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Marion County commissioners approve series of contracts, grants and a Woodburn urban growth boundary expansion
Summary
At its Jan. 29 weekly session the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved multiple construction contracts, grant agreements, a software purchase and concurred with the City of Woodburn to expand its urban growth boundary for industrial land. The board also approved a rural industrial property tax exemption for GK Machine and accepted a $299,6
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 29 approved a package of contracts, grant agreements and land-use actions affecting county operations, infrastructure projects and regional economic development.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda and took individual votes on construction and professional services contracts, grant-funded emergency planning work for cities, a new solid-waste software system, and land-use concurrence for the City of Woodburn to expand its urban growth boundary for industrial uses. The board also approved a three‑year rural industrial property tax exemption application for GK Machine and authorized a $299,650 reimbursement to the Oregon Health Authority to settle unutilized behavioral‑health funds from the 2017–2019 biennium.
Why it matters: the actions move forward building and maintenance projects at county facilities, commit grant funds and county administration time to emergency planning for cities, provide a pathway for industrial development in Woodburn, and give tax‑exemption and funding clarity for a Marion County manufacturer.
Key outcomes (motions and outcomes) • Consent agenda — approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote, unanimous). Items included sole‑source aerial imagery procurement, ambulance service area advisory committee appointments, a quitclaim deed, a janitorial contract amendment, multiple public‑works planning notices and incoming grant agreements (see record).
• Public improvement agreement — awarded to Woodburn Construction CMGC LLC in the amount of $454,000 for relocation and remodel of Marion County Medical Examiner office; motion approved unanimously.
• Rural industrial property tax exemption — resolution approving GK Machine, Inc. for a three‑year exemption on qualifying new improvements estimated at roughly $5.4 million in new taxable value; motion approved unanimously.
• Behavioral health reconciliation payment — approved a purchase order to reimburse the Oregon Health Authority $299,650 for unspent funds from the 2017–2019 biennium; motion approved unanimously.
• OHA public‑health amendment — approved Amendment No. 15 to an incoming funds intergovernmental agreement with Oregon Health Authority to reallocate $120,206.28 between fiscal years (no net biennial change); motion approved unanimously.
• Public Works IT agreement — approved a licensing and support agreement with Paradigm Software for a new solid‑waste management system, not to exceed $380,776.70, term five years; motion approved unanimously.
• Homeland Security grant — approved incoming funds from Oregon Emergency Management (State Homeland Security Grant Program) of $121,345 to support emergency operations plan updates for cities across Marion County (through 9/30/2026); motion approved unanimously.
• North Marion Transfer Station concrete repairs — awarded to Bricks Paving Northwest, Inc., $139,743.75 for repair of loading area concrete; motion approved unanimously.
• Shaft Road ADA improvements (Stanton) — awarded to Emory & Sons Construction Group, LLC, $155,598 for curb ramp and ADA work; motion approved unanimously.
• Concurrence with Woodburn UGB expansion — the board concurred with the City of Woodburn’s ordinance to expand its urban growth boundary by roughly 237 acres for industrial use; motion approved unanimously following a public hearing.
Context and next steps: several of the construction contracts are timed to begin in spring; the Woodburn expansion will be implemented through the city’s annexation and zoning processes (county staff apply an interim urban transition zone until annexation). The approved OHA and Emergency Management agreements shift and release grant funding for public‑health and emergency‑planning purposes. The GK Machine exemption requires the applicant to secure support letters from affected taxing districts per program rules before final implementation.
Votes and record: motions were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded nay votes on the floor. Formal minutes and signed contracts will be filed in the county clerk’s office and appended to the official meeting record.
Evidence in the transcript: county staff described each item during presentations and the board made individual motions and voice votes for each approval; highlights are recorded in the meeting transcript for Jan. 29, 2025.
