Board hears public comment on garbage burning and the sheriff's levy; approves consent agenda

At the Jan. 29 meeting, several members of the public addressed the board during the public‑communication period and the board approved the consent agenda unanimously.

Brainerd Brower of Redland Community urged an educational approach to address household garbage burning, suggesting county outreach before enforcement and warning of health impacts from smoke. "Is there some way of retasking people... into an educational manner to look at people who do not have garbage service?" Brower asked, urging non‑punitive outreach.

Alan Smith (West Linn) raised concerns about upcoming contracts listed in the packet—naming Oracle PeopleSoft, Stella Jones Corporation and FolkTime—and asked whether contractors could be asked to make public statements affirming "free and fair elections". He also cautioned the board to be mindful of expectations tied to a Department of Homeland Security grant application.

Shirley Morgan urged the board not to put the larger sheriff's levy option on the May ballot and instead to prioritize a smaller option. In her remarks she cited several historical levy results and presented a household cost analysis to argue the larger option could be unaffordable for many seniors and fixed‑income residents.

Following public comment the board moved through a consent agenda that the clerk read aloud. Items approved in the consent agenda (motion by Commissioner West; second by Commissioner Schroeder; vote 5‑0) included:

- Approval of prior meeting minutes.
- A one‑year social games license for the Oregon Poker Club (license fee $25; no county general funds involved).
- An amendment to a purchase order for Oracle PeopleSoft HR software licensing and support (amendment value read as $384,061.41 for nine months; total contract value as read $1,096,285.44 for one year; funding through departmental cost allocation; packet notes small portion from county general funds).
- Approval of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for amateur radio emergency services and 911 center resilience (grant value in packet: approximately $574,400 for two years).
- Delegation of signing authority to the county administrator for amendments/termination of a facility lease (no fiscal impact).
- Approval of a timber sale contract with Stella Jones Corporation for approximately 1,375,000 board feet of timber (contract value read as $693,816.35 for two years; funding from purchaser; no county general funds involved).
- Approval of a personal services contract with FolkTime for supportive‑housing case management and peer support services at Renaissance Court Apartments (contract value as read in packet: '450,004 and $18.75 for 18 months'; funding from Metro Supportive Housing Services measure funds; no county general funds involved).

Commissioners thanked the public speakers for raising concerns and said staff would follow up on constituent emails and questions.