Washington County commissioners approve letter asking AOCC to represent county in BLM cooperating-agency MOU

The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved sending a draft letter to the new field manager for the BLM Northwest Oregon Division asking that the Association of Oregon and California Counties (AOCC) represent Washington County as a cooperating agency on the Western Oregon resource management plan revision.

Chair Catherine Marrington presented the letter and asked for the board's wishes; "We have five thumbs up," she said after members indicated support, and added that the signature will be applied and the letter sent via email. The letter designates Erin Doyle of county staff as the contact to receive the cooperating-agency MOU.

The move authorizes county staff to complete the administrative step of signing and transmitting the cooperating-agency memorandum of understanding to the BLM. County leaders did not record a formal motion on the transcript; commissioners confirmed support by voice/thumbs-up during the work session.

Why it matters: cooperating-agency status can affect how county concerns are integrated into federal land-management planning. The board's authorization signals alignment with AOCC representation during the BLM's Western Oregon plan revision process and establishes a county staff point of contact for follow-up.

The board did not discuss details of the MOU on the record at this session; staff will proceed with the signature and transmission, and the county will report back if the MOU or scope requires board action.