ALBANY, Ore. — Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker were told Tuesday morning, July 7, that the Linn County Veterans Services Department assisted 84 new veterans or family members over the last three months.
Veterans Services Program Manager Dee Baley-Hyder said that brings the total number of new veterans being served over the past fiscal year to 351. Baley-Hyder explained that means new accounts were opened for the veterans who had not been assisted in the office before.
Baley-Hyder was pleased to tell the commissioners that her department has increased the total number of veterans and family members helped from 9,840 a year ago to 10,191 today.
Over the past fiscal year, the department has helped veterans recover $2,366,805 in tax-free money due to them. In the last quarter of the fiscal year alone, veterans received $695,772.
Commissioner Nyquist encouraged Baley-Hyder to continue reaching out to all Linn County veterans. He would like to see veterans receive all of the benefits due them.
Baley-Hyder said that in April, staff members attended a CIT Resource Fair, which helps law enforcement officers learn about other local agencies such as the Veterans Department.
“This was a good way to connect with local police about what our office does,” Baley-Hyder said in her written report. “And if there are any veterans they may come in contact with who may have questions about benefits they may be entitled to, they can send them to us and we would be happy to help.”
Staff also completed national accreditation with the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. To maintain accreditation, veteran services officers must complete six training units annually and pass a certification test every two years.
The department participated in the Lebanon Strawberry Festival parade and will be at the Linn County Fair next week.
In other business the commissioners:
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Approved a temporary employment agreement with Sgt. Dusty Frenzel with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
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Approved a resolution between Linn County Parks & Recreation and the Scio High School forestry program. Students will be able to utilize woody materials downed or deemed hazardous due to winter storms in their forestry program.
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Established an $82,000 grant for General Services to be received from the State of Oregon’s Judicial Department. It will be used to install ballistic fiberglass and Level 3 ballistic glass at the Circuit Court’s main public facing counter on the first floor of the Linn County Courthouse.
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Amended a contract with Compass Project Solutions, increasing from $283,914 to $322,574. This is for additional work needed at the new Crisis Center in the 7th Street Medical Building.
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Reappointed Richard Harper and Mandy Cole to the Historic Resource Commission.
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Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon, Department of Emergency Management to allow for federal funding through FEMA for damage incurred during the winter 2025 storm.
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Accepted a no-cost easement from the Albany First Evangelical Church of North America for the Old Salem Road project.
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Approved an engineering contract with Foundation Engineering for the Truax Creek Clover Ridge Road Bridge Project for $55,910.11. This is a Local Agency Certification Program Project and funds have been awarded under the ODOT Local Bridge Program to be reimbursed at 89.73%.
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Approved commissioner liaison assignments.
Commissioner Nyquist: Road Department, General Administration, Treasurer’s Office, Clerk’s Office, Linn Economic Development Group, OSU Extension-Linn County and Mid-Valley Job Council.
Commissioner Tucker: Planning & Building Department, Health Department, District Attorney’s Office, Justice Courts, timber issues, Intercommunity Health Network and State Courts.
Commissioner Sprenger: Parks Department, Fair & Expo Center, Juvenile Department, Sheriff’s Office, Assessor’s Office, Surveyor’s Office, Community Services Consortium, Council of Governments, Local Public Safety Coordinating Councils.
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Announced that a Management Staff meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, in the basement meeting room of the Linn County Courthouse.
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).