(Shared by Umatilla COunty Commissioner George Murdock.)
To: Public Officials
From: George Murdock
Subject: Weekly Public Officials Update – Providing Information, Advocacy and Commentary
Date: June 16, 2021 – Volume 60
Total Cases – 8,516
Deaths – 86
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)
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Week 40 – 52 (including one from DOC)
Week 41 – 98 (including one at DOC)
Week 42 – 92
Week 43 – 73 (including 1 from DOC)
Week 44 – 66
Week 45 — 49
Vaccinations Last Week – 840
Medical Report
We are happy to report that at the same time the COVID numbers are declining across Oregon, they are also declining in Umatilla County. Last week we were at 49 cases and the Health Department reports our official rolling two-week average is 116.
Our vaccination rate is hovering around 40% which places Umatilla County 34th among the 36 counties. We get lots of calls from people who were vaccinated out-of-state and want to be part of our account. A little later in this week’s Update is an explanation of how they can qualify for the lottery and sign up to be counted in the Umatilla County numbers at the same time.
This week we are including exciting news about how people who were vaccinated out-of-state can be part of our count and a new incentive program which could make a huge difference for local communities in Umatilla County.
We continue to hear that Oregon could open in a few weeks if we reach 70% in Oregon. We are getting closer – within a few percentage points. There has even been speculation it could be as soon as this Friday.
Association of Oregon Counties Meeting
The Association of Oregon Counties leadership has gone back to their regular monthly meeting schedule with an in-person option however there is a twist that is making the meetings interesting because they have to be scheduled in counties that can handle the size of the event due to current COVID restrictions which we hope will be history by July. As a result the May meeting was held in Hood River and the June meeting will be held in Sunriver. The group doesn’t meet in July because of their National Conference but will be meeting in Hermiston in August. A major part of the discussion at the meeting dealt with the latest news on legislation. This will be covered a little later under legislation.
The August meeting will be in conjunction with the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit and is designed to acquaint Western Oregon commissioners with Eastern Oregon. This is part of an effort to encourage commissioners to learn more about other counties. The group will hold a meeting at EOTEC on August 18 followed by a reception at Bellinger’s Gathering Place. The next two days will have them taking part in the Summit which includes tours on August 19 and a more formal structure at Hermiston High School on August 20. The September meeting is in Tillamook County. Obviously moving around the state is providing commissioners with greater insight into what other counties look like and what they deal with.
In September of 2022 the group will be holding a special gathering in conjunction with the Pendleton Round-Up. We appreciate their interest in our area plus it helps when three of the five officers are from Umatilla and Morrow Counties. It is also nice not to have to go to Salem for every meeting. We are appreciative of the fact the Round-Up Leadership has indicated counties will be given a special welcome when they have their Counties Day on Thursday of Round-Up week.
Note –For more information about the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit including registration, information can be found on-line by looking up Eastern Oregon Economic Summit. The site briefly describes the program at this point and includes lodging information although I would assume most people who read the Update won’t need a hotel.
Hermiston Celebration
This came to us from Mark Morgan, assistant city manager in Hermiston – Umatilla County is proud to have been a partner in this project.
The City of Hermiston will break ground on July 7 to extend paved road, water lines, sewer pipes, and upgraded electrical power to the South Hermiston Industrial Park (SHIP). The utilities project is expected to be completed in four months and create about 16 shovel-ready parcels of light industrial property.
The SHIP is located west of Highway 395 near the Walmart Distribution Center and is made up of properties ranging from 1.5-20 acres, depending on market demand.
The construction project includes:
- Paving and installing water and sewer lines to SE 10th Street between U.S. Highway 395 and E. Penney Avenue
- Paving and installing water and sewer lines to a new road spur from SE 10th Street into Port of Umatilla property within the SHIP
- Completing paving on SE Campbell Drive to E. Penney Avenue
- Installing new underground power through Port of Umatilla property to loop with existing power along U.S. Highway 395.
Work will coincide with the construction of the Meyer Distributing warehouse, a privately developed 179,000 square-foot auto parts distribution center in the SHIP. That facility is slated to open in the fall with approximately 70 full time employees.
The utilities projects are funded from a variety of sources, including a $1.46 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant, $1.16 million from a Local Improvement District representing adjacent property owners, $250,000 from the City of Hermiston and $50,000 from Umatilla County. The EDA projects the activity will lead to 250 jobs and $70 million in private development.
“This has been an excellent cooperation between public and private partners to set the table to attract new jobs and Investment to the community and further diversify our local economy,” said Mark Morgan, Assistant City Manager. “These new shovel-ready lots will make it much easier for small light Industrial operations to set up and provide support services to our other large agricultural and Industrial operations in the region.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday, July 7 at 12:15 p.m. on E. Penney Avenue. To access the site, take Kelli Blvd. southwest from Highway 395 near the former Hermiston Foods plant and then take a right on E. Penney for a quarter of a mile.
Legislative Report
As we have been noting, sine die is just around the corner. Some of those under the most pressure are the three co-chairs of the Ways & Means Committee – Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Sen. Betsy Johnson, and Rep. Dan Rayfield.
Ironically, they are dealing with a unique problem – they have almost too much money. Between revenue windfalls that exceed predictions and a steady stream of stimulus funding, Oregon’s coffers are bursting at the seams.
So too is the list of requests for how to use the money. We don’t know much about Rep. Rayfield because he is not a familiar face in Eastern Oregon. We do know the two senators who have made regular visits to our area and can be considered friends in a legislative arena where beyond our own legislators, friends are not in abundance.
