Benton County Commissioner Jay Dixon says he's making a list of things he'd like the county to accomplish or at least tackle in 2009.

Dixon, who has served on the board since 2001 and has just been elected to his third term, will serve as the chairman of the three-member board next year.

He spoke in an interview.

Near the top of his list is to get started on plans for what might eventually be a city-county office complex on the west side of the Fifth and Monroe intersection in Corvallis.

The county has been setting aside money toward the project, and Dixon can envision it being built and completed in about four years.

County offices now are spread among about a dozen buildings, some rented, some owned by the county. Between savings on rent and possibly renting space in the new structure to state and other public agencies, Dixon thinks the county may come out ahead.

Part of that issue is what to do about the state courts, now housed in outmoded quarters in the historic courthouse.

One big challenge for Benton County will be budget issues next year, Dixon believes. Based on the governor's budget proposal, the county may have less money to help people, including the mentally ill.

But he said the county's four health clinics are not in jeopardy. The county operates two in Corvallis, one in Monroe and one, in conjunction with Linn County, in Lebanon.

In North Albany, Dixon says, Benton County intends to follow through on a recent discussion with the Albany council on joint planning for any development just outside the city limits.

Albany officials had been concerned that the county had approved houses that didn't have adequate water and then sought hookups from the city.

On another issue, Dixon says Benton County is getting ready in case the next government stimulus package includes money for local road construction.

The county has one shovel-ready project, he says: Realignment of Reservoir Avenue on the western outskirts of Corvallis near where 53rd Avenue dips under the Toledo Branch rail line.

The underpass sometimes floods. Plans are to realign Reservoir Road away from the underpass and eventually build an overpass instead.

Dixon will take over as chairman of the Benton board from Linda Modrell in January. He cal be reached at the Benton County offices, (541) 766-6800.