• Harrington resigns as County Chair
• Road news
• New County “Community Engagement” program meeting
• Cornell Road Recovery Transitional Housing update
• Adopt-A-Road: a simple way to make a big local impact

Harrington resigns as County Chair

Following unprofessional behavior during a Board of Commissioners (BCC) Work Session on September 15, and after three of the BCC members issued a statement on September 17 calling on her to resign, former County Chair Kathryn Harrington announced her resignation on September 21.

Her offensive gesture, raising her middle finger toward Commissioner Nafisa Fai, wasn’t the first time she demonstrated contempt and disrespectful behavior towards Fai and others involved in county government, including staff and volunteers. In 2022, as reported by the Oregonian, an independent investigation found she had brought a staff member to tears because she yelled at her, belittled her, and used profanity. Other employees left their jobs because of the toxic work environment. Her chief of staff resigned the previous year for the same reason. An outside attorney was hired to investigate. Neither investigation found sufficient evidence to accuse her of violating county policy, but they cost the county significant expenditures.

In March this year, following a report of a similar event, Harrington admitted to mental health issues and promised she would pursue treatment. At that time, she said she would step back from some of her official duties.

Harrington’s last day in office was October 2. Until a new chair is sworn in next January, Commissioner Jerry Willey will preside over board meetings.

Road news

Construction continues on the Kaiser Road project (Springville to Brugger). According to a September 30 update on the project page, there will be “intermittent lane closures 9 am-3:30 pm weekdays. Expect delays with flaggers directing traffic. Buses and emergency vehicles will be given priority. Construction began in May and is expected to finish in August 2027.

The Walker Road and Murray Bouleavard intersection project began in April with completion expected around Fall 2028. Currently crews are finishing in-water bridge-related work for the winter. Due to work area restrictions, bikes may share the lane with vehicles during construction. New bike lanes will be installed throughout the project area when construction is complete.

A road closure is planned for summer 2027 for a bridge replacement on Walker Road.

Visit the project page for more information and updates.

New County “Community Engagement” program meeting: District 2 SPARC meeting

Thursday, October 8, 7 pm, Cedar Hills Recreation Center, Room 3, 11640 SW Park Way, or online: Zoom link

Now that Washington County has discontinued the CPO system, they have initiated SPARC (Strengthening Participation and Reaching Communities). They replaced over a dozen regional groups with four, aligned with Commissioner districts. We are in District 2.Meetings for each district will be held every other month.

The agenda includes an introduction from current District 2 Commissioner Pam Treece, followed by a presentation on “Washington County Structure” and future meeting topics, presented by the Office of Access and Opportunity Staff. The final agenda topic is Service Provider Updates. It is unclear when the public will be able to comment.

The meeting agenda is on the county website here.

To access the meeting by phone – Please dial +1-669-900-6833. Press *6 to unmute to provide comments.

Cornell Road Recovery Transitional Housing update

by Washington County Housing Services

Thank you to all of those who attended our Good Neighbor Agreement meeting on August 18. Representatives from Washington County Housing Services and Helping Hands were in attendance to answer questions and work with neighbors on translating concerns into actionable elements of the agreement. Feedback, including input on the shelter’s name, was reviewed and incorporated into the Good Neighbor Agreement draft.

We are excited to share that the community vote has resulted in a new name for the recovery center. With strong community consensus, the shelter’s new name is Sunrise Hope Center. A final agreement is still being drafted and will be published on our webpage when ready.

Updated information is on this page. We want to extend our appreciation to nearby neighbors and businesses for their engagement, thoughtful feedback, and commitment to shaping this agreement that fosters community trust and accountability. For additional questions or to be added to the interested parties list, please email Homeless_Services@WashingtonCountyOR.gov.

Cost overrun

by Virginia Bruce

During the October 6 meeting, Washington County Board of Commissioners will consider an additional $2 million+ to complete the project. “The primary drivers for the renovation cost increase are changes in scope to address additional security measures, HVAC, the pool, and plumbing, as well as additional building infrastructure needs found once the building envelope was opened.” According to the Staff Report, there will be no county budget impact because “these funds are included in our FY 26/27 budget for homeless services capital projects.”

Adopt-A-Road: a simple way to make a big local impact

Washington County’s Adopt‑A‑Road/Landscape program gives organizations, schools, businesses, families, and community groups a simple, hands-on way to care for the roads and medians we all use.

When a group adopts a section of road for at least two years, they complete just two cleanups a year, an easy commitment that still creates a big, noticeable impact.

Anyone age 12 or older can take part, and the County provides all safety vests, equipment, and warning signs to keep volunteers safe.

It’s easy to choose a location using the County’s interactive map. If the road your group wants isn’t listed, staff can help check whether it’s eligible. Groups also receive recognition with County-installed signs that celebrates their commitment to keeping our community clean.

Community Programs Coordinator Sherri Grey says, “People in our community are incredibly enthusiastic about keeping Washington County roads litter-free, and it’s a joy to help arrange that opportunity.”

Ready to get your group involved? Applications are available online and County staff are ready to help your team get started. Contact mlutadopt@washingtoncountyor.gov or call 503‑846‑ROAD.