Commissioners OK Secure Rural Schools participation

ALBANY — Linn County will again participate in the National Forest and O & C Land Secure Rural Schools program, Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker agreed Tuesday morning.

In May, Federal government officials announced Linn County will receive about $3.3 million in 2022.

The Secure Rural Schools programs started 2000, after rural communities were affected by a steep reduction in timber harvesting, especially on U.S. Forest Service lands. Today, funds go to more than 700 counties in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Linn County Treasurer Michelle Hawkins said Linn County received up to $7 million per year in those early years.

Funds are divided into three categories: Title I funding is used for roads and schools and Title II funds are used for projects on federal lands and Title III funds are directed to county projects.

Benton County will receive about $132,000.

Lane County is slated to receive the most funding at about $9.5 million, followed by Douglas County at $7.1 million.

Commissioner Tucker will act as the point person for this program.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Were informed by Torri Lynn, Linn County Juvenile Director, that the summer program for 25 young people — most of whom have not been negatively involved with law enforcement — went well. The young people visited a company that makes the delivery robots used on the OSU Campus, worked with the Calapooia Watershed folks, learned about tidepools and more.
• Approved a new job classification “Special Operations Group Foreman” within the Road Department. The new position will provide support for the Operations Manager and Maintenance Supervisors and assist with organizing and managing the summer surface maintenance program.
• Approved closure of North River Drive and Quartzville Road for the annual Best in the West Triathlon at Foster Reservoir. Closure times will be: Sept. 10: North River Drive, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Quartzville Road, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. September 11: North River Drive, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Quartzville Road, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Approved changing a position in the IT Department from “Microcomputer Support Specialist” to “Systems Administrator.”

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.