[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6502814,"mediaKeyId","5716834-8c7d33ba286881bf47c8dce0a385075a","parentId",5716834,"title","Public comments at Josephine County meeting reflect recall drive, accusations and concerns about intimidation","audioSeconds",1884,"startMs",1866000,"endMs",3750000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5716834-8c7d33ba286881bf47c8dce0a385075a&start=1866&end=3750","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5716834-8c7d33ba286881bf47c8dce0a385075a/thumbnail_1866000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502814/Josephine-County/Oregon/Public-comments-at-Josephine-County-meeting-reflect-recall-drive-accusations-and-concerns-about-intimidation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502814-88d40c72fe5175e161d4af56b0517c5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107998&Signature=Lxd7Y4ZY34cHpQLFbakBnkEY7IS~tG8bKZIuixqPsS2u93hdXQKlLZdixFWW5Alx0JClQ9vbAz07nPwTDXqCKKqPqlPrDCC4h9fxcYfxDGBSq-5Eg3xDKFjksF3bUFCY-iIXDJocChHQ2QkOdv71atd9x-rvcNDt3Ji6jUWwx-T733-l4vqPOzYvcfEhZsW3frbjDGLY3SiYvOp9~gM-OouQHYyEjVRurFP8v22SfqjoWk~8yt9sBVKBLR7Vkk-jDkauPE1n7BIIsZbkmHd3PWpYbhAxOCR1rroO8v16J32KiyxbbkdRrUCVYrSzOnOKVUMWKrV35iydBj0mfxlPog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Josephine County","date","2025-09-04T16:37:06Z","article","Public comment at the Josephine County Board of Commissioners' Sept. 4 meeting was dominated by claims and counterclaims about a recall effort, allegations of harassment and calls for transparency from speakers on both sides of the political debate.

Residents repeatedly urged action or restraint. Victor (last name not specified) told the board the commissioners had \"the unmitigated gall\" to single out opponents and said a recall would be \"overwhelmingly approved by the voters.\" Paulette Toronto, who said she was present with recall petitions, told the board, \"I have recall petitions here if anybody wants to sign.\" Several residents, including Rebecca Anderson and others, criticized commissioners' conduct during recent public events and said staff and the public were put at risk when tempers flared after prior meetings.

At the same time, some speakers spoke in defense of the commissioners. Darius England of Grants Pass said \"tens of thousands of Josephine County residents ... love what you're doing\" and urged the board to \"stay tough, stay strong.\" Patrick Rooney said those pushing the recall should be transparent about their own affiliations.

A resident who identified himself as Asperlock (first name not given) described differences in demeanor between pro‑recall and anti‑recall protesters and accused Commissioner Bleck of shaking hands with a local resident who had recently resigned from a city committee after making controversial remarks. Asperlock quoted a line he attributed to Commissioner Bleck: \"Did anyone bring a broom because we sweep them out?\" and told the board he had brought a broom “that you requested here today.”

Several commenters referenced legal and charter rules. One speaker asked the board to review the Josephine County Charter, citing \"chapter 5 17.5\" and arguing that personnel actions must be decided by a majority vote of the full board. Commissioner Black responded by reading from the charter's chapter 3, section 10, saying the chair \"shall preside over the board meetings ... preserve order at the meetings\" and that he had done so during the session. Black told residents that some concerns about detainers and immigration enforcement should be directed to the sheriff and noted Oregon is a sanctuary state.

Multiple commenters also alleged intimidation tied to recall petitions. Rebecca Anderson described being spoken to confrontationally when recall paperwork was filed at the courthouse and said she felt harassed; another speaker warned that identifying people who sign recall petitions could amount to voter intimidation.

