Update, July 7, 2023
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a contract with the city of Woodburn to pair police officers with a mental health professional to respond to crisis calls.
The agreement was renewed for the third time since the Woodburn Police Department first began mobile crisis response in 2017, according to Ann-Marie Bandfield, program manager for acute and forensic behavioral health at the county’s Health and Human Services Department.
The Woodburn agency would assign trained officers to ten-hour shifts four days a week to respond to calls from dispatchers involving mental health. Marion County will pay up to $300,000 under the contract and provide a qualified mental health professional to help respond to such calls.
Bandfield said at the meeting that the Woodburn mobile crisis team assists with calls all over Marion County, but typically responds to those in the northern region.
Commissioner Kevin Cameron said at the meeting that the mobile crisis response is needed to “keep people out of jail that don’t need to be there, and to get them the help and the services that they need.”
Commissioners also approved a $447,000 contract with Keller Associates, Inc. for water and wastewater improvements in the unincorporated city of Brooks, paid for by federal pandemic relief funding.
That work will include installing a new community water well, adding a water reservoir and upgrading the area’s wastewater treatment plant.
At the meeting, Public Works Director Brian Nicholas recalled one property owner who wanted to develop his business in Brooks, but chose not to due so because the existing system didn’t provide the water flow needed for fire protection.
“We’re making investments into the Brooks community area in the infrastructure space so that way it can see future growth, and it can support the interest that we know exists,” Commissioner Danielle Bethell said at the meeting.
The board unanimously approved or advanced other agenda items, including purchasing new public safety radio equipment, emergency repairs on Northeast Abiqua Road, and a contract with Union Gospel Mission to provide subsidized housing for people under Marion County Sheriff’s Office supervision.
Original story below:
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday will consider an agreement with the city of Woodburn to pair police officers with a mental health professional to respond to crisis calls.
READ IT: AGENDA
The Woodburn Police Department would assign trained officers to ten-hour shifts four days a week to respond to calls from dispatchers involving mental health. The county would pay up to $300,000 under the contract and provide a qualified mental health professional to help respond to such calls, according to the agenda item.
To participate
The commissioners will meet at 10:15 a.m. Thursday on the main stage at the Marion County Fair. The event is held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E. Anyone can attend or sign up to give public comment in-person at the meeting. The meeting is streamed live on YouTube.
Radio and water system improvements
Commissioners will consider spending $315,000 on new public safety radio equipment from Tigard-based CVE Technologies to replace smaller radio systems throughout Marion County.
The county plans to start using the new radio system in fall 2024, according to the agenda.
The board will consider a $447,000 contract with Keller Associates, Inc. for water and wastewater improvements in the unincorporated city of Brooks, paid for by federal pandemic relief funding.
The work would include installing a new community water well, adding a water reservoir and upgrading the area’s wastewater treatment plant. The existing systems aren’t large enough to meet current and future needs, including sufficient water flow for fire protection, according to the agenda.
Construction and housing
Commissioners will consider a $750,000 construction contract with K&E Excavating, Inc. for emergency repairs on Northeast Abiqua Road due to a landslide impacting access and travel. The public road is the only one serving the upper Abiqua Creek basin, the agenda item said.
The board will also consider a $140,000 agreement with Union Gospel Mission to provide subsidized housing for people under Marion County Sheriff’s Office supervision.
The shelter’s Restoration House, a 47-bed home at 650 Locust Street N.E., houses men that come directly from state prisons, Marion County referrals or emergency referrals from UGM, according to the agenda.
Also on the agenda
Commissioners will consider a $615,000 contract with Eagle Newspapers, Inc. to print and mail the Marion County Today newsletter for five years.
The board will consider adding $150,000 to a contract with Dr. O’Neill Solansky to provide dental services to people in custody at the Marion County Jail.
They will also recognize four volunteers with awards for their community service in 2022.
New Sheriff Nick Hunter and retired Sheriff Joe Kast will present an appreciation award for K&E Excavating, Inc.
The board will also consider a proclamation designating the week of July 16-22 as Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week in Marion County.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
SUPPORT OUR WORK – We depend on subscribers for resources to report on Salem with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Subscribe today to get our daily newsletters and more. Click I want to subscribe!
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.
