Commissioners get CSC/COG partnership update

ALBANY — Tuesday morning, for the first time, Executive Director Ryan Vogt provided the Linn County Board of Commissioners with a report for the newly combined Cascades West Council of Governments and Community Services Consortium, Tuesday morning.

After several years of discussion, the two public service organizations are now working under a single executive director with independent agency directors so “each organization can maintain their unique cultures.”

The groups provide services in Linn, Benton, Lincoln, Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties.

Vogt said he is especially pleased that a financial empowerment program called “Stand By Me” is going to be offered in Greater Albany Public Schools, as part of its financial literacy program.

Vogt said the program’s goals are to help people learn how to develop a budget, reduce debt, improve credit scores and build savings.

Vogt introduced Kayla Hatley, director of the Community Services Consortium.

In a written report, Vogt noted:

• In 2024, Housing Services assisted 2,070 people in 912 households. Of those, 36% were disabled; 184 were disabled seniors and 45% were households with children.
• 500 homeless persons were helped, as were 164 veterans.
• Adult protective services received 4,155 calls and 1,538 calls resulted in investigations.
• From October through December, the utility assistance program helped 1,872 households in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties with $717,605.
• The Meals on Wheels program made 286,123 in-home deliveries and there were $193,773 in donations.
• The Cascades West Ride Line provided 159,875 trips, encompassing 2.9 million miles driven.

In other business, the Commissioners:

• Approved the closure of County Road 611 portions of each day from May 16 to 18 for the annual Scio Lamb and Wool Festival.
• Approved a personal services contract not to exceed $250,000 with MTSL Group and Linn County. MTSL will manage insurance billing on behalf of the county’s Mental Health Department.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Health & Science University to implement the CaCoon Program in Linn County. The contract is not to exceed $30,315 and will provide community-based care coordination through Registered Nurse home visits to families with children and youth with special health care needs.
• Approved a contract for $263,600 with Pinnacle Architecture to provide architectural services for renovation of half of the 7^th Street Medical Building as the new Crisis Stabilization Center.
• Approved creating a Health Services Information Technology Supervisor position.
• Announced that an Elected Officials meeting will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2 at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.

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