2017-124-Minutes for Meeting April 01,1985 Recorded 3/23/2017Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2017-124
Nancy Blankenship, County Clerk
Commissioners'Journal 03/23/2017 4:15:59 PM
For Recording Stamp Only
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Bend, Oregon
DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Audio Cassette Recording Titled: WORK SESSION
April 1, 1985,10:00-11:15 AM
A meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on April 1, 1985.
Commissioners present were Lois Prante, Dick Maudlin and Larry Tuttle. Also
present were Mike Maier, County Administrator; and assorted staff.
Items to be discussed at the next business meeting are:
Consideration of a Ballot Title and Levy Request for the Sheriff's Office.
A Resolution regarding a grant application for the Empire Avenue overpass.
Agreement with Key Title Company for on-site computer access.
Tentative schedule for Transportation Plan briefings and public hearings. It is
hoped that they can get mostly through this process by the end of June.
Acceptance of a Declaration of Dedication as corrected, for Central Oregon
Pumice Company.
Hearing for the 16th Street LID in Terrebonne.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Work Session, April 1, 1985 Page 1 of 5
First Reading of Ordinance 85-006, regulating antique, second-hand and junk
dealers.
Resolution 85-011, to initiate Crooked Horseshoe Road LID. Neil (?) said that this
is in the Sisters area, a loop road off Camp Polk Road, and part of Indian Ford
Meadows Subdivision. They have done a good job of grading it out already. They
might be able to get this built this season.
Request from the La Pine Lions Club for a fee waiver for a site plan approval of
additional improvements to a community park. John Anderson will provide an
update on this request.
Cascade Center's presentation was originally scheduled for last Wednesday, but
was held over at their request.
Several draft policies from County Counsel need to be reviewed, regarding work
orders, accepting road dedications, and award of bids policy. There was a long
discussion regarding the award of bids policy because it has a fixed amount
stated. But in unit price contracts, they don't know what the fixed price will be at
the end, because it depends on the actual amount of work done. It was decided
to remove this from the next agenda.
Other draft policies are political activity reminders to employees, which is a very
sensitive issue and currently subject of a lawsuit in another County; and review of
policy forms.
Signing of the VanGogh software purchase contract.
Board replacements for the Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee. Mike
McNeil would be replacing the unexpired term of Barbara Prebble. They would
extend Beverly Healy and Judge Perkins into a second term.
Letter advising the Board that the City of Bend has appointed Roger Allen, Lawson
McGate and John Acada to the Recycling Committee, subject to approval by the
Board.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Work Session, April 1, 1985 Page 2 of 5
Continuation of a hearing on a request for withdrawal from the La Pine Special
Sewer District. He has been unable to contact either the petitioner or the
petitioner's attorney. The Board can continue it one more time to another date
certain.
The Victims Assistance Program wants to participate with President Reagan in a
declaration for April 14-20 as National Victims' Rights Week.
Signature of a contract for a laboratory roller.
They are waiting for fee schedules from the Departments. Mr. Maier stated that
he has about 70% of them. There is a meeting with Departments Heads on
Wednesday.
Mr. Maier explained that the Library District is getting three quotes to put
restroom facilities in the La Pine Library, which has none at this time. This has
been discussed by the Library Board for some time. The School District will be
cooperating with this effort. The cost is way under the need for a bid process, so
they will get informal bids locally.
Mr. Maier said the Board needs to review the insurance policy for auto accidents.
Signature of the Awbrey Butte Lease with Reinhold and a license agreement with
U -Hold Systems, Inc. will be added to the next agenda.
The Board discussed some of the findings by Doc (?) and Associates regarding
work in the Assessor's Office. The Board referred to copies of the final report,
which already has been reviewed. Oscar (?) summarized the information,
indicating that he doesn't agree with all of it. Hiring a chief appraiser seems to be
one of the top priorities. This position has been vacant for a few months and they
are getting behind on some of the work. They have a highly specialized and
trained staff. Some of this work could be the responsibility of the chief appraiser.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Work Session, April 1, 1985 Page 3 of 5
The recommendation was to not hire additional employees at this time except the
chief appraiser, but he does not agree. This only gets him halfway to where he
wants to be on some of his proposals and the workload.
There was a recommendation to develop a cross -training program. They have an
existing chain of authority. In the case of a vacation or other absence, they know
who has the responsibility of running the office, the Deputy Assessor. This needs
to be clear to all. The chief appraiser would be responsible if both the Assessor
and Deputy Assessor are absent. This was not followed in Wasco County and it
caused a lot of conflict in their office.
The cartographer position is very specialized. They need a backup for this but it
wasn't addressed.
Cross -training might apply to the current positions, but they have a very limited
staff with mostly just one of a kind appraisers. Cross -training at this point would
reduce their production since all of the appraisers are booked up on their
specialty. They have a bare -bones office.
Essential training is provided as needed. The only relatively new appraisers are in
the residential section, but they have a supervisor. Whenever it is feasible, they
take advantage of educational opportunities. Most of this would be geared to
new appraisers.
He agrees with the suggestion to assign a Commissioner liaison.
Because of minimal staffing, they are behind on their six-year cycle of appraising
properties. The workload from the Board of Equalization and farm issues have
completely snowed them under, along with the economic condition of the County
and the downtrend in market value.
Reapportioning their workload cycle is particularly difficult in La Pine because
there is so much vacant land there. Increasing the number of appraisals is not
realistic in some instances.
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Work Session, April 1, 1985 Page 4 of 5
The number of appraisals per day required per the study, 8 or 9, is very optimistic
since properties are scattered and some, like in Black Butte Ranch and Sunriver,
are complicated and diverse. Also, the Department of Revenue does not want
them going too fast, as that can cause inaccuracies and disputes.
More data processing needs to be done to cut back on the time needed. They are
working with the data processing department to find ways to be more efficient.
They have a performance evaluation system, but perhaps it could be updated.
This is a political office, and it is not one that can be run like in private enterprise.
It might be better if the office was nonpartisan or appointed.
They have a benchmark system for quality control purposes. There was a
recommendation of a backup person for the Deputy Assessor, but they have been
unable to do this due to staffing and funding limitations. (He went on to explain
the various suggestions and how they may or may not be able to address them.)
There is a problem with not having adequate access to County vehicles, for the
appraisers to be in the field. There are also times of the year when it is not
feasible to be out in the field due to weather or road conditions. He would like to
see them go back to a 40 -hour week from a 36 -hour week as well. Fewer hours
has put them behind.
He has his own way of running the office. Most staff is very experienced and do
not need him looking over their shoulders. This seems to work well for the
department.
1 certify that the above is a true and accurate record of a meeting, as reproduced from a
cassette tape identified as Minutes of a Business Meeting of the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners, held on April 1, 1985. This record was completed subsequent to the presiding
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners' tenure.
Bonnie Baker
For the Board of County Commissioners
Transcription of Audio Recording of a Work Session, April 1, 1985 Page 5 of 5