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

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.