Commissioners approve Amendment No. 3 to forestry seedling planting contract

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved Amendment No. 3 to a seedling planting contract that formalizes planting of previously purchased seedlings and additional replanting in areas with low survival.

Forestry Director Streeter told the board the county had purchased seedlings earlier and that the amendment covers planting those trees. “We purchased the seedlings, so this is putting them in the ground,” Streeter said. He told commissioners that, at the time of purchase, staff anticipated a possibility of going over budget but that current indications show the purchase and planting will remain within the approved budget.

Streeter said crews were planting this season and noted that planting season is ending soon. He reported that, as of the previous Monday, about 40,000 seedlings remained to be planted. The amendment covers a mix of new-planting and replanting where past survival was poor; Streeter said crews space new plantings about 12 feet from surviving trees and that contract work is organized on a man-hour rather than per-tree basis to allow crews to search for favorable spots.

A commissioner moved to approve Amendment No. 3; the motion was seconded and the board voted to approve it. The board recorded the motion as carried, 3 to 0.

Commissioners asked for timing and confirmed that some previously scheduled school or volunteer planting groups had not completed earlier plantings; Streeter indicated crews are addressing those gaps now. Commissioners and staff said they would sign the necessary documents after the meeting.