The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday decided not to vote on accepting state funding intended to cover costs of managing people on probation and post-prison supervision.
Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to remove a $27.2 million agreement with the Oregon Department of Corrections from the meeting agenda.
Commissioner Kevin Cameron Cameron asked at the meeting if there would be further public discussion about the matter.
“We’ll see it next week,” Commissioner Danielle Bethell responded. “There was just some changes at the state level that I want to see in factual writing before I sign a contract on it.”
Commissioners otherwise provided no information about their decision.
The state funding intended for Marion County’s Community Corrections Division would have lasted through June 2025 if it had been approved.
The board unanimously approved or advanced other agenda items, including seeking a vendor to design and build a new public safety radio system and broadband network, appointing Jake Hush as an at-large member to the Marion Water Quality Advisory Committee, and spending $70,000 of lottery funding to establish a program that would provide awards up to $10,000 to local small businesses.
Original story below:
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday will consider accepting state funding to cover expenses related to community corrections supervision and services.
READ IT: AGENDA
Commissioners will consider a $27.2 million agreement with the Oregon Department of Corrections to last through June 2025.
Marion County’s Community Corrections Division oversees people on probation and post-prison supervision.
To participate
The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Senator Hearing Room at 555 Court Street N.E. Anyone can attend or sign up to give public comment in-person at the meeting. The meeting is streamed live on YouTube.
Public safety
Commissioners will consider allowing the county’s Public Works Department to seek a contract with a single vendor who would both design and build a new public safety radio system and broadband network, according to the agenda item.
State and county contracting rules require that the board find there is a public benefit to using an alternative contracting method besides the standard process of designing, bidding then building.
Paid for by federal Covid relief funding, the network is intended to serve the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, eight city police agencies, 19 fire districts, two rural ambulance districts and the county’s rural 911 call center.
Also on the agenda
The board will consider appointing Jake Hush as an at-large member to the Marion Water Quality Advisory Committee through June 2027.
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 spending $70,000 of lottery funding to establish a Chamber Small Business Support Program, according to the agenda item. The program would provide awards up to $10,000 to small businesses in Marion County.
They will also consider approving changers to the county’s personnel rules, including adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday for regular or trial service employees.
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.
