Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Team assisted with the SkiMo Summit Race last weekend at the Mount Ashland Ski Area. SAR was staged on the west side of Mount Ashland as well as the Grouse Gap area to assist with any injuries during the race. SAR volunteers took the opportunity to do side-training while on standby, which included skiing skills, winter fire building and avalanche safety. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is looking for Search & Rescue volunteers. If you are interested in joining the SAR Team, go to the Sheriff's Office website, search for SAR volunteer and fill out the form. Visit "jacksoncountyor.gov."

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night voted in favor of a 3% food and beverage tax combined with a $9 utility fee to fill the funding void for public safety. The non-binding vote was 5-3, with DJ Faszer, Dwayne Yunker and Valerie Lovelace casting the dissenting votes. City staff will now create ordinances to institute the proposed new revenue streams to maintain current funding levels and add three police officers, a crime analyst, three firemen and an administrator. Councilors are expected to cast a final vote on the ordinances at the February 21st regular meeting. Prior to Council's discussion and vote, they heard over an hour of public testimony related to the public safety funding discussion. Citizens voiced different opinions both for and against a sales tax, for and against a utility fee, and against the food and beverage tax. The City Council started the meeting by unanimously approving an ordinance that amends the Development Code to relax some residential development standards. The amendments reduce the requirement of 30% open space for multi-family housing developments, streamlining requirements while maintaining high-value recreation areas. The setback standards for multi-family developments next to single-family residences were retained.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a collective bargaining agreement and delayed a decision on whether to refer an animal shelter levy to voters during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The Board voted unanimously to approve the collective bargaining agreement with the Laborers International Union of North America Local 737. The new contract with 75% of Public Works employees had been continued from last month. Public Works Director Rob Brandes said the three-year agreement includes a 4.5% cost of living increase with Josephine County picking up the 6% contribution to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). He added that the workers covered under this pact have agreed not to seek another cost of living hike for three years. A resolution to refer to voters a five-year local option tax levy for the Animal Shelter was tabled until next week because the language for the Voters Pamphlet had not yet been completed. If approved by the Board, a proposed levy charging 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value will appear on the May 21st election ballot.

 

The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce will be searching for a new leader after the current CEO announced plans to depart the organization in March. In a recent press release, Chamber of Commerce President Josie Malloy said she will be leaving Grants Pass next month as she and her family will be moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to be closer to loved ones. Malloy leaves the Chamber in a strong position, financially stable, with talented staff members and an effective board of directors to ensure the continuation of the positive work the organization does for the local business community. Malloy has initiated effective collaboration with partners and brought together diverse voices to drive positive change in the community. The Chamber Board of Directors soon will be conducting a search for Malloy's successor. During the transition period, it is the Board's priority to find the best individual to lead while maintaining a stable and effective organization.

 

A 3% food and beverage tax combined with a $9 utility fee is the consensus of the Grants Pass City Council to fill the funding void for public safety. The Wednesday night advisory vote was five to three with D.J. Faszer, Dwayne Yunker and Valerie Lovelace casting the no votes. City staff will now create ordinances to institute the proposed new revenue streams to not only maintain current staffing levels, but add three police officers, a crime analyst, three firemen and an administrator. Councilors are expected to cast a final vote on the ordinances at the next meeting February 21st. Prior to Council’s discussion and vote they heard over an hour of public testimony related to the public safety funding discussion. Citizens voiced many different passionate opinions including against a sales tax and for a sales tax, against the food and beverage tax and both for an against the utility fee. The Council began Wednesday night’s meeting by unanimously approving an ordinance amending the Development code relaxing residential development standards. The amendments reduce the requirement of 30 percent open space for multifamily housing developments, essentially streamlining requirements while maintaining high value recreation areas. Setback standards where a multifamily development is next to a single-family residence was retained. The Council then approved an ordinance correcting solar standards for development making minor, non-substantive corrections to the ordinance.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a collective bargaining agreement and delayed a decision on whether to refer an animal shelter levy to voters during its weekly business session this morning. The Board voted unanimously to approve the collective bargaining agreement with the Laborers International Union of North America Local 737. The new contract with 75% of Public Works employees had been continued from last month. Public Works Director Rob Brandes said the three-year agreement includes a 4.5% cost of living increase with Josephine County picking up the 6% contribution to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). He added that the workers covered under this pact have agreed not to seek another cost of living hike for three years. A resolution to refer to voters a five-year local option tax levy for the Animal Shelter was tabled until next week because the language for the Voters Pamphlet had not yet been completed. If approved by the Board, a proposed levy charging 47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value will appear on the May 21st election ballot. The weekly public comment period was both varied and lively. Citizens spoke both for and against the Animal Shelter levy, in support of the Pipe Fork property sale and for the proposed County Charter amendment. Also brought up by citizens were local school boards and the need for a Josephine County Fire Protection District. One man who identified himself only as "The Boss" was nearly thrown out of the public meeting when he used expletives in a rant against what he called "domestic terrorism" by the Board, Grants Pass City Council and Grants Pass Daily Courier.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant yesterday after he stole a beer from a local supermarket. The Police Department reports officers arrested 40-year-old Philip Raymond Nerpel for the incident at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane at 2:09 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Nerpel was detained by loss prevention for stealing a beer. They said he provided a fictitious name to officers, but he was properly identified and then found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. Philip Nerpel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the statewide warrant plus charges of 3rd-Degree Theft and Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Nerpel was also arrested for Parole Violation on January 8th of this year and June 20th of last year.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed this week after he turned himself in on a statewide felony warrant. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 41-year-old Jason Andrew Williams was arrested at the GPPD station on NE 7th Street on Monday at 10:16 a.m.. Police said Williams came into the station lobby and stated that his corrections officer was looking for him because he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. The underlying charges included Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and Criminal Mischief. After the warrant was confirmed with Williams' corrections officer, he was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a leaf blower from a north-city motel yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the theft at La Quinta Inn & Suites on NE Morgan Lane on Tuesday around 11:25 a.m.. Police said a motel worker called them to report his backpack blower -- valued at $900 -- was stolen. The worker advised that the motel surveillance camera caught a male subject taking the blower and driving away in a gray Nissan Frontier. A short time later, another La Quinta employee reported a vehicle matching that description was parked at the downtown liquor store on SE 8th Street. Contact was made with 69-year-old James Cecil Black who matched the suspect description in the video footage. The leaf blower was located in the back seat of his vehicle. James Black was charged with 2nd-Degree Theft and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The stolen leaf blower was returned to the motel worker.