By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Young people who are part of the Linn County Juvenile Department’s work crew will have the opportunity to learn about creating defensible space and reducing wildfires, thanks to an agreement between Linn County and the Sweet Home Fire Department.
Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved a $524,556 grant from the Wildfire Ready Project at their May 26 meeting.
Juvenile Department Director Torri Lynn said $307,800 will provide participating youth with vocational training. They will be paid $15 per hour to reduce burnable fuels such as brush and woody materials, thereby creating defensible spaces in east Linn County.
Another $179,550 will provide work gear for the young people, including a jacket, rain gear, boots, socks, pants, program T-shirt and sweatshirt, a USB thumb drive and a binder to hold their resumes.
A third portion of the grant,$37,206, will be used to develop and house a database and software licensing for the program.
All three commissioners supported the program.
Tucker said the experience and job counseling the young people receive may help them secure jobs with wildland firefighting hand crews, including a new one based at the Sweet Home Fire Department.
Lynn also reported that in April, 25 young people from Linn County, six from Benton County, two from Lincoln County and one from Marion County were held at the detention center.
There were 38 referrals and there are 184 youth in the Probation Unit, with 29 of them assessed as high-risk.
There are 146 youth in the Community Programs Unit and the Intervention Specialist is working with 211 youth, of which 191 have not been involved with law enforcement.
The Victim Advocate made 116 contacts in April.
In other business the commissioners:
- Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Clackamas County to provide beds at the Linn Benton Juvenile Detention Center at a rate of $175 per day. Marion County is the primary provider of detention beds for Clackamas County, but Linn County will provide space for overflow when needed.
- Authorized closure of Main Street in Brownsville from 12:50-1:30 p.m. on June 19 for the annual Pioneer Picnic Kiddie Parade and 9:45 to 11:35 a.m. on June 20 for the Grand Parade.
- Authorized the closure of four county roads – First Avenue, SW Broadway, SW Linn Boulevard and Mill City Drive – from 12 to 1 p.m. on July 4.
- Approved an amendment to an Engineering and Related Services Contract with David Evans and Associates for the Cox Creek (Waverly Drive) Bridge Project in Millersburg. This is for the second phase of the contract and revises the not-to-exceed total from $832,306.33 to $950,905.17 which is totally reimbursable by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the City of Millersburg.
- Reappointed the following people to the Noxious Weed Control Advisory Committee: Paul Brown, Debra Paul, Roger Ruckert, Orval Silbernagel, Anna Alex and John Jayne. Appointed Lynden Brown to Position No. 2 formerly held by Justin McClaughry. Position No. 9 remains vacant.
- Approved a Personal Services Contract with C.H.A.N.C.E. to continue to collect urine samples for the Linn County District Attorney’s Office drug deflection program. District Attorney Doug Marteeny said program participants are required to provide urinary samples to prove they are not using drugs three times per week.
- Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Judicial Department. Linn County provides space for the Linn County Circuit Court system, which includes courtrooms, judicial offices and general administrative/office space. The IGA will allow the Oregon Judicial Department to install ballistic fiberglass and ballistic glass at the court’s main public facing counter in room 107 on the first floor of the courthouse. The Oregon Judicial Department will pay for the project estimated at $81,708 out of the Marshal’s Office general fund budget.
- Reported that Commissioners Nyquist and Sprenger recently attended a meeting of the Community Services Consortium, which focused on financial issues.
- Approved an outdoor assembly permit for a one-day Saddle Butte Rendezvous at the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club on Aug.1. The event is expected to host 1,500 to 2,000 people, with no overnight camping. The permit approval was at a public hearing after the regular board meeting.