Wallowa Counties. Due to expenses associated with maintaining a jail, it is more cost effective to utilize a regional approach. In addition, the Umatilla County Jail serves as an inmate transportation hub for movement both around Oregon and around the Pacific Northwest. Said Sheriff Terry Rowan:
“In addition, with the closure of the Blue Mountain Recovery Center, and now Aspen Springs, the jail has been called upon to take on the role of housing, and at times isolating, an ever increasing number of mental health patients who have been charged with crimes. Many of them are lodged in the jail on low level crimes, which is not the best place for them, because there is not an adequate number of mental health treatment beds in the area.”
While accommodations have been made to house the expanded jail population, the ability of the jail staff to maintain safe, secure, and adequate holding and intake facilities has been compromised by the expanded utilization. On an annual basis, the jail processes about 5,000 inmates per year. Yet these support facilities were designed to handle far less prisoners than the current load.
In addition, prisoner is not a generic term and all prisoners cannot simply be housed together because of those needing special considerations. Some are mental health patients, the jail handles both men and women, gang members must be separated, some prisoners are detoxing, some are on pre-trial holds, some are serving out sentences, some are sex offenders, and so forth. This taxes the ability of the jail to segregate them accordingly. There are beds available for the general populations, but the special needs prisoners are creating a conundrum.
Preliminary plans for modification of the jail call for three new detox cells, a new pre-book area, a new transport hold, additional storage, two new intoxication/medical cells, three new holding cells, and one new medical cell. This would enable the staff to address the needs of the growing volatile population. In addition, the plan calls for expanded and more effective utilization of the existing sally port.
And now, COVID has provided an additional reminder about the desperate need to be able to separate prisoners.
Here’s Some Exciting News from the UAS Project Provided by Steve Chrisman – City of Pendleton
- We are very busy here with dozens of UAS flights occurring on most days. We should surpass 5,000 UAS operations here this year, which has got to be close to tops in the US.
- We have some very exciting new UAS projects coming in spring and summer, which may be of interest once public (I’ll keep you posted).
- There are an estimated 20-30 open UAS positions (not counting Rain Aero) in Pendleton, so lots of opportunities for aspiring UAS workforce.
- Interested parties should send resumes to our UAS Range Manager Darryl Abling [email protected].
- Our newest UAS tenant, Rain Aero, is developing a large fire suppression drone. RAIN is a small startup, but in addition to their founders, they are currently hiring 3 three very specialized engineering positions here (see attached
c. Housing continues to be an issue:
- April 27-29: Delmar Aerospace Corporation is holding a “UAS Technology Innovation Summit” (focused on energy & infrastructure applications. See flyer below)
- In addition, Delmar just signed an agreement with Robotic SkiesRobotic Skies – Aviation-Grade Maintenance for Commercial UAS to create the first ever Robotic Skies Test Service Center at the Pendleton UAS Range, which will bring industry best practices for UAS maintenance to Oregon.
- May 19th (maybe 20th) we are planning a public ribbon-cutting for our Pendleton UAS Industrial Park and our new 18,000 sf UAS Flex Hangar (Thank you Biz Oregon & EDA). We hope any and/or all of you can attend (invitations to follow). ii. Last year, BMCC was named one of FAA’s first 27 UAS Collegiate Training Initiative institutions in the Country. They still need curriculum development resources: In May, Pendleton will begin work on our 33,000 sf UAS Innovation Hub, which will consolidate UAS range staff, mission control, classrooms, labs, and rapid-prototyping equipment under one roof. It will also supply 20,000 sf of hangar floor for transient customers to utilize. Plans are in design. We feel confident we can create the West Coast’s premier UAS research center.
- A 78-room Radisson Hotel just broke ground in the Airport’s lower parking lot, just steps from the gates to the UAS test range entrance.
