June 26, 2023                                              View as Webpage

Aaron Cubic

Rachel McEneny

Nancy Newton

Benton County is pleased to announce an upcoming event, "Meet the County Administrator Finalists," providing community members with an opportunity to interact with the final three candidates for the position of County Administrator. The event aims to foster transparency, public engagement, and feedback in the decision-making process.

The County Administrator (CA) is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and is responsible to them for managing County operations. The County Administrator has the responsibility and authority to assure County functions are carried out efficiently and effectively.

How to Attend

The event will take place on June 28 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the Holmes & Shipley meeting rooms of the Kalapuya Building located at 4500 Research Way in Corvallis.

Comment forms will be available for attendees to provide their feedback.

About the “Meet the County Administrator Finalists” Event

The event will feature several key components designed to facilitate meaningful interactions between the candidates and the community:

1. Finalist Presentations: Each finalist will have the opportunity to deliver a presentation, sharing their qualifications, experience, and vision for the role of County Administrator. These presentations will offer valuable insights into the candidates' capabilities and leadership styles.
2. Question and Answer Session/Getting to Know the Candidates: Attendees will have the chance to learn more about and engage with the candidates through a question-and-answer session.
3. Networking and Interaction: Following the presentations and the question-and-answer session, attendees will have the opportunity to network and engage in informal conversations with the finalists. This segment aims to foster a sense of connection and enable community members to interact with the candidates on a more personal level.

Learn about the finalists.

Benton County breaks ground for new crisis center

The Benton County Commissioners were joined by nearly 60 dignitaries and invited guests at an event to break ground on the new Benton County Crisis Center at the site of the new facility at 240 NW 4th Street, in Corvallis. The Crisis Center is a voluntary walk-in treatment-centered facility that provides stabilization for individuals experiencing mental health crisis, along with referrals and support for ongoing behavioral health services.

The Crisis Center will be staffed by the Benton County Health Department’s behavioral health crisis team and is an expansion of existing mental health crisis services offered by the County. Services will include 24/7 walk-in and mobile crisis services, 5-7 stabilization recliners, and 5-7 respite beds. With construction starting in June of 2023, the facility is expected to open in the summer of 2024. 

View a video, see the photos, or learn more about the Crisis Center.

Pictured left to right: Commissioners Xan Augerot, Pat Malone, and Nancy Wyse, and Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall.

Pictured left to right: Shane Mueller, Lew Walund, Ben Keeton, Bill Nelson, Cody Bindrim, Keith Nicolson, Cody McGuire, Chris Ham, Travis Wells, and Crystal McGuire.

Benton County Fleet Crew places 4th among Best Public Fleets

The Benton County Board of Commissioners gave recognition to the Benton County Fleet Team, on June 6, for being awarded 4th place in the 2023 NAFA Fleet Management Association's 100 Best Public Fleets competition during a Board meeting at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis, Ore.

The National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) is the leading membership association in the vehicle fleet industry, NAFA's 100 Best Fleets in the Americas program, held annually, recognizes excellence in public and commercial fleet operations. Benton County achieved 9th place in 2022, showing consistent improvement as one of the top fleets (out of thousands) in North, Central and South Americas.

“The primary objective of the 100 Best Fleets program is to inspire and cultivate continuous improvement and innovation within the fleet industry,” said Benton County Fleet Manager Keith Nicolson. “To be recognized as one of the best is a great honor and accomplishment for our team.”

Benton County Commissioners approve path forward for Sustainable Materials Management Plan & next steps

The Benton County Board of Commissioners officially received the “Benton County Talks Trash” Solid Waste Process Workgroup final report on June 13 during the Board’s Goal Setting Meeting at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis. The Board reviewed a Draft Request For Proposal (RFP) for a comprehensive Sustainable Materials Management Plan and directed staff to develop a strategy for engaging the community in a refined RFP consistent with County values. This milestone marks a big step forward for the County's first-ever solid waste sustainable materials management framework.

The report includes consensus recommendations that will serve as a valuable guide for implementing the sustainable materials management plan. The Benton County Commissioners mentioned a strong emphasis on continued community engagement in sustainable materials management planning and the importance of the process leading to a finished plan.

“The envisioned plan, once completed, will pave the way for a more sustainable future by reducing the adverse impacts of solid waste materials on the environment, society, and the economy. It is designed to provide a roadmap for the county and act as a regional model that can guide other regional partners in their own sustainable materials management efforts,” said Commissioner Xan Augerot.

One of the key objectives of this initiative is to assist the County and other stakeholders in addressing the full life cycle of materials, from production to disposal. 

“I am proud of this collaborative foundation our community has built to guide future solid waste work plans and efforts. I look forward to continuing collaboration as we engage in future initiatives,” said Commissioner Nancy Wyse.

The Board of Commissioners invited all community members to provide feedback on the recommendations outlined in the report, which underwent a thorough, year-long vetting process with the Board-appointed Workgroup and members of the community. 

“With 124 recommendations formally considered, the report lays the groundwork for a constructive path forward,” Board Chair Pat Malone said. “This path fosters common understandings about Sustainable Materials Management and the future of solid waste disposal in the mid-Willamette Valley, including at the Coffin Butte regional landfill.”



Responding to the Report and the County Board’s commitment, Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Agricultural Sciences offered to appoint student mentor John Deuel as a liaison between OSU’s Sustainability Double Degree Program and Benton County. County Commissioners warmly welcomed the partnership and thanked OSU for the generous offer of support. The partnership will provide research and experiential learning opportunities for OSU students and will provide a valuable resource to the County and community. 

For more information, please contact pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov. 

The Benton County Board of Commissioners receive the “Benton County Talks Trash” Solid Waste Process Workgroup final report on June 13 during the Board’s Goal Setting Meeting at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis. This milestone marks a step forward toward the County's first-ever solid waste sustainable materials management framework.