Commissioners Fred Messerle and Cam Parry clearly don’t like the public side of being a public official. Messerle’s recent change to the structure of committee meetings, restricting public comment from the business of the day because “that’s how local cities do it” belies the fact that unlike local cities the county, thus far, has no administrator. This move may be a precursor of more changes to come.
Public comment may seem like a waste of time considering the board generally appears to have its mind made up in advance but it is important to the public record. Raising issues during public comment allows the public to argue decisions, possibly even in civil court, because the officials were properly warned or advised. The solid waste issue is a case in point. The board refuses to explain why they are not enforcing the agreement with Waste Connections and that is now on public record along with its acknowledgement of having received the information relating to a violation of the franchise agreement.
Speaking of solid waste pending some information I am still waiting for I hope to have some news up today. The county budgets up to $200K in outside engineering consultant fees just to keep the Beaver Hill facility operating properly. The new report says the county was remiss in not spending $100K a year in maintenance (coincidentally this is the same amount it puts into the contingency fund each year). Assuming the report is correct and an earlier conflicting report is false, who is responsible for tanking this multimillion dollar public asset? The engineers, the commissioners, the management staff? Who?
Neither Parry or Messerle like public interaction that veers away from applause and adulation, this week Parry couldn’t even tolerate sighs or even breathing. There is no question this board has an agenda other than what they share at public meetings.
Share your views with the commissioners
Bob Main
(541) 396-3121 ext 770
Fred Messerle
(541) 396-3121 ext 247
Cam Parry
(541) 396-3121 ext 281
Main owns this one 100% but he will try to squirm out of it,
Messerle and Parry are slime buckets being led by Baron and Pettit. They are a gift to us from Mr. Main. There are not two gonads among the three. They have nine months to implement their agenda. The people must be vocal on all subjects. The county is paying with the peoples money for meetings to be broadcast. Perhaps its time for the county to pay for another opinion (could be in two minutes or less) at the end of each broadcast. Prevents Messerle from saying there was no public opposition to his moves (because he prevented such diccussion).