Commissioners Fail to Approve Invoice for Josephine County's O&C Association Dues

The Board of Commissioners failed to approve an invoice for renewing Josephine County's membership in the Association of O&C Counties on Thursday. Board Chair Andreas Blech expressed his concerns about the $68,642.40 invoice being too high for the services provided by the organization, which represents 18 western Oregon counties that host around 2.1 million acres of timberlands. Commissioner Ron Smith made a motion to approve paying the invoice, stating that the Association of O&C Counties provides a lobbyist in Washington, DC, who advocates for sustained yield timber management for its members. However, Vice-Chair Chris Barnett did not second the motion and it expired without a vote. Smith reminded his colleagues that more than two-thirds of the land in Josephine County is federally-managed and not subject to taxation, which generates revenue to provide essential services and protect the local economy. He said he was very disappointed by the outcome. During Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Board heard from one man who was in favor of continued membership in the O&C Counties, a man who said the amount paid by the Civil Air Patrol for leasing a county-owned building near the Grants Pass Airport is too low, two women who supported the immediate renewal of the lease for the Grants Pass library branch and a man who continued to press for the sale of the Pipe Fork property near Williams. ...Read more

Library Officials Meet with Josephine County Commissioner Barnett to Discuss GP Lease

Representatives from the Josephine Community Library District met this week with Board of Commissioners' Vice-Chair Chris Barnett to discuss the future of the Grants Pass library building lease. During the meeting, the local library district reiterated its request to maintain the current $1 per year lease for another five years, with an option to renew. After months of uncertainty, the meeting marks a step to reopening a positive dialogue. On January 6th, the Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the library's lease with only 30 days' notice. Since that vote, the Commissioners have not offered a substantive response or proposed new lease terms, citing internal departmental needs and the potential sale of unrelated county property as reasons for the delay. The district remains open to continued negotiations and urges Josephine County to formalize its position in writing so that a collaborative path forward can be established. Consistent to its mission, the library is committed to keeping the public informed through transparent communication as the process moves forward. ...Read more

GP Active Club Gearing Up for Saturday's Boatnik Parade in Downtown Grants Pass

The Grants Pass Active Club is gearing up for the Boatnik Parade on Saturday, with theme "Return of the Caveman." It starts at 10 a.m. and for those who cannot attend, it will be broadcast "live" on KAJO Radio 99.7FM/AM1270. 6th Street will be closed to all vehicle traffic from A Street to Caveman Bridge. The road closure will start at 8 a.m. and run until after the parade or approximately 1 p.m.. No parking will be allowed on 6th Street from A Street to Caveman Bridge and on Voorhies Way between 6th and 7th streets from midnight tonight until after the parade. During the parade, traffic will be diverted at 6th and A streets to Beacon Drive and then onto the Grants Pass Parkway. Caveman Bridge will be closed during the parade. Those wishing to travel south of the Rogue River need to leave early or plan to use the Parkway Bridge. Access across the river will only be on the Parkway Bridge or the 7th Street Bridge (northbound only). For more information about the festival, visit "boatnik.com." ...Read more