June 13, 2024                                               View as Webpage

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Residents play key role in Benton County wildfire evacuation drill

As part of an ongoing effort for enhance emergency preparedness, Benton County and the City of Corvallis teamed up on May 18 to conduct a wildfire evacuation drill. The drill served as a valuable opportunity for emergency responders and residents to practice wildfire evacuation procedures and test communication systems. 

Hundreds of residents, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), participated, ensuring a successful drill. 

The County's Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) was the Kalapuya Building on SW Research Way, Corvallis and the City’s TEP was at the Northwest Hills Community Church on Walnut in Corvallis. The drills involved CERT volunteers to ensure a coordinated and effective response and service for residents and emergency responders to enhance emergency preparedness in Benton County. 

Read the full story or view photos of the event.

Updates from the Benton County Sheriff's Office

The Benton County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) recently held an all-staff meeting to recognize the incredible contributions of their staff members and volunteers! The Sheriff's Office has an amazing team that works hard and is committed to the safety of our community. The Sheriff's Office was appreciative of the opportunity to gather and celebrate the accomplishments of their team.

In addition, BCSO recently held a swearing-in ceremony for their new Parole & Probation Deputy. Deputy Miller previously served as a Corrections Deputy in our jail. Congratulations on your new role Deputy Miller!

The Benton County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce that the 2023 Annual Report is now available.

View the report online or request a free copy by calling 541-766-6858, or email: BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov  

It's Pride Month in Benton County!

Benton County values and supports diversity was the message the County declared as the Board of Commissioners officially proclaimed June as Pride Month. A proclamation was signed June 4 during the Commissioner’s scheduled meeting at the Kalapuya Building. Dharma Mirza, President of the Board of Directors for Mid-Willamette Trans Support Network, had the privilege of reading the County’s Pride Month proclamation.

Prior to the meeting, County employees representing the 2SLGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex) community and their allies were treated to a breakfast gathering.

Groups supporting the local 2SLGBTQI+ community include Intersection Parent Connection, Mid-Willamette Transgender Support Network, Oregon State University Pride Center, Out ‘N About, Rainbow in the Clouds, Pride Corvallis, and the Philomath Pride Collective.

Philomath Pride Collective’s Rose Bricker attended the County’s Pride Month proclamation signing to promote the public’s attendance at Philomath Pride on June 15. This all ages, family friendly event takes place from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Philomath City Park. Benton County is sponsoring this year’s event.

View photos of the event or watch the proclamation video.

Heating and cooling opportunity for Benton County residents

Due to the 2019 heat dome and significant loss of lives, the Oregon Department of Energy is providing opportunities for heating and cooling upgrades with heat pump technology . . . with additional funding for insulation and electrical upgrades that may be required for installation.

Seeds for the Sol provides a free service to guide homeowners through the process of identifying energy upgrades, connecting to local installers, and navigating funding sources.

This program, built to serve all Oregonians, is designed to prioritize people who are:

• Over 60 years old 
• Living on a lower income
• Experiencing mental or physical impairment
• A member of a federally recognized tribe
• A rural or coastal homeowner

Check out the Oregon Department of Energy's program for heating and cooling upgrades offered by seedsforthesol.org or email them at: info@seedsforthesol.org.

Updated maps under review for Luckiamute River Watershed

Kings Valley residents recently had their first opportunity to view the proposed updated flood hazard maps for the Luckiamute River Watershed as Benton County hosted an open house May 30 at the Kings Valley Charter School.

Residents were able to look over the tentative maps and have questions answered by representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA, as well as Benton County Floodplain Administrator and Senior Planner Toby Lewis and County Commissioner Pat Malone.

Read the full story or view pictures of the event.

Children and Family Mental Health program relocates to expanded facility

Benton County remains on the forefront of providing services to those with mental health issues, and that includes residents of all ages. The County recently expanded the size of their facility and the services it provides at Benton County Children and Family Mental Health. An open house was held May 31 at the program’s new location at 4185 SW Research Way in Corvallis. The day featured tours, meeting the staff, a resource fair, and family activities and prizes.

The Benton County Children and Family Mental Health program provides therapeutic services, including outpatient, school-based, and wrap-around services for youth under age 18 with a mental health diagnosis and identifiable treatment goals.  

Read the full story, watch a video of the open house, or view pictures of the event.

Photo by: Washington State Dept. of Ecology

Benton County Stormwater Program discusses emerging pollutants

Water pollutants are substances that alter the physical, chemical or biological composition of water. Pollutants can cause harm to humans, plants, and animals. While we are familiar with many of these, enhanced ability to test for compounds in the environment has revealed chemicals that we did not know exist. Many of these, such as 6PPD-Q, are the breakdown products from other chemicals.

What is 6PPD-Q? 

6PPD-Q is a toxic product created during the breakdown of a tire product called 6PPD. This stands for N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine). 6PPD-Q means that 6PPD has an added quinone group. 6PPD itself prevents vehicle tires from breaking down. However, when it reacts with air and ozone, it creates 6PPD-Q. Until recently, we didn’t know this.

Salmon Mortality

In recent years, researcher and residents in Washington state noted that there were mass mortality events of adult coho salmon, particularly near bridges and drainages. It took testing for over 100 compounds and exposing fish in a lab to find the cause. Researchers eventually discovered 6PPD-Q and its effects on salmon and it was soon realized that this chemical was coming from stormwater and roadways. These results were published in 2021 in the journal Science.

Read the full story.

Benton County is hiring!

Our featured position this month is: Training Hub Coordinator

This position will coordinate the activities of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Hub for Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, including facilitating CHW training workshops, community agency Traditional Health Worker inventory and readiness assessment, policy planning and development, data gathering, and grant reporting and monitoring. Works closely with other agencies and organizations. Leads efforts to develop the CHW Training Hub, including sustainability planning. 

Apply today or view additional vacancies. Questions? Call 541-766-6081 or email recruiting@bentoncountyor.gov.

Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices.