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Board approves increased litigation spending limit and directs staff to proceed on multiple legal and grant matters
Summary
The Board authorized increasing the authorized expenditure limit for Snell & Wilmer to $20,000 to continue processing joint-defense litigation invoices and, following executive session, directed staff to proceed with several litigation and grant-related matters including Novak v. Smith, county property on Shadow Mtn. Way, surplus proceeds litigation, and CDBG grant contract amendments.
During the June 25 legal counsel update, Josephine County's legal counsel asked the Board to increase the authorized spending limit for Snell & Wilmer, the firm representing several Oregon counties in litigation over surplus proceeds from tax-foreclosed property sales.
Wally Hicks explained Josephine County participates under a joint defense agreement and requested raising the expenditure limit to $20,000 to allow Finance to process litigation-related invoices. Commissioners expressed support, raised no objection, and directed staff to proceed with the increased authorization. No formal recorded vote was noted in the update.
Chair Ron Smith then called the Board into executive session at 10:55 a.m. under ORS 192.660 to discuss several matters, including Novak vs. Smith and Josephine County (Circuit Court case no. 26CV06837), county-owned property at Shadow Mtn. Way (R322627), surplus proceeds litigation from tax-foreclosed sales, Gabbert, et al v. Josephine County (USDC 1:23-CV-01432), and two Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing rehabilitation contract matters including Amendment #1 to the subrecipient agreement with Home Bridging. The executive session was recorded as adjourning at 11:57 a.m.
After executive session the Board directed staff to proceed on each listed matter: Novak litigation, the Shadow Mtn. Way property issue, the surplus proceeds litigation and joint-defense participation, Amendment #1 with Home Bridging for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program, and updates/amendments to CDBG contracts H24007 and H25012. The meeting record shows the meeting adjourned shortly thereafter; the transcript's notation of 11:58 p.m. appears to be a typographical error and is recorded here as 11:58 a.m.
The Board's directions constituted staff assignments to proceed; no formal votes or additional public details were recorded in the legal counsel update minutes.
