Union County seeks volunteers for key advisory committee openings

Union County has empty seats on the boards that help steer ambulance service, behavioral health, public health, public safety and Buffalo Peak Golf Course, leaving fewer local voices in the rooms where day-to-day decisions are shaped. The county is accepting applications from qualified volunteers now, with forms available at the county office in La Grande or online.

The sharpest shortfall is on the Ambulance District Advisory Committee, where five of 11 seats are open. The county’s posting breaks the committee into three members from the 437 telephone-prefix area, three from the 562 area and five from the rest of the county, with current openings for three people from Elgin, one from Union and one from La Grande, North Powder, Cove or Imbler. State law says members must live within the district, serve two-year terms and meet at least four times a year to review district policies and practices.

The Buffalo Peak Advisory Committee has one vacancy of its own, and that seat carries direct influence over rate increases, marketing, course conditions and consultant work for the county golf course. The committee’s charge is tied to keeping Buffalo Peak profitable and useful to county residents.

Public health and behavioral health also have openings. Union County’s Health & Human Services Advisory Committee has spots for a client representative, a healthcare representative and a small community member. The board serves as the county’s Mental Health Advisory Committee, Alcohol & Drug Planning Committee and Public Health Advisory Committee, and it acts as a liaison between the Center for Human Development and the Union County Commission. The committee has seven members serving four-year terms, with at least one member living within Union city limits. Union County has posted meetings for the group on April 25, 2024; April 14, 2025; January 20, 2026; and April 20, 2026.

The Center for Human Development, based in La Grande, provides addictions and mental health services, developmental disabilities services, public health services and veterans services in Union County. Its public health work includes family planning, home visiting, communicable disease prevention and treatment, immunizations, WIC nutrition services, adolescent health and emergency preparedness and response.

The Local Public Safety Coordinating Council also has a lay-member opening. Oregon’s Criminal Justice Commission says these councils can help counties meet public safety obligations while working under tighter budgets. Union County’s March 2025 membership roster includes the police chief, sheriff, district attorney, a judge, a public defender or defense attorney and the director of community corrections, along with other appointed and nonvoting roles. Residents interested in serving can apply at the county office in La Grande, including the Joseph Annex Building at 1106 K Avenue, or through the county’s online application process.