Commissioners approve purchase of new building for Lewis Creek Park

ALBANY — At Tuesday’s meeting of the Linn County Board of Commissioners, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved the purchase of a pre-made concrete CXT restroom that will begin the first phase of implementing the Lewis Creek Park Master Plan on the north shore of Foster Reservoir.

Board Chairman Roger Nyquist was not present.

Parks and Recreation Director Stacey Whaley told the commissioners the new facility has separate areas for men and women with three stalls each and is ADA compliant. The design is called the Pomona and includes space for a concession area.

The cost of the new structure — which will take about six months before installation — will be about $353,247, of which $176,623 will be paid for with a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The remaining $176,623 will be paid by Linn County Parks from Transient Lodging Taxes, RV fees and Forest Funds.

The Lewis Creek Master Plan was updated last year after a multi-year review process that included numerous public meetings to gather information about what the public would like to see at the day-use area.

The 40-acre park is a popular place for picnics and has a cordoned off area for swimming in Foster Reservoir, as well as moorage for boats and other water craft.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a supplemental project agreement between Linn County, the State of Oregon and the city of Millersburg for a preliminary engineering design for the Cox Creek (Waverly Drive) Bridge, not to exceed $482,209. The Linn County Road Department is a Certified Agency and will administer the project for the city.
• Approved moving $100,000 from the General Fund into the Planning & Building Department’s budget. It is a reimbursement for work done after the September 2020 Santiam Canyon wildfires.
• Reappointed Linn County Treasurer Michelle Hawkins as the county Budget Officer.
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding concerning annual performance reviews for members of the Juvenile Detention Association and Linn County.
• Heard from Yvonne Scott, a Harrisburg area resident, who is concerned about the possible development of a solar energy park on about 1,500 acres about eight miles south of Brownsville. She opposes the project because it would be on high-value farm land zoned Exclusive Farm Use. She is also concerned about the projects affect on the area’s lifestyle as well as possible negative impacts on wildlife and water. The project falls under the jurisdiction of the state, not Linn County Planning & Building.
• Announced there will be an Elected Officials meeting at noon on Wednesday at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.
• Held a public hearing concerning a request by Dan Hafner who is seeking a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment and a Zoning Map amendment as part of an Urban Growth Boundary amendment for the city of Lyons. The site is 28.12 acres. The commissioners agreed to hold the issue open for written comments only for one week and will take up the subject again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.