Like many Oregon counties, Clackamas County needs to replace or retrofit public buildings. The county’s own assessment found that its courthouse would be likely to slide into the Willamette River in the event of a major earthquake. The county commission is close to finalizing a deal to build a new courthouse using funds from the state, county and a private investment firm. It’s not the first building project in Oregon to use a public-private partnership, but it appears to be the first such deal to build a public building. Clackamas County Commission Chair Tootie Smith tells us more about why a new courthouse is needed right now, and about the unusual funding model.