On Tuesday, March 29, two of Senator Jeff Merkley’s senior staff members will join the Sheriff, members of the Benton County Board of Commissioners, and key staff members to tour the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), currently housed in the Sheriff’s Office. Merkley’s Chief of Staff Michael Zamore and Outreach Director Stacey Jochimsen will meet with city officials at the County’s building on 5th Street before moving to the EOC.
Senator Merkley recently supported attempts to allocate $1 million to the development of a new operations center through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which requires that the County contribute no more than 75% of the program’s cost. Benton County is expected to contribute $333,333 in order to receive the funding; $1,333,333 is committed to the new center.
The proposed EOC is about 8,000 square feet and available as a training or meeting building when not in use for emergencies. It will feature a kitchen, space for support services, restroom facilities, and a variety of meeting spaces.
The tour will begin at 205 NW 5th Street at 11:30 a.m. and last one hour.
By Grace Miller
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