Government Comment Corner: Another member of the Corvallis City Council will be hosting a government comment corner. Ward 1 Councilor Jan Napack will be at the Benton County Public Library on March 18.
This is open to the public for anyone interested in stopping by and asking questions about local government. This will be from 10 a.m. to noon.
Tax Exempt: The City of Corvallis Housing Operational Committee (HOC) will be reviewing the Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) and Low-Income Housing Property Tax Exemption (LIHPTE) approved by the Corvallis City Council.
The HOC will review the tax program at its March 15 meeting. The council approved a tax exemption for the MUPTE and the LIHPTE at their Feb 6 meeting.
“Staff has been exploring property tax exemption programs with the Housing Committee. This work has been part of the Strategic Operational Plan (SOP) and was previously recommended by the Council’s Housing Development Policy Task Force,” said Community Development Director Paul Bilotta.
Following discussions with the HOC, the city will move forward with plans to develop and move forward with both low-income housing projects.
County Shuffles Hoffman to Replace Kerby: As everyone knows, longtime County Administrator Joe Kerby has left. Now, Suzanne Hoffman, who had been serving as the County’s Health Department Director has been tapped to fill Kerby’s position on an interim basis.
Hoffman started with the county in October of 2020. At the time, she had twenty years of public sector experience with the State of Oregon, the last five at the Oregon Health Authority. As the Chief Operating Officer, she simultaneously held interim appointments as the Public Health Officer (2013) and the Agency Director (2014-2015). She finished her service at the Oregon Health Authority as the Interim Health Analytics Director in 2016, transitioning to LifeWorks NW, a non-profit behavioral health organization, in 2017.
In addition to her interim roles at Oregon Health Authority, Hoffman has held interim leadership roles at Oregon Patient Safety Commission and the Oregon State Board of Nursing. She earned both a B.S. and a M.P.H. from Portland State University.
Back in 2020, the County announced Hoffman’s appointment to the health department would be interim.
Now, Holland Replaces Hoffman: April Holland has been appointed Interim Health Department Director for Benton County effective today, March 15, 2023.
Holland joined Benton County as the Deputy Director of Public Health in December of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Holland came to the Benton County Health Department from California where she oversaw Epidemiology, Communicable Disease, Immunizations, Vital Statistics and Public Health Preparedness programs. Holland earned her Master of Public Health degree from Oregon State University.
By Jennifer Williams
