Gilliam Court tables BOC restructure

The Gilliam County Court opted to table its efforts in establishing a board of commissioners and restructuring county government at its meeting on January 3, 2024, at the Emergency Services Building in Condon.

Facing public pushback and looming legal questions, the court punted on creating a board of commissioners in place of the county judge position. However, the court did agree that a county administrator position was necessary and began to establish a committee to look at potential duties and responsibilities for this new position.

Several members from the public submitted written and oral testimony, urging the court to slow down and deliberate the issue before taking any action. Many said that restructuring should be put to a vote by residents of the county.

In a confrontational meeting in Arlington on December 20, residents implored the court to reconsider its push to form a board of commissioners and to scrap the county judge position. Some mocked statements made by the court and jeered at the elected officials.

At the beginning of the meeting in Condon, Commissioner Leah Shannon said that attacks on the court were unacceptable.

"I have sat through many court meetings over the years on behalf of the school, Little League, and Fair Board but I have never witnessed the level of disrespect shown to this court at the last meeting," she said. Commissioner Watkins continued, saying she would "listen to everyone, for and in opposition of ideas with respect."

Unlike the court session in Arlington, the meeting in Condon was mostly cordial.

Judge Farrar Campbell and commissioners Pat Shannon and Leah Watkins reiterated their desire to modernize county government.

Gilliam County is one of six counties in Oregon that has retained its county judge position. In December, the court announced that it would relinquish jurisdiction for juvenile court to the Gilliam County Circuit Court. Wheeler and Sherman County are the last two counties in Oregon that elect judges who rule on juvenile custody and juvenile law violations. Advocates of the county judge's jurisdiction over juveniles say that local control and a desire to help local youth is best handled by a local county judge. Opponents say that a law degree and expertise on child custody and welfare are best left to circuit courts.

The Gilliam Co. Court voted to relinquish jurisdiction for probate cases in December and believed it had the legal authority to do so. But after hearing from Gilliam County District Attorney Kara Davis and others who questioned this authority, the county court opted to further explore the issue. Several people have vocally opposed the move, including Chris Patnode who is running for Gilliam County Judge. Several residents have stated that only the Oregon Legislature can remove the county's probate jurisdiction.

The court agreed to further examine the probate court requirements and to modify the court's motion to give jurisdiction for probate issues to the circuit court. In doing so, the county court also said it would pump the breaks on creating a board of commissioners. However, the court did push ahead with the new position for the county administrator, who would oversee day to day needs for county employees and potentially assist the court in fulfilling its initiatives. Judge Farrar Campbell said that a county administrator is crucial for the county's success, a point that was echoed by Commissioners Shannon and Watkins.

Farrar Campbell said that the time spent by the judge on employee management is hurting the county's community and economic development goals.

"Voters asked about housing, the school system, not about HR and other issues," Judge Farrar Campell said. "We need continuity on the administration side and the result is better services and better personnel services. There isn't enough time to do both very well."

In an exchange with community members, Commissioner Pat Shannon said that the county judge has too much power and that the court is unable to make timely decisions due to public meeting law that limits deliberation outside of an open meeting. Shannon said that if an issue arises in a department at the county, the judge and commissioners must wait until the next court meeting to make a decision on the matter. With a county administrator overseeing staff, commissioners could work to find solutions quickly, he said.

The court is beginning to designate a seven-person committee to research the county administrator position. From Arlington, City Councilor Denise Ball volunteered to participate, six more members will be recruited. The court hopes to make the process go as quickly as possible and is hoping to have a committee formed right away and to begin discussing the position description by January 17. Commissioner Shannon said that the county is in a "state of emergency" as executive assistants to the judge and commissioners have submitted their resignations. He also said that the county administrator position was urgently needed.

The court expressed concern that employees are lobbying for their preferred replacement for Judge Farrar Campbell, who announced that she will not be seeking reelection for a second term. Judge Farrar Campbell's decision to not seek reelection makes her the third consecutive one-term judge in Gilliam County.

The court also said that there are deep fault lines within departments at the courthouse.

"We have employees that will not even look at each other in the courthouse, it is appalling what is happening," said Commissioner Shannon.

Others pushed back on this point, including former assistant-clerk Dawn Parm who says there is a lack of leadership from the judge. Judge Farrar Campbell said that she does not plan to rehire for the role of Executive Assistant to the judge or commissioners at this time.