Crook County leaders ponder big changes to governance format — but not to ‘Deschutes’ the county
(Update: Adding video, comments from Crook County Judge Seth Crawford)
Growing county considers shift from the current full-time judge, 2 part-time commissioners
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Crook County announced late last week a series of upcoming public meetings aimed at engaging and informing the community about potential changes to the county's form of government.
Crook County Judge Seth Crawford told us on Wednesday, "My biggest thing is we don't want to 'Deschutes' Crook County."
After asking him what he meant by that, Crawford explained, "I mean, you know, end up with a government that's not in touch with its citizens, and doesn't have that community feel we have right now."
Earlier this year, the Crook County Court added an administrator position to the organization, on a temporary basis, to work out how such a position would work in day-to-day oversight of county departments.
Only six other counties still have the full-time judge, part-time commissioners model, the Central Oregonian reported. The county hired consultant Andy Parks last spring in a temporary post to help determine what an administrator's role would entail.
The Court is now considering a transition from the county court structure (Full-time Judge and two part-time commissioners) to a board of commissioners structure (three commissioners), as well as the roles (elected chair or not) and time commitments (full- or part-time) of the elected court/board members.
"I've talked to a lot of people," Crawford said. "They understand the addition of the administrator. But what a lot of those folks want to see is a full-time chair that can still be that voice for the people."
Currently, nearly 30,000 people call Crook County home.
Crawford feels an additional commissioner, and eliminating his judge role, could help better represent the county's interests: "The population in our community has grown quite a bit. And so, as always, we're working to professionalize the county, which I think is the right step."
The county leaders said any changes related to the elected positions would be effective January 1, 2025. The public's input is being sought before the County Court makes any decisions on the matter.
"The judge position has grown quite a bit. And so, you have a lot of work to do at the local, state and federal level protecting the customs and culture of Crook County" Crawford said. "And then you also have those day-to-day administrative jobs. And so it's really turned into two positions, in my opinion."
The meeting schedule is provided below courtesy of Crook County.
Meeting Schedule:
- Date: September 19, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Powell Butte Community Center, 8404 SW Reif Rd, Powell Butte, OR 97753
- Date: September 26, 2023 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Meadow Lakes, 300 SW Meadow Lakes Drive, Prineville, OR 97754
- Date: September 26, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Bowman Museum, 246 N Main Street, Prineville, OR 97754
After the 3 meetings, there will be an official public hearing for Crook County administration and officials on Wednesday, October 4th.
Crawford told NewsChannel 21 earlier this week he would be reticent to go to the governance model used in Jefferson County, where all three commissioners are part-time: "I would be very nervous moving forward with no full-time voice of the people."
The paper noted that along with deciding if the commissioners' roles would be full-time, part-time or a combination, they would have to decide whether the change in governance would go to voters. County Court members noted that counties are not required to put such changes on the ballot.
Here's the rest of the August 31 county news release:
Engaging the Community:
The purpose of these meetings is to involve the citizens of Crook County in discussions about the proposed changes and to provide a platform for open dialogue. The County Court believes that involving the public in these important decisions is crucial to ensure that the chosen government structure aligns with the needs and desires of the community.
Meeting Details:
Three public meetings have been scheduled during the last two weeks of September. Two of these meetings will be held in the evening, while one will take place during the day. The meeting format is designed to be informative and interactive, with the following elements:
- Introduction of the issue and pending decisions
- Brief presentation outlining the proposed Board of Commissioners with a Commission/Manager structure
- Facilitated open mic session allowing for public comments and questions
- Question and answer session to address any concerns or inquiries
- Brief closing to summarize the meeting's key points
Hard copy materials, including brochures with information on the matter and answers to frequently asked questions, will be available at the door for attendees.
Court Consideration:
Following these public meetings, the Crook County Court will further deliberate on the proposed government structure changes. The culmination of these discussions will be a public hearing and action items scheduled for the Regular Court Meeting on October 4.
Crook County encourages all citizens to participate in these meetings, as their input is invaluable to shaping the County's future government structure.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Puerner, Executive Assistant/Communications Officer
Email: sarah.puerner@crookcountyor.gov Phone: 541.447.6555
Stay updated on Crook County's developments by visiting our official website https://co.crook.or.us
