[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6558666,"mediaKeyId","3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b","parentId",3236332,"title","Protesters allege county security ordered off courthouse lawn; residents respond to recent legal allegations against Commissioner Barnett","audioSeconds",4913,"startMs",2157000,"endMs",7070000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b&start=2157&end=7070","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558666/Josephine-County/Oregon/Protesters-allege-county-security-ordered-off-courthouse-lawn-residents-respond-to-recent-legal-allegations-against-Commissioner-Barnett","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558666-2422c8f73106ee19c8548757b54b07b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=LNaUCHtBIiLo6t-2oZQcju1FtGTIxFHa9yswrxaVPMv-NGXTUN3C2tRPCz1QzSSNSzxcNQulQ8QjyloHxnP77XuleEA9ZHDaM5n40Ayo2bEnns3BGNfch2ZStCDIqY~SHIBVRguL~EcCyb45gu7YHAFs4lMQvbT6SjC0clWLwcGMn0Za8Ndpnoglv2fFtZDaDmlLx5c5IQcz2OjsR49YoefkJWXHZDX4a8CgpAeq5QqMpwMmTm7UGvfNYQBNhPTYhjXGzgBn0n0JyFtnsSFvbuAypvaYtB1xWOOce-h00HqkaansX078-19bIHgMv4su~YWZHWq5B~aNUkw0yxWbuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Josephine County","date","2025-05-08T16:42:50Z","article","Public comment at the Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting included allegations that private security at a May 1 rally on courthouse grounds had been instructed to keep protesters off the grass and to call law enforcement, and also extensive citizen discussion about recent legal actions involving Commissioner Chris Barnett.

Eva Voora Zaveri told the board she had attended a May 1 rally and said a private security firm told protesters it had been directed by the county commissioners to prevent people from using the courthouse lawn and to call police. She said the sheriff’s office later confirmed to rally participants that the ground was public property and that the sheriff’s deputies who responded found the event peaceful.

Vicky Palmerton detailed a similar account, saying one guard refused to give his name and said he did not care what the law said; she said a younger guard later told attendees he had been instructed to call police and that the instruction came from the commissioners. Both speakers asked the board to explain why security had treated the rally as if it were private property.

Several speakers tied the security dispute to broader claims about Commissioner Barnett. Multiple commenters said they support Barnett and criticized what they described as a social-media campaign and a recall effort; others called for his resignation, attributing that call to a recent Oregon Supreme Court ruling. For example, a speaker identified as raising the court finding asserted that the Oregon Supreme Court “found that Commissioner Chris Barnett engaged in premeditated elder abuse and breach of contract.” That claim was presented in public comment and attributed to the speaker making it; the board did not read or cite a court ruling during the meeting.

Commissioner Barnett addressed the audience, saying much of the criticism amounted to \"fake news\" and legal action against him was ongoing and civil in nature; he said the term \"elder abuse\" as used in public commentary was inaccurate as applied to him, and that litigation relating to an LLC and membership camping contracts was unresolved. Barnett said he would continue to litigate and defend his position and that he is a member of the military and a retired law-enforcement officer; he asked the community to \"rise above\" negative social-media posts.

Separately, a public commenter alleged the board had suspended the county’s news media policy to limit access; another commenter asked whether executive session rules had been changed. In response earlier in the meeting, Commissioner Ron Smith stated, \"Moving forward until further notice, we will not be having executive sessions anymore,\" and framed the suspension as a transparency measure. County attorney Wally Hicks was referenced by a speaker as having been contacted about whether local law or ordinances justified the security actions; no legal determination was announced at the meeting.

