State, Linn County to see reduced Marine Board funding
ALBANY — The Linn County Sheriff’s Office will lose about $77,000 in Oregon Marine Board funding over the 2025-2027 biennium, Sheriff Michelle Duncan told Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker Tuesday morning.
Duncan was responding to a question posed by Chairman Nyquist.
Nyquist said he learned that the state Marine Board was going to receive less federal funding, due in part to Oregon being a sanctuary state and not assisting federal immigration officials.
Duncan said she plans to staff the county’s marine patrol as usual for this summer, but there may need to be staffing cuts next summer.
Commissioner Nyquist asked staff to research whether the county’s Transient Lodging Tax might be used to help “backfill the Marine Board funding”.
Nyquist said tourism continues to grow as a segment of the local economy and our “local bodies of water must be safe.”
He added that there are accidents on local waterways every year.
“Reducing service is not an option,” Nyquist noted.
Sheriff Duncan said her office remains committed to water safety.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Learned that the Linn County Emergency Operations Plan has been updated. It was last updated in 2022. Linn County Emergency Manager Ric Lentz said that project was a collaborative effort that involved “multiple county departments and partner agencies.” He added that a “significant portion of the update focused on incorporating lessons learned from the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons, as well as our 2024 winter storm.” Keeping the Emergency Operations Plan updated helps the county maintain compliance with FEMA and eligible for future grant opportunities.
- Approved a three-year contract with Avaya phone system maintenance. The contract is for $59,582.94; $61,668.35 and $63,826.74 annually.
- Accepted an easement along Lulay Road for the Lulay Road Cross Culvert Replacement Project. Cost was $300 and the grantor is Gary D. Teigan as Trustee of the Melvin and Evelyn Revocable Living Trust.
- Approved a contract with the Jackson Street Shelter to provide a bed used by the Linn County Mental Health Response and Stabilization Service youth clients. Daily rate will be $148.53 and includes meals, laundry and items for basic needs.
- Were informed by Juvenile Director Torri Lynn that 29 young people from Linn County were held for 308 days in May; three youth from Benton County were held for six days; two youth from Lincoln County were held for three days. There were 41 referrals to the Probation Department and there are 156 young people in the Probation Unit. The county’s Intervention Specialist is serving 175 youth. 165 have not had involvement with law enforcement. The victim advocate made 120 contacts in May.
- Approved a contract to provide Lincoln County with access to beds at the Linn Benton Juvenile Detention Center at a rate of $175 per day, per bed.
- Wrote off the following as uncollectable accounts that are more than 180 days old: Mental Health Services, $11,667.93; Alcohol & Drug Treatment Program, $12,743.98; Public Health, $1,591.36.
- Announced the Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, for possible adoption of the 2025-2026 budget. Possible adoption of the 4-H and Extension Service District budget will follow.
- Announced the Board of Commissioners will not meet on Tuesday, July 1.
- Congratulated and thanked retiring Senior Administrative Assistant Marsha Meyer, who will retire Friday after 27 years serving Linn County in the Commissioners’ Office. A party in her honor will be held Friday afternoon in the Board Room.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.
