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Commissioners send proposed Mining Advisory Committee bylaw changes back to committee for revision
Summary
The board declined to adopt amended bylaws forwarded by the County Mining Advisory Committee, asking staff to relay two specific concerns about membership-selection language and dispute-resolution language back to the MAC for revision and re-vote.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on July 29 reviewed proposed amendments to the Mining Advisory Committee (MAC) bylaws that had been forwarded by the MAC. Commissioners asked staff to relay concerns and requested the MAC revisit and revise parts of the document before the board considers final approval.
Why it matters: Changes to the MAC bylaws affect how members are selected, how the advisory body interacts with county staff (including forestry), and how disputes between the advisory committee and staff would be handled. Commissioners said those parts could blur the advisory role of the MAC or create procedural issues.
What the board questioned
Commissioner Black (presenting as a county liaison) said he reviewed the proposed bylaws and highlighted two items of concern: (1) a membership section that requires applicants to have mining experience, to attend MAC meetings, and to permit the MAC to evaluate qualifications before the commissioners appoint members — language that could give the advisory committee de facto control over its own appointments; and (2) a dispute-resolution clause that instructs the forestry director and a commissioner liaison to resolve disagreements and then escalate to the board if unresolved — language that presumes an existing forestry liaison and potentially encroaches on the commissioners' oversight role.
The board asked that both items be revisited: the membership language should not usurp the board’s appointment prerogative, and the dispute-resolution clause should be rephrased or clarified to reflect actual county roles and to protect applicant privacy when applications are handled. Commission staff said they would return the suggestions to the MAC for retooling and revote.
Ending
Without final action, the board directed staff to send the MAC the commissioners' concerns and requested a revised draft for future consideration. Legal counsel will also be available to advise on language that touches on appointment authority and applicant privacy.