The board did not vote on any recall or on changes to security procedures at the meeting. Commissioners said they would accept appointments from residents who wanted to meet and repeatedly asked the public to schedule time to discuss issues in detail.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weekly Business Session","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents told the Josephine County Board of Commissioners that private security at a May 1 courthouse rally had been instructed to keep protesters off the lawn and to call police, and public commenters debated recent legal allegations involving Commissioner Chris Barnett.","taxTitle","Josephine County, Oregon","taxId",48731,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558671,"Residents debate library children’s books at Josephine County meeting; some urge protecting library services",1459,1639000,3098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b&start=1639&end=3098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b/thumbnail_1639000.jpg","/articles/6558671/Josephine-County/Oregon/Residents-debate-library-childrens-books-at-Josephine-County-meeting-some-urge-protecting-library-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558671-655fea64f91a41ada978887090ddc726/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=EhCwSlpcov-T7KcXwQSw~~wOJIXlzCzIJ3VUxTCPbTyhLW4N01R3816Ul5UlIJOYDmnX6XChNbMzsry3abDQtritXSI7VSDd2Q~mfjH-FqSo82ZJGDFvsPvi-R4qpgsnGb6cmHj3Ac2KsmlSMDoDa2IjjY6EMNLSUK4koJjOII2B6Bn8m-2OXZ0qN8CAZ~5gvnptUcKyREYGBRej7-8oOJDuXMxEAwyXJjXLUPNtB4KWEO~iLlP1E79Rr46HHq83OedBQs3uFD9rlrTt9vJ7S5QWJL7qXsy5dVUipRD7Lmjkr2ivSIsM~pIivksN7F1UBMepyJeTvG2EzTgJO6WLdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment at the Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting focused heavily on the county public library, with speakers offering sharply different views about children’s books and the library’s future.

Heidi Napier, a Grants Pass resident, presented four picture books she said she had removed from the children's stacks during recent visits and said they \"are pushing transgenderism,\" naming titles including Who Are You? The Kids' Guide to Gender Identity and Sam Is My Sister. Napier asked the board to address what she described as inappropriate material for young children.

Other commenters defended the library’s community role and warned that changing the library’s operations or terminating its lease would harm services. Kelly Carter described long personal ties to the library dating to 1963 and said the library functions as a community center offering meeting space, computer access, children’s programming and a “library of things.” Carter asked whether county negotiations that the public has reported involve a $1-per-year lease and whether deferred maintenance is the reason for lease negotiations. She urged the board to consider other county-owned properties or funding sources before disrupting library services.

Supporters of keeping challenged materials accessible said representation matters for LGBTQ young people. Teacher Erin Cook told the board that “representation and acceptance” matter and attributed high suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth and transgender adults as reasons for inclusive materials; Cook framed the books as representation rather than promotion. Other speakers urged that if parents object to specific books they should not check them out, or should consider homeschooling, while also asking the board to make sure children’s sections remain suitable for young readers.

Speakers on both sides asked the board to be transparent about the reason for any lease negotiations and for alternative funding options. Several commenters said they wanted clearer public information about deferred maintenance claims and whether the county had other properties that could be used to address maintenance or office needs. The board did not take a vote on library policy at the meeting; commissioners invited further conversation and said they were available for appointments.

The library topic drew multiple speakers and repeated references throughout public comment, but there was no formal board action or ordinance change relating to library materials recorded in the meeting minutes.","Public commenters at the Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting raised opposing views about children’s books and public library programs. Some speakers asked the county not to terminate the library lease and urged alternate funding; others called for removal of materials they described as inappropriate for children.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558677,"Josephine County commissioners approve National Police Week proclamation, define county road official duties and pass consent calendar",5456,1587000,7043000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b&start=1587&end=7043","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b/thumbnail_1587000.jpg","/articles/6558677/Josephine-County/Oregon/Josephine-County-commissioners-approve-National-Police-Week-proclamation-define-county-road-official-duties-and-pass-consent-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558677-393fb0774fb86eabb3b4c52068d4ab05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=EPntBkwM6Ufan~ATvGkBD5jQXkj~TaUod0InGeAh-R65hy9qPeguyiZKJdtK4I0gNDWIwTV2SrHdCXO8CfZAtMFIVzxmIP~uXPG4De8rPdbUd41DwtEaXgy-Jpce9f3JtSX8g3gfSG2xqGzhLZGw6KaGZ~uHLNiD109oMOGjtsQVg540uGRRpI8gpA82JDEr4j-Uq5F~j8UxE2tgHHjy0A3CHadtVFiczYppacNwH-Ku9IvdC3aoc7WqlJlWQwg6FIc96TllxJq2JjMdx~DmEov3cxTJzDTBB9ArCMIukywpAs4-HD4nlTMjwqGfYlzaGXBrKghJTpF1Cl-5dv12FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously during its May weekly business session to proclaim May 11–17, 2025, as National Police Week, to adopt a board order defining responsibilities for the county road official, and to approve the consent calendar, all by 3-0 roll calls.

