By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Public Health program agreements were front and center at the Tuesday, July 15, meeting of the Linn County Board of Commissioners.
Public Health Administrator Todd Noble presented the commissioners with four requests, all of which were approved.
The county approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the city of Lebanon. Linn County will pay for public transportation services for individuals with disabilities. Linn County will reimburse the city $23.18 per eligible ride.
The agreement is contingent on Linn County receiving funding from the Oregon Department of Human Services. The total is not to exceed $500,000 for the contract which runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
The commissioners approved an agreement with the Oregon Health Authority for the Intoxicated Driver Program Fund. Linn County will provide services to individuals who have been adjudicated in local courts for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. OHA will provide Linn County funding not to exceed $100,116 for services provided between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2027.
The commissioners approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Health Authority to provide Problem Gambling Prevention Services to increase public awareness of problem gambling. OHA will provide Linn County with funding not to exceed $403,000 for services from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
The commissioners approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Health Authority to provide services for the CHOICE Model Services program. OHA extended the original expiration date from June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and added funding, not to exceed $170,214.85.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Approved an agreement to provide 21 beds at the Linn County Jail for Oregon Department of Corrections inmates. The bed rate will increase from $103 per day to $110 per day per bed. The agreement will run through June 30, 2027.
- Learned there were 45 births in June, 22 females and 23 males. There were 93 deaths, one of which was of a person more than 100 years old.
- Were told there were 77 land use permits and 324 total permits issued in June. Of those, 38 were for dwellings — six single-family units and seven manufactured units. There were 14 permits issued for dwelling additions/alterations. Planning & Building Director Steve Wills told the commissioners there are four openings on the Planning Commission.
- Were asked by Troy Jones, a member of Friends of Gap Road, to pass a local resolution that would ban commercial solar facilities and large-scale battery storage operations on farmland zoned Exclusive Farm Use, much like neighboring Marion County has done. Friends of Gap Road is a grassroots group that opposes development of a proposed solar facility near Harrisburg.
- Announced that all three commissioners will be at the Linn County Fair at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, as they serve ice cream to senior citizens at the Sponsor Pavilion, a fair tradition.
- Appointed James Page to the Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee.
- Reappointed Hans Coon to Position 2 on the Historic Resource Commission.