Marion County seeks federal help for Santiam Canyon rebuilding, bridges

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Marion County officials hope to get federal help for millions of dollars in infrastructure projects to continue rebuilding the Santiam Canyon and replace deficient bridges.

The county Board of Commissioners discussed its federal lobbying priorities during a Jan. 30 meeting with Kirby Garrett, a representative from the county’s federal lobbying firm, CFM. The list included $76 million in funding requests for various federal grants and programs.

The county is also advocating for federal policy changes, including recognizing energy produced from burning garbage as renewable, and allowing the county to bill federal health insurance programs for services provided in institutions and juvenile detention facilities.

Funding requests

Marion County is seeking $5.7 million to rebuild the North Santiam Canyon, severely damaged during the 2020 fires that burned over 200,000 acres of land. That includes $2 million for reopening parks that were damaged during the fires.

According to the meeting packet, “despite significant investment from both the county and local cities, the cost of rebuilding far exceeds the resources of our rural communities.”

Another $20 million would go to wastewater infrastructure in the canyon.  

“The existing infrastructure is inadequate and cannot accommodate new users, preventing the growth of local businesses, homes and facilities. Due to the region’s unique geology and water source protection requirements, the cost of deploying wastewater infrastructure is exponentially higher than in other locations,” according to the meeting packet.

The county already received $65.5 million in wastewater infrastructure aid from the state and federal Covid relief money, but it will be requesting additional funds.

Marion County is also requesting $37.2 million to replace seven bridges, many of which are in poor condition. Bridge replacements would also increase load limitations, which currently hinder agricultural producers from shipping goods cost-effectively. 

The county already invests “hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to strengthen bridges to reduce load restrictions but lack(s) the funds necessary to replace these key bridges,” according to the meeting packet. 

The county is also requesting $11 million for safety enhancements on the McKay/Yergen/Ehlen Road corridor. It is located between Newberg and the Aurora-Donald Interchange on Interstate 5 and was designated a safety corridor in 2021 due to the high rates of fatal accidents.

“The cost of remaining corridor improvements greatly exceeds county resources. The recommended design alternative is underfunded, especially due to recent inflation and escalated construction costs,” according to the meeting packet. Safety enhancements are projected to eliminate at least two serious injuries and fatalities a year.

Officials are also seeking $2 million to provide body cameras and other equipment to the Sheriff’s Office and $3.7 million for a public safety radio system for first responders to coordinate throughout the county. 

“These are long-term funding requests that can span multiple years. They are reviewed annually during the annual federal agenda,” Marion County spokesman Jon Heynen said.

Policy changes

County officials want it to be easier to recoup costs for providing health care in institutions. They support the Behavioral Health Treatment Act, which would allow Medicaid to pay for services provided in institutions for mental diseases in individuals under 65. The county will collaborate with U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Oregon) to pass the bill, commissioners said.

They also want to repeal a law prohibiting billing federal programs like Medicaid for health care provided in jail and juvenile detention. The county is joining U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s (D-Oregon) calls to eliminate this prohibition.

Other policy goals include:

• Changes to allow local governments to use federal Covid relief money for mobile crisis response teams that include law enforcement. According to the meeting packet, the county currently operates a “successful model that combines a coordinated response” between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals, but mobile crisis response teams must not include law enforcement to be eligible for federal funding. 
• Changes to allow the county to be eligible for federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which would go to providing affordable housing and rental assistance. 
• Reassessment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s development standards, which the county argues “impact the development of low-lying communities [and] restrict housing, commercial, industrial and agricultural activities,” according to the meeting packet. The county could lose federal flood insurance and disaster assistance if current standards are not met. Gov. Tina Kotek also supports lowering these standards.
• Recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of energy produced from non-recyclable waste as clean energy. “The county opposes any effort by special interests to restrict its well-founded renewable classification,” according to the meeting packet. Marion County currently has one waste-to-energy facility in Brooks, but it is closing in June and has stopped accepting local trash. 
• Use of federal forest funds to finance schools, roads and other services through a long-term reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. “Stabilizing and regulating funds from national forest lands is a priority for Marion County as it grapples with unemployment and economic limitations, especially in rural areas,” according to the meeting packet.
• Deployment of high-speed and reliable internet access throughout the county. “Currently, households and businesses in the North Santiam Canyon are paying the same rates for internet access as their counterparts in urban areas but are getting much less,” according to the meeting packet.

County commissioners travel yearly to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials and lobby for funding and policy change.

“The needs of the County dictate the priorities in the annual federal agenda. Some requests are addressed quickly. Some priorities take years of advocacy before being met,” Heynen said.

Contact reporter Alan Cohen: [email protected].

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