- April 20th at 2-3:30 pm (Eastern), Transportation Safety Board (National Academy of Sciences) is holding a webinar “The Day of the Drones: Airports and Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Part 1” http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/181918.aspx
- They will be discussing their 135-page ACRP Research Report 212, which gathered much of its airport research from Pendleton, and named Pendleton Airport’s (PDT) Master Plan as the 1st FAA-approved plan in the nation to account for UAS integration (Exhibit A of the report).
Budget Message
Each year I am required to prepare the annual budget message which kicks off our formal budget meetings and presentations. We will be spending tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday in those hearings on the preliminary budget. Department heads and directors will be making presentations to the Budget Committee which is composed of the three commissioners as well as Beth O’Hanlon, Jeff Leber, and Marie Linnell.
I suspect readership of my message has traditionally been somewhat limited and probably not a candidate for the best seller list. In the interest of public transparency and hopes of expanding readership, I am adding the message to the end of this issue of the Weekly Update. Among other things I suspect there are still residents who are sheltering in place.
Umatilla County
Board of County Commissioners
216 SE 4th Street, Room 121, Pendleton, OR 97801 541-278-6204
_____________________________________________________
George L. Murdock John M. Shafer Daniel N. Dorran
541-278-6202 541-278-6203 541-278-6201
2021-2022 Budget Message
This is the eighth budget message I have written during my tenure at Umatilla County and while I once made a living as a writer, I find it somewhat challenging to provide unique new copy since many of our fundamental principles remain the same.
I am confident that because of our strict adherence to those principles we are once again in a position to maintain a stable level of programs and services while making a tweak here and there that will address some critical needs.
Ironically, once again, as we approach our budget meetings, we find ourselves in a unique time of uncertainty. At the federal level, the House and Senate have now passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package which will have a huge impact on the role of the county in dealing with COVID and economic recovery.
As released, our share would be a bit over $15.1 million which would definitely make a difference. Our basic operational principles would remain the same in terms of our avoidance of creating long-term obligations without a designated permanent source of funding. In this case, we are fully aware that while this is a good deal of money, it is a one-time allocation and must be treated as such.
It will certainly have a tremendous impact on our capacity to be a major force in dealing with COVID and economic recovery but our plan needs to be prudent in terms of making sure we utilize the funds for their intended purpose without creating unsustainable obligations.
I would also insert a disclaimer because it is quite possible between the time this message must be prepared and our actual meetings, the stimulus situation could further change.
As I have said before a budget message and the budget itself should be much more than a routine obligation – it should be a meaningful document that connects the goals and aspirations of Umatilla County with the fiscal capacity to carry them out.
Moreover, it should be a blueprint for protecting the health, welfare, and safety of our citizens and a plan that helps perpetuate our quality of life. In addition, it should be an outline of how the county will provide the necessary services required by law and which are expected by the patrons the county is privileged to serve.
Finally, while the budget is created for a single year, it should also reflect a commitment to a stable level of programs and services over the long-run rather than a one-year blip on the screen that cannot be perpetuated.
As I noted earlier it has constantly been our mission to provide for a stable level of programs and services rather than a roller coaster which does not serve either our patrons or our employees. But that being said, this should not be interpreted as simply wanting to perpetuate the status quo.
All three of our commissioners strongly support the idea of addressing emerging issues. This could either include reducing services that are no longer relevant or creating initiatives to address major problems. In the coming year, the commissioners are anxious to address several matters we feel are of concern. Those would include:
- Mental Health – this includes both the quality of mental health services in our community as well as new strategies for dealing with mental health as it intersects with law enforcement. Yesterday we concluded a pilot review that included almost 30 residents designed to lay the platform for broader examination of how we address mental health and a number of tangible outcomes that need to come about.
- Equity – all government agencies should demonstrate a new commitment to equity for every resident or constituent. We are currently awaiting decisions from the Legislature and the Governor regarding how that will look in Oregon and in counties and local communities. We are advocating for a degree of local control in this arena and intend to advance initiatives.
