Goat Watch 2024 is underway and a change in public works is coming
By Terry Murry on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The goats are now observable along the Pendleton River Parkway as they perform their summer graze of the banks of the Umatilla River.
“We’ve got a group on the north side of the river and a group on the south side of the river, both at the west end and towards Fallen Field and the Bedford Bridge area,” Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Brown said.
There is a third group of goats that is moving from the river intake area to the parkway by the Little League fields on the east end of town which will be working toward the west to meet up with the rest of the herd.
Brown reminds people that there are working dogs with the goats. He asks people who are walking dogs to keep them on leashes, pointing out the working dogs take their duties seriously.
“They bark and let you know, ‘You’re too close to my goats,’” he said.
The goats work will be done around the first of July.
That’s when Brown will drop the “assistant” from his title and become public works director. He’s been working up through the ranks in that department since 1993 and will step in as boss when Public Works Director Bob Patterson retires.
“I’m excited to take on this new challenge,” Brown said. “I want to see Pendleton flourish. I would also like to say thank you to Bob for his years of leadership in the department.”
Patterson will literally be flying off into the sunset when he retires. He and his wife Lisa will be moving to western Australia, which is Lisa’s homeland. Their two children have already moved to the area and have begun their careers. While the Pattersons won’t actually make their journey until October, the same is not true of their earthly possessions.
“Our furniture is about to ship out at the end of this month,” he said. “It takes a four-month journey for our furniture to reach our final destination, which is just east of Perth.” There will be a chance for the community to say goodbye at a gathering from 2-4 p.m. June 23 at Great Pacific. There will be a no-host bar and limited menu items.
Photo: Soon-to-be Public Works Director Jeff Brown
