Connecting with our Communities

Friday, October 27, 2023

News

Deadline is Fast Approaching: Candidates Sought for Fair and Expo Board

The Clatsop County Board of Commissions is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the Clatsop County Fair Board.

The Clatsop County Fair Board operates and manages the Fairgrounds with the assistance of staff. This includes recruiting for bookings, scheduling, establishing rental fees, general promotion, food service, concessions, maintenance and all other related operational activities.

The deadline to submit completed applications is now 5 p.m. Friday, November 6.

Now Hiring Clatsop Child Care Grant Project Manager

The Clatsop Child Care Advisory group is looking to contract with a Program Manager for the child care grant program.

This 20-hour week position has a flexible work schedule.

The successful applicant will be the primary contact for child care provider grantees, businesses and foundation funding grant projects and executing administrative tasks.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, November 10.

Child Care Wait List

Families who believe they may be eligible for child care subsidies must apply by Friday, November 3, to a waitlist for the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program.

Under this program, families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level pay a small copay based on income and can enroll with a provider that accepts ERDC. For example, 200% of the FPL means a family of four could gross up to $5,000 per month.

Brownfield Loan Fund Info Session

The Brownfield Loan Fund is a free financial and technical assistance program to help revitalize and increase property value.

Property owners, developers, housing advocates and anyone interested in land redevelopment should attend the Brownfield Loan Fund open house at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 7 at the Bob Chisholm Community Center in Seaside.

Presentations about the Clatsop County Brownfield Assessment Program and ColPac's Clean-up Loan Fund are on deck as well as an update from the Clatsop County Housing Task Force.

Attendees will have the opportunity to talk directly with brownfield experts!

Public Comment Sought on Flying Drones in State Parks and Beaches

Help the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department develop clear guidelines for where people can fly recreational drones safely. Comments are welcome now through the Friday, Dec. 29 deadline.

A workgroup created criteria where each state park area will create color coded maps to easily identify where drones are allowed take-off and land and areas where drones cannot take-off and land.

Still in the idea gathering phase, they are sharing three sample areas with maps developed following the classification criteria developed by the workgroup and staff.

Volunteers Sought for Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee

The Land Conservation and Development Commission is seeking volunteers to serve as a member of the state’s Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee. CIAC members are appointed to provide advice on community engagement in land use planning.

This CIAC recruitment is for one member representing Oregon's first Congressional District, which covers Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill Counties and portions of SW Portland in Multnomah County.

Applications are due 9 a.m. November 22.

Reminders

What is the difference between the yellow and green Property Tax Statements?

If your tax statement is yellow, our records show that your mortgage company or Oregon's Senior Deferral program notified us that they will be paying your property tax bill.

If you have any questions about who is paying your property taxes, contact your mortgage company.

If you receive a green statement, you are responsible for paying your tax statement either online, in person, drop box, or by mail.

Property tax payments paid in full and received/postmarked by November 15, 2023 are eligible for the 3% discount on property taxes due.

November 7 Election Update

Election ballots were mailed October 18 to residents of Warrenton, Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District, and Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District.

If you do not receive your ballot in the mail by Thursday, October 26, please contact the Clatsop County Clerk Records & Elections at 503-325-8511.

Ballot drop boxes are open at the cities of Warrenton and Cannon Beach and at the Clatsop County Clerk & Election Office in Astoria.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Adds American Sign Language Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Callers

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s has added nationwide American Sign Language (ASL) services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, as part of ongoing efforts to expand accessibility to behavioral health care for underserved communities.

Since its launch in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has received more than 5.5 million calls, texts, and chats. It is now available to the millions of Americans who use ASL.

$30,000 in Grants Now Available to Local Service Providers

A total of $30,000 is being made available to be distributed to local not-for-profit social human services organizations that address Clatsop County community needs.

Online applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. To be eligible, the county online application must be completed. Grants will be awarded in Spring 2024.

Shedding Light on Veterans’ Service

In advance of Veterans Day, Clatsop County and local municipality buildings will illuminate green Nov. 6 - 12 as part of the national Operation Green Light for Veterans. The cities of Astoria, Gearhart, Seaside and Warrenton are participating for the second year.

