NEWS SUMMARY
July 2017
Nominations sought for county environmental awards
The Benton County Board of Commissioners and the Environmental Issues Advisory Committee seeks nominations for the fifth annual Benton County Environmental Awards. 

Benton County presents two awards annually, an individual award and an organizational award. Nominees will have demonstrated a commitment to environmental stewardship that went beyond compliance with regulatory requirements.

August 21 Total Solar Eclipse
With two weeks to go until the total solar eclipse on August 21, Corvallis and Benton County are finalizing plans to welcome visitors from around the world to the Willamette Valley. Public service agencies at the local and state level have been planning for months to ensure that visitors and local community members alike will be able to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event in a safe and enjoyable setting.

Priority #1: Public Safety
With so many visitors arriving during the peak of fire season, public officials are encouraging visitors to plan ahead and follow all local laws in Corvallis and Benton County.

A comprehensive online resource portal is available online, offering information about traffic, household supplies, fire safety, emergency information and other hot topics.

Last Minute Announcements
  • Republic Services has announced that it will not operate on August 21 and will run on a holiday schedule for the remainder of the week. 
  • Bus service in Corvallis is free. In addition to normal routes, shuttles will operate from the Downtown Transit Center to several major event areas in town. Visit www.corvallistransit.com for info on routes and a real-time bus tracker app.
  • Many Local clinics and urgent care centers are changing hours on the day of the eclipse. Learn more.
  • Community members and visitors to reminded to avoid calling 911 for non-emergencies. The non-emergency public safety phone number for Corvallis and Benton County is 541-766-6911. General information calls should be directed to 541-766-6120.
  • Frequently asked questions are being gathered and made available to our communities.
Camping
The Natural Areas and Parks Department is hosting camping and viewing at the Adair County Park. Rent camping sites and "dry" RV sites (no hookups) are still available for Sat., Aug. 19 and Sun., Aug. 20 for $100. Reserve camping sites by calling 541-766-6871 or learn more online.
Planning to Travel Abroad? Plan to Get Your Passport Soon!
July 14, 2017

Routine passport service is now taking up to 8 weeks and expedited service is taking 3 weeks.  With a projected 20 million passports being issued this year alone, there is no better time to apply for your passport than now!

State Transportation Bill impacts county Public Works
July 14, 2017

The Oregon Legislature passed a $5.3 billion plan in early July to modernize Oregon's transportation and public transit systems over the next decade. Several means will pay for this modernization including gas tax increases, vehicle title and registration fees, surcharge on bicycle sales, etc. 

I nitially, county staff will establish bi-weekly internal meetings to discuss uses for the extra funds.  Following the internal phase, a public process to determine our communities' interest in how funds should be used on county roads and bridges will begin. 

Public meetings will likely be held in November or December 2017, and the public will be invited to provide comments and feedback about proposed options and recommendations.

Alpine Road bridge closed at Muddy Creek crossing
July 30, 2017

Alpine Road Bridge at Muddy Creek crossing will be closed starting Tuesday, August 1, 2017 and will remain closed until at least the end of September. The bridge is being designed to allow for future bike use and reduced flooding of the roadway.

Benton County Public Works will be replacing the bridge and lifting the weight limit. Paving is anticipated to occur the week of September 24, 2017. 

 
Countywide burn ban and ODF West Oregon District i ncreased fire danger
July 31, 2017

As of August 1, 2017, all of Benton County fire departments instituted a complete burn ban until further notice, due to the extreme weather and fire conditions we are currently experiencing here in the valley. This will mean no fires of any kind will be allowed within any of the fire districts within Benton County.