AOC C3 Summit Room Block Ends Today!
Don't miss out! The AOC room block ends April 19. 
Join us May 9 in Salem, Oregon for the 2017 C3 Summit focused on initiatives, policies, and efforts around building stronger collaboration between the public safety and behavioral health systems. Through the Stepping Up Initiative Oregon counties are working to improve public safety, reduce costs and help put people on the path to recovery... read more
Policy Updates
AOC brought objections to the House Committee on Revenue on April 12th to House Bill (HB) 2384, which carried a laudable intention. HB 2384 sets a limit on taxes due on homesteads of seniors 65 years of age or older living on a fixed income equal to the total amount of taxes due for the property.... read more
Energy, Environment and Land Use Update - April 14
SECURE MEDICINE TAKE BACK -  House Bill (HB) 2645  with the -5 amendments passed the House Health Care Committee on a party line 5-3 vote.  AOC staff believes the bill should be appealing to both parties and would appreciate help reaching out to members - both Democrats and Republicans. If you have any... read more
Health & Human Services Legislative Update - April 14
SB 235  &  998  - Tobacco Retail Licensure (TRL):  There are two TRL bills alive in the Senate.  Senate Bill (SB) 235  is the original bill, drafted based on multiple workgroup meetings between counties, the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO), and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). This bill... read more
Pope Presents Pitch  for AOC on Water Resources Budget
Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope presented comments on behalf of AOC in support of additions of Policy Option Packages (POPs) to the proposed 2017-19 biennial budget of the Water Resources Department before the Joint Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources on... read more
Transportation Policy Update - Week of April 14
Following the report out of the five workgroups to the full Joint Transportation Preservation & Modernization Committee, no meetings have been held the week of April 10 - 14.  The committee chairs and vice chairs are digesting the large volumes of information they received and deliberating on how to... read more
Encouraging Hearing On Affordable Coastal Housing
Commissioners Bill Hall (Lincoln County), AOC President, and Bill Baertlein (Tillamook County) brought the reality of extreme affordable housing shortages on the coast to the House Committee on Revenue April 12th, which was hearing  House Bill (HB) 3260. HB 3260 would authorize a coastal county to refer to voters a local transient lodging tax on residential short-term... read more
Cannabis Update - Week of April 10
Senate Bill 302A and  Senate Bill 303B, which clean up and improve the marijuana offense code, as well as laws relating to minor in possession of marijuana or alcohol, passed the House on Thursday, April 6, 2017.  Senate Bill 303B now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.  Both bills were largely crafted by AOC Legal Counsel, and result from a work group of... read more
Restoring Recreational Immunity
A recent decision of the Oregon Supreme Court eviscerated Oregon's recreational immunity statute that protects landowners that permit the public to use their lands.  The decision,  Johnson v Gibson, 358 Or 624 (March 3, 2016), held that agents and employees of landowners are not covered by the statute.  As a result, liability and insurance rates skyrocketed, and... read more
House Votes Unanimously to Expand Self-Service Gas
Fueling stations in eastern Oregon could offer self-service gas around the clock under a measure that passed the Oregon House 56-0 Thursday. Two years ago, Oregon lawmakers backed away from that ban, but only for rural counties and only at night. The idea was to prevent drivers from getting stranded... read more
News
Oregon Parks and Recreation: Vacant ATV Advisory Committee Positions
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is recruiting volunteers for two vacant positions on the All-Terrain Vehicle Advisory Committee... read more
Transportation and Growth Management News and Information
The 2017 Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) Program Planning Grant Application packet is now available. It can be found on the  TGM Grants page... read more
Thousands of Oregon Jobs at Stake in US-China Relationship
Oregon is one of just eight states that has a trade surplus with China, data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows.  While the United States as a whole has a... read more
Counties Defend Predator Program Tied to Wolf Death as Critical to Rural Oregon
In many Oregon communities, county governments are hard up for cash, a decades-old fact of life arising from falling timber revenue, stagnant property values and a deep... read more
Sheriff's Office Considering Renting Jail Space in Wasco County
 Benton  County Sheriff  Scott Jackson has a far out idea to save money on  renting jail space from other  counties : sending inmates 160-plus miles... read more
Support Grows for Stringent Tracking of Medical Pot
As fears of a federal crackdown on Oregon's marijuana program intensify, support is growing for a proposal to require more stringent tracking of the state's leaky medical... read more
Lawmakers Recommend Accountability Measures for ODOT
A group of lawmakers has recommended restoring authority over the state transportation director to the Oregon Transportation Commission. The authority now rests with... read more
Property Tax Rates in Oregon's 36 counties, Ranked
Comparing tax bills in Oregon is in many ways an exercise in futility. Thanks to the state's unusual system, the property tax bill is only loosely tied to its value.  Nonetheless... read more
Two New Reports Provide Vital Information About Investing in Oregon Roads
In order to be competitive in global markets, Oregon needs an efficient transportation system to move goods and people reliably, safely and affordably. Oregon is a... read more
Oregon Approves Second Mega-Dairy for Morrow County
State agencies have approved a second mega-dairy in Morrow County, which will add 30,000 cows on roughly 7,000 acres of the former Boardman Tree Farm.  Lost Valley... read more
Foundation's Rankings say Washington County is Healthiest in Oregon
Washington County is Oregon's healthiest county and Klamath County is the least healthy county, according to new rankings released Wednesday, March 29, by the...  read more
For a complete list of news and information visit oregoncounties.org
Events
AOC C3 Summit - Connect. Communicate. Collaborate.
May 9, 2017 | Salem, Oregon | REGISTER

