CORVALLIS, Ore. — Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone has been appointed by Governor Tina Kotek to lead the state’s new Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley.
The task force will continue the work, wrapped up in July, of the Regional Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP) Task Force convened in 2024 by Benton County.
Malone learned of his appointment just before Thanksgiving when he saw the governor at the Association of Oregon Counties annual conference in Eugene.
The task force has 12 members. Eight voting members were appointed by Governor Kotek:
- Pat Malone, Chair, Benton County Commissioner, representing the Association of Oregon Counties
- Kristan Mitchell, Vice Chair, Oregon Refuse & Recycling Association, subject matter expert in the disposal of municipal solid waste
- Courtney Flathers, Governor’s Office, representing the Governor
- Julie Jackson, Republic Services, representing a private hauler of solid waste that operates a landfill in the Willamette Valley
- Brian May, Marion County Public Works, subject matter expert in the disposal of municipal solid waste
- Celeste Meiffren-Swango, Oregon Environmental Council, representing environmental organizations
- Crystal Weston, Oregon Environmental Council, representing environmental organizations
- Jason Williams, Public Works Director, City of Lebanon, representing the League of Oregon Cities
Four nonvoting Legislative Members were appointed to the task force by the Senate President and House Speaker to act in an advisory capacity
- Representative Ed Diehl (R-House District 17)
- Representative Sarah Finger McDonald (D-House District 16)
- Senator Courtney Neron Misslin (D-Senate District 13)
- Senator Todd Nash (R-Senate District 29)
Erin Pischke and Beth Reiley from the state’s Legislative Policy and Research Office will provide staff support to the task force, bringing extension experience and state connections…