[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479767,"mediaKeyId","5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62","parentId",5692112,"title","Votes at a glance: Washington County Board actions on levies, proclamations, appointments and procurement (Aug. 26, 2025)","audioSeconds",2608,"startMs",1196000,"endMs",3804000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62&start=1196&end=3804","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62/thumbnail_1196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479767/Washington-County/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-Washington-County-Board-actions-on-levies-proclamations-appointments-and-procurement-Aug-26-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479767-0cff75c407cc3c91be68596dbff80adc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034516&Signature=EdP12-KeJX99Q8apVFAcA8PjosK1wS6vdcySmuGeYDKaWWxptCVIXOYRnOTmT5s6~9euBZpYMm0HQ3spWkJgql1SH9EpNBsIZIV6zGIpD7CG2xWaZEGhTILXMsYhTnvl5X7YupPVFpK57qAxLUcBtVLYop4dTecU1gXq4tdO8MQ4jG4eZyw76G8GAgLhmt0mmCe9Gl7wucvvR1gvPsxgfRdVExAYQgiOzZkSXm9yGdPmROoxZn9spGaGYTKtnmJPDiBtWhx8j38~AK6FX~FzAYWWV7wz4aQpo92EYPn00b9f55pg08dugpepjlqyMKeo4KsR8lzoiqwAhPVDmfy9sA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County","date","2025-08-28T03:21:33.04Z","article","At its Aug. 26, 2025 meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal actions. Below is a concise summary of those actions and results.

Votes and outcomes

- Consent agenda (as amended; item moved from consent): Approved unanimously, 3–0 at initial vote; later full board business approved items not moved to action.

- Appointment of members to Aging and Veterans Services Advisory Council: Approved (motion and second recorded during agenda; no roll-call dissent recorded).

- Advisory Council on Racial Equity appointments: Approved, 3–0 in initial vote noted in the record.

- Proclamation — Community Health Worker Awareness and Appreciation Week (August 2025): Proclamation read and adopted by voice vote; item moved, seconded and approved by the board. Speakers from public health and Oregon Community Health Workers Association presented background on community health worker roles and certification.

- Proclamation — Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15, 2025): Proclamation read in English and Spanish and adopted by the board by voice vote; board requested photos at the dais.

- Public hearing / procurement finding — Fanno Creek Interceptor (Project No. 7181): Board adopted findings to exempt the procurement from competitive bidding and to use a progressive design–build method; vote 4–0.

- Action item — Five-year library local option levy proposal: Approved (voice vote noted in the minutes; recorded as passing 4–0).

- Action item — Five-year public safety local option levy proposal: Approved (voice vote noted as passing 4–0).

- Action item — Temporary closure of Southwest River Road (Witch Hazel Village South Improvements): Considered at public hearing and tabled indefinitely by unanimous vote; board directed staff to return with expanded outreach and analysis of alternatives.

Procedural notes

- The board moved the River Road closure off the consent agenda and conducted a public hearing for that item. After extensive public testimony and questions from commissioners, the board amended and approved a motion to table the closure indefinitely.

- Multiple items were described on the consent agenda, including a contract for Washington County Service Center East Building improvements; an agreement using Community Development Block Grant funds with TVWD; an amendment to David Evans and Associates for Council Creek Regional Trail; and approval of a labor agreement with the Washington County Police Officers Association — these were approved through consent.

Why it matters

The board’s actions advance two local levy measures the county will place before voters, authorize an alternative procurement method for a major wastewater capital project, and adopted proclamations recognizing public-health and cultural observances. The tabling of the River Road closure underscores the board’s caution when construction proposals have sizable community impacts and highlights the role of public comment in prompting further study.