- Flooding — Having experienced three floods in two years, we are actively engaged in the development of a deliberate plan to reduce further incidences of flooding by partnering with a wide variety of agencies and local communities. We anticipate further investments will be necessary to help reduce reoccurrences
* * *
In past budget messages we have reiterated the fundamental principles that have been embraced by Umatilla County with respect to fiscal management. These remain constant as we have dealt with preparation of our budget for 2021-2022.
- Serving our citizens effectively and efficiently.
- Providing a stable level of programs and services.
- Maintaining a cash reserve of no less than $5 million.
- Accounting for the increased costs of doing business, by actively engaging in economic development activities that not only enhance the well-being of Umatilla County in general but which also provide additional tax resources to the county.
- Creating a staffing model that focuses on assembling a strong cadre of individuals to carry out our work believing that quality usurps quantity.
- Accommodating both annual expenditures and making provisions for long-term obligations and considerations such as preventive maintenance in terms of being good stewards of our buildings, grounds, and equipment. Our facilities are valued at over $100 million and it is our responsibility to deal with not just immediate needs but also to make them last.
* * *
Staffing – General Fund
As has been the practice in recent years, staffing changes within the general fund have been extremely limited and the 2021-2022 budget continues to reflect the necessity of very limited additions.
Primary changes within the general fund staffing plan include:
Public Safety – There are currently requests on the table for additional staffing. At mid-year we added yet another road deputy position which continues our efforts to increase staffing. We are also including two new dispatchers in response to increased demands and new funding from the state. Finally, security changes at the Courthouse have necessitated a new position there.
Planning – Some additional help is also in the budget for the Planning Department which is reflective of the fact Umatilla County is growing and the demand on the Planning Department is expanding. In addition, there will be heavy demands on Planning regarding post-flood restoration. That was actually last year’s statement which was then put on the shelf because of fiscal uncertainty. It is back in the plan for the coming year.
Public Health – Staffing in Public Health has been more fluid due to COVID and additional state and federal assistance. In coping with COVID we have virtually doubled the size of our staff although a number of positions such as contact tracing are limited in duration. We have been able to add an epidemiologist and additional support and professional staff to cope with the demands. Going forward, both stimulus funding and increased state recognition of need to support the public health role will likely have an impact.
Software Adoption – The financial software program for the county is about twenty years old and in the world of technology that is almost an eternity. It also demands an outlay of somewhere around seven figures. Accompanying the demand for the software purchase itself is the need for staff to oversee both the technological implementation and the determination of user needs. The first step in this regard took place January 1 with the addition of one FTE to focus on laying the foundation for this process.
Staffing – Grant-Funded Programs
Since the Legislature is in session and grant funding is somewhat up in the air, it is difficult at this time to project possible changes in staffing in our state-funded programs.
Major Capital Outlay
We are continuing to pursue a Legislative grant for the renovation of the jail and we are optimistic it will happen. We did move forward with preliminary work and the project is shovel ready. Our other major projects for the coming year will include boiler replacement at the Stafford Hansell Building, Guardian Care heating system, resealing bricks on the Courthouse and the Stafford Hansell Building as well as other routine demands. We continue to be hopeful the budget for the Oregon Chief Justice will provide the funding to complete our security projects.
Other Factors
Regional Presence – As the largest county in Eastern Oregon, and also one of the fastest growing, Umatilla County is called upon from time to time to serve as a regional presence due to our scope of operations and capacity. This is certainly true with the jail which serves four counties, with the courts which serve two counties, and with public health which provides some services throughout Eastern Oregon. In light of state interest in greater regionalization, this could be a topic that could broaden in nature in the future as smaller counties struggle to afford basic services.
Coupled with this conversation is the increased participation of Umatilla County as part of the Eastern Oregon Counties Association that includes a strong legislative presence and greater engagement with the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit.
A major factor on many fronts will be based upon COVID, our recovery efforts and our ability as a county to host major events.
Respectfully Submitted,
George Murdock
George Murdock, chair, Board of Commissioners
Message adopted April 1, 2021
