Benton County

Speed limit approved for NA’s Scenic Drive

Written March 6th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

Scenic Drive, a rural road in North Albany, has never had a speed limit other than the basic rule, which meant 55 mph, but that will change soon.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton County, North Albany, Oak Grover Drive, ODOT, Scenic Drive, Spring Hill Drive, traffic speed

Expenses mount in Benton’s big plans

Written August 5th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 18 responses.

Seven years after their last attempt to win voter approval for a new jail, Benton County officials are assembling a more ambitious and much more expensive expansion project for which property taxpayers eventually will get the bill — if it is carried out.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton commissioners, Benton County, Benton courthouse, Benton jail, Benton sheriff, jail expansion

Repaving Gibson Hill: Project set to start

Written June 8th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

Expect delays, the sign on Gibson Hill Road says. That doesn’t sound good. But what it also says is that the long-awaited repaving of this North Albany arterial will finally start this month.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton County, county roads, Gibson Hill, North Santiam Paving Co., pavement contract

On Gibson Hill, repaving due this summer

Written April 19th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 9 responses.

With any kind of luck, North Albany commuters should find the going much smoother on Gibson Hill Road by the end of summer 2022.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton County, commuting, Gibson Hill Road, North Albany, pavement restoration

Republic drops landfill appeal, will try again

Written March 15th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 8 responses.

The conflict over a proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte landfill in north Benton County has entered a new and unexpected stage.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton County, Coffin Butte expansion, Coffin Butte landfill, regional landfill, solid waste

Justice site convenient for North Albany

Written January 26th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

For residents of North Albany, the property selected for a proposed Benton County justice center has one advantage over the other sites that have now been rejected.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Benton commissioners, Benton County, Benton Justice center, McFadden Ranch

Benton moves: Recalling courthouse visits

Written January 11th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

As far as I can remember, I’ve been inside the historic Benton County Courthouse only twice, the last time nearly four years ago when my wife and I went down into the basement (pictured above) to change our registration to vote.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Benton County, Benton County courthouse, Benton office moves, Kalapuya Building