Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Josephine County declares drought emergency; interim emergency manager pay approved
Summary
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on May 12 approved Resolution No. 2026-015 declaring a drought emergency to speed state wildfire response; the board also approved an interim pay increase for the county’s interim emergency manager (Sheriff Dave Daniel) and recorded a motion to amend a Securus Technologies contract though that vote is not recorded in the transcript.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on May 12 approved a declaration of drought emergency to enable faster state action during a dry fire season.
Sheriff and interim emergency manager Dave Daniel told the board that fire-season forecasts are expected to be very dry and noted that neighboring Jackson and Douglas counties have already declared drought emergencies. Daniel said the declaration would "help the governor act expeditiously during wildfires," and recommended moving forward with Resolution No. 2026-015. Commissioner Colene Martin said the declaration should not cause public alarm. Commissioner Martin moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Gary Richardson seconded. The board approved the motion on a 3-0 roll call vote.
The meeting also records a motion from Sheriff Daniel and Commissioner Martin to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Securus Technologies Master Services Agreement, which Daniel described as using a jail-specific security fund so the cost is not borne by the general fund. The transcript records the motion (SEG 006) but does not record the roll-call or final outcome for that amendment.
Human Resources Director Michelle Shaw explained county policy that an interim department head receives a 10% pay increase or moves to step 1 of the departing department head’s salary range, whichever is greater. The board approved the compensation increase for the Interim Emergency Management Director (Sheriff Dave Daniel) "without objection." The transcript does not record further details about the effective date or pay step chosen.
The board proceeded to other agenda items after these actions; no additional drought-related directives or immediate funding changes were recorded in the transcript.
