Commissioners make Juneteenth Official, strike deal for building code inspections
By Tom Peterson
Wasco County Commissioners voted unanimously to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday at their regular meeting today, Wednesday, Sept. 1.
Kathy Schwartz
The holiday commemorates when the Federal Government ordered the final execution and fulfillment of the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation. The people to whom this order was addressed were the last group of Americans to be informed that all formerly enslaved persons were now free.
“I proudly approve this resolution proclaiming June 19 as Juneteenth Day,” said Commissioner Kathy Schwartz before she and Commissioner Steve Kramer approved the resolution.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday earlier this year on June 17th when President Joe Biden signed it into law.
In other business, Commissioners also approved an intergovernmental agreement for reciprocal building code services with Hood River County.
Wasco County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone said Wasco and Hood River counties had been exchanging services for building and electrical inspections for the past year and the partnership had worked well.
Scott Hege
“This agreement outlines shared services between the two counties in a much more open way,” he said. The building inspection departments will work essentially as a single entity, where inspectors can cover for each other in events of vacation, illness, and the need for specialty experience.
“It gives us synergy,” he said.
The agreement is a one-year deal and allows for the county to assess it and address unforeseen costs in the future. As it stands, money for inspections will stay within county lines as volume for both areas is about the same, according to Stone.
Commissioner Scott Hege, who had talked to contractors like the idea.
“Awesome,” Hege said of the deal. “It’s great to collaborate with our neighboring county. Contractors feel like it is going well. Some did not know it was collaborative… the ones I talked to thought this was an excellent idea.”
