Benton County Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall and Commissioner Pat Malone take Oath of Office
Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone and Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall were sworn into office by Judge Joan Demarest, on Dec. 28, 2022, at the Benton County Circuit Court, in Corvallis. Malone is now serving his second term after reelection. Van Arsdall was appointed by the Board of Commissioners to his position in March 2021, after former Sheriff Scott Jackson's retirement. Malone and Van Arsdall were voted in during the Nov. 8 general election to serve 4-year terms beginning in January after taking the Oath of Office.
"It's an honor and privilege to be elected as the Sheriff of Benton County, an honor I don't take lightly,” said Van Arsdall. “I look forward to serving the next four years as your Sheriff."
Malone said public transportation and justice system improvements are among his top priorities.
“I want to represent all of our County,” said Malone. “I think it's important to be familiar with all parts of the County and get as much information about what the issues and concerns are, and what we are trying to achieve throughout the County.”
View videos featuring Commissioner Pat Malone and Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall.
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Benton County sandbag stations
Community members,
As you know we have entered the wet season. Various sandbags stations are available for you to use throughout Benton County.
Benton County: 541-766-6821
Benton County Public Works Avery Building: 360 S.W. Avery Avenue (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday).
- Community members must check-in with Public Works and/or call in advance.
- The sand pile is in the southwest corner of the complex, next to the Sheriff’s impound yard.
- There are empty sand bags and a filling station/frame there.
- Additional bags can be found in the barn next to the sign shop if there are none at the station.
- Community members may ask for empty bags to fill at another location.
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Shovels are not provided. Please bring your own shovel.
- Sand can also be found at several locations in Corvallis and around the County.
Benton County Fairgrounds: 53rd Street, Corvallis.
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Shovels are not provided. Please bring your own shovel.
City of Corvallis: 541-766-6916
Willamette Park: next to community gardens.
Cheldelin Middle School: 987 NE Conifer Boulevard, west parking lot.
Corvallis High School: 1400 NW Buchanan Avenue, in east parking lot located off of 11th Street.
Grant Avenue Baptist Church: 1625 NW Grant Avenue, in back parking lot off of 17th Street.
Corvallis 509J School District Office: 1555 SW 35th Street, west parking lot located behind bus shelter on 35th Street.
Circle Boulevard: east of the Walnut Boulevard intersection.
City of Philomath: 541-929-3579
Philomath Public Works: 1515 Willow Street.
- After hours filling is permitted at this location.
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Shovels are not provided. Please bring your own shovel.
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Community partners provide cold weather resources
During recent freezing temperatures and flood events, Benton County worked with community partners to open warming centers for community members without access to warm spaces.
Thank you to the Alsea Community Library, Corvallis-Benton Library, Corvallis Community Center, Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, Corvallis Men's Shelter, First Christian Church, Osborn Aquatic Center, Monroe Community Library, Philomath Fire Department, and Philomath Community Library.
Get more information about Benton County cold weather resources.
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Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines now available for 6 months and older
An updated formula of the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for young children has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and the Oregon Health Authority. This new formula is bivalent, like the updated boosters for adults, and offers broad protection against COVID-19 by teaching your body about the original and omicron strains of the virus.
If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old and has completed their primary series of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, they may receive a Moderna bivalent booster. Children 5 years and older may receive either a Moderna or Pfizer booster.
If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old and has received or started their primary series of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the third dose of their primary series will be a bivalent formula. No booster is approved for the Pfizer vaccine in this age group at this time. Speak with your pediatrician or medical provider about having your child vaccinated against COVID-19 today.
Get more information about the vaccine and how to find a vaccinator.
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Pastega Christmas light display cut short due to wind damage after another successful year
The Pastega Christmas Light Display was cut short this year due to significant wind damage to the display last week after another successful year. The event has been a community holiday tradition since 1981. Republic Services donated the use of the recycle bins and Starker Forest re-distributed live trees back into the forest and watersheds for fish habitat.
