[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6499056,"mediaKeyId","5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f","parentId",5549080,"title","Public urges county to finalize library lease; commissioners schedule separate hearing Aug. 14","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1996000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f&start=1996&end=1996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f/thumbnail_1996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6499056/Josephine-County/Oregon/Public-urges-county-to-finalize-library-lease-commissioners-schedule-separate-hearing-Aug-14","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499056-a1093b9f6d58ba6495ae64f6f977b05c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770642399&Signature=a0Q1Pueu4n2QSVODslFRCx7s~mW-k6YgzBPCjpPLKjf5P43x4jqoFgqjZ2r3uW0O3YbNEHWifKrktid0lbZrgPXsYKKJFZXaqv5MK4utZexo~iLo3Cx9aOxNhMLM0jZlX4sJUpIyfx9iAU87du6EppsrKONAbSGuk~zbxnoPAFJI6KkXCcOQclmFYOSAP61erbezPZqLFi0BhDdkZkzjoX7nfkyK4FgT9a9IXZptbqpzIKcZpxmCN~FZavHy3R4yn7UZgDquVh6CiqIhxxd-ShZDkFSOsFhNbogK9aNH3t9YmyVZXNMsW3TS-BBuaoNL4hyfzdtlYIlAMKF6z8ZoTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Josephine County","date","2025-08-07T16:40:04Z","article","Residents of Grants Pass urged Josephine County commissioners on Aug. 7 to approve a lease extension and preserve library services at 200 Northwest C Street, and commissioners responded that the proposed agreement will be released for public review and considered at the board’s Aug. 14 meeting followed by a dedicated hearing.

Nancy Lester, a Grants Pass resident, provided historical context about the library’s origins and emphasized its role in the community’s educational and cultural life. \"I want to tell you some of the history … the new 2 story building was constructed on the corner of Fifth And B Street right back here I think where the law offices are now,\" she said, and later urged the board to sign the lease so \"we can all continue in good faith and enjoy our library.\" Several other speakers, including Kirby Erickson, Donna Repp, Jill Pearson and Mike McKittrick, described the library as essential for children, seniors, homework help, workforce uses and community programs.

Some speakers raised content concerns. Judy Aarons urged vigilance about programming materials and said, \"beware of what your children are reading because that's what they become.\" Others disputed that characterization; one speaker representing educators said such claims appeared to be \"fear mongering.\"

Commissioner responses emphasized that the county was not closing branches and noted the county has four library locations, two of which are on land previously gifted by the county. Commissioner Barnett said the property at issue that prompted comment is \"200 Northwest C Street\" and that the board is working on a lease extension. Commissioner Black told the public the proposed agreement \"will be rolled out for everybody to review\" and said the board will place the matter on the Aug. 14 weekly business session agenda and immediately follow it with a separate hearing so residents have \"ample time to share their story, to give their testimony, and to speak to that matter.\" Commissioner Smith thanked members of the public for exercising free speech and encouraged civic participation.

Public commenters tied the library debate to broader community concerns such as downtown vitality, the role of libraries in supporting schools and small businesses, and the value of summer reading programs. Jim Goodwin, a frequent public commenter, raised separate concerns about transparency related to the airport loan but did not present specific claims about the library lease.

The board did not take immediate action on a lease at the Aug. 7 meeting; commissioners scheduled public review of the proposed agreement and a dedicated hearing at the Aug. 14 meeting to afford additional public testimony and discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weekly Business Session","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents urged the board to approve a lease extension for the Grants Pass library branch at 200 Northwest C Street. Commissioners said the proposed agreement will be posted and the lease will be considered at the Aug. 14 weekly business session with a separate hearing afterward.","taxTitle","Josephine County, Oregon","taxId",48731,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6499060,"Board awards $2.76 million runway extension contract; FAA grant funding to cover costs",2081,1811000,3892000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f&start=1811&end=3892","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f/thumbnail_1811000.jpg","/articles/6499060/Josephine-County/Oregon/Board-awards-276-million-runway-extension-contract-FAA-grant-funding-to-cover-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499060-15c757c6cd1bde3bb8e8d6670875795f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770642399&Signature=kaj~glTz554PMKpQ2X2riab4pAgHAJjj5TDQlGWXkJke1lIACWlBOZwvEefJw7ZliZJ7NI37cJm6wDDUcwG9jNdu2B9K6tw6fztH6KtCcFx5BGl6oXTz-jYM04QFB6KjCwrezWlVQlks7AQxZYGt5nLb4rKy-yWVwqVxJDgRxXgGXnRzYJosmIQKGU8pJbVWU1vOuGp5UL2SIKfrGPnQGWJOVBfrDoYOXJTUhF--rPuuq4lwHESIUPGqpWa3d46-2DymXL1~o456kgIoh2UVAh9Bm7CHNCoZ3kJBgbBKWB1r-80-dbLg9axuu1jfepMTu6fWSck1nS0IIacPSBKCTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Josephine County commissioners on Aug. 7 voted 3-0 to award a $2,760,000 construction contract to LTM dba Knife River Materials for the Grants Pass Runway Extension 1331 project.

Chris Foley, the county’s airport manager, presented the engineer’s recommendation and the contract for the board’s approval. \"What you have before you this morning is a recommendation to award from our engineer to award the, contract construction contract to Knife River, for 2,760,000.00. And I agree I agree with this award,\" Foley said, and told the board he has \"full confidence that they'll complete the construction on time and on budget.\" Foley said construction would start within about two weeks.

Commissioners and staff stressed the project will not use general-fund dollars. \"This is not general fund money, not a dollar of general fund money. This is all FAA grant money,\" a commissioner said during the meeting, and Foley and others confirmed the FAA has approved the contract. The board also heard that an $51,000 county match will come from airport tenants and users rather than the county general fund. Payments to the contractor will proceed by reimbursement from the FAA as work is completed and verified to FAA specifications.

