By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
At their March 3 meeting, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved an extended Enterprise Zone Tax Abatement Agreement for Valliscor LLC.
Linn County is a cosponsor of the Albany Enterprise Zone. The City of Albany had already approved the agreement, which will provide property tax incentives for the development of a chemical manufacturing plant by Valliscor LLC.
Valliscor, based in Corvallis, manufactures high-value compounds used in the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. According to the company’s website, its chemicals are used in medications to treat asthma, COPD, breast cancer and other diseases. Other products are used to make logic and memory chips in the semiconductor field.
The company is expanding to include a 16,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on 12-acres on Ferry Street in Albany.
Albany Economic Development Manager Sophie Adams told the commissioners the project will create 40 new jobs that pay at least 150% of the average wage in Linn County, with a long-range plan of 100 total jobs in the future. She said this is a $25 million investment by Valliscor.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Approved contracts to provide 9-1-1 communications by the LCSO with the following: Albany Fire Department, Brownsville Rural Fire Protection District, Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire Protection District, Lebanon Fire District, Scio Rural Fire Protection District, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and the Tangent Rural Fire Protection District.
- Approved a letter of support for the Sweet Home Water Treatment Plant generator project. The city is seeking federal funding to modify the water treatment plant due in part to turbidity issues caused by the drawdown of Green Peter Reservoir. A generator would ensure water treatment processing could continue if storms knock out commercially-provided electricity.
- Approved the purchase of a tax-foreclosed property at 2948 44th Ave. SE, Albany by the former owner for $35,432.52.
- Added Trail Bridge Campground on Highway 126 to the list of U.S. Forest Service campgrounds managed and maintained by the Linn County Parks & Recreation Department. The campground was closed for almost a decade due to infrastructure work in the area by the Eugene Watershed Enhancement Board. This brings the total number of Forest Service campgrounds managed by Linn County Parks & Recreation to 26.
- Approved a temporary employment agreement with LCSO Lieutenant Detective Randy Voight. He will retire from the Sheriff’s Office on April 30 and the agreement will allow him to work back for one more year.