Albany-Millersburg Economic Development Corporation president John Pascone on Tuesday, Feb. 15, asked the Linn County Board of Commissioners to extend a three-year Enterprise Zone agreement with Knife River Training Center for an additional two years.
Knife River has already invested $6 million into its new Training Center on Kennel Road east of Albany, and plans to invest another $2.6 million.
Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker unanimously approved. Their support will provide the company with tax relief for two more years, since the project will expand employment with jobs that pay at least 150% of Linn County’s average annual wage.
The Training Center includes a 200-by-400-foot dome where employees from across the country can learn how to operate heavy equipment year-round, regardless of weather conditions. Students can practice in a simulated town — learning to avoid overhead power lines, etc. — and learn to operate maritime equipment. Facilities include working on dirt, asphalt and concrete.
In other business, the commissioners:
— Were told by Dr. William Muth, Linn County Health Officer, that there were 63 births (32 girls and 31 boys) and 140 deaths in January. Of those deaths, tobacco use could be a factor in about 19%, diabetes in about 13% and alcohol in about 6%.
— Reappointed Kathryn Henderson and Robin Wilson to the Linn County Mental Health Advisory Board.
— Discussed the Linn County Expo Center’s broken walk-in refrigeration system. Its manager, Randy Porter, suggested buying stand-alone commercial grade coolers instead of repairing the 25-year-old unit. He was directed to gather more information to determine the availability and total cost of such units.
— Approved hiring retired deputy Craig Lyman to work 30 hours per week providing Linn County Sheriff’s Office services with contract cities.
— Approved accepting an $11,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs by the Linn County Veterans Services Department. The funds will be used to pay transportation costs for local veterans receiving treatment at the VA Hospital in Portland.
— Approved Comprehensive Plan Map and Zoning Map amendments for James Olsen’s 67.19-acre property. The owner will be allowed to change his property zoning from Farm/Forest to Non-Resource and 5-acre minimum.
— Approved accepting a COVID-19 rapid testing machine provided by the Oregon Health Authority.
— Approved a contract amendment with Barran Liebman for an Equal Pay Act analysis not to exceed $150,000.
— Approved a North Santiam Paving change order amounting to $16,606 for the Mill City Downtown Revitalization Project and a completion date change for the city’s Pedestrian Bridge Project.
— Gave General Services Manager Russ Williams permission to seek bids for the Armory Building roof. Its current 26-year-old roof leaks, he said.
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer