During a recent government meeting in Josephine County, Commissioner John West faced a series of pointed questions regarding his recent statements and actions. Tina Gotchel, a local resident, challenged West on several claims, including an alleged meeting with Commissioner Pat Fahey to negotiate a county manager position, which Fahey has publicly denied. Gotchel pressed West to retract his statement and take a polygraph test to verify its truthfulness.

Gotchel also questioned West's assertion that $11 million was cut from the county budget, asking for specific evidence to support this claim. She highlighted a significant budget increase of over $835,000 in the combined IT and emergency management departments, contradicting West's claims of cost savings. Furthermore, she raised concerns about the qualifications of Michael Sellers, the newly appointed director of emergency management, disputing West's assertion that Sellers holds a master's degree in cybersecurity.

In addition to these issues, Mike Pelprie, another county resident, addressed the ongoing homeless crisis, suggesting that homeless individuals be relocated to Salem to draw attention to their plight. He also criticized local media coverage of a county official, calling it a \"hit piece,\" and expressed concerns about the integrity of voter rolls in Josephine County, drawing comparisons to recent voter roll purges in Texas.

Pelprie concluded by seeking clarification on the library district withdrawal and annexation process, arguing that the requirements should be consistent for all properties involved.

The meeting underscored ongoing tensions within the county government and highlighted residents' concerns about transparency and accountability in local governance.