News/Press Release

For many years, Polk County and our communities have been seeking a long-term water supply to meet our growing water needs. We are excited to invest funding we secured from the American Rescue Plan Act in a Regional Water Supply Planning project to prepare a Polk County Regional Water Supply Plan. Our goal is to equitably improve water supply resilience and reliability throughout the County.

Through a facilitated, collaborative process, this planning work is evaluating feasibility of regional supply solutions to serve Polk County communities, including how a regional Willamette River water source can leverage ongoing water supply efforts.

Polk County Public Health Department and Oregon Health Officials are reporting that a bat found at the Independence River Front park tested positive for rabies on Tuesday 8/3/21 according to Oregon State University, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.  So far, in 2021, 7 other bats have tested positive for rabies in the state. Approximately 8% of the bats tested are found to have rabies every year in Oregon.

Contact Information:

Willamette Workforce Partnership

Kim Parker-Llerenas, Executive Director

kparker-llerenas@willwp.org

503-581-1002

          The Polk County Board of Commissioners are proud to announce that Polk County will be receiving two Community Development Block Grants through Business Oregon, in the amount of $250,000 each, to address childcare needs and food delivery.

Polk County, through its Family & Community Outreach Department applied for, and were successful in being awarded these two individual grants ($250,000 each).

Grant #1 – Child Care – Financial assistance voucher – Will assist in supporting childcare needs within Polk County.

House District 23 Appointment Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 2nd, 2021   

Pursuant to Oregon law, the Commissioners of Polk, Benton, Yamhill and Marion County will be acting as the Appointing Authority to fill vacancy in the office of State Representative District 23 on July 6th, 2021 at 2:00pm.

A live stream will be available at 2pm on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxc5x1awGejBCLQ2zwn34iQ/featured

Polk County is pleased to announce that the Board of Commissioners have selected Jeremy Gordon to fill the upcoming vacancy, Position #3, created by the pending retirement of Commissioner Ainsworth.

We are thankful to Commissioner Ainsworth for his dedicated service for the past 10 years and wish him well in retirement. Mr. Gordon will have big shoes to fill but we are confident that he will serve the people of Polk County well into the future. Mr. Gordon will be sworn in to his position on August 2, 2021.
 

Below is the letter to Governor Brown from the Polk County Board of Commissioners in response the OHA and OSHA mandates for private businesses and churches to verify vaccination status for customers:

May 27, 2021

Honorable Governor Kate Brown

RE: Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Occupations Safety and Health Mandates for Private        Businesses and Churches to Verify Vaccination Status for Customers

Dear Governor Brown,

Polk County would like to announce the four (4) finalists selected for interview for the upcoming vacancy for Polk County Commissioner (Position #3). The finalists (in no particular order) are as follows:

 Jeremy Gordon

Marilyn Morton

Tim Ray

Joe Rivera

The application process for the upcoming Board of Commissioner (Position #3) has now closed.  Polk County received a total of nine (9) applicants for the position.  Currently, the County is in the process of determining finalists to be interviewed through a public process on June 2, 2021.  The announcement of finalists will occur by the end of next week.