Last week Walter went out to tour the County Commons site with the Commons program manager, as well as Fair and County staff. Five finalists were selected for consideration to be the architect and engineer for the project. The applicants will reviewed by members of the review committee and ranked for approval by the Board of Commissioners (Commissioners will not have any involvement in reviewing, ranking, or scoring).
Walter also participated in the Cascades West Area Commission on Transportation (CWACT) executive board meeting, which discussed Technical Advisory Committee recommendations for the 2027-2037 Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP). Lincoln, Benton, and Linn counties each submitted two projects for consideration. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) staff also provided legislative updates on their budget shortfall and options for making that up. One such option is decreased funding for Connect Oregon Grants, which would be a significant loss for transportation projects for ports, cities, counties, and other local entities.
Walter also had the opportunity to meet with the county’s solid waste haulers to update them on legislation regarding lithium batteries. He and the haulers are planning a tour of the Arlington Solid Waste Facility in late March, which is the only facility that has offered to take Lincoln County’s solid waste after the Coffin Butte landfill closes.
The Area Commissions on Transportation chairs met again Tuesday for updates on the CIP process and how to refine our selections, criteria used, and next steps. Walter and leaders from Linn and Benton counties are championing several important projects, though it is clear that not all will make the list. CWACT will have another meeting or two to narrow its five or six highest-priority projects, as well as 10 other projects to submit to ODOT by the end of April. Fourteen ACTs across the state are submitting these lists.
This is where experience makes a difference. Familiarity with the process goes a long way when trying to get your community’s priorities addressed when many counties are competing for limited resources.
Also on Tuesday, Walter met with a foundation about funding opportunities and was interviewed for a position on a Samaritan Health Services advisory board.
