County manager is up for discussion again
By Terry Murry on Thursday, December 30th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners held an administrative meeting yesterday. The commissioners decided to bring the question of hiring a county manager back for discussion. It was put on hold in 2019.
The Umatilla County Charter Review Committee recommended creating the manager position, but the board tabled it temporarily. The commissioners felt that additional information on counties with managers should be gathered. That has now been done.
The board plans to schedule a meeting with the Charter Review Committee to talk about the findings. Board Chairman George Murdock said he knows what he feels should happen, holding true to the opinion he expressed in 2019.
“The decision should probably be decided by the voters,” he said.
Also at the meeting, the commissioners rescinded their decision to open the county courthouse in Pendleton to the public on Jan. 3, 2022. The decision was reached based on current state mandates regarding COVID-10. That means that county services will continue to be delivered on a by-appointment basis until further action is taken.
The commissioners have made the position of public health officer a county employee. Dr. Jon Hitzman was contracted by the county for that position. He has since retired from his medical practice but was willing to continue to serve the county. That pleased Murdock.
“His credibility is exceptional throughout the county,” the board chairman said.
The board also agreed to spend $450,000 to purchase the VFW building in Hermiston, which is on the market. Umatilla County Community Corrections has outgrown its offices at the Stafford Hansell Government Center and will relocate to the new quarters on West Cherry Avenue when the sale is complete.
