By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Linn County Veterans Services helped local veterans obtain more than $1.53 million in benefits during the nine months from July 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, Program Manager Dee Baley-Hyder told Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker at their April 7 meeting.
Baley-Hyder said this is tax-free income that benefits veterans, a surviving spouse or family members.
The tally from Jan. 1 through March 31 of this year was $323,856.76.
Baley-Hyder said that now that there are three accredited veterans services officers on staff, her office has been able to reduce waiting times for appointments from six to eight weeks to under two weeks.
Turnaround time for emails and calls to veterans has also been more efficient, Baley-Hyder said in a written report.
Staff members participated at a Veterans Information Fair March 7, sponsored by the American Legion Post 61 in Junction City.
She reported that there will not be a spring Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., but there will be one in the fall and her office will help with it.
Baley-Hyder said Rob McKibben, who has been a veterans services officer for 20 years, is going to retire at the end of April.
Nyquist said that although Linn County has done a good job assisting our veterans, he would like to see even more people getting the help they deserve. He asked Baley-Hyder to reach out to other veterans programs statewide and perhaps nationwide, to learn what others are doing to locate and help their veterans.
In other business the commissioners:
- Approved an invitation to bid on resurfacing of roadways and parking spaces at Whispering Falls Campground near Idanha. This is a U.S. Forest Service campground, but it is managed by Linn County Parks &Announced that the 2026-2027 Linn County Budget Hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 27 and run through Friday, May 1, at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road East.
- Was asked by rural Brownsville poultry farm operator Eric Simon if the commissioners would consider adjusting the one-mile setback rule pertaining to Confined Animal Feeding Operations that was approved in December 2023. Simon purchased 60 acres near Scio with plans to develop a large-scale poultry facility — producing more than three million chickens per year — but neighbors strongly opposed the project. Simon believes his project should be “grandfathered in”, although a court ruled the original permit was invalid because the state had enacted new, stricter rules in 2023. suggested that Simon could apply for a conditional use variance through the Planning & Building Department. Recreation. Bids will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 27. The project will be paid for by the Forest Service.
- Approved annexation of the following properties into the Brownsville Rural Fire Protection District: Thomas and Jamie Griffin, 36335 Raccoon Lane; Scott and Renee Williams, 36317 Raccoon Lane; Shawn and Tracy Garber, 36353 Raccoon Lane; Rex and Amy Lowther, 36359 Middle Ridge Road; Zachary and Courtney Lincoln, 36353 Middle Ridge Road; Douglas and Tawnya Dailey, 36369 Middle Ridge Road; Randy and Paula Geil, 36372 Middle Ridge Drive and Joe Dooley, 36423 Middle Ridge Drive.
- Approved a refund of $1,000 to Jessica Hayward from the Planning & Building Department, due to withdrawal of a permit application.
- Approved having the Road Department establish a no parking area on First Street in Scio next to Centennial Elementary School. This is at the request of the Scio School District. Linn County will install no parking signs and paint the curbs and the Scio School District will then be responsible for long-term maintenance.
- Approved annexation of property owned by Craig and Debra Bateman at 47080 Evergreen Lane, Lyons, into the Lyons Rural Fire Protection District.