SALEM — On October 10, 2025, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) voted unanimously (6-0) to open a full investigation into the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for potential violations of Oregon’s Public Meetings Law. 

The investigation follows preliminary staff reports alleging that the commissioners carried out private decision-making outside of public meetings. In particular, the report claims that the commissioners used email votes to grant exemptions to a hiring freeze (imposed in June to manage a $4 million budget deficit) rather than discussing and deciding those exemptions in open session. 

Although OGEC staff reportedly notified county officials on September 19 that the actions “appear to violate” the law, commissioners have allegedly continued to approve hiring exemptions via private electronic votes — most recently as late as October 6. 

During its meeting, OGEC voted to investigate Commissioners Casey Miller and Walter Chuck (corresponding to items 8 and 10 on an executive session agenda), but did not mention Commissioner Claire Hall. The agenda originally included item 9 (which presumably related to Hall), but that item was removed before the meeting without explanation. (It is unclear whether OGEC intends to revisit Item 9 at a later date.)

Commissioner Hall last appeared publicly at the October 1 board meeting (via Zoom), and also attended the September 17 meeting remotely. Historically active on Facebook, Hall’s last social media post was on September 28. According to multiple sources, she is currently hospitalized in Corvallis. In August, she sustained injuries (a broken hip and shoulder) in a fall in her office that required hospitalization. 

Since County Administrator Tim Johnson’s departure in February, Hall and County Counsel Kristin Yuille have assumed many of the administrator duties pending the hiring of a replacement. 

Separately, a recall petition targeting Commissioner Hall is underway in Lincoln County. Petitioners must collect 3,940 valid signatures by November 2, 2025 to place the recall on the ballot. 

The next Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for October 15 at 10 a.m. at the county courthouse.

The Beacon has requested comment from OGEC on why Item 9 was dropped from the agenda, and whether it will be considered in their next meeting (scheduled for November 14). We will publish their response when it arrives.