Josephine County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

County Board: No Decisions Yet, but Jail Tax, Parole Contract, and Water Funds on the Agenda

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has not published minutes from its recent meetings, so no decisions are recorded for the past two weeks. The board's upcoming schedule, however, includes several items that could affect county services and infrastructure, including a proposed referral of a jail and juvenile detention tax renewal to the November ballot, a vote on a parole officer union contract, and support for water and sewer infrastructure funding.

Recent meetings (agenda only, no decisions recorded)

Aug. 10 and Aug. 17 – Land use hearings on non-farm dwelling

The board held a hearing and a continued hearing on an appeal of a denial of a non-farm dwelling in the Exclusive Farm zone, with access off Lower River Road. The appeal challenges the Director's decision to deny the placement. Public comment was limited to three minutes per speaker. No outcome has been published.

Aug. 12 – Weekly business session

The board considered Resolution No. 2026-031, which would refer a measure to the Nov. 3, 2026, election for renewal of the five-year local option tax for the adult jail and juvenile detention facility. The agenda also included approval of consent calendar minutes from several prior meetings. No dollar amounts were listed.

Aug. 18 – Executive session (cancelled)

A scheduled executive session on personnel discipline was cancelled.

Aug. 19 – Weekly business session

The board held a public hearing on the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-002, which would amend the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map to change a property owned by Rose Butte LLC (Map 35-06-03-D0, Tax Lot 1400) from Farm Resource (FR) to Rural Residential (RR5). The consent calendar included minutes from Aug. 10 and the July 2026 Board Journal.

Aug. 21 – Executive session

The board met in executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(b) to consider dismissal, discipline, or complaints against a public officer or employee. No other business was listed.

Upcoming meetings

Aug. 24 – Land use hearing

The board will hear an appeal of the Director's Decision to approve a cannabis processing facility with access off Dick George Road. The board will decide whether to uphold, overturn, or modify the approval. Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker.

Aug. 25 – Radio interview and city/county update

The board will hold a KAJO Radio interview (no formal action) and a monthly update with city officials to discuss public land, car camping on county property or in urban growth boundaries, and a youth community center.

Aug. 25 – Administration workshop

The board will vote on a collective bargaining agreement with the Federation of Oregon Parole and Probation Officers (FOPPO). It will also consider Resolution No. 2026-032 supporting Josephine County and the City of Cave Junction's applications for Water and Sewer Infrastructure Extension Funds. Other items include Board Order 2026-044 (amending Board Order 2026-023), Board Order 2026-045 (accepting by-laws for a new economic development grant application), and pay grade changes for several sheriff's office positions (Animal Control Supervisor, Lead Dispatcher, Lieutenant, Undersheriff) due to a compensation study.

Aug. 26 – Weekly business session

The board will again consider Resolution No. 2026-032 and a letter supporting the City of Cave Junction's water and sewer infrastructure fund applications. The agenda also includes public comment (three minutes per speaker) and consent calendar approval.

Coming up

• **Aug. 24, 10 a.m.** – Land use hearing on cannabis facility appeal (Dick George Road)
• **Aug. 25, 1:30 p.m.** – Administration workshop: parole contract, water funds, pay grade changes
• **Aug. 26, 9 a.m.** – Weekly business session: Cave Junction water/sewer support resolution

All meetings are open to the public unless noted as executive sessions. Agendas and minutes are available on the county's official website.

Josephine County Board approves union contract, Whitehorse Park change order, and five-year OSU Extension agreement

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year collective bargaining agreement with LiUNA Local 737, a $86,499.95 construction change order for Whitehorse Park renovations, and a five-year intergovernmental agreement with Oregon State University for 4-H and Extension services during meetings over the past two weeks.

Union Contract and Whitehorse Park

At the July 21 Administration Workshop, the Board approved a one-year collective bargaining agreement with LiUNA Local 737 by a 3-0 vote. The same meeting included a $86,499.95 construction change order for Whitehorse Park renovations, approved 2-0.

The Board also approved the purchase of Xiologix Pure Storage NVMe-Now drives for IT hardware upgrades (2-0), authorized email access for specific former employees (2-0), and approved $41,329.93 in annual Association of Oregon Counties dues to maintain insurance coverage (2-0). Commissioners directed staff to schedule first and second readings for Ordinance 2026-002 on August 19 and September 2, 2026.

Five-Year OSU Extension Agreement

On July 22, acting as the Governing Body of the Josephine County 4-H/Extension Service District, the Board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Oregon State University by a 2-0 vote. The agreement runs through June 30, 2031, and covers funding, operational support, and educational programming for residents.

The Board also approved consent calendar minutes for May 21, July 14, and July 15 meetings (2-0) and proclaimed July 19–25, 2026, as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week.

Items Discussed but Not Yet Finalized

Several meetings from July 27 through July 31 were listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published, meaning no official decisions are confirmed in the record.

The July 28 Administration Workshop agenda included discussion of a $1,694,008.00 FAA Grant Agreement and contract with LTM, Inc. dba Knife River Materials for airport work, an ORMAP intergovernmental agreement, Amendment 2 to the ODOT Delivered Federal Project for Wolf Creek Bridge, purchase of four pickup trucks for the Public Works Operation Division, and two outpatient treatment provider contracts totaling $188,000 — $113,000 with ADAPT and $75,000 with Options for Southern Oregon. The agenda also listed a $406,616.39 SAIF invoice and an executive session for labor negotiations and employment matters.

The July 30 Legal Counsel Update agenda included discussion of CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Contract 2024 (#H24007) with a conflict of interest item and Amendment #1, an amendment to the Subrecipient Agreement with Home Bridging for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program, a personnel policy regarding Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots, 4-H Building Fund Reserves, and an executive session regarding County real property known as Dimmick Campus.

A July 30 General Discussion agenda listed reclassifying an existing job to refill a vacant position through Human Resources. The July 29 Weekly Business Session and July 31 General Discussion agendas listed no formal items requiring votes.

Coming Up

• **August 3, 11:00 a.m. — General Discussion:** The Board will hear an O&C presentation. Commissioners may introduce other matters.
• **August 4, 1:30 p.m. — Administration Workshop:** The Board will review the yearly readoption of the investment policy, a Community Justice provider contract with Continuum Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, designation of Nathan Sanders and Matthew Eide as agents for the 2026–2027 Emergency Management Performance Grant, a personnel requisition for a Sheriff's Department Deputy Patrol Advance re-hire, and county fuel purchasing and P-card guidance.
• **August 5, 9:00 a.m. — Weekly Business Session:** The Board will consider Resolution No. 2026-031, referring a renewal of the Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention five-year local option tax to voters for the November 3, 2026 election. Also on the agenda: CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Contract 2025 (#H25012) and a Subrecipient Agreement with Home Bridging for the 2025 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program.