The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday to consider adding $526,00 to a contract with Mackenzie Engineering, Inc. to provide architectural and engineering services for the new Marion County Evidence Building.
The building is intended for storage of evidence collected by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, according to the agenda. The new contract would total $606,000.
The board will also consider awarding $500,000 of federal Covid relief funding to Catholic Community Services Foundation for the redevelopment of Highland Cottages, near the Highland neighborhood in northeast Salem. The complex will include six affordable apartments for Our Place, a transitional living program run by Marion County that will provide childcare and addiction treatment for parents with substance abuse disorders, helping them with long-term recovery and reuniting with their children.
Commissioners will consider a $409,000 contract with Lindstrom Construction for cleaning and improvements at the Marion County Transition Center, a minimum-security alternative to jail where residents work jobs or do community service. The work includes abating mold, cleaning the shower area and replacing exhaust fans.
The board will consider removing $1.5 million from an agreement with the Oregon Health Authority.
The work being considered for removal are Covid active monitoring, epidemiology and lab capacity, as well as federal funding intended to help Americans cope with the pandemic and associated job losses. The board will consider adding $278,000 to HIV early intervention and outreach services. The new contract with OHA would total about $18.55 million.
They will consider reappointing Brenda Sanchez as an at-large member and Rick Massey as a land development representative to the Marion Water Quality Advisory Committee for terms through 2026. Formed in 2010, the committee consists of six at-large positions and five positions with community stakeholders from Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, a local home-builders association, the agriculture industry, land development and a local watershed council.
Commissioners will consider appointing Salvador Llerenas and Ryan Matthews to the Marion County Retirement Plans Committee. The group has fiduciary responsibility for 401(k) and 457 retirement plans in the county.
They will also approve a proclamation designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Marion County.
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.