The commissioners recorded a unanimous roll-call vote to award the contract: Commissioner Smith — yes; Commissioner Barnett — yes; Commissioner Black — yes.

The award follows roughly 10 years of planning and competition through a bid process, county staff said. Commissioners described the airport and fairgrounds as enterprise funds that generate their own revenue and receive grants for capital projects; Barnett noted those operations are self-sustaining and not funded from the general fund.

Construction is scheduled to begin within about two weeks, subject to standard contract execution and FAA reimbursement procedures, and county staff said they will process periodic payments as the contractor documents completed work for FAA reimbursement. The county’s airport director and engineering team recommended Knife River based on the bid process; the contract and bid documents are part of the county record.","Josephine County commissioners approved a $2.76 million construction contract with Knife River for the Grants Pass runway extension; commissioners said the project is paid with FAA grant funds and the contract is FAA-approved.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6499066,"Josephine County approves sale process for surplus land, signs two property sale documents",2506,1342000,3848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f&start=1342&end=3848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5549080-ff405b6a6a2dbde7808ba2b32b07f06f/thumbnail_1342000.jpg","/articles/6499066/Josephine-County/Oregon/Josephine-County-approves-sale-process-for-surplus-land-signs-two-property-sale-documents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499066-985aee8ca6429a2079c22c0c4ec408a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770642399&Signature=HdDmH0SnQJO3S33vmjFbEw9zVGuvOv2iyeWjR17EW-g1S2Bx0FolPaCgdOlPbFlBZ~63XvfYaIfQ93fX25L-L8dc8DSOiwrCE1bchCI9RdiDEJe-2-SADlynVaBIDGKaR0sRkaJbqaYW6huqtNeIbMQSl0PQcKXCQXC6WIXcydIyIitucotjt~ymGDofUSMwCDCwe6sTEyqIfn5nWhyOoPh8yw9JV7VZO85UiJZO4nNZnIXxmhzT4VT68E0A9AexnfzvsAHOeUzTAzRQp1fMhMGy-RA-GCxkZO6HpY5EWPgMsse~A9O8DBKPRC2BVMjmnYjBYE3qMwCXYHgAF~w4xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Josephine County commissioners on Aug. 7 authorized a sealed-bid sheriff sale of surplus county property, signed documents to complete a five-year land-sale contract for 153 Krause Lane and approved a quitclaim deed for a small parcel at 151 Finch Road.

County legal staff described the sealed-bid process and the county’s plan to publish a notice for four weeks in the Grants Pass Daily Courier and on the county’s real property web page. \"Order 2025Dash063 is authorizing a public sheriff sale to sell real property that we have identified as surplus,\" Legal staff Helene told the board. She said bids would be submitted to the Treasury Office and that auction details and bid forms would be posted on the county’s Real Property Management website.

The measures matter because they move long-held, underused parcels back into private ownership and back onto the tax rolls, commissioners said. The board approved the order by a 3-0 roll-call vote: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Barnett and Commissioner Black voted yes.

In a related action, the board signed documents to complete a memorandum of contract and land-sale contract for 153 Krause Lane, a parcel that previously went to sheriff’s auction. Helene said the offer met the minimum bid at the prior auction and included a 20% deposit. She said proceeds would first satisfy unpaid taxes to taxing districts, then reimburse property-management administrative costs and property-reserve cleanup expenses; because cleanup costs on that lot were extensive, there would be no surplus proceeds available to prior owners.

Helene asked the board to sign the five-year contract, under which the purchaser pays annual property taxes during the contract term and brings the parcel back onto the tax rolls. The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve board order 2025-064.

The board also approved board order 2025-065, selling a 0.1-acre parcel at 151 Finch Road by private sale and issuing a quitclaim deed. Helene cited Oregon statute ORS 275.225 in explaining that foreclosure property valued under $15,000 and unsuited for residential construction may be sold by private sale rather than going to auction. The county received a full payment of $22,501 for the parcel, which adjoins the purchaser’s property; county staff said the parcel is too small to build upon and that the buyer is the adjacent neighbor. Proceeds were to cover property-management administrative costs and be directed to the county parks department; the board voted 3-0 to approve.

The board clerk called the roll on each order. For 2025-063, 2025-064 and 2025-065 the vote was recorded as Commissioner Smith — yes; Commissioner Barnett — yes; Commissioner Black — yes.

County staff noted the parcels include a mix of long-held and recently added properties, and that some are forestry parcels identified by the county forestry director, Dave Streeter, as candidates for disposal. Helene said copies of notices and bid forms for the sheriff sale would be available at the Board of County Commissioners window and that questions could be directed to her by phone or email as listed on the web posting.

The board’s actions on Aug. 7 set the formal sale process in motion and closed two specific sales. Notices, bid forms and further auction instructions will be posted on the county website and published in the Grants Pass Daily Courier per the order.

Details: bids for the sheriff sale were described as due by 4 p.m. on Sept. 16, with an auction opening time referenced by staff as 10 a.m. on a date she corrected aloud during presentation; the official notice and website posting will state the final auction-opening date. The board orders specify how proceeds will be distributed among taxing districts, county administrative costs and cleanup or reserve accounts.","The county authorized a sealed-bid sheriff sale of surplus properties and approved two individual land sales, including a five-year contract for 153 Krause Lane and a quitclaim deed for a small parcel on Finch Road.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public urges county to finalize library lease; commissioners schedule separate hearing Aug. 14

Board awards $2.76 million runway extension contract; FAA grant funding to cover costs

Josephine County approves sale process for surplus land, signs two property sale documents