By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker on Tuesday, July 22, approved agreements with area providers who will use Statewide Transportation Improvement Funds for area public transportation services.
Linn County Special/Rural Transportation Coordinator Reagan Maudlin said the commissioners approved the 2025-2027 Linn County STIF Plan on January 14 and have also approved an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation to receive STIF funding.
Linn County’s STIF funding is passed on to subrecipients in local communities for the 2025-2027 biennium.
The commissioners approved the following agreements using STIF Population funding: Albany Paratransit/Call-A-Ride, $48,000; Lebanon/LINX, $190,000; Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments vouchers, $30,212; Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments seniors, $9,600; Oregon Mennonite Residential Services, $14,400; Sunshine Industries Unlimited, $54,000; Senior Citizens of Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus, $46,486; Senior Citizens of Sweet Home, Linn Shuttle, $170,000; Volunteer Caregivers, $115,200.
The following agreements using STIF Payroll funding were approved:
- Contracted services with Senior Citizens of Sweet Home/Linn Shuttle, an ongoing Linn County commuter project, $820,000.
- Contracted services with Senior Citizens of Sweet Home/Dial-A-Bus, $467,000.
- Lebanon LINX, maintaining existing program at expansion levels, $1,598,000.
- Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, bus tracking software: $49,000.
- City of Albany, Albany Transit System, $1,276,850.
- City of Albany Loop Expansion Project that will maintain Loop and expansion services that began in December 2021 and operating assistance for the LB Loop, $872,000.
- Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments match for Mobility Hub, construction phase, $82,398.
- The commissioners also approved an agreement to receive up to $75,475 in COVID funding for transportation programs.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Were told by Juvenile Director Torri Lynn that in June, there were four youth from Benton County held for seven days; 26 youth (21males and five females) from Linn County held for 249 days; and one male from Lincoln County held for 22 days. There were 60 referrals in June and there are 173 youth in the probation program. Lynn said the Victim Advocate made 142 contacts. The Tier 1 work crew of 11 youth completed 178 hours of community service and the Tier 2 work crew of 18 youth completed 346.5 hours in 23 project days.
- Approved a personal service contract with Grace Wellness to provide two social workers who support the Time 4 Change program, specializing in Hispanic youth and families. The contract is not to exceed $80,000 over two years.
- Approved a two-year contract not to exceed $83,472 with Dr. Daniel Mosher dba Veritas Director Primary Care. Mosher is the medical director for the Linn Benton Juvenile Detention Center, providing medical services two days per week and on-call. He also supervises the Center’s licensed practical nurse, who is on-site five days per week.
- Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Youth Authority for $25,872 for Individualized Services which is typically used to pay for treatment services that are not covered by other funding sources.
- Approved an amendment to a personal service contract with Karen Cox Counseling, which provides sexual offender mental health treatment services. The county agrees to pay for some new certification requirements and Karen Cox Counseling will provide services for the next five years, or reimburse Linn County on a prorated basis.
- Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Youth Authority for $681,170 for the biennium. The funds are used to provide Diversion Services and Basic Services to aimed at keeping youth out of correctional facilities and to support department infrastructure. Funds help pay for a probation officer position, psychological assessments, drug and alcohol evaluations, mental health evaluations, clothing, clubs and pro-social activities for young people.
- Approved a 3.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment for members of the Service Employees International Union and Juvenile Detention Association.