OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
A4
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
County’s public
records policy
keeps the public
in the dark
G
rant County’s public records
policy is problematic on
several levels, and it cer-
tainly seems as if county officials
are trying to make it more difficult
for the public to see these public
records.
The policy is not only unnec-
essary in most situations, it is also
causing confusion and delays
among county staff. Worst of all,
county officials have routinely —
and illegally — ignored records
requests that were submitted fol-
lowing this policy, which is sup-
posed to ensure county officials
obey public records laws and treat
everyone fairly.
The policy adopted late last year
requires approval from the county
court, or the county judge, before
any county department can release
any documents.
If you want to see a list of peo-
ple who filed to run for office,
the county clerk will now need
approval from the court before she
can give that out. If you need infor-
mation about a Planning Commis-
sion decision, the planning direc-
tor is going to have to ask before
delivering it. If you want to see
the county budget — you get the
picture.
The problem isn’t that the
county has a defined policy. The
problem is that the county court is
inserting itself between the public
and public officials, even when it is
unnecessary.
For years, the county clerk and
treasurer have provided documents
directly to the public without hav-
ing to ask for permission. They are
public records, after all.
If these public officials had a
question about whether or not a
document could be released, they
could easily ask for guidance from
the court or county counsel in that
situation — while continuing to
provide routine records they don’t
have questions about directly to
the public on their own without
interference.
Now, however, they must be
considered about retribution if they
violate the county court’s policy,
simply by providing public records
to the public.
During a recent interview, a
county official told us they could
not answer questions we had
because it might violate the pub-
lic records policy. We pointed out
that we already had the records
and were merely trying to get an
explanation of what they meant,
and after some thought, the official
agreed with us and answered the
questions.
But the fear is real. County offi-
cials are afraid to discuss pub-
lic business and answer ques-
tions, which has nothing to do with
records requests, because of the
county’s public records policy.
This should concern everyone.
These public officials are doing
public business, your business.
They should be able to explain to
anyone who asks how they are con-
ducting business on behalf of the
public — how they are spending
your tax dollars. And when public
officials won’t talk, or are afraid to
talk, there is a serious breakdown in
our system of open government.
Beyond that, though, these pub-
lic records are your records. Oregon
law states “every person has a right
to inspect any public record of a
public body in this state” except for
certain, limited exceptions.
The county’s public records pol-
icy seems to ignore the underly-
ing importance of public access to
information about what govern-
ment officials are doing. Instead, it
seems as if they are purposely put-
ting up red tape — more hoops
to jump through — to make it
more difficult for the public to stay
informed.
If they don’t have anything to
hide, why make access to records
more difficult?
The worst part about the policy
is that, after county officials have
required us to fill out a form and
wait for court approval, they hav-
en’t been following through to ful-
fill those requests, as required by
law.
Since May, the Eagle has sub-
mitted only three records requests
to the county, and none have been
fulfilled. Legally, the county is sup-
posed to provide the documents
or an explanation within 15 days.
We’re still waiting on a credit card
statement requested May 15; doc-
umentation related to COVID-
19 county court labor expenses
requested July 16; and tort claim
notices requested Aug. 14.
By forcing the public to jump
through hoops to request records
and then by ignoring the law about
fulfilling them, county officials are
keeping public records from the
public. By implementing a pol-
icy that causes county employees
to fear explaining county business,
the public is being further kept in
the dark.
The county court members
should remember they repre-
sent the public. More importantly,
they should recognize that county
records belong to the public.
Grant County should revise its
unnecessary public records policy
to make clear that county officials
can provide nonexempt records
directly to the public without delay
or interference — unless they have
a question about releasing the
record.
The county court should make it
very clear that answering questions
does not, and cannot, violate the
records policy so county employees
can explain what is going on.
And the county should actually
follow Oregon’s public records law.
Unless, that is, they have some-
thing to hide.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘The biggest
landslide in the
country’s history’
To the Editor:
The upcoming election cannot be
over soon enough. While support-
ers of the president hold huge patri-
otic rallies including motorcycle ral-
lies and boat rallies, supporters of
the Democratic nominee riot, burn
down cities and loot stores.
I supported the once great Dem-
ocratic party for many years, but
no more! Today’s party has become
controlled by radicals who have
turned the party into something
ugly, dangerous and destructive to
America. The party has presented
no viable presidential candidates
with the exception of Tulsi Gab-
bard who was too smart, patriotic, a
military officer and an independent
thinker who the radicals could not
control so the party shunned her like
a rattlesnake.
The current panic by the Demo-
crats is another example of lunacy.
President Trump will nominate a
new Supreme Court justice, whether
before the election or after, doesn’t
really make any difference.
The great American silent major-
ity has been watching the unbe-
lievable lunacy by the Democratic
party and is not happy. President
Trump will not only be reelected,
but we wouldn’t be surprised if he is
reelected by the biggest landslide in
the country’s history.
Frank C. Gardner
Fernley, Nevada
‘Talk about
poetic justice’
To the Editor:
Talk about poetic justice! I won-
der if that self-centered moron many
Grant County residents helped elect
president has swallowed “a light
bulb and chased it with a cocktail of
bleach and Lysol?”
Terry Steele
Ritter
Non-masking
complaints
To the Editor:
Does a complaint exist if the filer
is anonymous, or the accused is not
allowed to face the complainant?
The Sixth Amendment provides
that a person accused of a crime
has the right to confront a witness
against him or her in a criminal
action. (Cornell Law School).
The Oregon Health Authori-
ties clearly defines “People with
a disability or medical condition
may request accommodation from
the business if they cannot wear
one.” Did the complainants stop to
think that the people not wearing
a mask had a disability or medical
condition?
