Thank you for subscribing to the Inside Deschutes County E-Newsletter! Here's what's making news across the County:

Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 Released

Deschutes County has released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 and is conducting Budget Committee meetings the week of May 22.

The County’s total proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2024 is $404 million, which represents a 1.4 percent increase from the prior year.

“Our proposed FY 2024 County budget is balanced and will allow us to sustain high quality service for our growing and changing community while implementing the commissioners' goals,” said County Administrator Nick Lelack. “This year we’re seeing a combination of sustained high inflation rates, rising costs, a slowing of new construction and ongoing supply challenges. These factors are creating new budget challenges for the County, which is facing increasing revenue pressures. To remain in a strong financial position, we will need to continue to demonstrate vigilant fiscal stewardship.”

For more information on the budget, please visit this link.

If you would like to watch the budget meetings, please visit deschutes.org/meetings or you can visit our YouTube page.

Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road are Open!

Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road are now open.

Drivers, please be aware of potential ice in places and significant road-side snow in higher elevation areas.

For all road updates, you can visit deschutes.org/road.

📷: image was taken April 12 and does not represent current conditions.

Summer Fire Resources

Summer is right around the corner and that could mean wildfires and smoke. In fact, prescribed burning has already begun. We want to remind you of two resources that can help you and your family make decisions during wildfire season.

Deschutes Alerts allows you to receive emergency notifications, including fires. You can opt-in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messages, email, and more based on the locations you care about. Sign in to update or create an account here.

Once you sign up, you will receive time-sensitive messages based on locations you specify, such as your home, work, or school. You choose where you receive the alert via phone, text, email or a combination of all three.

Please remember the system is only as good as the data you provide. Ensure that you register a physical address in Deschutes County, Camp Sherman or Crooked River Ranch. If you move or change your phone number please update your records.

If you need assistance signing up, please call 541-388-6501. 

Also, centraloregonfire.org is the source for comprehensive fire, health, and air quality information In Central Oregon. There you can find maps and running updates on fires across the area. Plus, there's in-depth information on how how to protect your health.

Please be safe this wildfire season!

Free Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off

This summer, Deschutes County’s Department of Solid Waste is hosting special one-day collection events in La Pine, Redmond and Sisters where residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free.

At each event, residents can drop off household hazardous waste products such as lawn and gardening materials, photo and swimming pool chemicals, paint and related products, cleaning solutions, motor oil and used gas, batteries, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, and small propane tanks.

Business-generated hazardous waste, medical waste, explosives, fireworks, drums, compressed gas cylinders and barrels will not be accepted.

This year’s events include:

Sisters

Saturday, June 3

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sisters Recycling Center

328 W. Sisters Park Drive

Redmond

Saturday, June 17

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

3800 SE Airport Way, Lot B

La Pine

Saturday, July 15

9 a.m. -1 p.m.

La Pine High School

51633 Coach Road

Front parking lot

For more information, please call the Department of Solid Waste at (541) 317-3163.

Spring 2023 FireFree Events

You can still drop off yard debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE!  This is a great way to reduce your risk of fire by creating a defensible space around your home.

Details are as follows:

Negus Transfer Station in Redmond

Saturday, June 3 – Saturday, June 17, Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Northwest (Fryrear) Transfer Station near Sisters

Saturday, June 3 – Saturday, June 17, Wednesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Southwest Transfer Station near La Pine

Saturday, June 3 – Saturday, June 17, Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information, please visit firefree.org.

Inside Deschutes County Podcast

Episode 3 is now live! This month we talk to Director of Solid Waste, Chad Centola, and Incoming Director, Tim Brownell. They discuss the landfill siting project and some of the adventures on their jobs. You won't want to miss this very interesting conversation.

Apple: https://apple.co/3JALtYB

Google: https://bit.ly/3LC8BqZ

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3FptmlX

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/40uM6bC

Website: deschutes.org/podcast

Get your tickets now for the Battle of the Bats!

Battle of the Bats is a softball tournament fundraiser between Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Parole and Probation, Bend Police and Bend Fire.

All proceeds will be going to the J Bar J youth services program specifically for the J5 (behavioral rehabilitation services) education program. This program encourages youth who have been unsuccessful in the community to reset their behavior in a safe and structured environment.

This will be a ASA Softball (slow-pitch) tournament with single elimination held at the Vince Genna Stadium on July 9. The first game starts at 10 a.m. and the championship game will be at approximately 4 p.m.

Tickets can be bought through the Bend Elks website or through the QR code located on the flyer. Ticket are for all day admission.

This is a family fun event with CERT, patrol and a Fire Engine for kids to look in and take photos. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Full concessions will be open for all attendees. 

The Central Oregon Community Health Survey is currently underway! Healthcare leaders throughout our region are teaming up to collect community input on what Central Oregonians need to live healthy and well.

Your voice is important! This is an opportunity to share what matters most and what will make the greatest impact on the health of your family and our communities.

The survey is voluntary, anonymous and will take about 10 minutes to complete. You can also register for a prize at the end! Please visit cohealthsurvey.org.

VIDEO: Talking to Kids About Vaping

When it comes to talking to your kids about vaping and other kinds of tobacco use, you’re their top influencer. To learn more, visit sharedfuturecoalition.org.

Audit Report Wins National Recognition

Congratulations again to Deschutes County’s Office of Internal Audit!

The Office, led by County Internal Auditor David Givans, received the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) 2022 Distinguished Knighton Award for best performance audit in the Extra-Small shop category.

The award recognized the Management of Pandemic Case Investigation and Contact Tracing audit, which was released in 2022.

Givans, who has served as the County’s Internal Auditor for more than 20 years, also received ALGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Givans plans to retire from the County in June.

Here is a link to the report.

Employee Spotlight: Elizabeth Sanchez

Have you ever walked into a new grocery store and felt a little disoriented? The produce, bakery and deli are all in different locations. It takes a minute or two to get your bearings.

One could imagine that feeling is greatly intensified when it comes to community members who need vital information but don’t speak English.

Elizabeth Sanchez is the Language Access Coordinator for Deschutes County Health Services. She knows that feeling all too well.

“I think that’s been the struggle of my life. Where do I fit in or which culture is my culture or which language is my preferred language? It’s a lot of code switching,” says Sanchez.

Sanchez was born in Los Angeles. She moved to Silverton, Oregon as a child. That’s where she learned English.

She moved with her family to Jalisco, Mexico at 11 years old and returned to Oregon when she was 24. Sanchez had to use both English and Spanish with her family and in public. 

“I feel the culture shock both ways,” says Sanchez.

Sanchez has worked at Deschutes County for six years. She started at the front office for Behavioral Health. She moved into a Language Access role when people began to notice there was a need for more structure when it came to those services.

Now, Sanchez provides translation services for all of Deschutes County Health Services. She also helps manage the El Condado de Deschutes Facebook page.

Additionally, Sanchez is leading the charge in developing telephone and video interpretation services across the County. Her language access kits connect community members with an interpreter. The kits also assist customers who are hard of hearing.

“Time has definitely shown the impact of the work, says Sanchez. “When community members are comfortable with their provider, when they are comfortable to ask questions, when they want to come back, that’s magic.”

Sanchez doesn’t want language access to be an after-thought. It’s that goal which has led her to be awarded Interpreter of the Year by the Oregon Health Care Interpreters Association (OHCIA).

Sanchez is an avid kayaker and loves to camp in her trailer with her family. She also hopes to travel more and learn more about other cultures.

It’s that desire to grow which helps Sanchez keep more and more people from feeling like they’re lost in a grocery store when they need important information.

We're hiring!

We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,200 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices. 

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team!

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