Commissioners said the proclamation was intended to recognize local law enforcement sacrifices and to encourage citizens to honor officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Commissioner Chris Barnett read the proclamation before the board moved, seconded and carried the item 3-0. Grants Pass Police Chief Hensman and Sheriff Daniel spoke briefly at the meeting in support of the proclamation.

The board also approved Board Order 2025038, described at the meeting as a document assigning the statutory role of county road official to the county engineer and defining that official’s responsibilities. Commissioner Ron Smith moved to adopt the board order; the motion was seconded and passed 3-0. At the meeting Chair Black said the order had been in preparation for roughly two weeks and that state statute requires a county road official.

Finally, the board approved the consent calendar, comprising draft minutes from recent county administrative workshops and the weekly business session minutes noted on the agenda. The motion to approve the consent calendar passed on a 3-0 roll call.

No additional substantive policy changes or funding authorizations were taken as part of these votes; the items were presented as routine board business during the meeting.","At its May weekly business session, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation designating May 11–17, 2025, as National Police Week; adopted a board order defining the responsibilities of the county road official; and approved the consent calendar. Each measure passed 3-0.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558661,"Residents urge county action on solid-waste franchise and assess mineral potential on county properties",0,6655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b&start=6655&end=6655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3236332-1d832a31744b2a2a3b32e965e2c77d7b/thumbnail_6655000.jpg","/articles/6558661/Josephine-County/Oregon/Residents-urge-county-action-on-solid-waste-franchise-and-assess-mineral-potential-on-county-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558661-76e57b206562b66643e81d87565a5cd6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201052&Signature=E1a5WSDPA4tlGZCvaKAhQgMmH2JgHOIYeTNow4mBU9M-YlAsNnUza65QYGRqWFl2bqqyIPk9Q2bODsto0BOg54KZJOtS6VX3O85qDHSnXY5votl1jf3M2DgmU0tpuVC7EKUx2NAxsPGsKf-yekf-ohs7p9yJmORrVtdPt-aaac4U5aIlCb8b1o15PP7Fj1xJtq-CZQkUAF2SgR2BokwjSANLr8Q97iglfOjfviEjNGIly6dbSt5MhGPKVsVgsgrbeQ~hLi~wAs2KjZXSKvMZwVneS2Abf633IGYR5xuQE1m83DFI2B817un2TeVwB03ICWuuMcXEjyHHHy1kc-9ctQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used public comment to press the board on county revenue and asset management, raising two distinct proposals: (1) an amendment to the county solid-waste franchise to regulate and license junk-removal businesses and (2) a call to assess mineral resources on county-owned and federal property before selling timberland.

Connor Kirkpatrick, who said he is a licensed contractor, told commissioners he had drafted an amendment to the solid-waste franchise agreement that would require junk-removal operators to pay a fee and to perform community service: specifically, he proposed that any company wanting to operate a junk-removal service must clean 10 cubic yards of trash from public land every month. Kirkpatrick said the change would keep more revenue in Josephine County by discouraging hauling to neighboring counties and would increase cleanup of public lands. He said he had shared his draft amendment with Commissioner Barnett and asked how to advance it through county processes.

Jay Meredith, representing American Mineral Research, told the board the county has properties with potential mineral value and urged the board not to sell or convey timber properties without at least a high-level mineral assessment. Meredith said the county’s mining advisory committee had recommended that mineral assessments be done before sales and that the draft county ordinance produced earlier by the county government was inadequate. He urged that the board consider a mining ordinance drafted with input from the advisory committee.

Other commenters suggested using solid-waste funds that the speaker said total $155,000 to support enforcement or sheriff needs. Commissioners acknowledged the comments: Commissioner Black said a meeting about solid-waste topics was scheduled later that day and offered to review any amendment materials submitted by Mr. Kirkpatrick; no vote was taken at the session.

The board did not adopt any ordinance or change the solid-waste franchise at the meeting. Staff and commissioners indicated they would review submitted proposals and consider advisory committee recommendations in future workshops or formal agenda items.","Speakers at the Josephine County meeting urged the board to amend solid-waste franchise rules to allow licensed junk-removal services to operate locally and proposed the county examine mineral values on public lands before selling timber properties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Protesters allege county security ordered off courthouse lawn; residents respond to recent legal allegations against Commissioner Barnett

Residents debate library children’s books at Josephine County meeting; some urge protecting library services

Josephine County commissioners approve National Police Week proclamation, define county road official duties and pass consent calendar

Residents urge county action on solid-waste franchise and assess mineral potential on county properties