[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6564417,"mediaKeyId","3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a","parentId",3288338,"title","Kittleson analysis: Benton County transit costs below market but compliance findings risk federal funding","audioSeconds",605,"startMs",2701000,"endMs",3306000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a&start=2701&end=3306","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a/thumbnail_2701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6564417/Benton-County/Oregon/Kittleson-analysis-Benton-County-transit-costs-below-market-but-compliance-findings-risk-federal-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6564417-26c66ba4ec23d88a0e8cb4ce80bb0780/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141220&Signature=Jf3-524tWcD0E69~UyvxqnH3Dw~qtIXCzS69BIm8kwDog27gecNagt-KDIVTkumzKZTMh8qqQ2VWOcu1wuYK44Ff~K~K2LxOxaithg6L8tFAahtIvPDp5hxDYhAJk3nFcHwSQcqfjohKTWb~TTSoWvo2jYe6sbIyaz8g7m3Zzr~2jp~glL3tEeCgZxPL5EM8G3nAhxjX6YrXO~rhg-vDP69NOAiOF5F8x6QWp9EH-IWmOkUdmsZbNdk9FUbJm51wua6ZJ4YmF961eJN-t6zig9aBniKxXq5iUhpOSYcfx-h8n9IVhJTArxqQ9pyIXPb9TyuD7-5VWC8rRAu-8rVfGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County, OR","date","2025-05-13T22:18:03Z","article","County staff and consultants presented a self-performance analysis of Benton Area Transit and recommended the county align a chosen service model with its operational values while addressing outstanding federal compliance issues.

Kittleson consultants said Benton County’s fixed-route and demand-response operating costs are below market averages but that rides per hour are lower than peer agencies. Consultants and staff noted a November 2023 federal triennial audit (published in November) had eight compliance findings and one advisory recommendation; some findings were repeats from a prior audit. Presenters warned repeat findings must be disclosed on grant applications and could jeopardize future federal funding.

Key compliance issues included incomplete contractor-to-county reporting and gaps in ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and Title VI (nondiscrimination) documentation. Charlene (Corvallis transit staff) said most outstanding concerns now center on ADA and Title VI reporting and that one procurement-related finding—reliance on sole-source documentation for contractor operations—remained to be addressed.

Presenters outlined service-delivery options: continuing with the current nonprofit contractor model, switching to a private for-profit contractor, or bringing operations in-house (self-performance). Consultants said each model carries trade-offs but that appropriate county staffing is required under any option. A common recommendation was to align the chosen model with a clear service vision and stable revenue forecast.

Board input and direction: Commissioners suggested the county’s vision for transit should explicitly include customer-focused service in addition to fiscal sustainability and legal compliance. Staff and consultants said they will return with concrete service alternatives and associated costs in a follow-up session in the coming months, timed to inform the next STIF (transit payroll tax) funding cycle.

Ending: The county will continue technical work on procurement and grant compliance and present scenario costs and staffing plans to the board before making any contract or service-model switch.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 13, 2025 Board of Commissioners Goal-Setting Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","A consultant presentation urged Benton County to choose a transit service model aligned with county values and to address repeat federal audit findings; staff will return with service alternatives and cost estimates in a coming months' meeting.","taxTitle","Benton County, Oregon","taxId",8787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6564422,"Regional materials-management task force reports Clean Lane permit denial will delay recycling options",678,1417000,2095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a&start=1417&end=2095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a/thumbnail_1417000.jpg","/articles/6564422/Benton-County/Oregon/Regional-materials-management-task-force-reports-Clean-Lane-permit-denial-will-delay-recycling-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6564422-d77c0d66bb133a0957cbeb170f106f9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141220&Signature=KwozMi2GuUE8~gaCh~Gx8WHjeXpiBzIgfjO729QBHFTvqaW23gw-q46Ck4uSyJXkMwsGBAyxveFyIP9I5kiw9qfsxGjfqZQUlM-GdHMDKmtHSUGJ~pi11QJF3Q5uCMoECedl6Q1c-znbHRdnhFbpEkgUZcWKuFKJ4o72BtH~FK8qbDdrO2G3HfVWOaIDUAfUreYEY-EVi7Zu3AzSbXasuKPl7uRaWrtKNepPLPbJJ2gJFptHtbwRZoDByYTnnokdgK-Nm9ylxkOj5OQmq0XVH-3IbN2tLAK49VD3mkOTTc7n08qG6J5RiDCbLn28O6vJY~SxJ9YC7TsICI1blTQGLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of Benton County’s regional sustainable materials management (SMNP) task force updated commissioners on delays and legal opposition affecting regional recycling projects and emphasized the need for continued collaboration across counties.

Task force members said a permit application for Clean Lane, a proposed organics-separating and composting facility in Lane County, was denied in an early stage, and legal opposition from haulers and current facility operators has slowed the project. “The permit was denied,” SMNP presenter said, noting the decision would delay the facility and reduce regional options for processing organics.

