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Josephine Community Library urges restoration of $1‑per‑year lease; commissioners say talks are ongoing
Summary
Library representatives told the board they seek a five‑year renewal of the $1‑per‑year lease for the Grants Pass library building; commissioners said meetings have occurred and negotiations continue.
Representatives of the Josephine Community Library District told the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on May 20, 2025, that they are seeking to maintain the current $1‑per‑year lease for the Grants Pass library building for another five years with an option to renew.
Nancy Lester, speaking on behalf of the district and reading a press release, said the district met recently with Commissioner Barnett and the district’s legal counsel and reiterated the request to keep the current $1 lease. The press release recounted that on Jan. 6 the board voted to terminate the library’s lease with 30 days’ notice; the district said county departments had not since offered substantive new lease terms. Lester read a quoted statement from Library Director Kate Lasky: “I’m hopeful that today’s discussion will lead to a fair and lasting resolution.”
Lester said the library serves roughly 26,000 active cardholders—about 30% of county residents—and that the district has invested more than $500,000 in capital improvements at the building at 200 Northwest C Street since 2009. She asked the county to formalize its position in writing to enable a collaborative path forward.
Several members of the public, including Nicole Kiefer, urged a prompt renewal of the $1 lease, saying reinstating it would help restore community trust. Kiefer said Commissioner Smith had previously indicated a belief that a renewed lease would likely stay at the $1 rate.
Commissioner Barnett acknowledged meeting with library representatives and said the board is working toward a “win‑win” resolution. Barnett apologized for the January 6 decision and said he would have acted differently in hindsight. He described the matter as a business negotiation between the county and the library rather than a political question and urged patience while staff work toward terms that serve both parties.
No formal action or vote on a lease was taken at the May 20 meeting. The board said discussions are continuing and invited the library district to continue negotiations with county staff.