This year, over 12,500 vehicles visited the display, while food donations went to St. Vincent de Paul, College Hill High School, Monroe Good Gleaners, South Town Food & Pantry, and the Adair Village Food Pantry though the Linn-Benton Food Share!
“Big thanks to the community for supporting this wonderful community event,” said the Acting Director of Benton County Natural Parks and Areas, Jesse Ott. “Every year volunteers donate thousands of hours to get our fairgrounds set up with holiday lights and displays.”
Learn more about the Pastega Christmas Light Display and be sure to visit again next year!
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Deputy Weikel retires from BCSO
Deputy Weikel retired after 27 years with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).
Deputy Weikel joined the team in 1995 as a volunteer reserve deputy and went on to become a full time patrol deputy in 1997. He was an instrumental part of the K9 Unit and Special Weapons and Tactics Team.
The BCSO is incredibly grateful for Weikel’s service to Benton County and wish him the best in his retirement.
Thank you Deputy Weikel!
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E-Filing available for Benton County Business Personal Property accounts
The Benton Assessment Department has completed the implementation of an online E-Filing platform for Business Personal Property accounts in Benton County, and is asking business owners to use this online system to file Business Property Returns for tax year 2023 and beyond as required by Oregon Revised Statute 308.290.
Instructions were mailed on December 31, 2022 and the online filing system opened on January 2, 2023. The filing deadline to avoid a penalty is March 15, 2023. Business personal property returns filed electronically will be digitally postmarked during submission. Please visit the Benton County Business Personal Property page for additional information.
Want to learn more? The Benton County Assessment Department will offer community members two workshops, one in-person and one virtual on the following dates and times:
- February 1, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: in-person E-Filing workshop
- February 15, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: virtual E-Filing workshop
Residents interested in attending either workshop may send the requested date and a valid email address to personal.property@co.benton.or.us.
Community members that have questions should contact 541-766-6855 or personal.property@co.benton.or.us.
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Upcoming Solid Waste Process Workgroup meetings
The next Solid Waste Process Workgroup meeting is Thursday, January 19. All meetings are held in person at the Kalapuya Bldg. located at 4500 SW Research Way, first floor board room chambers or online through Zoom.
The County will continue to provide updates about the workgroup through March 2023. The goal of the County and the workgroup is to be transparent while working with community members, key stakeholders, and other local, state, and federal partners.
Learn more about the Solid Waste Process Workgroup.
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Benton County is hiring!
Our featured job this month is: Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) - Crisis Outreach & Engagement (CORE)
The QMHP provides recovery oriented, crisis and therapeutic case management to serve individuals in crisis. This position may provide specialized services such as responding with law enforcement, depending on area of assignment. As a Crisis Mental Health Professional, you will be a member of a collaborative team whose primary duties include providing crisis services and mental health assessments onsite in the community, institutions, and the crisis center.
View additional vacancies.
Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices.
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Merkley, Wyden secure funding for critical project in Benton County
In December 2022, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced secured funding for essential community projects across Oregon in Congress’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package.
With the support of members of Oregon’s congressional delegation in the House of Representatives—Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Kurt Schrader—a total of 145 community-initiated projects in Oregon were included in the package.
One of those projects included $1.512 million to the Oregon Department of Transportation for the Benton Area Transit Fleet Replacement.
“On behalf of Benton County, I would like to give Senators Merkley and Wyden a sincere thank you for securing funds to support the Benton Area Transit Fleet Replacement project. In February 2020, Benton County established an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of 2010 levels by 2030, and be net-zero by 2050. This investment will allow for more County-operated vehicles to be electric and provide safe and reliable public transportation to the entire community. It will also help to develop an infrastructure for electric vehicle charging that supports the use of environmentally friendly vehicles in our County,” said Benton County Commissioner Nancy Wyse.
Learn more about the community-initiated projects in Oregon.
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This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. | | | | |
