Linn County Fair & Expo Center has a busy spring schedule

ALBANY — The Linn County Fair & Expo Center has had a busy spring schedule, director Kris Barnes told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

There were 26 events held at the Fair & Expo Center in April, with the Willamette Conference Center the busiest venue. There were 18 events held in May. There are 24 events scheduled in June, including a large motorhome show and the annual Blacksheep Gathering.

According to his written report, Barnes noted the Chintimini Kennel Club Dog Show, was attended by more than 5,000 people. The Oregon Guns and More Show attracted more than 2,200 people and the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams Show had more than 2,000 in attendance.

Maintenance items recently completed included repair of lighting in the northwest parking lot, spring servicing of the HVAC system, repairing plumbing in the Willamette/Santiam buildings and RV site maintenance.

The countdown has begun for the 2025 Linn County Fair to be held July 17-18-19. The 4-H Fair actually kicks off the week of activities on Monday, July 14.

Main Stage entertainment includes Uncle Kracker on Thursday, July 17, Phil Vassar on Friday, July 18 and Hunter Hayes on Saturday, July 19.

The concerts are free with general admission tickets, but reserve seats are available for each show, starting at $20. Tickets are available at www.linncountyfair.com.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a contact between the Linn County Fair & Expo Center and the City of Albany. Linn County will use property that borders the Albany Municipal Airport. The agreement is for five years, ending January 2030, and has an option to renew every five years. The property is used to store Expo Center equipment, for overflow parking for large events and camping during the 4-H Fair.
• Were told by Dr. Adam Brady that there were 52 births — 21 girls and 31 boys — and 116 deaths in May. There were three reported suicides, 17- and 29-year-old males and a 53-year-old female. One death was of a person who was more than 100 years old.
• Approved a contract with Essex Construction to act as the General Manager for the Health Department’s Crisis Stabilization Center to be constructed in half of the 7^th Avenue Medical Building. Representatives from 20 companies attended a mandatory pre-proposal conference on April 16 and six submitted bids. In addition to Essex Construction, other bids came from Gerding Builders, McHenry Remodeling, GBC Construction, Woodburn Construction and CB Construction.
• Approved a contract with Oregon Corrections Enterprises to provide furniture for the Crisis Stabilization Center, not to exceed $99,671.
• Approved a two-year extension of a contract with Legal Research Associates to provide legal research services for adults in custody at the Linn County Jail.
• Approved a $164,067 contract with Helion Software to provide software used by the Assessor’s Office from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
• Approved the purchase of furniture for the Clerk’s Office, when it moves into the Wheelhouse Building. The total is for $82,074.54.
• Approved a 3.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Elected Officials, Management/Exempt staff and Teamster Union employees.
• Announced the Board of Commissioners will not meet the first week of July. The commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, and will also meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 26 to adopt the 2025-2026 budget.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 4r41-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.