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Residents oppose Budget Committee seat changes during Josephine County public comment
Summary
Several residents used the public-comment period to object to the removal or reassignment of seats on the county Budget Committee and raised other concerns about library services, emergency AED donations, solid-waste management, and law-enforcement volunteer status.
During the April 8 public-comment period, a string of residents raised objections about recent changes to the county Budget Committee membership and other community concerns.
Multiple speakers—including Joseph Rice, Mark Kirby, Chad Hansen and Holly Morton—spoke specifically in opposition to the removal or reassignment of seats on the county Budget Committee. Speakers identified themselves as residents of Josephine County or Grants Pass and asked the Board to reconsider or clarify the appointment process. The minutes record those remarks but do not show any immediate reversal of appointment decisions.
Other public commenters addressed separate topics: Dave Mathrews described American Medical Response (AMR) opportunities to provide AEDs to emergency responders; Iris Howitz spoke about the Canine Reading Program at the Grants Pass library; Nancy Lester submitted the Josephine Community Library 2024-2025 Annual Report as Exhibit 1; and several other residents raised concerns about solid-waste management, volunteer status on law-enforcement advisory bodies, protesting and campaigning activity, economic development transparency, and planning delays.
The Board reviewed public comments during the meeting; the minutes note the Board "addressed public comments" but do not transcribe an extended responsive exchange or record a change to committee appointments within the meeting record.
What happens next: The minutes indicate the Board acknowledged and reviewed the comments; any formal follow-up on Budget Committee appointments or policy changes was not recorded in the minutes provided.
