Board of Commissioners get Council of Governments update

ALBANY — The Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments is seeing increased activity in its small business loan program Executive Director Ryan Vogt told the Linn County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Vogt said that in recent years, the program has made about one loan per year, but so far this year, there have been seven loans, including four in Sweet Home.

Vogt said his staff assisted the City of Sweet Home in successfully applying for a $700,325 Economic Development Administration grant to purchase three emergency back-up generators to be used at the public water plant, the Community Center/Senior Center and the Public Works Department.

From January through May, the Meals on Wheels program has served 144,236 meals: Albany, 67,751; Lebanon, 41,2307; Mill City, 3,254; Brownsville, 6,037; Sweet Home, 25,987.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a request to hire Jeff Lynn, currently a full-time patrol sergeant, to a one-year contract after his retirement on July 31. Lynn served on the Sweet Home Police Department for many years, including as Police Chief, before coming to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
• Were informed by Veterans Services Director Dee Baley-Hyder that her staff has helped local veterans and their families receive $2,187,594 from July 2023 through June 2024. Baley-Hyder said the transportation grant program is strong. Her office assisted with the spring Honor Flight that took veterans and their assistants to Washington, D.C. and there will be another Honor Flight in the Fall. The Veterans Services team has participated in the Lebanon Strawberry Festival and will be at the Springhill Car Show and the Linn County Fair.
• Approved a contract with Utilities Associates for software and services for the District Attorney’s Office. Cost is $144,566 for five years. The District Attorney’s Office receives more than 4,000 cases annually and many of those cases include some type of video material. The software will help the staff and law enforcement integrate those materials, manage data storage and disseminate information to defense counsel.
• Appointed Dustin Welters to the Linn County Budget Committee. He will succeed long-term committee chair Jennifer Stanaway in the Position 5 slot.
• Directed Linn County staff to develop language to make the county’s Outdoor Assembly code standardized across all levels of participation. Currently, at the lowest level, the event sponsors are only required to register. At higher levels, up to 3,000 people, sponsors must submit an application and obtain an actual permit from the county. That process includes submitting written plans for fire, life and safety issues such whether roadways are adequate to handle increased traffic and whether emergency service vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances can access the site.
• Opened a public hearing concerning updating the county’s road construction and access standards. Commissioner Roger Nyquist recused himself from the discussion. After hearing from Planning and Building Director Steve Wills and local fire department officials Commissioners Will Tucker and Sherrie Sprenger agreed to accept written comments only until 5 p.m. on Monday, July 15. Comments should be addressed to the County Planning and Building Department.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.