County Board moves to purchase new facility
On January 7, 2020, during the 12:00 p.m. board meeting, the Benton County Board of Commissioners provided time for public comment, deliberation and discussion on the acquisition of a new facility. Following a thorough discussion, the Board unanimously approved purchasing the facility located at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis to co-locate County public services. The Board’s next steps will include signing the purchase and sale agreement, with a closing date scheduled for February 14, 2020.

At the December 17, 2019 work session board meeting, County Administrator Joe Kerby provided an overview and analysis of the facility for the Board’s consideration. Included was a detailed description of investigation and “due diligence” performed by the County’s acquisition team, including a commercial building inspection, property appraisal, verification of survey documents, review of documents requested from the owner, and engagement with the existing tenant.

Departments under consideration for Phase I of occupying the new facility include Records and Elections, Board of Commissioners, and County Administration, along with Finance and Assessment. This creates room to bring the Development Diversity Department to the Sunset Building, resulting in an annual cost savings of approximately $90,000 and opens space in the current Board of Commissioners office for other County uses.

Community Health Centers Executive Director Sherlyn Dahl to retire

After nearly 14 years of steadfast leadership and innovative contributions to the Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties (CHC), Executive Director, Sherlyn Dahl is retiring early this summer. 

In 2006, Dahl transitioned her leadership, experience, and contributions to the Community Health Center of Benton and Linn Counties, now a six clinic Federally Qualified Health Center serving 10,000 people across two counties, with locations in Corvallis, Monroe, Alsea, Lebanon, and Sweet Home, Oregon.

Dahl envisioned and helped implement integrated services across an individual persons’ primary care home, to extend into population-based public health, advocacy, and policy development services for those in Benton County.


Appreciate Benton County’s natural areas? Consider joining AFRANA

Benton County residents who enjoy local parks and natural areas show their support in many ways, like visiting and volunteering. But if you are looking for an even closer connection to nature and your community, the Alliance for Recreation and Natural Areas, AFRANA for short, is looking for new members.

AFRANA’s scope encompasses more than just county-owned spaces. The non-profit organization collaborates with other public and private agencies and groups. Through AFRANA, many projects have been planned, facilitated and funded, including improvements to the Willamette River Trail and the boardwalk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, a major renovation of the Commander’s House at Fort Hoskins and a meadow restoration project underway on Marys Peak to name just a few.


Children ride for free on the Coast to Valley Express

Beginning January 1, 2020, the Coast to Valley Express, a service provided by Benton County Transportation, has been fareless for children ages 5 and under (must be accompanied by an adult). Our partners at Lincoln County Transit will be making the same change to their fare structure.

For passengers traveling the full distance of the route (Albany/Corvallis area to Newport), the new fare structure will be as follows:

  • Adults (ages 13 & up): $10
  • Seniors (ages 60+), youths (6-12), and disabled: $7
  • Children (ages 5 & under, while accompanied by an adult): $0

Why are watersheds important?

A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries and eventually to the ocean. As water moves downstream it collects pollutants from the built and natural environment. The concentration of pollutants generally increases in the lower reaches of the watershed.

Human activities and land uses within a watershed produce pollutants and pathogens, which are washed into the waterways with rainfall or domestic/industrial water use. As a result, the waterways within watersheds become conduits for pollutants and pathogens that affect the entire food web.

pioinfo@co.benton.or.us    //  541-766-6800 //   www.co.benton.or.us