Audio Transcripts Of August 24, 2011 Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Meeting With Highlights

Work Session Audio Transcript
Regular Meeting Audio Transcript
Thursday, August 25, 2011

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AUG. 24, 2011 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Official minutes available once approved by board

Board approves Parole and Probation plan, agreement
The board approved the Community Corrections 2011-13 Biennium Plan and an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for parole and probation services.
The Biennium Plan details the programs and services the county will provide to local offenders on parole, probation and post-prison supervision through its Parole and Probation Division.
The 2011-13 plan includes several changes reflecting the transfer of the Community Corrections Department to the authority of the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year. The plan includes a new day-reporting system, increased treatment and misdemeanor services, an enhanced electronic monitoring program, rental of eight additional beds at the Tillamook County Jail, and addition of one parole and probation officer.
The expanded services are to be funded by revenue saved from last spring’s closure of the Transition Center. The Sheriff’s Office will evaluate the service changes over the next year to determine their effectiveness
The intergovernmental agreement authorizes state funding for Parole and Probation programs. Due to state budget cuts, the amount of revenue coming to Clatsop County under the 2011-12 agreement is expected to fall by $133,306. Sheriff Tom Bergin told the board that his department plans to make up the shortfall with targeted reductions and the use of carry-over funds.
The Sheriff’s Office will revisit the plan next year after the Oregon Legislature meets in February to address budgetary issues.

Land-use review process reviewed
The board held a joint work session with the Clatsop County Planning Commission to hear a presentation on local land-use review and approval processes from Tim Ramis of the law firm Jordan Ramis, one of the county’s legal counsels for planning issues. Ramis walked the participants through the history of Oregon zoning laws and the basics of application reviews, quasi-judicial hearings, conditions of approval, conflict of interest and other issues.

Resource-sharing pact renewed
The board voted to renew an intergovernmental agreement that enables the Clatsop County Roads Division and various other public agencies to share resources during emergencies. The agreement extends for five years the county’s involvement with the program, which it first joined in 2001. A total of 217 agencies in Oregon participate.
The agreement allows agencies to use equipment, personnel and materials of other agencies, and sets up a process for reimbursement and liability. It does not, however, obligate Clatsop County or any other participating entity to provide assistance.

Other Business
-Approved a letter of support for a grant application to the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission for a Clatsop Plains land-use study.
-Approved a $38,772 contract with Bergeron Construction for repairs to the Lewis and Clark Bridge.

Healthy Kids Program Targets Clatsop County's Uninsured Youth

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011

HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM TARGETS UNINSURED YOUTH

All uninsured children living in Clatsop County are eligible to apply for Oregon’s Healthy Kids health coverage program.
An early initiative of the Oregon Health Authority, Healthy Kids provides no-cost, low-cost or full-cost comprehensive health coverage for kids and teens until their 19th birthday. A family’s income and the number of family members determine whether a child or teen qualifies for no-cost, low-cost or full-cost health coverage. For example, a family of four who earns up to $44,900 per year would be able to receive coverage for their children at no cost.
Healthy Kids coverage offers comprehensive medical, dental and vision care including prescriptions, medical equipment, regular check-ups, preventive care and mental health and chemical dependency services.
Judi Mahoney, Clatsop County’s new Healthy Kids Outreach and Enrollment Worker, stated that the goal of the program is to insure 95 percent of the county’s kids and teens. Oregon has already seen the rate of uninsured children cut in half since the Healthy Kids program launched in 2009. “We have high hopes that we can do the same for Clatsop County,” said Mahoney.
Margo Lalich, Clatsop County Public Health director, added that “improved health is dependent upon access to quality health care and preventive services. With the expansion of health coverage to children in Clatsop County, more children will now have access to primary and preventive care, leading to healthier children who grow into healthier adults.”
Outreach and application assistance for the Healthy Kids program in Clatsop County is funded by a Targeted Outreach Grant from the Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Healthy Kids.
Due to the efforts of outreach workers and local agencies that assist families, more than 3,000 applications have been completed for kids and teens in Clatsop County since 2009. This represents more than a 38 percent increase in the number of children and teens ages 0-18 who now have access to the care they need.
For more information about Healthy Kids or to apply for Healthy Kids health coverage for your child, contact Healthy Kids Outreach and Enrollment Worker Judi Mahoney at (503) 358-2333 or via email at: judimahoney@yahoo.com (Hablamos español).

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Westport, Oregon: Federal Grant To Fund Ferry Poject

Monday, Aug. 22, 2011

FEDERAL GRANT TO FUND FERRY LANDING PROJECT

Clatsop County has received a $1.88 million federal transportation grant for construction of an improved landing at Westport for the Wahkiakum Ferry.
The new, expanded landing will accommodate the larger vessel that Wahkiakum County, which operates the service, plans to put into operation in 2014.
The grant comes from the Ferry Boat Discretionary program, a special funding category of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Clatsop County will cover the remaining cost of the landing project, which has a total estimated price tag of $2.35 million.
The project will also alleviate a chronic problem at the existing 30-year-old landing, which has been plagued by siltation that hampers operations at low tides and at times has caused damage to the loading ramp. The new ramp will extend into deeper water.
Construction is expected to begin in Fall 2012.
The Wahkiakum Ferry, operating between Puget Island, Wash. and Westport, carries 11 vehicles. According to the Wahkiakum County Public Works Department, the new vessel will carry up to 23 vehicles, and will be designed to handle tour buses and chip trucks. Wahkiakum County learned last week that it will receive a $2.8 million federal grant to fund construction of the new ferry.
The ferry carried 50,763 vehicles in 2010.

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622