Klamath County commissioners approve hires, PTO payout and $33,713 roof aid for Marine Corps League

Klamath County’s Board of Commissioners on June 16 approved a slate of routine personnel and grant decisions, including hiring actions to address staffing shortfalls in Public Works and Planning, a payroll exception for three solid-waste managers, and a $33,713 contribution to help replace the roof on a Marine Corps League building.

The meeting opened at 3:00 p.m., and the board first approved overlapping hiring in the Public Works Department after learning that Mr. Jesse Reyes, a sign-crew employee with 31 years of county service, recently submitted his retirement. County staff said the overlap would let a new hire work alongside Reyes for a short period to transfer knowledge; a commissioner moved the overlap hiring and the motion passed on a voice vote.

Planning staff told the board the department has been understaffed since a long-term planner retired and proposed posting and hiring one Planner I to reduce application backlog. The board approved creating and hiring one full-time Planner I. The county said the 2026–27 total cost of that position is $84,477.70 and that the department has the funds and reserves to cover the expense.

On behalf of Community Development and Solid Waste, Sue requested an exception to policy to pay out up to 80 hours of accrued PTO at 100% to three long-tenured managers who have exceeded their maximum accrual. "The total payout for all three managers would come to $10,318.04 including payroll taxes," Sue said. County staff told the board the solid-waste department has funds to cover the payout. Commissioners voted to approve the exception.

The board also approved purchasing congratulatory vinyl banners from vendor Smith Bates for two local school track teams and directed maintenance to hang them on county property.

A more notable item drew a recusal: one commissioner declared a conflict of interest before the board considered assistance for the Marine Corps League. "I declare I think I have an actual conflict here as I'm a paying member of the Marine Corps League and I receive benefits from them. So, I'll recuse myself," the commissioner said. The board discussed that the Marine Corps League has been performing outreach with the county’s Veterans Department and reported that the league’s meeting-house roof is degraded and needs replacement. The board authorized a $33,713 contribution from Veterans Department funds, with the department director authorized to make smaller awards under $10,000 without returning to the board. Veteran Service Officer Daphne Pierce was authorized to execute the work.

Finally, the board voted to sign a letter of support for the City of Klamath Falls' BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant application. The chair adjourned the meeting at 3:15 p.m.

The actions approved at the meeting were administrative and budgeted by staff, according to the board’s discussion; no ordinance or long-term policy change was adopted at this session.