Why it matters: Clean Lane and similar projects were intended to expand regional capacity for separating organics, composting, and anaerobic digestion—measures task force members say would raise recovery rates and reduce long-distance hauling of waste. Task force members said that without new processing capacity, pressure will grow on existing landfills and transfer stations.

Regional snapshot: Presenters said Lane County currently ranks near the top in recovery rates in western Oregon (close to 50 percent), while Benton County’s recovery rate was reported near 32 percent; presenters said access to expanded regional facilities could raise Benton County’s recovery by an estimated 8–10 percentage points.

Legislative context: The task force discussed House Bill 3794, described on the record as an 18-month, $150,000 request to stand up dashboards and technical supports at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) level; presenters said the bill remained in the Ways and Means Committee with no hearing scheduled at the time of the meeting.

Process and next steps: The task force intends to continue momentum: subcommittees have completed or are concluding work, a final task force meeting was scheduled for May 28, and the task force expected a June 17 presentation of final materials to the county board, followed by a probable July closeout of deliverables.

Ending: Task force members urged commissioners to sustain regional conversations and to consider modest county-level support to maintain momentum whether or not HB 3794 advances at the state level.","Task force members said denial of a key permit for the proposed Clean Lane processing facility and stalled projects regionally will delay new recycling and organics-processing options, pressing urgency on regional planning and House Bill 3794.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6564427,"Benton County commissioners flag NeoGov problems, agree to review evaluation process",568,58000,626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a&start=58&end=626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288338-f4bfc9ff9d632386c291b488dccd713a/thumbnail_58000.jpg","/articles/6564427/Benton-County/Oregon/Benton-County-commissioners-flag-NeoGov-problems-agree-to-review-evaluation-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6564427-414ad35690ad090897dfe4fed54a40ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141220&Signature=OI1hSAVtrvE862t7iAgqdGHPSiXCmDwiD-LA1tYQFBwAllCaVGifzCT6hJGwxa9uKo5IyHhgeyO6Ag1rUoCGn3yhmOKfv194AjotOkwZzS0DeKL9Y2Mcxe0ny1sMIFVBGPq2uW4nDIgI~hUNfkZ4Q8odGOGW9sY30o9feBeWn5FIEAgel7fM2Z4I-hUHMcjaK1WI8jkXv01P-nXDvVWxyGYUv~JSD-5BSEewJ29nCo2N90Qww-2Q~C2Ypr5pXQW6syNN8j-lhU4j6zp-OHo2KxW8e54t8e0ZF2Ug4YODlevCbR4E~FpjQi-b00HQ-2LpuHseN54JdDVX5IvZhQ46HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County commissioners spent a significant portion of a regularly scheduled meeting reviewing the county’s performance-evaluation process for the county administrator and county counsel, criticizing the countywide NeoGov platform’s usability and asking staff to return with alternative models and concrete proposals.

Commissioners and staff said NeoGov often logs users out, prevents printing and formatting, and has erased previously entered work. ‘‘NeoGov is super complicated,’’ one commissioner said during the discussion. County Administrator Rachel said HR reports to her and that having the HR director facilitate her own review raises concerns: “To have the HR director to facilitate my own review doesn't seem appropriate.”

Why it matters: Commissioners said the current questionnaire structure (which includes topics such as “sustainability”) does not consistently map to the day-to-day duties of the two reviewed positions, limiting the usefulness of the feedback. Several commissioners supported a broader 360-degree approach—collecting input from direct reports and frontline staff in addition to the board—so reviews better reflect supervisors’ performance across the organization.

County Administrator Rachel presented examples from other jurisdictions. She described Washington County’s use of an outside facilitator, the Center for Creative Leadership, which combines evaluation with coaching and follows an initial intensive year with a lighter check-in the following year. Rachel said she would collect templates and examples and present options to the board at a future meeting.

County counsel Vance said the NeoGov questions “are just a glancing blow off the side of the battleship” for his office and that repeated categories such as sustainability do not elicit useful operational feedback. Commissioners discussed changing evaluation questions to tie directly to job descriptions and breaking broader traits—such as “integrity”—into specific sub-questions to provide clearer, comparable ratings over time.

Direction to staff: The board asked staff to return with options and examples for revising the evaluation process, including possible outside facilitation and rotating 360-degree raters; the chair requested a follow-up at the next meeting cycle. Commissioners also said they want continuity of records over time while improving the review’s usefulness.

Votes at a glance: At the start of the meeting the board adopted the consent calendar. The motion to adopt passed with the affirmative voice vote recorded as “aye” by the commissioners on the dais.

Ending: Commissioners instructed staff to research alternatives and bring proposals and templates back to the board for consideration, including cost and implementation timelines.","Commissioners criticized the county's NeoGov performance-evaluation platform for recurring technical problems and discussed moving to a more meaningful review process—potentially a rotating 360-degree review or outside facilitator—with staff asked to return with options next month.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kittleson analysis: Benton County transit costs below market but compliance findings risk federal funding

Regional materials-management task force reports Clean Lane permit denial will delay recycling options

Benton County commissioners flag NeoGov problems, agree to review evaluation process