Umatilla County commissioners approved a series of routine and programmatic items during the meeting, including a state homeland security grant, a county payment for a bridge replacement match, renewals of employee commute authorizations, fair board appointments, a letter supporting an additional judge for the 6th Judicial District, and a cost-share agreement to engage Oregon Solutions on a regional water-control dispute.

The board approved a no-match State Homeland Security grant (referred to in the meeting as Grant 24-243) for $43,218 to buy a multi-passenger utility vehicle intended for patrolling and support at large-scale events. Emergency management staff said the vehicle would be housed at Pendleton Fire and could be used in day-to-day operations and to assist with medical calls and search-and-rescue functions. Commissioners voted to accept the grant by voice vote.

The board also authorized payment to the Oregon Department of Transportation for the county's planned match on the Thorn Hollow bridge replacement project, approving a transfer to ODOT Financial Services in the amount of $497,122.76. County staff said the funds had been planned for and were available; the motion carried.

Two annual employee commute authorizations were renewed. The board approved order BCC 2025-2 renewing county authorization for law enforcement employees to commute in county-owned vehicles (the list of affected job titles was those approved in 2024); the precise current count of vehicles or employees in those categories was not specified in the meeting record. The board also approved order BCC 2025-3 renewing commute authorization for non-law-enforcement employees, again mirroring the positions approved in 2024.

On appointments, the board appointed Milo Weaver and Jose Garcia to the county fair board; both appointees are scheduled to begin service Jan. 1 and will replace two members whose terms end Dec. 31, 2025. The board noted an ongoing practice of having new appointees shadow current members for a year.

The board approved a letter of support for Judge Hill's request for the addition of a sixth judge and a referee in the 6th Judicial District. Commissioners stated the courts are overburdened and the board gave unanimous support during the meeting.

Finally, the board approved participation in an Oregon Solutions facilitation process to address a dispute involving the Wallowa River Water Control District, the CTUIR, and the county. The state will pay half of the facilitator's cost; the board approved a county not-to-exceed contribution of $10,000 on the condition that the final county share be determined by the parties. The county's final contribution amount was not specified in the meeting record.

A commendation was also read on behalf of the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office recognizing telecommunicator Danielle Gibbons for her role in a December 30, 2024 emergency 911 call; the sheriff's letter, read into the record, praised Gibbons for remaining on the line for 37 minutes to provide CPR instructions and support to a caller.

All items in this roundup were approved by the board during the meeting; the record shows motions carried by voice vote where noted.