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Josephine County approves contract to clear backlog of public drinking‑water surveys
Summary
The Board approved a contract with Freund Environmental to help complete required public drinking‑water system surveys using modernization grant funds and directed Public Health to return with a five‑year staffing and operations plan for long‑term compliance.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted June 2 to approve a contract with Freund Environmental to assist the Public Health Environmental Health Division in completing required surveys of public drinking‑water systems.
Janet Fredrickson, Public Health Administrator, told the board that Josephine County currently oversees approximately 212 public drinking‑water systems and that the contract would use state modernization grant funding rather than the County General Fund. Fredrickson said the agreement would provide temporary assistance through December 2026 to address a backlog of required surveys.
Commissioners pressed staff on staffing levels and long‑term compliance. In response, the board directed Public Health to return with a five‑year staffing and operational plan outlining how the county will sustain inspection obligations and whether future contracting would be needed.
Commissioner Gary Richardson moved to approve the Freund Environmental contract and direct staff to prepare the five‑year plan; Commissioner Colene Martin seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 3–0 (Commissioners Richardson, Martin and Chair Ron Smith voting yes).
The county did not provide detailed cost or contract‑term language in the workshop record; those specifics were presented as part of the contract packet and are not specified in the verbal report. The next item on the agenda moved the board to airport funding discussions.
