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David Hatcher accused Councilor Don Weber of acting without agency approval as North Plains also confronted staffing shortages, an uncertain manager search, an expired legal-services agreement and increasing dependence on temporary help. Former North Plains Mayor David Hatcher delivered a warning during the July 6 City Council meeting: he believes Urban Renewal Agency Chair Don Weber has acted outside his authority and may be exposing the City to legal risk. Hatcher said he s

The City is preparing to pay Gary Marks $18,000 to be its interim city manager a month after a search that produced only one viable candidate. His prior city-manager tenure included reported workplace concerns that North Plains’ public packet does not mention. North Plains is preparing to appoint Gary Marks to lead a City Hall where employees and councilors alike have been heading for the exits. But an important part of Marks’ management history is missing from the City’s pub

Councilor Mark DeForge sold his Hillsboro-area property for more than $3 million. Then he told North Plains officials that Hillsboro “kicked me out” for data centers. That raises basic questions about credibility, truthfulness, and character.

Reports are emerging that Interim City Manager Robin Doughty submitted her resignation yesterday, effective July 31. If confirmed, this is not just another personnel change. It is another warning sign that North Plains City Hall is being pushed into a deeper and more dangerous operational crisis. Doughty was appointed to help stabilize the city after the departure of former City Manager Bill Reid. But her primary role before stepping in as interim manager was Director of Libr

"since June 18, only six non-library staff members have been working for the city"

The Real Friends of North Plains have learned that former City Manager Bill Reid’s exit agreement includes the compensation required under his contract, plus an additional $20,000 payment. That matters. Because this is not just about one former city manager. It is about the growing cost of instability at North Plains City Hall. For months, residents have watched the City Council struggle through basic governance. Meetings have become more difficult to manage. The city has fac

Oregon Public Broadcasting recently hosted a recording of Think Out Loud at Atfalati Ridge Elementary School. The host, Dave Miller, asked guests who live inside North Plains city limits and outside the city limits about their vision for the future of North Plains. During the event, one panelist remarked that "if a group of people run four candidates to take over City Council, I view that as an attack on our town." Some residents may have been left wondering what the panelist

North Plains residents are being asked to pay more while the city council debates whether it needs help managing its own meetings. At Monday’s meeting, the council moved forward with updates to the city’s fee schedule, including water-related increases. Staff described the changes as inflation-related and tied to cost recovery. That may be a normal part of city budgeting, but the political context is anything but normal. The same council overseeing higher fees also discussed

North Plains City Council filled yet another vacancy Monday night, appointing Jason Ruston to the seat vacated by Katie Reding’s resignation. On its own, a council appointment is routine. In North Plains, it is part of a much larger and more troubling pattern. This is a city council defined by turnover. In what healthy city does a mayor resign months into her term under an improper influence scandal, followed by the disconnected departures of multiple councilors within a year