HERMISTON, Ore.-The City of Hermiston and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) recently honored Margaret Saylor as the longest-serving planning commissioner in Oregon State history.
“I love the planning process, hearing proposals, coming up with questions as a commissioner, and figuring out the logical steps to take,” said Saylor, who has served on the Hermiston Planning Commission for 50 years.
Career
Saylor grew up in Portland and attended Oregon State University (OSU), majoring in math. She earned a master’s degree in Community College Administration from OSU before moving to Hermiston due to her husband’s job, and ultimately completed her BS degree at Eastern Oregon University.
Saylor and her husband raised a blended family of seven kids, unique not only for its size, but the fact that they all got along, and still do.
In 1975, the same year she joined the planning commission, Saylor also started her career in education, as the first Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) Administrator in Hermiston.
“The college gave me a briefcase and installed a second phone line in our house, in addition to our family landline, and I worked from home,” said Saylor.
Saylor actively represented BMCC in the community on committees and with the Hermiston Chamber, and the job, which started out as a part-time opportunity, expanded with Saylor’s ability, and as the kids grew.
“It’s important for colleges to be represented, and I oversaw BMCC’s branch campuses,” said Saylor, who would ultimately work as Senior Vice President of BMCC in Hermiston. “We were always evolving, developing new classes and programs, and getting bigger.”
Some of the highlights of Saylor’s BMCC career include the creation and expansion of programs, including the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT), which allowed students in Hermiston to earn college degrees with on-site classes, and the opening of new branch campus buildings.
“My career with BMCC kind of ran parallel to my tenure on the planning commission,” said Saylor, who retired from BMCC in 2012, after 37 years. “The city and the college grew together.”
Hermiston Planning Commission
Former Hermiston Mayor, Lawrence Gray asked Saylor, who was active with the Friends of the Hermiston Library and other city activities, to join the Planning Commission in 1975.
“Mayor Gray saw some potential in me and asked me to serve on the planning commission,” said Saylor, who admits she wasn’t necessarily aware of the function of the commission at the time. “I said, ‘yeah, I can do that.’”
The Hermiston Planning Commission is a committee that meets monthly and develops and recommends land use decisions to the Hermiston City Council, including the comprehensive plan, zoning, planning ordinances, and the urban growth boundary, according to the City of Hermiston.
The nine members of the planning commission are appointed by City Council to serve staggered three-year terms.
“I had an amazing job, and I love serving on the planning commission,” said Saylor. “The quality of people who serve has always been high, and we’ve been able to ask tough questions and make informed decisions.”
Over the course of her 50 years on the Planning Commission, a few issues and accomplishments stand out for Saylor, including sidewalks and the livability and growth of Hermiston.
“Coming from Portland, I was astounded that there weren’t very many sidewalks in Hermiston,” said Saylor, who felt they were necessary for people to get around. “I became a sidewalk advocate.”
Thanks, in part to the work of Saylor and the Planning Commission, all developments for which land use applications are required must now include sidewalks.
For Saylor, Hermiston has remained a livable city, even as it continues to grow, due to the intentional efforts of the City and the work of the planning commission.
“Livability requires organized planning ahead of financial planning,” said Saylor. “There’s been a number of people who were good at looking at Hermiston’s overall growth and then developing a plan that’s financially advisable.”
The rapid business growth Hermiston experienced in the 1990’s also stands out to Saylor for the city and community involvement and collaboration it fostered, with representatives from Echo, Stanfield, Hermiston and Umatilla working together, along with the planning commission and local school districts.
“The late 1990’s were an interesting time in Hermiston, with projects that would have a huge impact on the population of the communities,” said Saylor.
Saylor served as Chair of the Planning Commission for 27 years, before stepping down last year, and her dedication to the community has continued.
Community Service
“Community service means volunteering your time, resources and energy to make the community a better place,” said Saylor.
Over the years Saylor has lent her time and efforts to several organizations, including Parent Teacher Associations, United Way, the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation, and the Hermiston Chamber.
Saylor was a charter member of the Desert Arts Council to bring fine and performing arts to Northeast Oregon, and is a member of Altrusa International of Hermiston, having served as President, District Governor and International Committee Chair within the organization.
“Volunteering is super important, everyone should do it if they’re able to,” said Saylor. “It’s part of being a good citizen and contributing to society.”
Service Honored
At its August 25 meeting, the Hermiston City Council presented Saylor with a map showing how much the City has grown, more than doubling in size from 2,300 acres to 5,400, during her tenure on the Planning Commission.
The DLCD also recognized Saylor, proclaiming August 25, 2025, as a day to celebrate her 50 years of service and honor her contribution to the community with a letter reading in part:
“Over five decades, she has contributed her wisdom and integrity to countless planning decisions that have strengthened the fabric of the Hermiston community and upheld the principles of Oregon’s landmark land use system. The DLCD honors Margaret E. Saylor not only for her extraordinary tenure, but also for the legacy of thoughtful planning, community engagement, and public service she has built.”
While she remains active on the commission and in the community, Saylor is enjoying travel and her family in retirement, although even after 50 years, she still hates to miss a planning commission meeting.
“The experience has been a real joy. The Hermiston community is an amazing mix of volunteers and community partnerships-so giving of their time and resources,” said Saylor.
