The La Grande City Council ended its contract with City Manager John O'Brien on Thursday, Oct. 29, in a 5-2 vote after a closed-door session. In Hermiston, the City Council voted 7-1 on Monday, Oct. 26, to keep studying an indoor aquatics and wellness center estimated at $59.6 million to $63.5 million, passed an ordinance requiring chief petitioners for city ballot measures to be eligible to vote in the city, and awarded a construction contract for Sherman Park. Here is what local governments in Umatilla, Union, Baker and Malheur counties did from Friday, Oct. 23, through Thursday, Oct. 29.
Umatilla County
Hermiston City Council
The council voted 7-1 on Monday, Oct. 26, to continue work on an indoor aquatics and wellness center, the Hermiston Herald reported. Councilor Jackie Linton voted no. The vote lets the city define the facility's features and total cost and keep looking for partners to share it. City Manager Byron Smith said the city has talked with Good Shepherd Health Care System and neighboring cities, and that no agreements exist yet because the scope and cost are not settled.
Initial construction estimates run from $59,569,000 to $63,536,000. The proposal includes a 25-meter indoor competition pool, an indoor therapy pool, two gym courts, a fitness area and an indoor track, plus refurbishing the existing 50-meter pool and recreation pool and remodeling the bathhouses and mechanical system. Cassie Hibbert, a senior project manager for consultant Wenaha Group, put annual operating costs at $2,358,636 and revenue at $2,037,039, an 86.4% cost recovery. Linton asked whether residents could vote on the project; Smith said that was possible but that he does not favor it. Councilor Jeff Kelso questioned the city's open-ended summer surveys, in which more than 80% of respondents said they were very supportive, and asked whether the city planned a scientific survey, but voted to keep the process going. Councilor Josh Roberts said the final decision would come once final numbers are in.
On its third attempt, the council passed Ordinance No. 2385, which requires chief petitioners for city initiatives and referendums to be eligible to vote within city limits. The vote was 7-1, with Councilor David McCarthy voting no, the Herald reported. A 4-1 vote on Oct. 12 had fallen short of the five votes needed at second reading, and the council agreed to reconsider it.
The council voted unanimously to award the Sherman Park construction contract to Silver Creek Contracting of Umatilla, according to the Herald. Silver Creek's low bid of $451,288.22 exceeded the city's $290,000 estimate, and Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Artz said value engineering brought the contract down to $247,220. The city will buy playground equipment separately. The 9.22-acre park near the Cimmaron development, funded through a state Local Government Grant, is expected to open in spring 2027.
The agenda also listed a construction contract for Jennie Avenue (Local Improvement District 324) and an amended information technology agreement with the Port of Umatilla. Their outcomes had not been reported by Friday. A public hearing on the city's Transportation System Plan and related code changes was moved to Nov. 9.
Pendleton City Council
The city announced Oct. 30 that a land-use appeal hearing set for the council's Nov. 3 meeting has been removed from the agenda because the application for a 36-lot subdivision next to Community Park was withdrawn, Elkhorn Media Group reported Oct. 30. In a statement, the city said discussions about access to the subdivision "caused significant community interest and concern." The plan had proposed access from Southwest 44th Street or Southwest Perkins Avenue.
Coming up: the Hermiston City Council will consider the Transportation System Plan and code amendments at a public hearing during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at City Hall, 180 NE Second St.
Union County
La Grande City Council
Meeting in a special session on Thursday, Oct. 29, the council voted 5-2 to terminate the city's employment agreement with City Manager John O'Brien, effective immediately, and then voted unanimously to authorize a severance payment, The Observer reported. Councilors Molly King and Denise Wheeler voted against the termination, Elkhorn Media Group reported. The meeting's agenda listed an executive session to consult legal counsel about current or likely litigation and to review the city manager's performance. Elkhorn reported that the closed session lasted several hours and that O'Brien joined it for about 15 minutes. Neither report gave the amount of the severance or a reason for the decision.
"The council thanks Mr. O'Brien for his service to the city," Mayor Justin Rock said, according to The Observer. The council hired O'Brien in summer 2025 to succeed Robert Strope, who retired after 17 years as city manager.
Coming up: the La Grande City Council will consider appointing an interim city manager, The Observer reported, at its regular session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the council chambers at City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave. The Union County Board of Commissioners will consider an appeal listed on its agenda as the Russell/Reddington/Henes appeal at a public hearing during its meeting that starts at 9 a.m. the same day at 1106 K Ave., La Grande.
Baker County
Baker City Council
The agenda for the council's Tuesday, Oct. 27, meeting listed no action items other than its consent agenda and agenda changes. Mayor Randy Daugherty confirmed during the meeting that a proposal to restripe Main Street downtown from four travel lanes to two with a center turn lane will come before the council Nov. 10, the Baker City Herald reported. During public comment, a Main Street business owner and former councilor urged the council to approve the change, describing two near misses involving pedestrians.
Daugherty said he supports the change for pedestrian safety and wants a decision in time for the Oregon Department of Transportation to restripe next spring; City Manager Barry Murphy said nothing would change this fall or winter either way. Councilors Gratton Miller, Loran Joseph and Roger Coles have also said they support it, according to the Herald. John Jeffries, who filed a petition with his wife this year seeking a public vote on lane changes, called the Nov. 10 timing "unfair" and said opponents are gathering signatures again after the city rejected most sheets from their first round because the ballot title was handwritten.
Coming up: the Baker City Council will consider the Main Street restriping at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 1655 First St. The Baker County Board of Commissioners will consider a Greater Idaho discussion item and a Bishop Springs lease renewal at its session starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the courthouse, 1995 Third St., according to its agenda.
Malheur County
Malheur County Court
The court's Wednesday, Oct. 28, agenda opened with deliberation and selection of a proposer to provide ambulance service in the Ontario and Nyssa/Adrian service areas. No selection had been reported by Friday, and the same item is on the agenda for a special meeting Nov. 10. The county sought proposals this year after concerns about gaps in paramedic coverage; Ambulance Service District Director Keith Ishida said the request was "about recognizing the current limitations to the system," not a criticism of any one agency, the Argus Observer reported.
Ontario School Board
The board voted 4-0 on Monday, Oct. 26, to accept the retirement letter of Superintendent Nicole Albisu, effective June 30, 2027, the Argus Observer reported. Albisu has worked for the district for 28 years, including 14 as superintendent.
Coming up: the Malheur County Court will consider selecting an ambulance service provider for the Ontario and Nyssa/Adrian areas at a special meeting at 9 a.m. Mountain time Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Room 106 of the courthouse, 251 B St. W., Vale.
