Benton County Commissioner Xan Augerot led a delegation of county commissioners, sheriffs, and public safety stakeholders to Wasco County on April 23 to tour the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections (NORCOR) Facility – a four-county partnership between Wasco County, Hood River County, Sherman County, and Gilliam County. The tour and discussion focused on the possibilities of creating a regional jail near the Willamette Valley.
“We took a great first step toward investigating the potential for a regional jail in the mid-Willamette/mid-Coast area,” said Augerot.
AOC Executive Director Mike McArthur, who was a Sherman County Judge at the time of NORCOR’s creation, provided some background and history on how NORCOR was formed.
Commissioners, sheriffs, and key staff from Yamhill County, Tillamook County, Multnomah County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, and Benton County were present. Also present were representatives from the Criminal Justice Commission, Legislative Policy and Research Office, House Majority Office, and CityCounty Insurance Services (CIS).
Wasco County Commissioner Rod Runyon, Wasco County Juvenile Director Molly Rogers, and NORCOR Administrator Bryan Brandenburg were also on hand to welcome the group and give them a tour of the facility.
Contributed by: Patrick Sieng | AOC Policy Manager
“Our four counties have had a good partnership,” said Runyon.