Sweet Home, Linn County break ground for new RV dump station

SWEET HOME — As an excavator with a hydraulic hammer head broke up asphalt paving, Sweet Home city officials, Linn County Parks & Recreation and Knife River staff members tossed shovels of dirt the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 4, marking the beginning of a long-awaited RV dump on five acres in the heart of the community.

The facility will be located on five acres owned by Linn County that was carved off the former Willamette Industries (Weyerhaeuser) mill site before it was sold to a private owner. The county had acquired the property in lieu of more than $500,000 in back taxes owed by the Western States Land Reliance Trust.

The site is behind the Sweet Home Bi-Mart store and will be accessed via 24^th Avenue.

Knife River Project Manager Chris Philipson said that if all goes as planned, the $690,791 project will be up and running in February. The Oregon Parks & Recreation Department has provided a 50% matching grant toward the project costs.

The new dump station will have four service lanes, according to Parks & Recreation Director Stacey Whaley.

Whaley said users will access services at a kiosk that will accept credit cards. Cost will be $10 per vehicle.

An added convenience is that RV owners and others will be able to purchase potable water from the City of Sweet Home at the site. Currently, the city’s only bulk water dispenser system is at the city’s water plant.

The new facility will join county RV dump sites at Waterloo, Sunnyside and River Bend campgrounds.

Whaley said the dump site at Sunnyside Campground will be decommissioned in the future due to its age.

“This new dump site is better environmentally and works with the city wastewater system,” Whaley said. “It’s better for everybody. We are excited to partner with the city and provide something that is beneficial to both the community and its many visitors.”

Whaley said another benefit is that the four-lane system will likely reduce waiting times for RV owners.

Mayor Coleman and Interim City Manager Ogden both agreed that the project is beneficial to the community.

“We’re excited to be able to provide this service in partnership with the county parks to the many people who enjoy recreating here,” Ogden said.

Learn more about Linn County Parks & Recreation at https://linnparks.com/.

Photo information: Participating in a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony at the new Linn County Parks & Recreation RV dump site Monday afternoon, Nov. 4, were, left to right: Chris Phillipson, Knife River project manager; Tristan Davis, Parks & Recreation Operations Supervisor; Parks Director Stacey Whaley, Sweet Home Mayor Susan Coleman, Knife River’s Brian Reichart and Interim Sweet Home City Manager Jason Ogden.

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