Marion County commissioners approve ARPA reallocations, appointments and $6.25 million ODOT funding amendment

The Marion County Board of Commissioners on March 4 approved a series of routine but consequential actions, including a proclamation designating March 2026 as Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Awareness Month, several board and commission appointments, contract amendments adding American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for drinking-water projects, and a $6,249,999.58 federal funding amendment with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) tied to the State Street improvements project.

The board opened the session at 9:04 a.m.; Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Colm Willis were present and Commissioner Danielle Bethell was recorded as absent. County counsel Steve Elzinga and recorder Brenda Koenig were noted as present. The board recorded no public comment.

During proclamations Health and Human Services staff and Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter presented a proclamation designating March 2026 as IDD Awareness Month. Sheriff Hunter also swore in citizen Justin Smith as an honorary Marion County Special Deputy and presented a certificate, coin and patch. Commissioner Kevin Cameron moved to adopt the proclamation and Commissioner Colm Willis seconded; the motion carried with both commissioners voting aye and Commissioner Bethell absent.

On the consent agenda the board approved multiple items including the adoption or amendment of administrative policies (#215 and #496), an amendment closing $218,539.07 in unspent ARPA funds to reallocate to other ARPA projects, and adding $218,539.07 in ARPA funding to the Brooks Community Service District Drinking Water Improvements Project (for a new total listed on the agenda). The consent agenda also included updates to the Marion County Health and Human Services fee schedule, forwarding elected-officials compensation recommendations to the 2026-27 budget committee, notice of an administrative review denial, scheduling of a zone-change final consideration hearing, a communications site lease agreement with Weyerhaeuser Timber Holdings, Inc. (the APW site) for $396,393, and a purchase order with Henry Schein, Inc. not to exceed $309,600 for Brixadi subcutaneous injections for adults in custody.

The board approved a suite of appointments: Jeff Simons was appointed as a key volunteer to the Marion County Fair Board (term ending Dec. 31, 2029). The board also appointed Hunter McClure as an at-large member of the Marion County Parks Commission (term to Dec. 31, 2029) and named Alton Hoover as Chair and Tabitha Henricksen as Vice Chair of the Parks Commission (terms to March 4, 2028). All appointments were moved by Commissioner Cameron, seconded by Commissioner Willis, and carried with both voting aye and Commissioner Bethell absent.

Public Works staff presented Amendment #6 to the contract with Keller Associates, Inc., adding $807,343 in ARPA funding for additional construction engineering services on the Brooks-Hopmere Drinking Water Improvement Project. The amendment raised the not-to-exceed contract total to $3,205,172 and was approved by the board by the same 2-0 vote with one absence.

The board also approved Amendment #1 to an incoming-funds supplemental project agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation to add $6,249,999.58 in federal funding for right-of-way services, contract language updates and construction, increasing the agreement total to $6,967,839.58 through Nov. 18, 2031. The board simultaneously approved a resolution authorizing acquisition and eminent domain of certain properties for the State Street: 4106 State Street to 46th Avenue improvement project. That package was approved on a 2-0 vote with Commissioner Bethell absent.

The board recessed and convened as the Contract Review Board to consider a contracting administrative item. The Contract Review Board approved an exemption from Marion County Public Contracting Rules to reinstate an expired intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Oregon Department of Human Services as referenced in Exhibit A.

Returning as the Board of Commissioners, members approved Amendment #3 for the Juvenile Department to reinstate an incoming-funds IGA with ODHS and add $1,350,000 for a new not-to-exceed total of $2,700,000 for Title IV-E reimbursements. The funds are allocated to pay for 2.5 full-time equivalent positions and administrative costs, retroactive to Sept. 30, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2027. The motion passed 2-0 with one commissioner absent.

No public hearings were held. Commissioner Colm Willis adjourned the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamation designating March 2026 as IDD Awareness Month: approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Consent agenda including ARPA reallocations and policy adoptions: approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Jeff Simons appointed to Marion County Fair Board (term to Dec. 31, 2029): approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Parks Commission appointments (Hunter McClure; Chair Alton Hoover; Vice Chair Tabitha Henricksen): approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Amendment #6 with Keller Associates adding $807,343 ARPA funds (new total $3,205,172): approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - ODOT Amendment #1 adding $6,249,999.58 federal funds and eminent domain resolution for State Street project: approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Contract Review Board exemption to reinstate expired IGA with ODHS: approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent). - Juvenile Department Amendment #3 adding $1,350,000 for Title IV-E reimbursements (new total $2,700,000): approved (Cameron aye; Willis aye; Bethell absent).