Marion County commissioners approve behavioral health center remodel, new local speed limit and wastewater equipment purchases; consent items pass

Marion County commissioners on Wednesday approved a public improvement agreement to remodel the county's Behavioral Health Crisis Center, an order establishing a 30 mph speed limit on part of Sunset Hills Drive southeast of Turner, and an early-work amendment that adds $2,479,768 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for long-lead wastewater-equipment purchases for the North Santiam Canyon Sewer Project. The board also approved several consent-calendar items including a contract amendment for jail pharmacy services and two county appointments.

The approvals matter because the Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) provides round-the-clock crisis response and outreach in Marion County, the speed-limit action expands local control for low-volume roads under recent state law, and the ARPA amendment secures equipment with long fabrication lead times so the county can meet federal expenditure deadlines.

Ryan Matthews, Marion County Health and Human Services administrator, told the board the BHCC is a "safety net for our community" that offers crisis screenings, crisis assessments, community outreach teams and mobile crisis response regardless of insurance. "This is a 24/7 crisis center," Matthews said, describing plans to consolidate staff now scattered across multiple locations into the county's newly acquired Commercial Street building. The board approved a public improvement agreement with Woodburn Construction CMGC LLC in the amount of $1,284,320 for the remodel, with work through Feb. 28, 2026. Commissioner Mills moved the measure; the motion passed.

Debbie Wells, division director for behavioral health crisis services, told commissioners the county's psychiatric crisis center was the first and is the longest continuously open such center in the state. Commissioners praised staff and said the remodeled facility should provide more welcoming lobby space and more capacity to isolate and support individuals in crisis.

Public Works presenter Lonnie Radke said Marion County pursued authority to set speed limits on low-volume roads under House Bill 3188 (2023) and requested ODOT's permission to set the limit on Sunset Hills Drive because the road carries under 400 vehicles per day. Radke said the county's engineering speed study recommended signing the road at 30 mph rather than the requested 25 mph, and the board approved an order establishing the speed limit.

Chris Imo of Marion County Public Works described Early Work Amendment No. 3 to the county's construction manager/general contractor agreement with Sladen Constructors as a procurement step to buy long-lead items such as electrical gear, a diesel generator sized to run the plant, odor control, ultraviolet disinfection and pumps. "Some of these systems can have a lead time of up to a year," Imo said, and the purchases are being staged so the equipment arrives in time for installation. The amendment adds $2,479,768 in ARPA funding for a new contract total of $4,579,812; commissioners approved the amendment. One commissioner disclosed a conflict of interest (their son works for Sladen) and did not participate in discussion; the board recorded the motion as approved.

The board moved the consent calendar by unanimous consent earlier in the meeting. Consent items included approval of an amendment to the District Attorney's pharmacy contract with Correct RX Pharmacy Services Inc. to add $709,760.27 (bringing the DA pharmacy contract to $1,936,171 through June 30, 2025) with estimated funding sources identified in the motion as $243,917.70 from Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) grant funds and $465,842.57 from county general funds; receipt of a hearings officer's decision approving conditional use Case No. 24-039 (Whitewind Woodland LLC); appointment of William White as Marion County Section 504 Coordinator (effective June 15, 2025) and as the county HIPAA Security Officer; and a recommendation to renew Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) licenses listed in Exhibit A.

Votes at a glance: - Approve consent calendar (multiple items including DA pharmacy contract amendment; appointments; hearings officer decision; OLCC renewals). Outcome: approved by unanimous consent. - Approve public improvement agreement with Woodburn Construction CMGC LLC for Behavioral Health Crisis Center remodel, $1,284,320, through Feb. 28, 2026. Mover: Commissioner Mills. Outcome: approved. - Approve board order establishing a speed limit on a portion of Sunset Hills Drive SE (south of Turner); recommended signing at 30 mph after county speed study. Outcome: approved. - Approve Early Work Amendment No. 3 to CM/GC agreement with Sladen Constructors Inc., add $2,479,768 ARPA funding; new contract total $4,579,812; purchases for North Santiam Canyon Sewer Project through Dec. 31, 2026. Note: one commissioner disclosed a conflict and did not participate. Outcome: approved.

What changed and next steps: the BHCC remodel moves to construction procurement with a CM/GC in place; Public Works will implement the new Sunset Hills Drive signage per the board order; the Sladen amendment allows immediate ordering of long-lead equipment so the county can meet ARPA spending timelines. Several commissioners said staff will document progress and produce site photos; county staff indicated plans for further public updates as projects advance.

Evidence: Board action and discussion appear on the Jan. 15, 2025 Marion County Board of Commissioners session transcript.