October 2022

Mental Health and Community Safety Survey

Benton County is seeking feedback from community members on proposed updates to the County’s justice system, aimed at improving outcomes. Community members can provide feedback by completing the survey.

Updates may include proposed new facilities that would be funded by a bond measure to be sent to voters in May 2023. The Benton County Board of Commissioners intends to finalize the bond later this year. Community feedback and engagement are critical parts of the bond development process.

The County has been conducting robust community outreach and engagement, with the goal to speak with or receive feedback from as many community members as possible. Your answers will help inform County leaders of community members’ public engagement preferences, as well as priorities and concerns specific to the justice system.

Community members interested in learning more about the bond are encouraged to attend the community safety forum scheduled for October 19 at 6:00 p.m., at Linus Pauling Middle School, to learn more about the County’s goal to keep the community safe. Those unable to attend are encouraged to register to join the forum virtually.

Take the mental health and community safety survey

Learn more about the Justice System Improvement Program.

Justice System Improvement Program updates

The Benton County Board of Commissioners received a report on the site master plan developed for the new Community Safety and Justice Campus, located one mile north of downtown Corvallis adjacent to the HP Inc. campus. Architects from DLR Group have conducted multiple work sessions with County staff and community partners to develop test fits of proposed County justice system facilities on the campus. The site plan is nearing the final stages of development. 

Learn more about the Community Safety & Justice Campus site master plan.

On July 29, 2022, Benton County offered a last and best offer of $5.477 million to purchase a 29.53-acre parcel of land for the new Community Safety and Justice Campus. The property owner did not agree to the offer and, following the required 40-day waiting period, Benton County filed for an eminent domain action in court. The last and best offer is designed to both allow the County to extend a fair and just offer of compensation and to assure the property owner that the County is prepared to pay fair market value for the property.

Learn more about the Community Safety and Justice Campus site purchase.

Fall Forums

At the September 13 Mental Health Forum for better outcomes in crisis response & the Justice System, feedback was collected from the community activity, audience questions, and discussions with presenters. Key takeaway messages requested that future outreach efforts should:

• Provide more details to the public about funding sources for new/expanded programs and staffing in new facilities (safety levy).
• Address the relationship between existing programs and staffing and the new facilities, including whether the new facilities will result in increased staffing and program costs.
• Clearly state and depict the total costs, leveraged funds, and potential bond measure cost to taxpayers.
• Emphasize the use of comparatives, data, and best practice recommendations from the comprehensive assessment.

Join us for the next Benton County Community Safety Forum: Improving Accountability and Emergency Response

• When: Wednesday, October 19, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Linus Pauling Middle School, 1111 NW Cleveland Ave, Corvallis
• Register for the October 19 meeting

It's Hispanic Heritage Month

On September 13 the Benton County Board of Commissioners proclaimed September 15 - October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month in Benton County. With a national theme "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation," Benton County’s observance celebrates the histories, cultures, and all the contributions made by Hispanic Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, and all they will continue to make in the future. Benton County is honored by its employees with Hispanic Heritage. 

Watch the reading of this year's proclamation by Rocio Munoz, Benton County health equity coordinator – bilingual

Solid Waste Process Workgroup tours Coffin Butte Landfill & surrounding neighborhoods

The Solid Waste Process Workgroup officially kicked off Sept. 8 with a welcome from the Benton County Board of Commissioners, introductions, and discussion about a collaboration process that will be happening through mid-December to support decision-making about the future of solid waste in Benton County. This includes developing common understandings, advising the Board on the criteria and information requirements for any future land use process at the landfill, and recommending the process for developing a long-term sustainable materials management plan and community education program. 

Members of the public and workgroup recently toured the Coffin Butte Landfill and neighborhoods surrounding the landfill to gain a perspective on operations and how they may affect homeowners nearby. 

Learn more about upcoming meetings, participation, supporting documents, reasons behind the workgroup’s formation, and Board of Commissioner meeting discussions.

The County will continue to provide updates about the workgroup from September through mid-December 2022. 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.

Get ready to ShakeOut on Oct. 20

The Benton County Board of Commissioners issued a Proclamation in October for the Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake drill. This year's International ShakeOut Day is October 20, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or at home.

The Great Oregon ShakeOut was designed to bring awareness to the threat of both crustal and subduction zone earthquakes. The threat of the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and crustal fault earthquakes greatly impact the entire region including the residents of Benton County.

Check out this video, and learn more at The Great Oregon ShakeOut - Get Ready!

Updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccines make most people eligible for another booster

As you may have heard, the Oregon Health Authority authorized a new, updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 12 years and older. This new vaccine is bivalent, which means it teaches your immune system about the original strain of COVID-19 and the newer omicron strain too, offering broader protection against COVID-19. Both Pfizer and Moderna have developed a bivalent vaccine. Anyone 12 or older can receive Pfizer, while anyone 18 or older can receive Moderna. Both brands are safe and effective, and the best brand of vaccine is the one you can get today.

Learn more about the bivalent COVID-19 booster. 

Benton County revises schedule for upcoming COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine events

Due to an unexpected short-term vaccine shipment delay, the Benton County Health Department has revised its scheduled COVID-19 bivalent booster events next week at the Benton County Event Center and Fairgrounds and Oregon State University. Vaccine shipments are expected to arrive the week of October 10. The updated schedule has been changed from October 8-13, and will now occur October 11-13.

View up to date information on upcoming vaccination events. 

Benton County is hiring!

Our featured job this month is: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator.

Benton County is a great place to work and a wonderful place to live. Did you know that for most employees who take advantage of health benefits the salary only makes up 60% of their total compensation? The County invests in you and your family!

View our current openings

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. 

Your VOTE is your VOICE!

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, a General Election will be held in Benton County and across the nation. This is your chance to have your voice heard by casting your ballot.  

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, October 18, 2022. If you have a valid Oregon Driver’s License, visit www.oregonvotes.gov to submit your registration. If you do not have a valid Oregon Driver’s License, you can obtain a registration form at any Elections Office in Oregon or at your local Post Office. 

Get the latest information on the November 8, 2022 general election.

Water quality: part 2 a series by Benton County Public Works

What is a watershed? Why are watersheds important?

Watersheds define interconnected areas of drainage that channel rainfall and snowmelt (runoff) to streams. Watersheds ideally function as diverse habitat areas with healthy streams delivering nutrients throughout the environment ensuring healthy, natural functions. Watersheds can also be a channel for pollutants and pathogens that affect the entire food web.

Runoff flows over and through manmade structures like roads, rooftops, parking lots, and ditches collecting pollutants along the way to streams. Because all things in watersheds are connected by water, the greatest concern in a watershed is water quality.

It is very important to recognize that simple everyday activities like washing our cars and fertilizing our lawns affect downstream waters and all living things. Ultimately, we all live downstream!

Learn more about water quality and the environment.