Many years ago, well respected editor of the East Oregonian J.W. Forrester, wrote an insightful weekly column titled Cabbage and Kings. In one memorable column, he quoted Lewis Carroll. “The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: of shoes and ships-and sealing wax-of cabbage and kings.” Mr. Forrester went on to eloquently espouse upon the timeliness to consider changes to local government.

It seems that time has come again, to consider a review of Umatilla County’s form of government. In my opinion, Umatilla County should consider limiting the commissioner role to a part-time policy maker and hiring a full-time manager or county executive. Morrow County Court recently took that courageous step of hiring a county manager. In January 2017, the role of county judge as both policy maker and chief executive of county business will transition to policy maker. Wisely, Morrow County recognized the more complex issues facing government today warranted a change to the County Court structure of the past.

Umatilla County is a home rule charter county. The voters in 1992 passed Home Rule Charter. Certain elected official positions were allowed to finish their term, to be replaced by appointed personnel. The Board of Commissioners and the sheriff were preserved in the charter. In the 1996 general election a charter amendment was on the ballot that would have made the Board of Commissioners part-time policy makers. The elected sheriff position was not part of the ballot measure. The vote failed, leaving in place three full-time commissioners who serve as policy makers and day-to-day general manager of the county.

With the complexity of issues facing county government today, a case can be made to once again consider amendments to the Umatilla County Home Rule Charter. Specifically, amendments to make the Board of Commissioners part-time policy makers and hiring a professional county executive who would be hired to run the day-to-day operations. Commissioners could then focus on important political and policy matters and the operations could be managed by a full-time professional similar to a city manager.

Complex issues facing the county include mental health programs, increasing homelessness, road and bridge maintenance, public safety communications and water policy to mention a few. Homelessness, for example, if not addressed will become more unmanageable. County roads are vitally important to the economy. The focus was once on maintaining farm to market roads but our economy is much more diverse and road maintenance requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach working with cities and the port to maximize transportation services for diverse industrial sectors. Public safety communications are vitally important to all public safety agencies. Public safety responders and citizens depend on well-managed, collaborative program. Water is the lifeblood of the economy and the county should be acting pro-actively with policy and projects to maximize this essential resource.

According to the Home Rule Charter, the County Board of Commissioners is required every four years to appoint a Charter Review Committee of not less than five members whose purpose is to review the Home Rule Charter and its operations. The committee may recommend amendments to the charter. Then the Board of Commissioners could place all, or part, or none on the ballot to be voted on in a general election.

I respectively request the Board of Commissioners appoint a Charter Review Committee to review the Home Rule Charter. The first question the committee should consider is whether or not the commissioners should be part-time policy makers or full-time executives. The next question should be whether or not the county should hire a full-time manager to oversee the day-to-day business of the county.

I served many years as a Umatilla County sheriffs deputy and also as an elected member of Umatilla County Board of Commissioners. Given my unique perspective I believe the current structure of the Board of Commissioners could be changed to better meet the needs of citizens and the county.

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G. Glenn Youngman lives in Hermiston.