Cash-strapped Oregon Department of Forestry to treat employees to training session at luxury resort

This month, the Oregon Department of Forestry intends to teach roughly 20 staff members at an all-inclusive resort outside of Bend that promotes itself as a picturesque luxury ranch.

The three-day, two-night event at Brasada Ranch comes after the agency requested millions of dollars in emergency funds from the Legislature last month to help pay for the expenses of battling the record-breaking wildfires of the previous year.

The agency’s agreement with the resort states that the conference would be held from January 28 to January 30. Five cottages with four bedrooms and hot tubs were reserved by the department; each cabin cost $428 per night.

Additionally, the state agreed to provide $1,736 for food. The anticipated cost of the stay, including taxes, resort fees, and service charges, is $8,521, per the contract.

In response to a request for public records, the Forestry Department sent a copy of the contract to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

About two months prior to the Legislature calling a special session to resolve a funding shortage associated with combating last year’s wildfires, the contract was signed on September 9.

The seminar is intended for forestry administrators in eastern Oregon, according to agency spokesperson Joy Krawczyk on Tuesday. Its goal is to offer professional development training to administrative staff.

Following last year’s fire season, Krawczyk stated that the conference will include topics such as lessons gained from 2024 and provide training on emotional wellness to all administrative staff.

Administrative specialists and agency business managers would be present, she said. A workshop on recognizing and establishing psychological safety in the workplace and another on fire finance are on the agenda.

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According to Krawczyk, these conferences have taken place every year at a number of locations throughout eastern Oregon. Since staff members will be traveling great distances to participate, the department searches for venues that can offer both meeting space and accommodations, she added.

According to Krawczyk, the agency selected Brasada Ranch because it also committed to maintaining food and housing costs within the state government’s set limits. Because the cabins can house several people, they wind up being a few dollars less expensive than the state government cost of $110 per person per night, she added.

However, the sight of state workers congregating at a resort was perceived by some as bad optics for a financially troubled agency.

Former state senator Betsy Johnson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, referred to the event as a folly.

According to Johnson, a well-known state budget hawk, they are taking their employees to a posh hotel while shortchanging small companies in Oregon that haven’t been paid for the previous fire season. I can’t express how I feel about that choice.

The choice to host a state meeting at the ranch was criticized by Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, who last month demanded that State Forester Cal Mukumoto step down for what he called poor management.

Considering that they have been stiffing contractors all throughout the state for months and have never informed the Legislature that they were in dire problems, I believe it to be in fairly bad taste, he added. After we helped them out, they are currently hosting an opulent retreat. I apologize, but that looks awful.

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The resort’s website claims that it provides visitors with breathtaking vistas, luxurious lodging, farm-to-table food, and a variety of outdoor activities against the tranquil backdrop of the Cascade Mountains.

In 2023, readers of Cond Nast Traveler ranked Brasada Ranch as one of the top five resorts in the Pacific Northwest.

The resort is located in Crook County on 1,800 acres close to Powell Butte.

According to the contract, the Forestry Department has reserved a conference room at Wild Rye, the resort’s restaurant. According to the website, Wild Rye offers a sophisticated dining experience that honors the area’s distinctive character and offers breathtaking sunset views of the Cascades.

To pay for the enormous expenditures that the state accrued from last year’s wildfires, lawmakers approved more than $218 million in a special session last month.

Approximately $82 million of the funds went to the Department of Forestry to compensate firefighters and support personnel who responded to fires on over 1.9 million acres that burned throughout Oregon.

The remainder went toward expenditures that the two agencies must pay now but later expect reimbursement from the federal government, as well as to the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal, which assists in protecting towns in the path of wildfires.

Due to workplace complaints, senior forestry managers were involved in internal investigations last year.

Records revealed that Mike Shaw, the agency’s second-in-command, had a sexual relationship with a subordinate for almost two years, which led to his termination.

Records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed that Mike Wilson, the head of the state forests division, broke state workplace regulations when he was too close to a subordinate, made comments about her appearance, and appeared to discuss the size of his genitalia over drinks after work.

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Criminal justice is the area of expertise for enterprise reporter Noelle Crombie. You can reach her at [email protected] or 503-276-7184.

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