A public records request has
been filed for copies of the com-
plaints that were submitted against
Chester’s Thriftway, the response so
far has been:
“Please let me know what your
relationship is with this company.
Please note if the complainant
requests to be confidential that
information is never released.
“The complaints you are request-
ing are still in process and sev-
eral are anonymous. Until the
complaints are closed and our
Administrator approves the request
they cannot be released.”
We all have a right to know
the nature of the complaints filed
against one of the two grocery
stores that keep our county going.
Chester’s, Huffman’s Market and
the Mountain Mart deserve better
than this. This looks like a veiled
attempt to coerce the people of
Grant County into complying with
something most do not agree with,
which is low ball, even for the more
progressive-minded in the county.
Again, the question is simple, if
an American is not allowed to face
their accuser, is the complaint valid?
I would argue no, but some are
fighting hard to gain your compli-
ance. Are you willing to comply?
Maybe if you get hungry enough,
or it becomes too expensive to shop
out of town, you will.
Billie Jo George
Bates
people in our community through
his church and charitable events. At
work and in the community, Rob is
a caring and generous guy. You can
often find him out and about with a
big smile on his face.
I know that Rob Raschio will
make an excellent judge for the cir-
cuit court in Grant and Harney
counties, and he certainly has my
vote. I hope that you will join me in
voting for him this November. He is
the right man for the job, no doubt
in my mind.
Tracey Blood
Canyon City
Rob Raschio for
judge
‘Who will apologize
to the dedicated
EOC staffers?’
To the Editor:
Having worked for the Law
Office of Robert Raschio for five
years prior to retiring, I can tell you
that I believe Rob will be a great cir-
cuit court judge for Grant and Har-
ney counties. Rob totally believes in
our justice system and takes it very
seriously. He has, and endorses,
integrity practicing law. Having
extensive experience in child depen-
dency cases, he is adamant about
keeping our kids safe in our com-
munities. He believes that everyone
is entitled to the same constitutional
rights and is innocent until proven
guilty in a court of law, and that the
punishment should fit the crime.
Rob Raschio has compassion and
understanding for those who come
from socio-economic disadvantaged
environments and believes there are
programs available for life-chang-
ing education if a person chooses
to better themselves and their situa-
tion. Rob would work hard to create
a positive relationship between the
public and the courts.
Rob is a family man and loves
living and raising his kids in Grant
County. His wife’s family is from
Harney County — point being, they
are very invested in these two coun-
ties and are in it for the long run. At
the Law Office of Robert Raschio,
we often sponsored community
events and youth sports teams.
Rob will work hard on behalf of
our communities, and I hope that
you will join me in voting for Rob
Raschio as our next circuit court
judge.
Kerry L. Allen
Mt. Vernon
‘Rob Raschio
will make an
excellent judge’
To the Editor:
Supporting Rob Raschio for cir-
cuit court judge is an easy choice
for me. I love the feeling of com-
munity in Grant County, and I know
that this is something Rob will con-
tinue to uphold. He will do his abso-
lute best to protect our community
and those in it. The people here are
eagerly willing to help one another
out, whether it’s with work, fam-
ily or anything else they could pos-
sibly need, and Rob is no exception
to that.
As a Court Appointed Spe-
cial Advocate for children, I have
worked with Rob through depen-
dency proceedings in Grant and
Harney counties since 2015. He
has demonstrated his legal knowl-
edge and dedication to advocating
for his clients consistently over the
years we’ve worked together. Rob
is a skilled planning partner and
will increase accountability in our
dependency court proceedings.
His law firm sponsors local
events and youth organizations, and
Rob often volunteers his personal
time to give to the most vulnerable
To the Editor:
Where to start? Sex talk and the
continuing saga of the Emergency
Management Center (EOC)? I
don’t even try to follow the sex talk
because it is just meandering smut
stirred up just in time for elections.
Go figure. The EOC story runs on
with no end in sight. The EOC staff
resigned, but no one asked why.
The decision was made to move
EOC out of the airport, although
that location alone met the dictates
of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Act (FEMA) in effect at that
time, which was based primarily
on such emergencies and recover-
ies as Katrina. The FEMA directives
changed daily and required many
“do-overs.” A security breached by
identified airport staff was witnessed
and security violated again by per-
son or persons unknown. Equip-
ment, keys, supplies, and receipts
“disappear.” The EOC continues to
be disparaged by those who have
never dealt with a pandemic but
reap the rewards of the successful
pioneering actions of others that lent
a platform for them to brag from.
Amazingly, the elusive keys, sup-
plies, equipment and receipts sprung
forth. Now, where were they hid-
ing? In plain sight? Intentional? But,
wait, another document is missing,
and the media has another target to
pounce on. Have they missed any-
one from the original EOC staff for
their smear tactics? All the report-
ing thus far has been based on
assumed accurate information from
the incompetent and uninformed,
which, if you consider it, can be eas-
ily traced back to the source. In my
opinion, journalism standards are
deteriorating, and it only seeks out
a target to vilify. Does smut have
more value than the truth? Wil-
liam Shakespeare is quoted, “The
evil that men do lives after them;
the good is oft interred with their
bones.” Who will apologize to the
dedicated EOC staffers who assured
Grant County was adequately rep-
resented and enabled CARES and
the county to move to Level 2 open-
ing? You might give a thought as to
the 75% reimbursement of FEMA
expenses before you blindly believe
the county is in dire straits.
Judy Kerr
Canyon City
Editor’s note: Former COVID-
19 Emergency Operations Center
staffer Jodi Cook thanked the Eagle
for providing her the documenta-
tion from our investigation that
states she provided “no backup”
for county court labor costs. “I
hadn’t seen that detailed form with
notes before, so thanks for shar-
ing,” she said. Cook said there is
backup. The Eagle will continue
investigating.