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An RV is parked in a church parking lot

June 26, 2024 in News

Vehicle Camping at Religious Institutions

Fast Facts about Housing and Homelessness in Benton County

  • The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Benton County has increased more than 95% since 2015.
  • The 2022 Point in Time count report* estimates that there are over 700 unhoused people in the Linn, Benton and Lincoln tri-county region with about 300 unhoused people in Benton County.
  • Some members of our rural communities use vehicles as their primary shelter, but have no fixed place to safely and legally park them.

How does Benton County Code Chapter 40 help?

  • Enables Religious Institutions within the unincorporated areas of Benton County to provide safe and legal places for people to sleep in vehicles, campers, trailers, or micro-shelters.
  • Establishes minimum standards including provision of basic sanitary facilities for guests and onsite parking and siting standards to reduce impacts to adjacent properties and uses.
  • Provides an additional tool for rural communities to provide a safe and stable means to shelter for those experiencing crises.
Fast Facts Sheet
Resource Manual
Vehicle Camping Application

June 14, 2024 in Alsea CACCitizen Advisory CommitteeNews

Alsea CAC – Overview

The Alsea Citizen Advisory Committee is looking for volunteers!

Become a member of the Alsea Citizen Advisory Committee, a group of citizens and business owners that examine community issues and provide recommendations to the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

3 voting member positions and 2 alternate (non-voting) positions are available.

Apply Today

Contact Sarah Cash

Applications are due by 12:00pm, June 24, 2024

Map of Benton County Citizen Advisory Committee Areas (active and inactive)
Citizen Advisory Committees
Agendas & Minutes
Alsea CAC Members
Deb Coddington
Gary Strom
Janet Hendrix
Mimi Stout, Chair

Meetings Every First Monday at 6:00PM

Future Committee Meetings

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpce6opjIpGtUF-Jv_gLTVdCwkHBP7sfyr
Passcode: 496693

Background Documents

Projects (Upcoming)

  • Community Health Clinic Service
  • Safe Routes to School Sidewalks
  • Sewer Upgrade
  • Benton County Comprehensive Plan Update
  • Benton County Development Code Update
Community Links

May 16, 2024 in News

Commissions & Committees

Conference table, meeting

The following Commissions and Committees are integral to the successful functioning of the Planning Division. The Planning Commission prepares recommendations for the Board of Commissioners regarding proposed amendments to the County’s land-use and development regulations; makes decisions on quasi-judicial land use matters; and, in its capacity as the Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI), assists the Board of Commissioners with development and evaluation of the County’s Citizen Involvement Program related primarily to land-use planning (ORS 215.020). The Historic Resources Commission was created to implement a county-wide historic preservation program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee provides an opportunity for community members of each CAC area to be involved in all phases of the land-use planning process and other aspects of County government that relate to their area.

Planning Commission
Disposal Site Advisory Committee
Historic Resource Commission
Citizen Advisory Committees
Solid Waste Advisory Council

May 13, 2024 in DSAC MeetingsNews

Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC)

Disposal Site Management

The Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC) assists the Benton County Board of Commissioners in the planning and implementation of disposal site management, including the following:

  • Review with the permittee the regional disposal site’s siting, operation, closure, and long-range monitoring of the site;
  • Provide a forum for citizen comments, questions and concerns about the regional disposal site and promote a dialog between the community and the owner or operator of the site; and
  • Prepare an annual written report summarizing the local citizens’ concerns and the manner in which the owner or operator is addressing those concerns

View DSAC Bylaws (PDF)

Participation on county boards and commissions involves citizens directly in local government in an impactful way and provides the Board of Commissioners with timely input on important issues. Members of Benton County’s various advisory boards and committees are unpaid volunteers who devote numerous hours of their time to these community activities. In all there are 26 advisory boards, commissions and committees and members may serve up to two consecutive terms. Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners to fill vacancies, which have set terms.

The Board of Commissioners office is currently conducting interviews to fill positions for DSAC. New member information will be posted here when it becomes available.

MEMBERTERM OF SERVICE
Ken Eklund, ChairTerm began 01.01.22 – Term expires 12.31.24
Deborah GileTerm began 01.01.19 – Term expires 12.31.24
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
Ian McNabDesignated Permittee – Republic Services (Coffin Butte Landfill)

NEXT DSAC MEETING

Coming soon

DSAC Minutes – January 26, 2022DSAC Minutes – April 27, 2022DSAC Minutes – 2021DSAC Minutes 2020
DSAC Minutes – 2019DSAC Minutes – 2018DSAC Minutes – 2017DSAC Minutes – 2016
DSAC Minutes – 2015DSAC Minutes – 2014DSAC Minutes – 2013DSAC Minutes – 2012

November 30, 2023 in News

Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program

Overview

Benton County Community Development Department is seeking applications for neighborhood community wildfire preparedness projects that aim to 1) decrease structure ignitability of homes, 2) reduce hazardous fuels around homes and/or 3) educate residents about wildfire risk reduction or preparedness. Priority will be given to projects that support residents with vulnerability to the negative impacts of wildfires, including low-income, elderly, disabled, and/or non-English speaking residents, as well as rural residents of Benton County.

The total funding for this grant is $18,000 with a maximum of $3,000 for each proposal (there is no minimum request amount). An individual applicant can only be associated with one unique proposal. Awarded grant funds need to be expended by December 31, 2023. The deadline to submit applications is 5pm on June 16, 2023.  Grant funds will be made available to successful applicants either by direct funding or through reimbursement, dependent on the project.  

All applications will be assessed for feasibility, potential impact, and equity. See the last page for additional information including example projects, exclusions, the application evaluation criteria, and project administration details.

Please complete the following application electronically and email the completed Word document to Inga Williams, inga.williams@bentoncountyor.gov. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Wildfire Mitigation Grant Application
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