Roger Nyquist was elected chairman of the Linn County Board of Commissioners for the 20th year Tuesday morning during the board’s first meeting of 2022.
Vice-chair will be Commissioner Will Tucker.
Commissioners Tucker and Sherrie Sprenger said they would like to see the chairmanship rotate among board members beginning in 2023 as had been a longstanding tradition at one time.
Tucker praised Nyquist’s leadership and said he has done “an exceptional job.”
Sprenger agreed and said rotating the chairmanship would provide the board an opportunity to see things “with fresh eyes.”
The commissioners also will no longer be assigned liaison status with county departments.
Nyquist said that the commissioners have always helped anyone who has come to the office or phoned in concerns without shuffling them off to an assigned liaison for help.
“I’ve given a lot of thought to this and it’s from a bygone era before the Internet, email and cell phones,” Nyquist said.
Nyquist suggested that each commissioner submit a list of their key areas of interest and set goals.
Sprenger said she values the liaison system, but is willing to test out the proposed process for a year or two.
Tucker said he has mixed feelings about the process but is “happy to try it.”
State and federal committee appointments will continue as is, the commissioners agreed.
Nyquist is serving his sixth term on the board. Tucker served three terms and did not seek a fourth term in the 2020 election due to family health issues.
Commissioner Sprenger was elected to succeed Tucker in the 2020 election after serving 13 years in the state legislature.
In March 2021, long-time Commissioner John Lindsey died and Tucker was selected by the Linn County Republican Central Committee to fill out the remaining two years of his term in office. Tucker has announced he will be a candidate on the November 2022 ballot.
In other business, the commissioners:
Approved the Albany Democrat-Herald, Lebanon Express and The New Era in Sweet Home as newspapers of record for legal notices.
Held a public hearing concerning the proposed transfer of 2.68 acres of the former Willamette Industries mill site to the city of Sweet Home. City Councilor Angelita Sanchez said she would like an economic impact study surrounding the site and its possible use as a homeless camp before a decision is made. The county does not have authority over land use issues within city limits, so zoning and permitting falls under the city’s jurisdiction.
Convened as the governing body of the 4-H and Extension Service district and elected Sprenger as chair and Tucker as vice-chair.
Nyquist to chair Board of Commissioners for 20th year
