Dec 7, 2023 | AOC News
“Get work done,” was Klamath County Commissioner DeGroot’s objective as AOC president this year.
AOC’s commitment to achieving results and addressing county issues was apparent at the 118th AOC Annual Conference as commissioners, judges, county staff, and agency leaders from around the state came to Lane County for three days of networking, learning, and building relationships to solve county issues.
“The conference reflected the work of the association this year,” said DeGroot, “where we refined processes that put us on a path to find common ground and work out our differences to move the association together.”
Over 500 attendees registered for some part of the conference, held Nov. 11-14, at the Graduate Eugene. Presenters discussed finding solutions to problems affecting Oregon counties, rural and urban, large and small. Session topics ranged from preventing wildfires and cyberattacks to addressing the opioid crisis and homelessness.
The event included a preconference for first-year commissioners, judges, and chairs who participated in the 2023 County College program. The half-day session provided an opportunity for reflection on their first year in office and to hear from educational speakers on public meeting laws, partner engagement, and RFP best practices.
Acknowledging differences and how they can strengthen relationships was also the focus of both general sessions. Oregon State Representatives Mark Owens (R-Crane) and Ken Helm (D-Beaverton) discussed how they have found success working across the aisle and together with local governments to craft and pass complex, meaningful legislation on issues that impact all of Oregon.
Brian Miller, a magician turned motivational speaker, provided a unique and engaging experience for attendees during the general session. By incorporating magic tricks, Miller emphasized the importance of perspective-taking and making connections.
Lincoln County Commissioner Casey Miller thought the conference was a great opportunity to challenge his assumptions and learn from others. “I feel like AOC is really nailing it with articulate legislative and steering policy principles,” he said. “Finding our unity amidst our diversity with a collaborative mindset is how I also want to approach governance at home.”
A new addition to the conference was a celebration of AOC’s partner program. The program has grown exponentially in the last few years, with over 60 partners joining the partner program this year. To recognize the program’s success, a membership committee and partner appreciation dinner was held during the conference as a celebration of counties and the partners that support local government in successfully serving their communities.
The last full day of conference concluded with officer elections and the county product tasting. The 2024 AOC Executive Officers who were installed during the annual business meeting are President Danielle Bethell (Marion), First Vice President John Shafer (Umatilla), Second Vice President Erin Skaar (Tillamook), Treasurer James Williams (Lake), and Immediate Past President Derrick DeGroot (Klamath).
The must-attend event was again the county product tasting, where twenty-three counties showcased unique products representative of local agriculture and businesses. Attendees enjoyed sampling seafood from Lincoln County, fry bread and salmon from Jefferson County, ice cream from Wasco County, and much more.
The annual conference also included remarks from Governor Tina Kotek, a virtual Q&A with Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and ample networking opportunities, including an agency partner meet and greet and meetings with federal delegation staff.
“This time together provided us with an opportunity to connect with each other, talk through potential disagreements, find out where we are aligned, and really try to problem solve on behalf of our communities,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “We look forward to working with President Bethell and all our members next year to support counties and their communities.”
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Dec 5, 2023 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has hired Malea Stockton as Member Services and Education Coordinator.
Stockton joins AOC with a strong background in nonprofit administrative management and will be a valuable member of the organization. She brings extensive experience in event planning, accounting, and donor relations, most recently serving as chief administrative officer for a mental health nonprofit organization.
Stockton will support the member services and education department, planning events and supporting education programming and the partner program.
“I am pleased to welcome Malea to the AOC team and am confident her unique skills and experience will elevate our member services and contribute to the continued success of the partner program,” said AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel.
Stockton’s first day was Dec. 1, 2023.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Oct 20, 2023 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has hired Erin Good as the communications coordinator.
Good joins AOC with a strong background in communications and member service. She brings extensive experience in marketing, digital media, and program management, and will be an asset to the association.
“Erin will be a wonderful addition to the AOC team and I am confident her knowledge and past experience will provide an increased level of service to the membership,” said AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel.
Good comes to AOC from a similar role at the Oregon School Boards Association. Prior to this, she managed volunteer programs and communications for local education and advocacy non-profit organizations and taught English to speakers of Other Languages.
Good’s first day was Sept. 11, 2023.
Contributed by: Mckenzie Farrell | Operations Director
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and League of Oregon Cities (LOC) are kicking off a planned series of virtual forums bringing city and county officials and staff together to coordinate, collaborate, and cultivate a shared understanding of local government interests in the future of Oregon’s transportation funding system.
The first meeting, held August 23, provided a detailed overview of federal, state, and local funding mechanisms and how these revenue tools work together to fund the current system [View Recording]. Presentations from the Oregon Department of Transportation, AOC County Road Program, and LOC reviewed the current system, with an emphasis on structural deficits and declining fuel tax revenues.
The AOC/LOC Transportation Funding Forum will continue to meet throughout the next year with an eye toward developing guiding principles and identifying priorities to inform AOC and LOC engagement in an expected transportation funding package during the 2025 legislative session. Forum conversations will also seek to increase transparent, partnership-oriented communication with state agencies, commissions, and the legislature related to transportation funding policy.
Future AOC/LOC Transportation Funding Forum meetings will feature regional case studies highlighting the diverse transportation priorities and needs of Oregon’s cities and counties, insight from national experts, and an exploration of mechanisms like congestion pricing and tolling, road usage or vehicle miles traveled fees, and local options.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Director
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
AOC Executive Director Dr. Gina Nikkel, Ph.D. will speak on a White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) webinar on September 27 that will focus on developing and applying for an 1115 waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). During this webinar she will share Oregon’s process and discuss how Oregon would utilize the waiver if it were approved by CMS.
“The Association of Oregon Counties is focused on using the lessons and momentum of our joint pandemic response to grow the state-county partnership and begin to clear away some long-standing roadblocks in the system, like the Medicaid inmate exclusion policy,” Gina said.
The webinar will also include remarks from ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta and Sheriff Koutoujian from Middlesex County, Massachusetts as well as insights from California’s approved 1115 waiver.
“On January 26, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), approved a first-of-its-kind Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) section 1115 demonstration amendment in California, which will connect justice-involved people in jails and prisons with community-based Medicaid providers 90 days before their release to ensure continuity of care upon return to the community. For those that meet certain criteria, the demonstration will permit the use of federal Medicaid dollars for certain physical and behavioral health care treatment and community services to address health-related social needs,” NACo reported in February of this year.
Oregon is in the process of implementing a number of new 1115 waiver benefits, including for justice-involved individuals in jails and prisons. Acting Oregon Health Authority Director Dave Baden is engaging with the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) during that process in order to incorporate the expertise of local human services system partners. His July presentation to the LGAC lays out the current thinking and timeline for new benefit implementation.
Contributed by: Jessica Pratt | Legislative Affairs Manager
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is accepting applications until October 2nd, 2023 for their Technical Assistance Grant program. Technical Assistance Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to fund local government planning compliance projects, land use ordinance updates, or comprehensive plan updates that align with the priorities in the Grant Allocation Plan.
DLCD has published an instruction packet for communities interested in the grants, and will hold a virtual informational session reviewing the grant process and timeline on Wednesday September 6th, from 1:30-2:30pm, which will include a question and answer period.
Interested communities are encouraged to contact their regional DLCD representative for guidance prior to submitting their application (find your regional representative here).
Contributed by: Michael Burdick | Legislative Affairs Manager