Both of the senators have continued to stress the fact the stimulus funds are a one-time event and should be directed to investments of a capital nature that could not ordinarily be addressed without long-term financing. Leadership in the House has also indicated interest in such investments but there is also interest there in expenditures that could prove to be burdensome beyond the temporary infusion.
With the end of the session drawing near and with the need to create a final budget literally days from now, we hope they will continue their efforts to both remember the need to save for a rainy day and to take advantage of a unique opportunity to address capital needs that are not nearly as popular as glitzy new programs and handouts – particularly adequately funding programs that already exist and are working. This would include Community Corrections which we just heard is being taken care of.
It looks very much like the right people are leading the parade. That at least signals a bit of optimism. While COVID has been a disaster which will include a lengthy recovery process, from a pragmatic stand point we do have an opportunity to come out the other side with at least some benefit if we make wise decisions on how to utilize the blizzard of federal funding without creating a dependency or unrealistic belief this is likely to ever happen again. In the meantime, we also need to thank Sen. Hansell for cultivating our positive relationship with both Senator Steiner Hayward and Senator Johnson – something he has worked hard at. In addition, Rep. Levy has also worked across the aisle in a positive way. With that in mind, we are hopeful the annual Christmas tree bill will include a few special ornaments with our name on them. And, as we are well aware, Rep. Greg Smith is an ever-present voice for Eastern Oregon when it counts.
What AOC’s Legislative Team Shared at our Meeting on Monday
One of the early bits of news is the fact that so far the Legislature is honoring its agreement to only discuss budget, COVID, and getting the economy going again. This in turn has received signals from the Republican senators they will stay in Salem if the agreement is honored. We were advised that two of the major issues that are on hold are property tax reform and taxes on beer and wine. Those will likely surface next year. There are various predictions about the end, but June 18 is one of them.
Also being discussed is the timber tax and what is called the permanent on-line option for meetings. As that unfolds, there is concern about controls such as unruly and inappropriate behavior on conferences and how that is controlled when people “bomb meetings.” Another topic that is unfolding is perhaps under the heading of ethical contractions. For example, the state is depending more and more on the lottery while at the same recognizing they are promoting gambling which is a problem for those who are addicted. In addition, with the passage of Measure 110 and the decriminalization of drugs, Oregon has become a national leader in this arena. Oregon also has the highest addiction rate in America and is the national leader in that arena as well.
During a meeting of the Public Safety Committee, we were reminded that 70% of all property crimes are committed by addicts supporting their habits. This led to further conversation about the fact Oregon Leadership needs to seriously consider the consequences of their actions – particularly as it relates to public safety and protection of those citizens aren’t particularly interested in gambling or drugs but become unwitting victims either in terms of property losses or having to support programs not of their making.
Perhaps the best news on the Legislative front is the fact that funding for Justice Reinvestment reflects the value of the program. The current number is $32.7 million dollars.
Other Legislative News
In other news from the Legislature the Oregonian reports Oregon communities must rewrite local Rules to allow Oregonians to sit, lie, sleep, and keep warm and dry on public property.
House Bill 3115, which passed the House Wednesday afternoon and is in route to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk, is a response to a 2018 landmark homelessness case that impacted most western states with an intent to better support individuals experiencing homelessness.
While local governments should already be following rules set forth by the case known as Martin v. Boise, the bill, written at the behest of House Speaker Tina Kotek, forces cities to officially change any ordinance language still on the books to be in line with the court decision.
In its ruling, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said governments cannot criminalize conduct that is unavoidable as a result of experiencing homelessness. To punish a homeless individual for sleeping outside when there aren’t enough shelter beds would be comparable to punishing that individual for the fact that they are homeless, a consequence the court described as a cruel and unusual.
A recurring theme is the fact that provisions for addressing homeless issues including shelter options helps local communities be able define their own destiny. This is a subject we have addressed before. Unless we make provisions on behalf of the homeless, we could end up looking like Portland. Doing so is both a humane gesture and wise public policy. As with many issues, preparation is much easier to handle than reaction.
Brown Press Conference
We listened in on Governor Brown’s press conference Friday in an effort to get the latest information. We were pleased to hear her say the state appears to be on target for reopening. In Umatilla County, while we have a stretch to get to 70%, we also know there are a number of people who were vaccinated outside of the county who want to help our count become more accurate. We also suspect it will be a statewide decision and much of the rest of Oregon will carry us over the finish line.
Still, those who want to make sure they are part of our count can do so by going on the state website which is takeyourshot.oregon.gov. and both sign up to be eligible for the Covid lottery and at the same time be added to the Umatilla County statistical count.
Also good news is the fact that deaths, new cases, and hospitalizations continue to drop dramatically but they are still happening as we see locally although in our case it is primarily new cases and not hospitalizations or deaths. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state epidemiologist said that in the case of deaths, new cases, and hospitalizations virtually everyone in that category has not been fully vaccinated. Essentially, COVID 19 is becoming a pandemic among the unvaccinated.
He and Governor Brown both stated strongly that those who have not been vaccinated should avoid gatherings, wear their masks, and distance at all times. Unfortunately, our experience demonstrates that in most cases, those who are not vaccinated aren’t also modeling the safety precautions.
Community Rewards Program
As a conclusion, we would like to re-emphasize the community rewards program which could have a huge impact for groups in Umatilla County. To that end, the State of Oregon has provided $450,000 which will be shared within every zip code that reaches 65% vaccination rate.
I would encourage anyone interested to go on the Umatilla County Public Health website and scroll down to the community rewards program where complete details are provided.
