Resilient Oregon Counties - Prepare. Recover. Mitigate. 
The AOC Spring Summit - Resilient Oregon Counties. Prepare. Recover. Mitigate. - took 85 county leaders to Umatilla County for informative sessions and productive networking opportunities. Counties know first-hand that disasters happen. And, that these disasters come in all shapes and sizes. But, does your county know their role to ensure the county is ready to respond? Counties must be trained to handle various emergency situations, convene partners and build multi-level relationships, identify problem areas to fill gaps, effectively communicate with employees and constituents, and ensure the needs of responders are met. After a day and a half of presentations on preparation, response and mitigation the number one takeaway was that relationships are critical to success. So, don't wait until disaster strikes. Convene leaders and community partners to start - or continue - the conversation... read more


Policy Updates
Joint Transportation Committee holds initial meetings
The Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization (JCTPM) held their first two meetings in Salem and Portland. In these initial meetings, legislators heard a lot about the need to ameliorate congestion in the Portland metro area, and how local transportation systems need more... read more
McArthur attends Rural Development Council Summit 
Mike McArthur was invited to be a panelist at the Northwest State Rural Development Council Summit. He shared his experiences regarding rural development from his time as a Sherman County judge and provided other Oregon county examples... read more
Debut of county roads briefs
The County Road Program is launching the first two in a series of "County Road Briefs" dedicated to educating the public and legislators about county roads in Oregon. The first, titled " Oregon's County Road System, " is a general description of the county road system, including what counties own and maintain. The second, " Funding Oregon's County Roads, " focuses on... read more

June 2016 forecast shows slow growth ahead
The House and Senate Revenue Committees received the June, 2016, Revenue and Economic Forecast from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis on June 3rd. Briefly, goods-producing sectors (construction, natural resources, manufacturing) are expected to grow significantly slower; Intel layoffs will contribute to a drop in previously forecasted high tech employment...  read more
Western Juniper industry grant program announced

The Western Juniper Alliance announced that the Business Oregon Western Juniper Industry Grant Program is open for applications. Grants for Business Management, Marketing and Communications, Production Process and Other Assistance are available to Oregon businesses currently or...  read more
Invitation to Comment -  Hood Basin Program Rules
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) invites the public to submit written comments and/or to attend a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Hood Basin Program Rules (OAR Chapter 690, Division 504). A reservation of water for future economic development sets aside a quantity of water for storage to meet future needs. The rules establising ... read more
FEMA and DLCD set dates for information sessions
A list of dates and locations for outreach meetings on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Biological Opinion (BiOp), Reasonable and Prudent Alternative and FEMA's development of an implementation plan are posted on the DLCD NFIP BiOp web page.  The focus of the meetings is the interim... read more
Managing stormwater: a new guide for Western Oregon counties & cities
Do you want to reduce stormwater runoff from your county's roads and parking lots, preventing flooding and improving the health of your local rivers, lakes and streams? Check out the new step-by-step guide for counties and cities. This customizable... read more
Polk County announces plan to welcome a CVSO 
Under the leadership of Commissioner Jennifer Wheeler, Polk County has announced that it will oversee a new CVSO position embedded in the local community. For decades, veterans in Polk County who needed help with their benefits claim had to go into Salem, where the closest Veterans Affairs office...  read more
Harryman appointed as new state resiliency officer
Veteran and former health authority staffer Mike Harryman  was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown and confirmed by the state Senate in May as the state's new resiliency officer. The position was created by the legislature in 2015 to help lead the state's efforts with Cascadia earthquake preparedness and. ... read more
News
Curry County gets $250k to battle tree disease
Curry County Commissioner David Brock Smith worked with the Oregon Emergency Board - to secure funding of $250,000 from the state to fight the steady march... read more
The graying of rural America
It can be a pretty depressing proposition to start counting the deaths in this tiny town set among the hills and buttes of central Oregon. Sherian Asher, 74, began...  read more
Editorial: Judge Grasty should not be recalled
My friend, Steve Grasty, a veteran Harney County judge who is retiring Dec. 31, is now facing a recall vote. The recall vote has little, if anything, to do with his record of... read more
Marion County rededicates the Gallon House covered bridge
The Gallon House Bridge over Abiqua Creek in rural Marion County is celebrating 100 years as the oldest bridge in Marion County and one of the oldest in Oregon... read more
Speaker Kotek will 'work to make entire state successful'
It was a first, within anyone's memory, that a speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives visited Malheur County and other eastern Oregon locations, but current Speaker... read more
ODVA quarterly advisory meeting held in Klamath Falls
Lake County Commissioner Ken Kestner, Lake County County Veteran Service Officer Charlie Pike, and AOC staff Andy Smith, attended the Oregon Department of Veterans ... read more
County Commissioners tour the USS Howard, DDG-83
Oregon County Commissioners Primozich, Heimuller, and Labhart and guests toured the USS Howard, DDG-83, an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, on June 11, 2016 during ... read more
ODVA hires veterans LGBT coordinator, first of kind in nation
The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs has hired a coordinator for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans - a position it says is the first of its kind nationwide...  read more
For a complete list of news and information visit oregoncounties.org
Events
Register Now for the 2016 NACo Annual Conference
July 22 - 25, 2016 | Long Beach, CA | REGISTER

