Commissioners OK Enterprise Zone exemptions for ATI project

ALBANY — ATI in Millersburg is continuing to make multi-million-dollar investments in new equipment and plant modifications, the latest project totaling $73.6 million, John Pascone of the Linn Economic Development Group told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

As part of that expansion, ATI has asked for amendments to its Enterprise Zone Authorization, which delays property taxes on new equipment for three years.

The regular property tax exemption is for three years and ATI asked that be extended to five years.

Under the regular Enterprise Zone rules, the company would normally be required to increase its employee tally by 10%, but it has already added 65 employees since their last application was approved in April 2023. Rules allow the additional employment to be waived if the investment is more than $25 million. The company employs more than 800 people.

ATI produces specialty metals used in a multitude of disciplines from medical equipment to airplanes and helicopters.  It is a $3 billion international company with more than 30 locations across the United States, Europe and Asia.

Both exemptions were approved by Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved the following for the Sheriff’s Office: Amended a contract for laundry services with Health’s Laundry to provide for up to a 5% annual adjustment based on CPI-W; approved temporary work agreements with Sgt. Dusty Frenzel, Sgt. Brad Kelley, retired Captain Kevin Guilford; and accepted a $15,000 grant extension from the Oregon Emergency Management Performance Grant to be used by the County’s Emergency Management program.
• Approved the following for the Road Department: Approved a contract with River Bend Construction for $232,338.50 to construct a turn lane on Seven Mile Lane; authorized closure at certain times of the Brownsville Main Street on June 21-22 for the community’s annual Pioneer Picnic celebration; authorized the closure of First Avenue, SW Broadway, SW Linn Blvd. ands Lyons Mill City Drive from noon to 1 p.m. on the 4^th of July; approved a Broadway Street Maintenance Agreement with the City of Mill City.
• Approved the sealed bid sale of property at 284 9^th St., Lyons to Shawn and Melony Raines for $10,150. The single-family residential property did not sell at a recent public auction.
• Accepted a report concerning due diligence findings concerning a building known as the Seventh Street Medical Properties. The report was prepared by General Services staff and County Administrative Officer Darrin Lane said there were no surprises found concerning the buildings condition or needs. The 11,000-square-foot building was constructed in 1961 and was remodeled in 1993. The cost of the building and improvements will come from $3.25 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding. About $2.5 million will be used to purchase the building and the remainder will be dedicated to repairs.  Linn County Public Health will move some services into the building, including locating a 24-hour mental health crisis center there.
• Approved providing members of the Teamsters Union with a 3.3% Cost of Living Adjustment, matching other union-represented employees. The Teamsters Union contract was negotiated before the COVID-19 pandemic and recent period of high inflation.
• Appointed Roman Rojas to the Alcohol & Drug Planning Committee.
• Renewed a contract with DSW Capital to manage leasing opportunities for property owned by the county near the intermodal site in Millersburg. DSW Capital is paid when contracts are approved.
• Announced there will be an Elected Officials meeting at noon Wednesday at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.