Don't delay! The deadline to book accommodations using the AOC group rate ends April 19!  Register today! 
West Coast RPB Public Webinar
April 28, 2017 |  12:00 p.m. | REGISTER

The West Coast Regional Planning Body (RPB) is pleased to announce a public webinar to share an update on its latest efforts and answer questions from stakeholders.
OCZMA Membership Meeting
May 22, 2017 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Oregon State Capitol | REGISTER

The Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association (OCZMA) will be holding a membership meeting on May 22, 2017 at the Oregon State Capitol to discuss policy issues, meet with legislators, and to conduct association business. Lunch available to those who register. 
Managing Stormwater in Oregon
June 20, 2017 | Portland | REGISTER

Regional regulations are tightening, third party lawsuits are an emerging enforcement threat, and the economics of compliance matter more than ever for property owners and managers. This conference addresses these challenges and presents practical answers for Oregon companies, municipalities, and service providers.
For a complete list of events visit oregoncounties.org
NACo News
NACo 2017 Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference
The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference is hosted each year by a county within the fifteen Western states -- Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.  The conference brings together county officials not only from these... read more
County Health Rankings Show Spike in Drug Overdose Deaths Among Young
Young people dying from drug overdoses is driving up premature death rates across the country, according to recently released findings from the 2017 County Health... read more
In Case You Missed It: Link to Recording of NACo National Legislative Update
NACo's legislative team held a national conference call and provided an update on issues including the Affordable Care Act repeal and replace, tax reform status, the potential infrastructure package, PILT, SRS and many other topics...  listen here 
NACo Launches New Civic Education Resources
Classroom curriculum and educational game teach students about counties.  As part of April's  National County Government Month , the National Association of Counties... read more
April is National County Government Month
Counties encouraged to celebrate 'Brilliant Ideas at Work' during National County Government Month.  National County Government Month (NCGM) is an annual celebration... read more
Apply Now for the 2017 Aspire Award
Honoring innovative leadership in promoting county employee retirement savings, the Aspire Award is presented during NACo's Annual Conference... read more
For more information on NACo news visit naco.org
Partner Spotlight
Savings and Solutions with New Paint and Paint Supplies Contract
U.S. Communitiies is excited to announce the award of a new cooperative contract for Paint and Paint Supplies. This contract was awarded to The Home Depot through a competitive solicitation process conducted by the lead public agency, Maricopa County, Arizona. The contract term is for three years with the option to renew for seven additional one... read more
The Last Word
Q: What do you call an old snowman? A: Water!

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.