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Benton County Forestland Classification Project – Classification & Review Committee

Benton County Forestland Classification Committee

The Benton County Forestland Classification Committee (BCFCC) had its first meeting in May of 2008. The first several meetings were spent establishing its bylaws, determining how the BCFCC would conduct its business, learning about the task that they were charged with, and clarifying a protocol for implementation.

Once this was done, the BCFCC began meeting to make draft classification determinations on all Benton County lands within the Protection District.

The Committee is working systematically to make and record the draft determination across each Township and Section. It is anticipated that classification review and draft determination of forestland will done by spring 2009.

The BCFCC meetings are open to the public. Notices are posted in the Corvallis Gazette-Times Newspaper, and at ODF, Benton County Assessors Office, and Benton County OSU-Extension Service offices.

There will also be meetings to update the public and collect public comment on the draft determinations and process used for classifying forestlands. Following the public meetings, a hearing, and written order will be submitted to the Benton County Clerk, and the results of the classification review will be passed on to the Benton County Assessor’s Office, where they will implement the changes to the tax rolls.

As with other assessment decisions, forestland determinations will be subject to appeal by property owners.

Committee Members
Name	City/Affiliation
Jim Wernz – Chair	Benton County landowner
Ted Erdmann – Secretary	Oregon Department of Forestry
Sara Leiman	Benton County landowner
Rick Fletcher	Benton County OSU Extension Service
Tom Phelps	Oregon State Fire Marshal
Pat Malone	Benton County landowner

Department of Forestry Contacts
Name	Contact Information
Mike Totey District Forester	541-929-9151 - Work mtotey@odf.state.or.us
Oregon Department of Forestry	West Oregon District Headquarters Oregon Department of Forestry 24533 Alsea Hwy Philomath, OR 97370 541-929-3266 – Front Desk 541-929-5549 – Fax