A note on sources: outcomes and vote tallies are drawn from the Aug. 26 meeting record and staff presentations. Individual movers or seconds were sometimes not named at the roll-call moment; where the record did not provide a mover, the vote result is recorded as presented in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Board of Commissioners Public Meeting, 08/26/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Washington County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved library and public-safety levy proposals, adopted procurement findings for a major sewer rehabilitation project and passed proclamations for Community Health Worker Week and Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month; a proposed 165-day River Road closure was tabled indefinitely following public testimony.","taxTitle","Washington County, Oregon","taxId",2762,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479772,"Juvenile counselors urge Washington County to address pay gaps and bargaining authority during public comment",320,158000,478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62&start=158&end=478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62/thumbnail_158000.jpg","/articles/6479772/Washington-County/Oregon/Juvenile-counselors-urge-Washington-County-to-address-pay-gaps-and-bargaining-authority-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479772-af6d786a9c9382949717abc9dc5b8fad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034516&Signature=QUkLkqxWqrokdX4dXUDrGCJc0T5JMQ6reKg~X2jxoJWZf~y7GmUKKp4zP1R8Lz8wh5aVtvby9RTJn2N8dBGkR~lNcO5SFn3fVUHEobWwn7IrEQf1BX91ytRPUgOaHCc8sCvOu8hFj-XbKQR8-D67uE1aykIhkaSZa36fRNbaZkxbW1JRbjJv8xbdQN8PWV0XPijiUXsbT5I5~hPGbhXfSmZB5kdz5uP-nTKIXCaJetzLZfaNlrBnNsrSDmc-yipT7-YZYt7kNiXJlZSoflpaMteVp~a68JiH0CczX3~30~rCgeEle1pvv9P-JCAL8cy1eeHB7C7pnwOY65kpX5Cb0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several current juvenile counselors and union representatives addressed the Washington County Board of Commissioners during the public comment portion of the Aug. 26 meeting, urging higher wages, improved safety resources and additional bargaining authority for county negotiators.

Sean Stutzman, a juvenile counselor and former probation officer with about 35 years of juvenile justice experience, said juvenile counselors have not received merit raises beyond cost-of-living increases and are paid substantially less than counterparts at adult parole and probation and at the Oregon Youth Authority. “We all meet the same minimum qualifications. We all undergo similar trainings. We all carry the same skill sets,” Stutzman said. He said juvenile counselors often work face-to-face with volatile youth in uncontrolled environments and lack law-enforcement backup or protective equipment.

Several other counselors spoke about the work’s risks, the emotional toll and the consequences of turnover. Esperanza Guillen, a counselor in the assessment and court unit, described entering homes without knowing conditions and said staff sometimes miss lunches because crises arise. Julia Stacy and Tammy Bodine described long service—Stacy since 1997 and Bodine since 1995—and said turnover has hurt continuity for families.

Rolando Figueroa, AFSCME Council 75’s local representative and chief negotiator for the juvenile workers’ contract, said bargaining began with management in January. He told the board that management had offered a 0% cost-of-living adjustment and that the union is asking the board to grant more economic bargaining authority to settle a historic first contract. “By offering only what non-union workers receive, they’re essentially telling these workers that your union doesn't matter,” Figueroa said, and he added the union was more than 90% in membership.

Speakers asked the board to support pay parity with comparable agencies and to authorize stronger bargaining authority so the parties can settle the contract without prolonged labor unrest. No formal board action was taken during the public-comments section; the speakers provided staff with informational packets and said they would be available for follow-up.

