October 6, 2023 View as Webpage

A warm welcome to Benton County's new Administrator

Benton County is thrilled to introduce our new County Administrator, Rachel McEneny, to the community! Rachel's journey to Oregon, documented through an engaging video blog alongside her father Jack and trusty companion, Yaeger the dog, is an opportunity to learn a little about Rachel. Rachel started her first day with the County on Oct. 2.

The video blog offers a unique opportunity to get better acquainted with Rachel and provides a glimpse into her journey. View the video.

Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Benton County Administrator, and we look forward to her contributions serving our community.

Learn more about Rachel's role as the County Administrator and her credentials.

Benton County celebrates unity and diversity in 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month with proclamation and gathering

Benton County recognized the importance of unity and diversity during 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month with a meaningful gathering and proclamation reading to honor County employees and the heritage of Latino background, Oct. 3, at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis. Benton County staff and local leaders from Casa Latinos Unidos came together to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Rocío Muñoz, Interim Healthy Communities Division Manager, opened the ceremony with a heartfelt message, emphasizing the significance of recognizing and embracing the Hispanic community within Benton County.

The proclamation was read by Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson who also gave comments in both Spanish and English at the gathering and acknowledged the historic significance of his role with Benton County.

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation reading wasn't just an event; it was a heartfelt celebration of unity, recognition, and the rich tapestry of Hispanic heritage that enriches the community.

View pictures of the celebration or watch the video.

First-time Benton County event brings regional partners together to safeguard against flooding

Located in the heart of the Willamette River Basin, and with several watersheds flowing through the County, much of Benton County faces the threat of periodic flooding. To help the region minimize these risks, Benton County convened a groundbreaking regional floodplain discussion in coordination with the Oregon Silver Jackets Team, at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis on Sept. 26.

The discussion brought local, state, and federal partners together to build awareness of available flood maps and tools to improve flood preparedness, protect lives, safeguard property, and effectively communicate flood risks to residents and property owners.

This collaborative effort serves as an example of how proactive floodplain management, including the maps and insights shared, equip Benton County and partners with valuable tools to mitigate the impacts of flooding, protect the community, and support a secure future. As the first of its kind, this event is a testament to the commitment of all involved to create comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the flood hazard challenges faced by the region.

Read the full article or view photos of the event.

Apply for an agricultural wildlife protection grant

The Benton Agriculture and Wildlife Protection Program (AWPP) is a grant program for farms of all sizes in Benton County which seeks to help farmers to protect livestock and crops from wild predators and beaver without having to resort to lethal control or trapping.

If you are a farmer and would like to apply for up to $5,000 in reimbursed funds to install fencing, animal housing, sound or light deterrents, or to purchase a livestock guardian animal please visit co.benton.or.us/awpp for more information.

We are accepting applications from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2023 and successful applicants will be notified the first week of Jan. The AWPP also provides other resources such as a lending library with an array of wildlife deterrent devices and books for checkout as well as information on wildlife coexistence. Please note that elk and deer deterrents are not included.

For questions, please email awpp@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6293.

Listen to episode 5

Did you know Benton County has a podcast? You can listen to Episode 5 of the Benton Public Podcast featuring the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center (CDDC) with Director Allison Hobgood and others who work at and get support from the Drop-in Center.

The CDDC is a community-based resource hub providing information, referral, and direct services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Benton County and beyond.

Listen to the podcast and share your feedback.

Join us for an open house!

Our Developmental Diversity (DD) team would like to invite you to see their new office space! The DD team provides support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They recently moved from a leased space on Professional Drive into the Benton County Sunset Building at 4077 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

Join them for a free, all-ages, Open House on Friday, Oct. 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

· Tour the space

· Meet the staff

· Fun activities for the family

· Free snacks and beverages

For accommodations or more information, please email healthdeptcommunications@bentoncountyor.gov.