Linn County Communications Officer
By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications Officer
American Red Cross volunteers assisted 76 people in 31 households affected by home fires last year, Carol Smedberg told Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker on March 1.
Commissioner Tucker – who is a Red Cross volunteer – read a proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month.
Smedberg said local Red Cross volunteers teach emergency preparedness in local elementary schools, including how to prepare “go bags” for their families.
“We also encourage children to have home fire drills with their families,” Smedberg said. “A new program for children in kindergarten, first and second grades is teach them how to crawl on the floor to get under smoke levels.”
In reading the proclamation, Tucker noted that Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and that today, there are more than 2,500 volunteers in the Cascade Region.
The Red Cross provides more than 1,600 emergency overnight shelter stays, food and comfort for families at more than 680 disasters including home fires.
Donors provide more than 182,000 units of blood for accident and burn victims, as well as people undergoing organ transplants.
In other business, the commissioners:
Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement on behalf of the Linn County Fire Chiefs concerning the $1.2 million Fire Radio Improvement Project presented by Undersheriff Micah Smith.
Approved naming Crabtree Auto as a provider of mechanical services for the LCSO vehicle fleet.
Approved an agreement to pay $5,000 per year to the city of Albany for its work with Linn County Animal Control. Albany will be the primary responder for dog complaints, picking up straw dogs and issuing citations/warnings within the city of Albany.
Approved a request by Parks Director Brian Carroll to apply for a $450,000 grant from the Oregon State Parks Department to begin renovations at Lewis Creek County Park on Foster Reservoir east of Sweet Home.
Reappointed Rich Kellum of Albany to the Linn County Parks Commission.
Was informed that water pipe broke inside Clear Lake Lodge and fortunately, someone was in the building and quickly shut off the water flow. Repairs are being made. The resort is open, but access to the lodge is limited until the repairs are completed, Carroll said.
Approved purchasing a program called EZLease to help keep track of county leases at a cost of $5,610.
Learned that Commissioner Sprenger has been elected chair of the Community Services Consortium board of directors.
Board Chair Nyquist said the board’s “thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine” whose country is being attacked by Russian military forces.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email [email protected].
