Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners opened today's business session by approving the annexation of two properties into the Josephine Community Library District.

Both properties are located in Cave Junction and they increase the physical size of the library district by nearly six acres. The requests for annexation came from the landowners.

Following a public hearing, the Board approved the first reading of an ordinance related to Commissioners meetings. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks said the ordinance is an amendment to the County Code that broadens the Board's discretion on the time and location of meetings with a 24-hour notice as required by Oregon law.

Commissioner Ron Smith made a motion to approve the first reading and amended it to state all business sessions will be held in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The vote was 2-1, with Commissioner Chris Barnett voting no. The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for May 15th.

The Board also voted 2-1 to renew Josephine County's annual dues to the Special Districts Association of Oregon. Board Chair Andreas Blech said he believes the $500 dues are "not a good value" and he voted no.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to reschedule the Board's weekly sessions to Thursdays at 10 a.m. from May 1st through August 14th. They also voted 3-0 to send a letter of support to the Oregon Department of Transportation to put a banner up advertising the Chamber of Commerce's Lemonade Day event on August 9th.

During the public comment period, several citizens called on the Commissioners to resign and Josephine County Republican Party Chairman Holli Morton was the lone person who spoke in support of the Board. Commissioner Barnett read a letter to the public in which he denounced recent attacks and asked for patience with the current Board who have been in office for only 3-1/2 months.