Uncategorized

Marion County to consider contracts for travel promotion, spatial imagery for planning

The Marion County Board of Commissioners is taking its weekly meeting to Gates Fire Hall Tuesday night with plans to take action on a pair of contracts.

Commissioners will consider amending the county’s contract with Pictometry International Corporation, a provider of geospatial information system data. The county uses such data for planning purposes. An example would be the aerial photos of tax lots seen on the Marion County Assessor’s property search website.

Gary Christofferson, the county’s deputy information technologies director, said in an email that county staff want to amend its contract because it’s seeking improved data in certain parts of the county for both economic development projects — like providing broadband into the canyon — and wildfire preparedness.

The new contract would be worth $619,926.40 — a $51,558.12 increase from the previous contract, which was finalized in 2015. Staff recommended the contract amendment.

Commissioners will also consider extending the county’s contract with Travel Salem, which promotes tourism to Marion County and other places in the region. A one-year, $125,000 contract that would expire June 30, 2019 would be extended to June 30, 2023. The total contract would be worth $625,0000.

The new contract would be paid with Oregon Video Lottery dollars, which also funds organizations like GROW North Santiam and the Strategic Economic Development Corporation. Staff recommended the extension.

Meeting details: Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m. at Gates Fire Hall, 140 East Sorbin Street, Gates.

Commission members: Sam Brentano, Kevin Cameron, Colm Willis

Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.

A note from our editor: Thank you for reading another example of our local journalism. This kind of work takes paid professionals and we rely on subscribers to support this work. If you haven’t yet signed on as a Salem Reporter subscriber, please ensure you get more of these kinds of stories with your subscription: Click HEREThank you. — Les Zaitz, editor