The Polk County Courthouse. (Courtesy of Janet Guzman/Polk County Itemizer-Observer) UPDATE 10:50 a.m. Dec. 5: Micky Garus was not appointed Polk County Commissioner. Commissioners unanimously chose Lyle Mordhorst, a manager at Les Schwab and former president of the West Salem High School Education Foundation. As a Dallas city councilor, Micky[Read More…]
Tag: COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Leaving office, Janet Carlson hopes to see continued push to help Marion County homeless
Outgoing county commissioner Janet Carlson has spent 16 years in office focused on helping people get a second change after coming out of jail. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Janet Carlson’s office is lined with a stack of plastic tubs, carefully labeled by topic. The outgoing Marion County commissioner describes it as[Read More…]
Leaving office, Janet Carlson hopes to see continued push to help Marion County homeless
Outgoing county commissioner Janet Carlson has spent 16 years in office focused on helping people get a second change after coming out of jail. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Janet Carlson’s office is lined with a stack of plastic tubs, carefully labeled by topic. The outgoing Marion County commissioner describes it as[Read More…]
Bonds and increasing property values raise local property taxes
Average property taxes in Salem and Keizer rose 11 percent this year due to new school and library bonds, and increasing property values across the region. Salem residents who live in Marion County will pay $19.87 per $1,000 of assessed property value this year, up from $18.47 last year. On[Read More…]
Marion County to investigate its culture following sexual harassment and discrimination allegations
Marion County Courthouse (Salem Reporter file) Marion County plans to hire an independent auditor to investigate the county’s culture following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination by a public works employee. County spokeswoman Jolene Kelley said Wednesday the county will conduct a “cultural audit.” Details are scant, but Kelley said[Read More…]
Marion County worker alleges sexual discrimination in public works department
A Marion County employee says she was denied a promotion and degraded based on her gender. Jamie Namitz, a county worker for 16 years, took to the board of commissioners meeting Wednesday to report being sexually harassed during a job interview. Namitz said a department manager named Don Newell discriminated[Read More…]
Marion County joins lawsuit to stop project that could drain Detroit Lake
Marion County has joined a lawsuit to stop a project that could drain Detroit Lake for up to two years and potentially hurt farmers, the recreation industry and county tax revenue. A federal magistrate on Sept. 25 approved Marion County as an intervenor in a lawsuit between the U.S. Army[Read More…]
Clarkson to become Marion County D.A. Oct. 1, Beglau to retire early
The Marion County Courthouse, pictured in July. Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that Paige Clarkson, who won the post in May, will take over three months sooner than expected. (Salem Reporter) Marion County District Attorney-elect Paige Clarkson is stepping into the job a little sooner than expected. Gov. Kate[Read More…]