Freeman Re-Elected to Fifth Term as President of the Association of O&C Counties
Written by Patrick Schneider on December 16, 2020
Douglas County, Ore – The county of Douglas County announced Commissioner Tim Freeman has been re-elected for a fifth term as the President of the Association of O&C Counties (AOCC). The AOCC unanimously re-elected its leaders for 2021 at the AOCC annual virtual meeting held on Friday, December 11, 2020. In addition to Commissioner Freeman, Polk County Commissioner, Craig Pope was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer and Coos County Commissioner, Bob Main was re-elected as Vice President.
“I am honored by my re-election and sincerely appreciate the continued support of the members of the AOCC, who trust me in leading this crucially important work.” Freeman said. “Together with my colleagues and the staff at AOCC, we will continue to work hard to secure solutions to manage our unique congressional designated lands.”
AOCC represents the O&C lands in 18 western Oregon counties, the 18 counties host 2.1 million acres of O&C timberlands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). AOCC advocates for sustained yield management of O&C lands, as required by federal law under the O&C Act, to protect and support jobs and local economies, county services, and healthy timber land.
During its annual meeting, AOCC members discussed court victories affirming that the 1937 O&C Act requires all 2.1 million acres of O&C timberlands under jurisdiction of the BLM to be managed for sustained yield timber production. As well as the federal judge’s ruling that the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 Resource Management Plans violated the O&C Act. AOCC also supports the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, as well as a long-term solution for federal payments to O&C counties.