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Commissioners hear progress, outreach and funding updates for Recovery Campus
Summary
Staff reported continued work with SHPO and contractors, community outreach and multiple state and federal funding commitments totaling about $17.5 million toward the Recovery Campus; no formal board action was taken at the briefing.
Cindy Becker, project coordinator in the county administrator's office, told commissioners the Recovery Campus project has advanced through design-review and zoning checks and that the county is continuing consultations with the State Historic Preservation Office because the existing building is older than 50 years. She said the team is exploring salvage of historic materials and will deliver any requested items to commissioners who want them.
Becker said the county is negotiating responsibility for day-to-day custodial duties and larger facilities maintenance with county facilities and the program operator and that the lease will include those responsibilities. She said Walsh Construction is bidding the contractor work and the county expects to present a contract before the May budget process so demolition and early work can begin, though some federal grant commitments may still require follow-up.
On financing and partnerships, Becker reported outreach to Marion, Yamhill and Hood River counties about reserving treatment beds; she described a conceptual model in which an outside county would pay an upfront premium (she referenced $250,000) to secure one or more beds but said no county had committed. In a later presentation Trent Wilson, government affairs manager, stated that combined state and federal external funding for the campus totals approximately $17.5 million, including $10 million advanced by the governor, $5 million from the legislature and $2.5 million from federal congressionally directed spending.
Becker and Mary Grama, H3S director, said subgroups are forming to finalize operations: program partnerships with Kaiser and Providence for referral and community-benefit coordination, nurse navigation for triage and discharge planning, communications and outreach to local residents, and planning for recovery housing and a low-barrier shelter related to campus operations. Becker announced a community meeting on June 3 at 6 p.m. (doors 5:30) at a nearby Armenian church and a groundbreaking scheduled for July 29 at 10 a.m.
The presentation concluded with commissioners' questions about partner roles, funding sequencing and operations; staff said they will return with contracts and budgets as details solidify.
