Lebanon City Council members agreed to sign a resolution supporting dissolution of the Emergency Telephone Agency (ETA) and move forward with a levy for the jail during their April 8 meeting.
The ETA decision was in response to a recommendation from the committee overseeing the agency that it be dissolved.
In 1986, eight separate 911 centers (Public Safety Answering Points) in Linn County were consolidated into a single countywide center operated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office under an Intergovernmental Agreement, with oversight provided by a committee made up of local fire and law enforcement representatives. The committee met regularly for the next 39 years.
On Jan. 14, committee members voted to recommend dissolving the committee-led ETA, finding that its original purpose has been fulfilled and that its functions are no longer necessary for ongoing 911 operations.
In order to successfully dissolve the ETA – essentially allowing LCSO to continue operating the 911 center without committee oversight – at least two-thirds of the initial signing parties must approve the termination.
These include Linn County commissioners; Linn, Benton and Lane county sheriffs; the cities of Albany, Brownsville, Corvallis, Eugene, Halsey, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Millersburg, Scio, Sodaville, Springfield, Sweet Home, Tangent and Waterloo; Santiam Memorial Hospital, Lebanon Ambulance, Sweet Home Ambulance, and Detroit/Idanha Ambulance; and fire agencies for Albany, Brownsville, Detroit/Idanha, Harrisburg, Jefferson, Lebanon, North Albany, Palestine, Scio, Sweet Home and Tangent.
In other action, the council voted to move forward with a strategy to ask for a levy supporting the reopening of the municipal jail, after reviewing recent poll results.
City Manager Ron Whitlatch informed the council that the “general sentiment” of the poll revealed that 63.7% support the reopening of the jail, the percentage dropped to 48.6% after details and cost were revealed, and it rose to 66.3% after they later learned they would not see an increase in their taxes because the city bond would soon be paid off.
He reminded the council to consider some key points: there may be potential “competition” with other local tax measures, the city’s current bond that costs about tax payers about $1.17 per $1,000 of assessed value will soon be paid off, and the proposed jail levy is estimated to be about $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.
During the council meeting, councilors were asked to consider whether they would like to put a levy measure out in the November 2026 election, May 2027 special election (at a cost of $60,000 to $100,000), or to not pursue a levy at this time.
Councilors agreed to move forward with a measure for the November 2026 general election.