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Benton County names Children and Families building the Barbara Ross Building after brief debate
Summary
The Benton County Board voted 2-1 to name the county-owned building at 4185 Southwest Research Way the Barbara Ross Building after discussion of several nominees, tribal consultation concerns about an Indigenous-derived name, and community emails supporting Ross.
County commissioners voted to name the county-owned property at 4185 Southwest Research Way the Barbara Ross Building after a short discussion of suggested names and consultation considerations.
County staff presented a list of nominees for the Children and Families services building, including Dr. Ellen Gilkey, Dan Rayfield, Barbara Ross and Louis Alexander Southworth, as well as place-based names drawn from Kalapuya language and local creeks. The presenter noted the names and asked commissioners for guidance on a final selection.
An unidentified commissioner argued for naming the site after Representative Dan Rayfield, citing Rayfield's role in securing state funds the county used for multiple capital projects and for the purchase and renovation of the Children and Families building. Commissioner Weiss said she preferred not to name public facilities for living people and voiced support for Barbara Ross or a place-based name paired with the adjacent Kalapuya Building.
The chair noted a prior tribal consultation in which the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde did not support the Klickitat-derived name discussed by the board, and staff warned that adopting a name already used for a state facility (Barbara Ross has an associated state office building in Salem) could create wayfinding issues for members of the public.
After hearing public email input and commissioner remarks, Commissioner Weiss moved to name the building the Barbara Ross Building. The motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote, 2 to 1.
The board did not adopt additional naming-policy changes during the discussion but signaled interest in improved signage and wayfinding work in the coming year so tenants and county clients can easily navigate multiple buildings.
What happens next: county staff said they will implement the board's decision and will take on sign updates and wayfinding work in coordination with affected tenants. The board indicated other facilities will be considered for names in the next year.
Sources: Benton County meeting packet and in-meeting presentation and discussion.
