The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two administrative action items and four annexations to the local library district during its weekly business session on Wednesday.
The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that temporarily suspends the acceptance of applications for mineral exploration permits and mining leases.
Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the code addressing mineral exploration applications and mining leases on county-owned land needs to be updated and the order suspends these actions for up to one year. Board Chair Herman Baertschiger said the public will have the opportunity to comment on the amended code before it's adopted. He also said that one recent application will be addressed separately.
The Commissioners also unanimously approved an order that updates policy and procedure for removing homeless encampments from county-owned property due to conditions that may compromise the health, safety and general welfare of the community. The new policy recognizes the social nature of the problem of homeless individuals camping on public property and ensures the most humane treatment for removal of those individuals from camping sites on public property.
The Board opened the meeting with a public hearing on four annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. All four annexation requests were made by the property owners and all were approved -- including a request from former Commissioner and Grants Pass Mayor Darin Fowler. Two of the requests were made by Grants Pass residents, with two more made by Illinois Valley residents.