No formal action on the recall was taken by the board at this meeting. Commissioners used their closing remarks to call for civility. Commissioner Smith urged the public to focus on larger national and economic issues, while Commissioner Barnett thanked many public commenters for engagement and said he supported several county departments by visiting them and working with staff.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weekly Business Session","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used the Sept. 4 Josephine County meeting to press for or oppose a recall of commissioners, accuse officials of intimidation, and urge transparency. Commissioners responded with calls for civility and said constitutional and charter issues raised would require legal review.","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},6502819,"Josephine County commissioners fail to approve library lease amendment as residents raise costs and program concerns",2255,1675000,3930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5716834-8c7d33ba286881bf47c8dce0a385075a&start=1675&end=3930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5716834-8c7d33ba286881bf47c8dce0a385075a/thumbnail_1675000.jpg","/articles/6502819/Josephine-County/Oregon/Josephine-County-commissioners-fail-to-approve-library-lease-amendment-as-residents-raise-costs-and-program-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502819-44084ee0a3380b4b34caeac82024a1fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107998&Signature=YlSHxHZKVo7if~wSjKTdqvPgwtZpa6M8NfSRfJkOf1oBs~PuQ6hPcFmjAFewWsMtkENv4OH~y92RmpgRuXgvpzEA~WDO0vnZoyvEbup3P8kRH~yZiVHhrYDLFhZLtxyIbQOM7YYBNcvILZo5rDuE2j3MC-hi84n7c28ENZQxmTuy~7KyfvB5IqAJxM0EMjed4idDhdfdA1HtxMmWrQrFv4d9T2qkTILD39doXHjNrORtqU7OE2Stf06O9Oe24es3kIEZ9~6SVvA7NA45Yggt6i1ep2hldi5s5h-DpQYvAVADOJduIsGZxYpXSQRvLX-KjyUXkxcvqQ6flfvXUTy4hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 4 failed to approve a motion to accept the library lease as presented on Aug. 21 after a wave of public comments raised questions about potential costs and program impacts if the county moves planning and public health out of the library building.

The lease motion was made by Commissioner Barnett and did not pass. Commissioners had earlier approved the consent calendar by a 3–0 roll call vote; the board also recorded that pending administrative and personnel actions were approved without objection.

The dispute centers on whether the library district — and a pending Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Oregon State University Extension Services — should shoulder costs tied to the county’s facilities needs. Nancy Lester, a Grants Pass resident, told the board the two properties that make up the Dimock campus are listed at \"$3,250,000,\" and she offered online estimates for renovation costs if planning and public health were moved from the library building. \"At $50 a square foot basic repairs ... that would be about $850,000,\" Lester said. \"More extensive renovations ... would be more like $300 a square foot. That would cost over $5,000,000.\" She added that a recent downtown visitor center renovation cost \"$675,000 for a building 1 tenth the size of the library building.\"

Deb Berg, speaking later during public comment, warned of program impacts if the county does not sign an agreement with OSU Extension. \"By not signing the library lease and the interagency or intergovernmental agreement for extension, that's what's happening,\" Berg said, adding that 4‑H clubs and volunteers require time for recruitment, background checks and training and that liability and insurance arrangements matter for youth programming.

Kirby Erickson, who said he watched the Aug. 19 department‑heads meeting, noted that the OSU Extension IGA (presented Sept. 2 by Jamie Davis) contains a section on termination. \"She and [Janet] were discussing the funds ... and the fiscal year had ended on June 30,\" Erickson said. Erickson said Commissioner Bleck made a joke referencing a \"Termination Clause\" and raised concerns that changes were being proposed to what Barnett and Davis negotiated.

Commissioner Black, who presided over the meeting, told the public there is a 30‑day termination clause in the current library lease and that he has contacted county legal counsel to coordinate with the library’s counsel \"on putting together a mechanism on how we can move forward with that task before us.\" \"I brought it up before my colleagues ... that I would reach out to legal counsel on how to move forward with the library lease, and I'm in contact with him,\" Black said.

Board business earlier in the meeting included approval of minutes and routine items on the consent calendar. Commissioner Smith moved to accept the consent calendar and the board approved it 3–0 in a roll call of Commissioner Smith: Yes; Commissioner Barnett: Yes; Commissioner Black: Yes. Later in \"other matters,\" Commissioner Barnett moved to approve the Aug. 21 library lease in its original form; the motion failed (second not recorded).

Several speakers also urged transparency about the county’s plans for the Dimock campus sale proceeds. Lester asked whether proceeds from a hypothetical sale were already reserved for other purposes and called for clearer, public accounting of how sale proceeds and repair costs would be used if departments relocate.

What happens next: Commissioners said they are consulting legal counsel and working with OSU Extension to resolve the outstanding termination‑clause language and other negotiation points. No formal new lease action was recorded at the Sept. 4 meeting.

Notes: The board also recorded that pending administrative and personnel actions were approved without objection during the \"other matters\" portion of the meeting.

","The Board of Commissioners declined a motion to approve the library lease in its original August 21 form after residents raised questions about a 30‑day termination clause, the Dimock campus sale, renovation costs and impacts on OSU Extension and 4‑H programming. Chair says county counsel is consulting with the library’s attorney on next steps.","actionData","errors"]

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Public comments at Josephine County meeting reflect recall drive, accusations and concerns about intimidation

Josephine County commissioners fail to approve library lease amendment as residents raise costs and program concerns