The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved an expanded contract to hire temporary therapists for the county’s Health and Human Services Department.
Commissioners unanimously approved adding $2.25 million to a contract with Gibraltar Medical Staffing, a Tennessee nursing agency, to provide temporary medical workers through January 2028. The new contract totals $2.75 million.
The temporary workers would provide telehealth services, including mental health counseling and medication management.
Phil Blea, the county’s behavioral health outpatient division director, said at the meeting that the workers would fill 10 of 19 open therapist positions in its behavioral health programs for children and adults.
Commissioners also unanimously approved a $902,500 grant agreement with Keizer-based Pelton Project, Inc. to develop and operate a residential treatment home in Salem or Keizer within Marion County.
The company provides community-based mental health services, according to its website.
The facility would treat people 18 and older with serious and persistent mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The home is intended to be operating with five beds by April 2024.
Pelton Project would use the money to acquire property, make renovations and other start-up costs.
The board unanimously approved or advanced all other agenda items, including revising dates and work plans for four federally funded projects, an expanded contract for replacing the Little Pudding River Bridge and amending the Marion County Rural Code to allow rural accessory dwelling units in the acreage residential zone.
Original story below:
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday will consider hiring temporary therapists for the county’s Health and Human Services Department to provide mental health counseling and medication management.
READ IT: AGENDA
Commissioners will consider adding $2.25 million to a contract with Gibraltar Medical Staffing, a Tennessee nursing agency, to provide temporary medical workers through January 2028.
The temporary workers would provide telehealth services while the county seeks to fill 17 open therapist positions in its behavioral health programs for children and adults.
The new contract would total $2.75 million.
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.
Community mental health treatment
Commissioners will consider approving a $902,500 grant agreement with Keizer-based Pelton Project, Inc. to develop and operate a residential treatment home in Salem or Keizer within Marion County. The company provides community-based mental health services, according to its website.
The facility would treat people 18 and older with serious and persistent mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The home is intended to be operating with five beds by April 2024.
Pelton Project would use the money to acquire property, make renovations and other administrative and start-up costs.
Tech services
The board will consider approving a $1.38 million contract with Plante and Moran, PLLC to provide consulting services for a new software system through 2028.
They will also consider spending $1.5 million on computer hardware and support services through Dell Marketing.
Construction and development
Commissioners will consider revising dates and work plans for four projects funded by federal pandemic relief money. The changes are related to water system improvements in the cities of Aurora, Donald, Gates and Mill City.
The board will consider authorizing Marion County Parks to apply for a grant through the state Parks and Recreation Department’s Land and Water Conservation Fund Program for development at North Fork Park, which was heavily damaged by wildfire in 2020.
They will also consider adding about $415,000 to a contract with Salem-based David Evans and Associates, Inc. to provide construction engineering and inspection services for replacing the Little Pudding River Bridge between Salem and Mt. Angel.
New purchases
Commissioners will consider adding $142,000 to a purchase order with Salem-based Fastenal Company to buy parts, safety clothing, and operational supplies for Marion County’s Public Works Department. The new contract would total $517,000.
The board will consider spending about $105,000 on two portable light towers and two mobile trailer mounted diesel generators from Generac Power Systems, Inc. for Marion County’s Emergency Management Department.
Also on the agenda
Commissioners will consider appointing Mike Hartford to the Marion County Public Safety Coordinating Council as a community corrections member.
Hartford is a commander for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Community Corrections Division, which oversees people on probation and post-prison supervision. If approved, he would replace retiring Undersheriff Jeff Wood on the council.
The 32-member council advises the board of commissioners and includes public safety, education, social services, civic and business leaders, as well as representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, community corrections, public defense, judiciary, domestic violence services, public health and juvenile justice.
The board will also consider transferring a segment of Butteville Road from Marion County’s jurisdiction to Woodburn city limits.
They will hold a public hearing to consider amending the Marion County Rural Code to allow rural accessory dwelling units in the acreage residential zone.
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.