Why it matters: Juvenile counselors’ pay, staffing levels and workplace safety influence continuity of supervision, youth rehabilitation outcomes and community safety. County pay policy, collective bargaining authority and budget choices determine whether the negotiator can offer contract terms that the union finds acceptable.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed in the speakers section below.","Multiple juvenile counselors, members of AFSCME Council 75 and a chief negotiator urged the Washington County Board of Commissioners to grant bargaining authority and close a pay gap with adult probation and the Oregon Youth Authority during public communications at the Aug. 26 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479777,"County approves findings to use progressive design–build for Fanno Creek Interceptor rehabilitation",514,3290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62&start=3290&end=3804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62/thumbnail_3290000.jpg","/articles/6479777/Washington-County/Oregon/County-approves-findings-to-use-progressive-designbuild-for-Fanno-Creek-Interceptor-rehabilitation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479777-418c16302cc59224f80af02905e3d258/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034516&Signature=X4vkS1~gO5rtGW9WtPEL78EFaHTBJpF6Y7D-SUJm-cCAIzcMkw1G4YJqEfzmVkEorkNpXDhugLuli9uRvj3vcb0~HI2KfZKLsc0LBq1kqOVqSvCAeabVnu1gHK~CRdkPeAuz4M~ah6dOWHlyOIDjtU-EJ1FkYv522bBQgctPzexfBu9dU4vDBpMR6uVkNBms-PrMjVwVqx~BE53KVjlQW7mFQ8pQbrVhxPWcAe4OsmiQNqx5cNTBrMQTAGUwnnqPKaDnaUl0h2Eb2D-v5EJyd499LUmDUKA4e1TvnfCpx6IljE20DomldamGofbVexAhfIqi1p-7rxk2Nvn8L7iHlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Aug. 26 to adopt findings allowing the county to use a progressive design–build (PDB) procurement method for the Fanno Creek Interceptor rehabilitation and improvement project.

The county’s conveyance engineering division manager, Wade Denney, told the board the interceptor was installed in the late 1960s and now needs repair and capacity improvements. The proposed project would rehabilitate about 9.4 miles of the interceptor (pipeline diameters from roughly 27 to 60 inches), repair or replace about 155 manholes, add maintenance access roads and address inflow and infiltration. Staff estimated design and construction costs at about $108 million; a slide in the packet listed $130 million but staff said that appeared to be a typo and affirmed $108 million as the working estimate.

Denney said a feasibility study recommended alternative contracting and that PDB offered earlier contractor input, better ability to set a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) around 60% design and more effective management of supply-chain risk. He told the board that selection would remain competitive and that the county would advertise the solicitation and evaluate proposals on cost and experience. The board opened a public hearing; no members of the public requested to speak in the auditorium.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about schedule and local-business participation. Denney estimated the overall program would run multiple construction seasons—likely about five years of work—and involve numerous contractors and subcontractors, including small businesses, but could not give a precise subcontractor count.

After discussion the board approved the adoption of findings that exempt the project from competitive bidding and allow use of the progressive design–build method. County staff said they would return to the board later to request approval of the selected PDB contract and to seek approval of GMP work packages prior to construction phases.

Why it matters: the Fanno Creek Interceptor carries wastewater flows for a large portion of the collection system; rehabbing the pipeline aims to extend service life by roughly 50 years, reduce inflow and infiltration, and reduce risk of failures. Using PDB is intended to reduce schedule and change-order risk and to allow earlier contractor input on constructability.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed in the speakers section below.","Clean Water Services’ Fanno Creek Interceptor rehabilitation—rehabilitating about 9.4 miles of interceptor pipeline and roughly 155 manholes—will proceed under a progressive design–build delivery after the county adopted findings exempting the project from competitive bidding; the board approved the exemption 4-0.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479781,"Washington County delays decision on 165-day River Road closure after residents raise concerns",8006,1054000,9060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62&start=1054&end=9060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692112-5f7aaa85af7fcb1b2f1782ed60f86b62/thumbnail_1054000.jpg","/articles/6479781/Washington-County/Oregon/Washington-County-delays-decision-on-165-day-River-Road-closure-after-residents-raise-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479781-cf3c023cf9d1fc792132e5bb797fd70c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034516&Signature=ooaGkJKjJc~lhEXdvy~nvTjWRUcwjN1MrZ74Ghs7x6oQqWCbXq~ClL-ba3QanoFsBrYiWyvGOj9KDvexOJpz0PUOVIpXLB5VmLPNLIbEmxSBykpI~7~hepVIs6RJruF2aRaNJ91cADg~SQBEQPV6AlYI2TrnnEJbT8shGEeQRbah~iWleB3hGnYaVcPjO8ZBZZcwYxcZ7Cifr1NvbUc~omCs1nnaULf4XqqFrmF-fleFeFE6BzzeB7N8wgWk67h63rH9uce4xNGHoAq0wj-tIQLC3q126cf~Oi4mwC0XU3prTNxSp78rVd5bKwPVlk9OvHT02FsVmxBPcaRgGiZG6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 paused consideration of a developer request to temporarily close Southwest River Road for up to 165 days to allow construction of a deep sanitary sewer needed for the Witch Hazel Village South development.

