ALBANY, Ore. — The Oregon Military Department will not develop 34 acres of land owned by Linn County on Seven Mile Lane into a regional training facility but will renovate its current armory near the Fair & Expo Center, the Linn County Board of Commissioners learned Tuesday morning.
The commissioners approved a Memorandum of Agreement presented by County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane.
Lane said the Military Department’s long-term plans have changed, due in part to the cost of developing the site.
The 34 acres is part of a 173-acre tract that the county acquired several years ago and a portion of which may eventually be developed into a county park.
The first National Guard Armory outside of Portland was built in Linn County in 1910.
The commissioners also signed an Intergovernmental Ground Lease Agreement with the Military Department that extends the $1 per year lease on the current National Guard facility, which is about five acres at 3800 Knox Butte Road East, for another 40 years.
In other business the commissioners:
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Were told by Linn County Health Officer Dr. Adam Brady that there were 65 births (36 boys and 29 girls) and 115 deaths in June. The deaths included a 103-year-old female and a 104-year-old male. There was one suicide. There were 49 total animal bites.
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Approved collecting the Construction Excise Tax for Greater Albany Public Schools. The tax rate will increase from $1.67 per square foot to $1.70 per square foot for residential structures and from 84 cents per square foot for non-residential buildings to 85 cents per square foot.
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Were informed that the Health Department staff completed 32 food service inspections in June and have completed 571 inspections year-to-date compared to 617 inspections the previous year-to-date.
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Approved a First-Time Youth Wage Grant with Dairy Queen of Albany.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul [at] co.linn.or.us (apaul[at]co[dot]linn[dot]or[dot]us).