Crook County Court votes to change antiquated governance structure to board of commissioners

The lone holdout, Seth Crawford, has consistently opposed the change and instead supported sending the issue to voters. The Friday decision abolished Crawford’s judge title, making him the third commissioner instead.

Each of the elected leaders agreed Friday they were tired of fighting about the matter.

The three-person court, which had no legal authority despite the name, is an antiquated form of government. It’s one all Oregon counties once operated under. Crook County was one of the largest counties still operating under a court structure, second only to Malheur County. Judicial responsibilities were removed in Crook County in 1993.

The court consisted of a judge, Crawford, and two commissioners, Brian Barney and Susan Hermreck. The two commissioners were in favor of the switch. They’re paid as part-time officials but have said they often work full-time hours.

Crawford, a full-time elected official, is paid almost double what the commissioners make but is expected to bear additional administrative duties.

The conversation about a switch in governance structure became urgent when Crook County hired a temporary county administrator — a job Crawford historically handled. The county is currently in the process of finalizing a job description to hire a permanent one. The change in job responsibilities and governance structure will likely prompt a reevaluation of the elected officials’ pay.

“I think Crook County ought to lean into the future,” Scott Cooper, who was Crook County judge from 2001-2009, wrote in an email, “and the future should probably not depend on having the right man (or woman) available at the right time to do the job. A professional administrator is the way we do things in 2024, so maybe it is time to update things from the way we approached them in 1874.”

Instead of a county judge, Crook County’s board of commissioners will have a chair appointed by the fellow commissioners on a yearly basis. Crawford will remain as chair until newly-elected commissioners take office in 2025. Both Crawford and Hermreck, who was appointed to the court late last year after a commissioner left amid these same discussions, are up for election this year.

Tammy Baney, executive director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and a former Deschutes County commissioner for 12 years, led community discussions in Prineville last fall on the topic of a governance change.

“It was clear that their community was split on the right direction,” Baney said. “I’m happy for the community that there’s some clarity now going forward.”

Baney said the real change happened decades ago when judicial responsibilities were separated from the governing body.