Marion County commissioners are set to add $1.83 million in federal pandemic relief funds to a radio network serving police, fire and ambulance crews across the county.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners will vote on the funding at its Wednesday, Sept. 30, session, according to the board's published agenda.
The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and would bring the total investment in the Radio Communications Project to $10.83 million. The county must spend the funds by Dec. 31, 2026.
The board announced a $9 million ARPA allocation for the radio system at its March 2022 State of the County address, according to Marion County News.
Commissioners said at the time that the existing system was partially burned during the 2020 Labor Day fires. Chair Colm Willis said in March 2022 that the board "We focused on making generational change for our community through one-time infrastructure allocations."
The agenda also creates a new county job classification, Radio System Administrator, to support the project.
Foreclosure policy overhaul
Commissioners will vote to revise the county's policy on selling tax-foreclosed properties. The revised Administrative Policy #809 and a new Procedure #809-B govern how the county handles surplus proceeds from those sales.
The revision covers the same ground as Oregon House Bill 2089, which took effect Sept. 26, 2025, and brought the state into compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous 2023 ruling in Tyler v. Hennepin County. That decision held that governments violate the Fifth Amendment when they seize a home for unpaid taxes and keep proceeds above what is owed.
The Association of Oregon Counties noted that Oregon was one of roughly 20 states that previously allowed local governments to pocket the surplus.
Under HB 2089, counties must try to sell residential tax-foreclosed properties through a licensed real estate agent before going to auction. Surplus proceeds go to the Oregon State Treasurer for former owners to claim.
The same agenda item returns two tax-foreclosed properties to their prior owner, Emerald Enterprise LLC, through quitclaim deeds.
Drug testing and other contracts
The board will consider adding $700,000 to its contract with Redwood Toxicology Laboratory for drug testing services. The amendment brings the total purchase order to $1.6 million through Dec. 1, 2029.
Other consent items include a $193,445 Oracle support renewal with Mythics LLC and a 10-year data center agreement with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services worth up to $292,680.
The lone action item is an $850,900 ARPA grant to Joshua J. Hunsaker and Sandi S. Elwood for septic system repairs at a commercial property in Detroit, Oregon.
The session begins at 9 a.m. in the Senator Hearing Room at 555 Court St. NE in Salem. No public hearings are scheduled. Residents can submit written testimony by email to [email protected] or request to testify by phone at least 24 hours before the meeting.
