On March 18, Malheur County declared a state of emergency. This declaration authorizes the County to: 

• Seek state and federal assistance and potential reimbursement for local funds spent on COVID-19 response;
• Use streamlined processes for purchasing goods and services as allowed under Oregon law during emergency situations; and
• Follow emergency plans and procedures as may be needed to protect the public health.

Read the press release here.

​As of 3/17/ 2020, the City will suspend water shut offs; however, fees and late penalties will not be waived.

​The reception area at City Hall will remain open. Before choosing to conduct business at City Hall we urge you, in light of the Coronavirus Pandemic, to consider if the business can be taken care of by: (1) a call to City Hall, (2) online bill pay, or (3) using the drop boxes for bill payments. Come to City Hall, only if you have exhausted these other options and still need assistance.

​The City of Ontario will suspend special event permits for the next 30 days. We will re-examine the situation at that point. 

In an effort to reduce possible spread of COVID-19 the city is providing the option for staff and Council members to join the City Council Meeting tomorrow night by phone or computer. In Oregon, a governing body can join by phone or other electronic means. We will hold the meeting in the Council Chamber and stream it live on Facebook. 

To implement the City’s directive to limit the contact time with the general public, the Community Development Center will be closed on Mondays to the general public. The Community Development Center will keep normal public hours from Tuesday through Friday. If business can be conducted over the phone, please call (541) 881-3224.

In keeping with our protection orders from the State the Airport Committee Meeting at City Hall has been cancelled for March 23, 2020. Updates will continue to be posted here.

To implement the City’s directive to limit the contact time with the general Public, the Community Development Center will make the following change.

Preliminary Design Advisory Committee meetings may be scheduled with the Ontario Community Development Center; however, all meetings will be held over the phone. To schedule a meeting or to learn more about the changes, please contact the Community Development Center at (541) 881-3224.

The City of Ontario is committed to providing services to the community and is conscious of the uncertainty and concern surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19). We are constantly monitoring the situation and are making appropriate changes to ensure the health and safety of community members and our staff.

We strongly encourage you to sign up and use the city’s online bill pay to make utility payments. To sign up, use this webpage.

For community members unable to use online bill pay, please use the payment drop box located in the City Hall parking lot (picture below). If you need assistance, please contact us at (541) 881-3201.

For additional information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.