County staff and the project applicant had asked the board to authorize a temporary full closure and detour to allow excavation of a 21-inch sewer line that will be as deep as 30 feet in places. After a two-hour public hearing during which dozens of residents raised concerns about notification, traffic detours, school-bus routing and safety, the board voted 4-0 to table the item indefinitely and directed staff to return with a plan for additional outreach and alternatives before any final approval.

The county’s land use and transportation director, Steven Roberts, and county engineer Stacy Shetler described the work as significant and potentially dangerous to perform while allowing two-way traffic. Patrick Espinosa, the applicant’s civil engineer, told the board the team had evaluated alternatives including directional boring, relocating the alignment and using a pump station, but staff said the options were infeasible or would change the project’s ability to serve future development.

“Given the trench depth of up to 30 feet in places and the limited remaining roadway width, closure with a signed detour is the most feasible approach from a safety and constructability standpoint,” Shetler said. Staff estimated the detour at about 12 miles (roughly 18 minutes) and said local access and emergency access would be maintained during construction.

Residents who live along River Road and on nearby one-lane roads urged the board not to approve the closure without further study and outreach. Speakers said many neighbors first learned of the proposal through a local news story rather than direct county notice, raising questions about the adequacy of the county’s outreach. Concerns included the 165-day length of the closure, potential night work, impacts on small businesses and farms that rely on customer access, and heavy-truck detours through narrower country roads.

A number of commenters asked whether less-disruptive construction methods—such as directional boring or moving the alignment off the traveled way—had been fully explored. Consultants and staff said directional boring would be difficult for the required profile (a very flat slope) and that overhead utilities and a high-pressure gas main limit options in the roadside corridor. They also said relocating the sewer to the shoulder would require costly undergrounding of existing utilities and additional permitting.

Board members pressed staff and the applicant for clearer options and broader outreach. Commissioner Fye said she wanted the applicant and county to present multiple, clearly priced options so the board could better weigh tradeoffs for residents. Commissioner Schneider and Vice Chair Treese voiced concern about the apparent short timeline of public notice given the proposed start date and construction season. Commissioner Willie said he did not feel comfortable making a final decision the same night.

At the end of the hearing the board amended a motion to table the request indefinitely. Commissioners Schneider, Fye, Treese and Willie voted in favor of tabling; Chair Harrington was excused.

What happens next: county staff will work with the applicant to prepare a follow-up briefing that addresses the board’s concerns about notification, analysis of alternatives, construction phasing and potential mitigations for affected residents and service providers. The board did not set a specific date for the follow-up briefing when it tabled the item.

Why it matters: the sewer work is part of infrastructure to serve roughly 900 buildable housing units in the Witch Hazel Village South plan; however, the immediate proposal would interrupt traffic on a heavily used county arterial and generate detours that residents said were likely to shift traffic onto narrower neighborhood roads. The commissioners asked staff to balance public safety, project schedule and the county’s obligations to allow utilities in the right-of-way before returning with a refined plan.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed in the speakers section below.","After a public hearing on a developer request to temporarily close Southwest River Road for sewer construction tied to the Witch Hazel Village South project, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to table the closure indefinitely and asked staff to return with expanded outreach and options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Washington County Board actions on levies, proclamations, appointments and procurement (Aug. 26, 2025)

Juvenile counselors urge Washington County to address pay gaps and bargaining authority during public comment

County approves findings to use progressive design–build for Fanno Creek Interceptor rehabilitation

Washington County delays decision on 165-day River Road closure after residents raise concerns