PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 18, approved the expansion of the urban growth boundary for the city of Umatilla.

The commissioners co-adopted the expansion after the city’s approval, adding 150 acres to the existing urban growth boundary. The move rezoned an exclusive farm use area to city light industrial and subsequently annexed that space into the city.

The commissioners then approved an application for a justice reinvestment grant meant to improve criminal justice programs in the county. The grant, according to officials speaking at the meeting, would include resources to reach underserved communities. The county has applied and received funds from the grant twice before, which intends to reduce recidivism, protect public safety and hold offenders accountable, officials said in the meeting. In total, the grant would reward the county more than $1.19 million.

The commissioners also voted to conjoin the county’s COVID-19 response with Morrow County due to “overlapping work force and economies, similar rise in cases, and sharing of medical services.” From now on, the counties will coordinate pandemic-related policies and resources.

The county board also gave the OK to leasing a new Pendleton office for Community Counseling Solutions to handle veterans services. The site is at the Banner Bank Building. The county will begin operating out of the site Oct. 1, at a rent of $300 per month.

In other business, the county board approved:

• The biennial community corrections plan, which has a budget of almost $10 million.

• State funding for bicycle/foot paths in Stanfield at an amount of $93,000.

• A contract for software for financial management and human resources to Caselle, and facilities management to Dude Solutions, which has an initial cost of almost $35,000.