Are you ready for Lights, Leadership, Action in Long Beach, Los Angeles County? Register for the 2016 NACo Annual Conference & Exhibition, and network with county officials.
Saving lives through local road safety planning
June 30, 2016 | 11:00 a.m. PST | REGISTER

Join NACo on this interactive webinar to learn about Local Road Safety Plans (LRSPs), and how your county can benefit from the development and implementation of one.
For a complete list of events visit oregoncounties.org
NACo News
WIR members expand focus beyond public land issues 
Though public lands will always be at the core of NACo's Western Interstate Region, WIR President Doug Breidenthal said the group has come to represent much more. "WIR has shifted gears, we're not just public lands," he said at the WIR Conference... read more

Planning for crises tops WIR workshop advice
Idyllic Jackson, Wyo. seemed far from the crises that WIR conference workshops addressed, but the setting reinforced that it's never too early to plan.  "We've spent billions of dollars in infrastructure to mitigate risk of fire deaths, but we haven't done that preparation for mass violence," said Darry Stacy... read more
What counties need to know about FirstNet
A Communications Network for First Responders
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is increasing its outreach and education efforts in 2016, and it is important that county officials participate in the process. NACo has... read more
County becomes own broadband provider
One Lake County, Minn. woman no longer has to wait until Super Bowl Sunday to e-file her income tax return - since that was when most people were watching the game and weren't online.  And peace has been restored to county Commissioner Rick Goutermont's household. "Me and my daughter used... read more

For more information on NACo news visit naco.org
Partner Spotlight
Nationwide Deferred Compensation Program 
Currently, 32 of Oregon's 36 counties participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation program. Since its inception in 1980, the program has grown to become the largest supplemental retirement income program available to county employees.  Learn more about how Nationwide can help your employees save for retirement...
AOC Welcomes New Business Partner Members

Siemens is a pre-approved Energy Services Company (ESCO) by Oregon's Department of Energy. This title allows Siemens to conduct energy savings, water conservation or renewable projects throughout Oregon's 36 counties by entering into a performance contract. In a performance contract, Siemens helps finance infrastructure improvements or retrofits across all of their clients' assets which are then paid back with the utility savings. Learn more... 

Union Pacific Corporation is one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, is North America's premier railroad franchise, covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States. 
The Last Word
Q: What can you steal, and not get in trouble? A: Second base.

As always, please feel free to submit your story ideas, announcements, recipes, events, photos and job changes to your  Oregon  Trails  staff for inclusion in the next riveting edition. 
 
Your  Oregon Trails staff,
 
Laura Cleland & Mckenzie Farrell
Association of  Oregon  Counties

Representing Oregon counties since 1906, the Association of Oregon Counties unites counties to advocate, communicate, and educate through information sharing and consensus development.