April 24, 2023 3:40 a.m.

On Friday, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman spent time educating new county commissioners at the Association of Oregon Counties 2023 County College program.

A County release said Freeman talked about the unique O&C Timber Lands, and the impact federal management of those lands have on the economies of eighteen Oregon counties. The presentation took place at the AOC offices in Salem, as part of a series of classes offered for the 2023 class.

Freeman was joined by former Douglas County Commissioner and current Association of O&C Counties Executive Director, Doug Robertson. The release said Robertson advocates for effective O& C timber management through AOCC’s four directives including: legislation, litigation, local, district & state agency management, and education. Freeman and Robertson have been making a similar presentation to leadership, community and college groups for a number of years in order to raise consciousness of the great economic importance of proper forest management of O&C timber lands.

The AOC County College education program began in 2006 in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Since 2009, it has run every other year on odd numbered years. It was designed as an education component primarily for new commissioners, judges, elected officials and high-level county government staff,

The 2023 session of County College began in January and will go through June. All three of the current county commissioners have participated in this program.

To learn more about AOC’s County College Program, go to: www.oregoncounties.org.