Other local organizations that will light up green are Astoria Senior Center, Clatsop Community Action, Columbia River Bar Pilots, Fort Stevens, Lums and McMenamins Gearhart.

A limited number of free green light bulbs are available. Contact Amanda Rapinchuk to reserve yours.

Visit the County’s Veteran Services Program webpage for more information and links to resources available to veterans.

Community Happenings

Check out the Clatsop County website calendar for upcoming county meetings.

Oct. 28-29 | Halloween Happenin’s | Seaside

Oct. 29 | Talking Tombstones | Astoria | 1- 4 p.m.

Nov. 3-5 | Stormy Weather Arts Festival | Cannon Beach

Nov. 11 | Monster Truck Showdown | Astoria - Clatsop County Fairgrounds

Nov. 14 | Iron Chef goes Coastal | Seaside | 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 23 | Turkey Trot 5k | Seaside

Nov. 24 | Seaside Parade of Lights | Seaside

Public Works

Clatsop County Public Works Schedule for Monday, October 30 - Friday, November 03

Crews will:

Brush chop countywide. Expect 20-minute delays on Youngs River Road between MP 4 & 6
Crack seal Ensign Lane October 30 and 31. Expect delays
Grade gravel roads in the Knappa and Hamlet areas
Perform culvert and ditch maintenance county wide
Monitor for inclement weather affecting roads

Clerk and Elections

Elections

Candidate filing window has opened for the May 21, 2024 Primary Election. Positions include Precinct Committee Persons, Commissioner District 2, Commissioner District 4 and Sheriff.

Recording Information

You can now search for a document that has been recorded in Clatsop County. In coordination with Information Systems we have developed a way to search for a document before coming in or calling our office.

Once you find the document you are looking for you can request a copy without paying a research fee.

Just go to our website under Recording Information – Records Research, click on Locate a Document.

New Recording Requirement

Effective January 1, 2024 Oregon state law requires that the minimum font size be increased from 8-point to 10-point type for recorded documents.

That means documents being recorded in the County Clerks’ property records must have text with font sizes no smaller than 10-point.

We urge all customers to begin updating their forms and templates early to avoid recording delays or extra charges.

Board of Property Tax Appeals (BoPTA)

If you disagree with the property value on the tax bill you receive this fall you may appeal it to the Board of Property Tax Appeals.

Your evidence must reflect the value of the property as it existed on January 1, 2023. You can access petition forms on our website. A filing fee of $35 per account must accompany your petition with one petition per tax account. Appeals must be filed by January 2, 2024.

We suggest that you contact the Assessment and Taxation Office at 503-325-8522 prior to completing your appeal form. The Assessment and Taxation Office can assist you in understanding the basis for your property value and, in some cases, may be able to make changes without requiring you to file an appeal.

Passports

An appointment is required prior to coming in for new passport processing. Routine service can take 10-13 weeks or longer. Expedite service can take 7-9 weeks.

Please go to our webpage and schedule an appointment for passports, park passes, marriage licenses, dog licenses, and recordings with us. If you do not have an appointment, you may be asked to wait if we are with someone that has scheduled an appointment.

Join us! We're hiring

Spotlight: Public Works Director

Clatsop County is hiring a Public Works Director. This fast-paced position oversees traffic control, design and construction engineering, road and equipment maintenance, bridges, water and wastewater systems, land acquisitions, fleet, county parks, and the fisheries programs.

Posting closes Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

Clatsop County is a great place to work. Find out about current Clatsop County career opportunities where you can make a difference every day.

Administrative Assistant II. Open until filled
Clinical Manager/Nursing Supervisor - Jail. Open until filled. First review of applicants on 10/23/23
Deputy District Attorney I, II or III. Open until filled. Reposted 10/5/23
Electrical Inspector. Open until filled. Reposted 9/20/23
Maintenance Assistant I - 2 vacancies. Open until filled
Public Works Director. Closes 11/01/23