Commissioners support high-speed Internet project grant application

ALBANY — Linn County Commissioners Will Tucker, Sherrie Sprenger and Roger Nyquist unanimously agreed Tuesday morning to support a Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program grant that will deliver fiber-optic broadband Internet services to Lebanon area residents by Consumers Power Inc./Peak Internet.

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program is a federal program that has earmarked $42.5 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.

In a letter of support, the commissioners noted, “We are confident this initiative aligns with Oregon’s mission to expand broadband access and bolster rural infrastructure.”

The commissioners added that the proposal will leverage “existing infrastructure to deliver high-speed fiber broadband that will address a critical need in our rural communities. This connectivity will enable remote work, online education, telehealth and economic opportunities — resources that are essential for our residents and businesses to thrive in today’s digital world.”

The commissioners said the project will also “strengthen the CPI electric grid by integrating fiber-optic technology to improve monitoring and outage response. By enhancing grid resilience, the project will also support wildfire mitigation efforts by enabling faster detection and response to potential electrical faults that could spark fires in our wildfire-prone region. In an area where weather challenges are growing energy demands test our infrastructure, this enhancement will ensure a more dependable power supply, benefitting our entire community.”

In other business, the commissioners:

• Were informed by Roadmaster Wayne Mink that he plans to retire at the end of May, although he is willing to work a few months extra until his replacement is found. Mink has been Roadmaster for almost five years and has worked for the Road Department for 25 years. Former Roadmaster and current County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane said he has known Mink since college and considers him a mentor “a good friend, a tremendous resource for the county and one of the smartest people I know.”
• Approved a request from the Sheriff’s Office to purchase a security trailer with $102,203 of Homeland Security Grant funds through Sourcewell.
• Were told by Dr. Adam Brady that there were 74 births (43 females and 31 males) and 92 deaths in March. There were no known suicides.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Linn-Benton Community College. Linn County will provide $5,000 to LBCC to develop parenting education workshop in the Fall of 2025 for underserved families.
• Approved a contract with Compass Project Solutions to represent Linn County during the Crisis Stabilization Center remodeling project. Cost is not to exceed $185,888.
• Accepted a $500,000 grant from the Intercommunity Health Network Coordinated Care Organization, dedicated to the Crisis Stabilization Center remodeling project.
• Approved an agreement between Linn County and the Department of Transportation for rehabilitation of the South Santiam River-McDowell Creek Drive Bridge. This is a state funded project granting reimbursement for up to $651,978.18.
• Approved the purchase of spheres for traffic line pavement markings by the Road Department. The purchase will be for $98,678.40 from Potters Industries.
• Approved conveyance of properties sold at a March 19 auction by the Property Management Department. Properties included: 2187 Mill St., Lebanon, $40,500, sold to James Hurley; Off Highway 20, east of Lebanon, $28,500, sold to Blake and Deana Starelli; 251 Dogwood St., Lyons, $212,245, Cary, Troy and Gerald Fixen; off 19^th Ave., Sweet Home, $11,000, Christina and Bill Davis.
• Approved a contract for $104,000 with GeoTerra of Eugene for aerial photography of the western two-thirds of Linn County. The detailed photographs are used by the Linn County G.I.S. Department.
• Approved a $50,000 transfer within the General Fund for the Sheriff’s Office to cover personnel expenses.
• Approved a wrecking license for Highway 34 Towing & Repair.
• Announced that the 2025-26 Budget Hearings will be held from Monday, April 28, through Thursday, May 1, at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center. The hearings are open to the public. For a hearings schedule, visit: https://www.linncountyor.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/treasurer/meeting/4851/budget_schedule_2025_2026.pdf.
• Approved a Plan Text Amendment, a Zoning Map Amendment, a Code Text Amendment and an Application for a Limited Use Overlay for U.S. Market Enterprises on a 5-acre property off I-5 near Harrisburg.

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