The structure advisory committee is expected to present their “findings and conclusions” to the board of commissioners tomorrow but don’t bother looking for it on the agenda because it has been added as a late agenda item. The meeting is to be held at the Owen Building tomorrow to accommodate an anticipated large crowd to hear a decision on extending a Bandon Urban Renewal District term and there is some rumbling that Commissioner Messerle may move the agenda around and start with the structure committee presentation.

Today I sent a public records request to the board asking for the release of documents, email communications and employee questionnaires and interview notes used in the formulation of the report. Oregon statutes require that all materials be made available to the public, however Messerle has claimed that the county employee questionnaires are exempt for confidentiality reasons. This remains to be seen but I suggested that they redact names if they prefer as I am more interested in what was said, not who said it.

Commissioner Main has already responded by email. “You certainly can have anything pertaining to structure.” he said before reminding me that he “…never had any input concerning the structure except to read draft copy and at a BOC say that the draft was inaccurate and poorly researched.”

Commissioner Parry has remained mum and in light of the accidental admission by Al Pettit that implicates Parry as working together with Messerle to convert CCSW to a transfer site for Waste Connections may not see enforcing Oregon statutes as in his best interest.

There is an administrative workshop planned for 1:45PM, after tomorrow’s BOC meeting. Be wary that the board doesn’t try to push through a vote to hire a manager sometime tomorrow. If you can’t attend tomorrow’s meetings please call or email the commissioners and insist the committee comply with Oregon statutes and release all information pertaining to the report to enable the public to weigh in on validity of the committee’s recommendations. The commissioners contact information is here

Oregon’s Public Meetings Law applies to all meetings of a quorum of a governing body “even if a meeting is for the sole purpose of gathering information to serve as the basis for a subsequent decision or recommendation by the governing body,” according to Oregon Attorney General John Kroger’s manual on the law.

Assuming that the records request is denied for any reason an appeal will be filed with the district attorney who must render a decision within seven days. A government ethics expert has expressed confidence we will prevail so it is unfortunate Messerle and possibly Parry don’t see fit to just do the right thing.