The governance advisory committee has released a draft report to the paper recommending five new wards with unpaid volunteer commissioners and a paid executive that coincides with a timely, dare I say artfully coordinated article about the merits of county administrators. The committee strives to find a cost neutral solution for paying for an administrator and cites non specific revenue savings from undefined efficiencies that would be brought by a professional administrator. Doubling down the committee also urges that the county move to an all volunteer commission to cover the anticipated “conservative but competitive” recruitment, relocation, salary and benefits package to attract a public administrator because the committee “found itself unable to justify three full-time, salaried county commissioners”.
The committee did not consider an alternate means of paying for this new position. Instead of relegating the commissioners to unpaid positions, the elected county clerk, surveyor, assessor and treasurer could become volunteers and their administrative/oversight duties taken on by the new CEO and saving the county even more money. A professional administrator could probably take over the human resources department as well.
Outside of public outrage there is nothing to stop Messerle and Parry from enacting these sweeping changes before their terms end on New Year’s Eve and then there is nothing to stop the incoming commission from undoing the changes on January 2, 2013. Presumably, no action will take place until after the primary so believe me it is important to get out and vote.
Turning Over Public Lands to the States
Sound Familiar? From Think Progress
Some state legislatures are considering laws that would require Congress to turn over millions of acres of public lands to the states — a move that could eventually open these lands up to extraction industries. The Republican governors of Utah and Arizona are currently considering such bills. The Associated Press reported that “lawmakers in Utah and Arizona have said the legislation is endorsed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that advocates conservative ideals, and they expect it to eventually be introduced in other Western states.” A similar bill was considered in Colorado, and there are rumors that the legislation will also come up in Montana, Idaho, and New Mexico.
Thank you Rickey, I think most of us know this is nothing but a real big attempt to take governance from the people to the business community. They know most of us won’t double check what we’re told, and we don’t. And the Three Stooges sit just the proper height above you dirty rabble, so as you may never,ever question your superiors. And you are SO insignificant they will interrupt you at any moment just to show YOU how big HIS stick is. Well guess what Larry,Curly and Moe, we cut our teeth on you clowns, we ain’t buying it this time around. AND,the World has never mentioned The Minority Report. Ain’t that just handy as hell? You boys can’t win a fair fight, you buy your press.
I can’t recall there being any fervent discussion of flaws in this County’s method of government before the current crop of mental midgets got themselves appointed.
Sure wish there was just a way to un-appoint them without waiting for the election.
This committee has used Clatsop county as thier example but they left out valuble information on the true cost of thier county managers office. In 2010-2011 budget they spent $382,334. they have bugeted $447,300. We also have to remember thier county have about 37000 citizens living there. This information comes from Clatsop county web site. If you do the math using the Cltsop budget of $447,300 minus the 3 commissioners cost to coos county of $274,000 then it will cost Coos county and additional $173,300 . remember these are verifiable facts and not a opinion
Rickey Wiley
This committee should have ended their crap with – and a partridge in a pear tree! For the first time I am disappointed in Ms. Turi. Regarding the administrator taking over the HR department, the committee member pushing the administrator concept the hardest, once fired professional politician Coos Bay City Manager Bill Grile, is apparently the Messrele choice for the adminitrator job – the other choce of parry / Messerle being the HR man Lehman. Neither have managed a county. Bet that Parry and Messerle will change county government to an adminitrator concept soon. Bet that they will not vote to reduce commissioners salary. This will eliminate the argument from the November election. Vote no on Messerle. And, don’t hesitate to recall the fellow if he ignores a majority of the citizens. We were told that $40,000 was too much to have an election to replace Whitty and Jackson. Yet, no problem with spending $300,000 for adminitrator and staff. Got more tax money?