By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications Officer
New high-efficiency lighting systems funded by a Business Oregon Grant will soon be installed in three buildings at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved the project at their March 24 meeting.
In a written report to the commissioners, Fair & Expo Center Director Kris Barnes said the project will cost about $174,783.60 supported by a $277,000 Business Oregon Grant.
The Cooper Lighting System fixtures and controls will come from Solus Lighting and Controls in Portland through a cooperative state procurement system.
Upgrades will be made in the Willamette Expo Center, 6,000 square feet, Santiam Building, 21,000 square feet and Cascade Livestock Pavilion, 42,000 square feet.
“These buildings are in need of lighting upgrades to improve energy efficiency through the use of LED technology,” Barnes wrote. “The existing fixtures are fluorescent T-5HO, which are no longer available due to the statewide phase-out of fluorescent lamps.”
Barnes added: “The proposed upgrades will enhance overall light levels and quality, improve emergency egress lighting systems and increase the flexibility of these spaces through the addition of dimming capabilities and advanced fixture controls.”
The Linn County Fair & Expo Center opened in 1997.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Were informed that 21 young people from Linn County, four from Benton County and two from Lincoln County were housed at the Juvenile Detention Center in February. The average length of stay was about nine days. There were 30 referrals ands there are 189 youth in the Probation Unit. The Victim Advocate made 109 contacts.
- Approved the following budgetary transfers: $205,000 within the Road Fund from contingency to Personal Services and Materials and Services; $115,000 within the General Fund within the Justice of the Peace Courts; $161,000 within the General Fund from contingency, Personnel Services, Materials and Services for the offices of County Attorney, Veterans Services, Medical Examiner and General Administration; $700,000 within the Health Fund from Personal Services and other requirements to Capital Outlay and other requirements — Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug and Environmental Health — for office renovations.
- Approved annexation petitions to move properties owned by the following families into the Brownsville Rural Fire Protection District: Thomas and Jamie Griffin, Scott and Renee Williams, Shawn and Tracy Garber, Rex and Amy Lowther, Zachary and Courtney Lincoln, Douglas and Tawnya Dailey, Randy and Paul Geil and Joe Dooley. A public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 7 in the Board Room.
- Appointed Jeremiah Barawis and Sophia Adams to the Linn County Compensation Board. The board typically meets annually and as needed to recommend a compensation schedule for county elective officers and review the compensation paid to county employees as compared to state employees and local public bodies and private businesses.