[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6460878,"mediaKeyId","5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457","parentId",5826552,"title","Residents urge county to sign Grants Pass Library lease as commissioners say talks continue","audioSeconds",1810,"startMs",1750000,"endMs",3560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457&start=1750&end=3560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457/thumbnail_1750000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460878/Josephine-County/Oregon/Residents-urge-county-to-sign-Grants-Pass-Library-lease-as-commissioners-say-talks-continue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460878-8d31e8e85bdd17920cd9d8bd099a23f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770670267&Signature=PnFP~K-K0BbeZ59ZtE93NgwmEpPTgXBImV1wa9sG77Vwjg0I9f1TWTYHGeEomvegr4BXBwlMJrhx2XA4TLgGKUeTn2HwI6hIYbrT1m0~nf1SZWrqe-VRQWOqKfGzQNwowZFcN9IL7PaP6Nu1vX8jTqOyDu8tCzbwRuMKvo4fzgsIyaSYF3aET3NRpKnM8uH~SC2OJUg7vqCOkKedRXiqGc5uMl75QfYJ3yC12QrzyzQYug3ecefhaKUBZftOl-TXTiPd9no9XKyVgCJ9CKorC5ykN9O~RfO2MUIJTfvcs4Ny5VplfoS6StazZE2WpRBqTPPBexsHXlqzdtf0QnV4Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Josephine County","date","2025-09-25T16:46:20Z","article","Speakers at the Sept. 25 Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting pressed the board to finalize a lease agreement with the Grants Pass Library, while commissioners responded that the county is negotiating and is not moving to evict the library.

The library district’s annual report, read into the record by Nancy Lester of Grants Pass, highlighted system use and programming. Lester said the district checked out “almost 300,000 physical books plus almost 62,000 electronic materials,” has “almost 26,000 active library cards,” and ran 523 children’s programs attended by more than 21,000 people. She also said the 2025 summer reading program engaged 883 participants who “collectively logged more than 535,000,” which she said is “over 8,900 hours of reading.”

Lester urged the commissioners to approve a lease the library agreed to in July, saying, “Please stop stonewalling and sign the lease that the library agreed to back in July.” Several other public commenters also objected to changes they said had been inserted into the lease at the last minute, and speakers described the timing and content of the amendment as undermining public confidence.

During public comment, Matt Spurlock asked whether the county gave written notice when, he said, the board voted on Jan. 6, 2025, to terminate the lease and whether the library “currently operate[s] with a lease as of today, 09/25/2025.” Spurlock also raised questions about county finances and about the Dimock property’s valuation and potential sale.

Commissioners addressed the library questions in the meeting. Commissioner Barnett said the county had a lease in place and stated the lease runs through “December 31, 2025.” Barnett also said he had voted to terminate the lease in January but told the public, “We’re not evicting the library,” and described ongoing negotiations intended to reach terms acceptable to both sides. Commissioner Smith said, “As far as I know, the lease has not been terminated,” and confirmed the county’s goal of complying with the charter while working through outstanding issues.

Other public speakers weighed in on funding and district governance. One commenter noted the library tax district collects 35 cents per $100 assessed valuation and said the library had about $1.2 million in reserves. Library programs and community outreach — story walks, summer reading, adult programs and other system events — were cited by supporters as evidence of the library’s community role.

No formal action on the library lease was recorded during the meeting. The board did approve its consent calendar by roll call later in the session.

The board invited residents to meet with commissioners outside the meeting to discuss specific questions and said department staff were handling grants and other administrative tasks while negotiations continued. The county also said library security measures are in place and that county and library leaders are continuing discussions.

Background: The library and the county have negotiated lease terms this year; speakers at the meeting referenced a lease draft from July and disagreed about whether new language about termination had been introduced after that agreement. Commissioners said they are working to balance community concerns and county obligations as negotiations continue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weekly Business Session","oneSentenceSummary","Speakers at the Sept. 25 Josephine County Board of Commissioners meeting urged the board to finalize a lease with the Grants Pass Library; commissioners said the existing lease runs through Dec. 31, 2025, and that they are negotiating terms and not pursuing eviction.","taxTitle","Josephine County, Oregon","taxId",48731,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460868,"Board approves consent calendar, 3-0",34,4024000,4058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457&start=4024&end=4058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457/thumbnail_4024000.jpg","/articles/6460868/Josephine-County/Oregon/Board-approves-consent-calendar-3-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460868-05485c9a511a113a6eb9501e45cad551/orig.mp4?Expires=1770670267&Signature=GLgbJighTQ~Fu7zu-b-mZIutyOqj~n4G52pic2Ij1vDyDz4wNYYQ1iyrhJRQD8EzEANnckfHLh05s0u7J07XBXEEDtJ6Loo5YOvc2dICK6-M8HdJ~VSq1JdFJ0~oro2T26uIzK44cl-OKqoO3QDVvPZOq1GNz14pejlFDL~JDoFsozX8d2MgtqMDkA5rl3cDzMdJSxXVOjloSdZtq5qzbG7MnQqE98DQ-D~WCYO02whq7XobUF1sRIgbq0RIPtIGAR09dvLgZiUKQGkF2cML6mXeUZPJkJjbrWWRGd-8zU~ivaszoq83xzhCYAVLZLzwaIiMiCtGPS56MM7X7ManCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved the consent calendar at its Sept. 25 weekly business session.

