Board of Commissioners Meeting Oct 26st, 2026

Umatilla County Board of Commissioners meeting (October 26, 2026, according to the title; the metadata lists October 27) included a preliminary proposal to combine the Elections and Records offices, cross-train staff, and improve service in Hermiston while maintaining 19 FTE positions and making future staffing changes through attrition. The proposal also included remodeling the current office space, potentially expanding into an adjacent area, and considering additional archive storage or the state’s digital archive vault. The county has about $80,000 available for archiving, but remodeling costs have not been estimated; reclassification costs were described as limited, with no specific figures provided. A future elections-and-records-focused IT position was also discussed as part of longer-term planning.

Commissioners raised concerns about crowding during elections, separating election and records functions, and maintaining public access if services are limited on busy days. The presentation was intended to begin discussion; no motion, vote, contract award, or spending approval was identified. Further consideration, planning, and cost estimates would be needed before proceeding.