Jun 27, 2024 | Member Services, News
Wasco County recently welcomed commissioners from Clatsop and Deschutes counties, as part of the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)’s Membership Exchange Program. The program provides commissioners, judges, and chairs the opportunity to connect with their peers and learn best practices and innovative solutions from counties throughout the state. Since the program’s creation in 2021, over 25 members representing 20 counties have participated in this program.
Clatsop County Commissioner Lianne Thompson and Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang joined Wasco County Commissioners Phil Brady and Scott Hege for a tour of local businesses and sites, including the grand opening of the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) Gloria Center, a multi-agency service and resource center serving Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco counties. The center is a one-stop resource hub providing an array of services including housing assistance, homelessness prevention, case management, employment resources, veterans’ services, behavioral health, and other essential services.
Commissioners Brady, Thompson, and Chang visit the Bakeoven Solar Project.
Renewable energy and energy sources were also a major focus for commissioners, making stops at The Dalles Dam and the Bakeoven Solar Project.
The Dalles Lock and Dam is one of the ten largest hydropower dams in the United States. Since its construction in 1957, the dam has generated more than 9.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and passed up to 10 million tons of river cargo annually.
The Bakeoven Solar Project, located near Maupin, is a solar photovoltaic energy generation facility. Paired with the Daybreak Solar Project, an adjacent solar installation, the project will generate 200 megawatts. The two projects also include a 100-megawatt battery storage system, collector substation, operations and maintenance building, and an approximately 11 mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line.
Commissioners also visited Polehn Farms, a 450-acre cherry orchard that provides free housing to seasonal farmworkers. The Columbia Gorge region is home to two-thirds of Oregon’s registered labor housing.
“Overall, it was a fantastic opportunity to share information and hear their perspectives on how we’re doing things here,” said Brady. “Commissioner Hege and I are looking forward to visiting Clatsop and Deschutes counties later this fall.”
Wasco County tour sites:
- The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) Gloria Center
- Wasco County Fairgrounds
- W.E. Hunt Park
- The Dalles Lock and Dam
- Bakeoven Solar Project
- The Columbia Gorge Regional Airport
- Polehn Farms
- 159-acre land recently purchased for development of a RV park and sports facilities
Learn more about the program timeline on the AOC Membership Exchange Program webpage. The application portal closes on Friday, July 12, at 12 a.m. (midnight) PDT.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Jun 14, 2023 | AOC News, Member Services
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Membership Committee is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2023-2024 AOC Membership Exchange Program.
The application process includes a quick, five-minute survey to help identify which counties you are interested in learning more about and what you hope to share about your county with your colleagues.
Based on the application information, applicants will be placed in pairs or small groups and encouraged to plan county visits to get on the ground exposure to county successes, projects, and programs across diverse geographic regions and county structures.
Introduced in 2021 by the AOC Membership Committee, the AOC Membership Exchange Program was created to support AOC’s purpose to unite and advance county issues, foster trust in county government, and develop programs and services that support the success of counties into the future. Since inception, over 20 participants representing 16 counties, have planned exchange visits across the state.
Learn more about the program timeline and apply today on the program’s webpage. The applications portal will close on Friday, July 7 at 12:00 midnight PDT.
Contributed by Kristen Paul, AOC public affairs associate
Jan 30, 2023 | Member Services
Twenty-six students from diverse backgrounds in county government gathered at Reser Stadium and the Alumni Association building at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis mid-January for the Association of Oregon Counties’ (AOC) revered new member program, County College. County commissioners, judges, staff; OSU Extension staff; and partners make up the 2023 cohort.
The January session kicked off the first of five educational sessions in 2023 aimed at providing new commissioners, judges, chairs, and high-level staff a comprehensive overview of the responsibilities and authorities of counties and county elected officials.
The program, designed in partnership with OSU Extension Service, offers sessions led by professionals in core county service areas, including: community and economic development, finance, human services, infrastructure and public works, public safety, leadership, and management.
During the first training, participants gained insights on broad programming information about AOC and its federal partner, the National Association of Counties (NACo); government ethics; the history of counties and county structures; duties and responsibilities of county administrators; public records; risk; legal considerations; and partner organizations, OSU and CIS.
“This first session of county college has been terrific both to learn new aspects of our role in government, and to connect with new commissioners from across the state,” commented Baker County Commission Chair Shane Alderson. “To serve our constituents to the best of our ability means that we must always be willing to learn.”
Eleven instructional years into the program, participants are finding content to be as valuable as it was in its first year, in 2006. Originally offered annually, the program shifted to a biennial offering in 2009.
“AOC is proud to continue offering this critical service to our members. We enjoy seeing our members build strong relationships in their cohorts, and developing curriculum that benefits members, counties, and Oregonians from here into the future,” commented AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel, Ph.D.
The 2023 County College class will meet next at the AOC offices February 16-18 and will cover a range of topics including: the AOC legislative process, advocacy, and transportation and natural resources policy portfolios.
For more information on County College visit: https://oregoncounties.org/education/county-college/ or reach out to program administrator: Kristen Paul.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate
