Linn County prioritizes Cabin 6 repairs, directs rebids and scheduling to reduce odor and loss of rentals

Commissioners spent more than an hour on Feb. 9 debating which park cabins to renovate and how to manage reservations while repairs occur. Park representative Sherry Loveland reported January revenues and multi-year cabin counts and described a persistent odor in Cabin 6 that appears linked to sewer venting problems: "It's like a cross between a dead mouse and a sewer leak," she said, stressing the smell worsens when multiple cabins are full.

Public Works staff and commissioners reviewed three contractor bids for remodeling work previously scoped for Cabin 7. Several commissioners and staff recommended rebidding the scope for Cabin 6 instead because historical occupancy data and the sewer/vent issue suggested Cabin 6 yields the biggest return on renovation. Jesse Walton of Public Works said staff could ask contractors to resubmit bids tailored to Cabin 6 and provide a timeline; contractors indicated a roughly three-week turnaround window could be feasible between bookings.

Sherry Loveland cautioned that many cabins already have reservations well in advance through Airbnb and the park's calendar; commissioners asked staff to email open booking windows so renovations can be scheduled with minimal cancellations. Commissioners also raised housekeeping capacity concerns if the park expands Airbnb listings: the park currently relies on a single part-time cabin cleaner and uses on-site laundry; moving more cabins onto Airbnb would increase laundering and staffing needs.

The board directed staff to: (1) rebid the project scoped to Cabin 6 with clear deliverables including separate line items for sewer/vent work, (2) request revised timelines from Miller Construction and other bidders, (3) provide a list of calendar blocks that can be cancelled if necessary, and (4) prioritize addressing the sewer/vent condition before committing substantial renovation funds to a cabin that will continue to experience the odor. Commissioners said they expect staff to begin the rebid process the following week and return timelines and bids for a March agenda.

Why this matters: Linn County Park cabins are a recurring local revenue source; fixing functional problems that reduce bookings matters to park operations and local tourism. The board sought to balance minimizing lost rental income with addressing infrastructure (sewer venting) that undercuts cabin utility.

What’s next: Staff will circulate cabin availability windows, request rebids for Cabin 6 with separate sewer and remodel line items, and report back at a future meeting with contractor timelines and cost estimates.