Community Open House Held February 8

On February 8, Benton County hosted an Open House at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis to educate the community about the Justice System Improvement Program and the proposed facilities to be put before voters in a bond measure on the May 2023 ballot. More than 200 community members attended with staff and elected officials.

The open house included displays and information for community members to learn more about the Justice System Improvement Program master plan on the new Community Safety and Justice Campus and the new Benton County Courthouse and District Attorney’s office that will be located on the campus. The courthouse and District Attorney’s office will be funded through state and federal funding and County borrowing and are planned to open for services in 2025.

Health Department staff were also on hand to share the early design concepts for the new downtown Corvallis Crisis Center. The Crisis Center will be a voluntary walk-in treatment-centered facility that may be an alternative to the emergency room, which provides stabilization for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, along with referrals and support for ongoing behavioral health services. The Crisis Center will be funded through state and federal grants and is planned to open for services in 2024.

Staff and elected officials also shared information about the overall financial plan for the Justice System Improvement Program and the proposed facilities that are included in the Community Safety, Mental Health, and Homelessness Services Facilities bond measure to go before voters in May.

While the County is not currently planning to host additional community events, the League of Women Voters of Corvallis will host a community educational forum in March 2023. Details will be shared as soon as they are available.