A motion to approve the consent calendar — which included draft minutes for recent meetings — was made, seconded and approved on a roll call vote of 3 to 0. The board’s roll call recorded all three commissioners voting yes.

The chair identified the consent calendar items as the general discussion minutes dated Sept. 15 and Sept. 17 and the weekly business session minutes dated Sept. 18; the draft minutes were available at the board’s office prior to the vote.","The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved the consent calendar by roll call vote, 3-0, at its Sept. 25 weekly business session.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460873,"Residents clash over recalls, prayer and county leadership during public comment",3260,1000000,4260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457&start=1000&end=4260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826552-3c6f8c94ece3a96f61b6c155da2a7457/thumbnail_1000000.jpg","/articles/6460873/Josephine-County/Oregon/Residents-clash-over-recalls-prayer-and-county-leadership-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460873-80d297b2c893a8d04ae06e36db4f1db8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770670267&Signature=Y8vTRtfk0HxePjG~YKkxyYL2~EWZ3mL4nXf3CHTXEnKU5STTQWvY2yGXxVGmucd83zTIIFKc-2kTLyMuOFB~1RJlqnfJEgFQ3hdmNtln1PM62CsiNdFm2Pof3VDkL6wwiyBBNTnB0bf-ocJXc3tI2v4rHsejq0SAp299BHh1e-R4kK7oYOs8~dZMNxSZtplunrTGG6~5BUsdpOzTjFBezHPhtpkTJjPcjstr0PK~mbYazNnpmZIDyq8w0pDZ-BhsF3c0RtXOzscz8bjkTSGrJBv6IEs6oQONRmhU3s-xIvtJLcL8LlEs1mQoRN3acDtUmSM2g9Ck2PXmSVFUX5qe6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to air sharply divergent views on the county’s invocation practice, calls for recalls of elected officials and local public-safety concerns.

One speaker, identified in the record as Victor of Grants Pass, told the board he was “outraged” at what he called the board’s “continued practice of forcing their unique religious beliefs in the form of Christian prayer upon the general public” and said the practice “flies in the face of the establishment’s clause.” Victor asked the board to “cease and desist in this practice.”

Other commenters addressed political divisions and calls for recalls. Bill Hunker of Merlin said recalling officials is about “removing those who lack the capacity to govern,” and described signing a recall petition as the start of a democratic process, not an immediate removal. By contrast, other speakers defended the commissioners’ record, applauded hiring more deputies and urged residents to “let the voters decide.”

Several speakers used strong language about party infighting and “traitors” in local politics; one speaker mentioned filing a recall against a newly elected Republican county party chair and warned of continued political fighting. Commissioners repeatedly asked for civility and for residents to bring ideas rather than repeated complaints.

In response to public comment, Commissioner Smith encouraged residents to bring constructive proposals and to meet privately with commissioners, saying, “Bring your ideas. Come sit down and talk to me in my office.” Commissioner Barnett echoed a call for unity and said he had been working with library and city leaders and asked for patience as negotiations continue. Commissioner Smith also stressed that the board is “not against the library” and urged civil discourse.

A number of speakers warned that escalating rhetoric could lead to violence; one urged people to avoid demonizing opponents and to seek common ground. The board closed public comment and proceeded to its regular agenda.

No formal votes tied directly to recalls or the invocation practice were held at the meeting; issues raised were discussed but not decided during the session.","Public comment at the Sept. 25 Josephine County meeting included complaints about Christian invocations, calls for recall petitions, defenses of commissioners and repeated calls for civility and solutions; commissioners urged engagement and open discussion.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents urge county to sign Grants Pass Library lease as commissioners say talks continue

Board approves consent calendar, 3-0

Residents clash over recalls, prayer and county leadership during public comment