The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday to consider awarding $250,000 grants to two local organizations to help pay for addiction treatment.
Paid for by state funding, grants would go to Santiam Memorial Hospital in Stayton and the nonprofit PODER Oregon’s Latino Leadership Network for substance abuse disorder services.
The county would use state money it received after Oregonians in 2020 passed Measure 110, which decriminalized user quantities of illegal drugs and directed part of the state’s marijuana tax revenue toward expanding addiction treatment services. A state-managed council selects grantees, which in each county form a Behavioral Health Resource Network that meets regularly to discuss and coordinate services.
Commissioners will also consider a $2.6 million contract with Salem-based Gelco Construction Company to rebuild Northeast Hollywood Drive from Northeast Silverton Road to Northeast Greenfield Lane. The work would include building bike lanes and sidewalks along both sides of Hollywood Drive, as well as a new signalized intersection at Silverton Road and Hollywood Drive. The majority of the funding, about $2.3 million, would come from federal sources while the county would cover the rest.
The board will consider a $2 million contract with Roy Houck Construction to repave North Fork Road, a 14.57-mile street stretching from Mehama to Elkhorn that was damaged by heat during the Beachie Creek fire in September 2020. Federal funding would pay for about $1.5 million, with the county covering the rest.
They will also consider appointing 15 people to the Marion County Justice Reinvestment Council. Formed in 2009, the council advises government agencies on policies related to diversion from the criminal justice system and helping people leaving prison reenter the community without reoffending, according to the agenda item. Terms would span through 2024.
Members include Commissioner Colm Willis, Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast, Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, Liberty House Chief Executive Officer Alison Kelley, Salem Police Department Deputy Chief Skip Miller, Bridgeway Recovery Services Executive Director Tim Murphy, Chemeketa Community College President Jessica Howard and Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency.
Commissioners will consider reimbursing the city of Gates $120,000 for expenses related to its business district development plan, which includes rebuilding the city’s downtown area damaged by wildfire in 2020. Oregon Video Lottery dollars reserved for economic development would pay for the project.
The board will consider adding $450,000 to its purchase order with Day Wireless Systems to provide equipment upfitting services for emergency vehicles.
They will also consider adding $525,000 to an agreement with the state Department of Transportation for improvements to Northeast Center Street from Northeast Lancaster Drive to Northeast 45th Place. The work would include widening the pavement, adding a center left turn lane and bicycle lane, and building sidewalks along the north side of Center Street. Federal funding would pay for about $472,000 with the rest covered by the state and county.
There will also be a public hearing Wednesday to consider amending the city of Sublimity’s Urban Growth Boundary, scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
