Josephine County Board approves union contract, Whitehorse Park change order, and five-year OSU Extension agreement
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year collective bargaining agreement with LiUNA Local 737, a $86,499.95 construction change order for Whitehorse Park renovations, and a five-year intergovernmental agreement with Oregon State University for 4-H and Extension services during meetings over the past two weeks.
Union Contract and Whitehorse Park
At the July 21 Administration Workshop, the Board approved a one-year collective bargaining agreement with LiUNA Local 737 by a 3-0 vote. The same meeting included a $86,499.95 construction change order for Whitehorse Park renovations, approved 2-0.
The Board also approved the purchase of Xiologix Pure Storage NVMe-Now drives for IT hardware upgrades (2-0), authorized email access for specific former employees (2-0), and approved $41,329.93 in annual Association of Oregon Counties dues to maintain insurance coverage (2-0). Commissioners directed staff to schedule first and second readings for Ordinance 2026-002 on August 19 and September 2, 2026.
Five-Year OSU Extension Agreement
On July 22, acting as the Governing Body of the Josephine County 4-H/Extension Service District, the Board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Oregon State University by a 2-0 vote. The agreement runs through June 30, 2031, and covers funding, operational support, and educational programming for residents.
The Board also approved consent calendar minutes for May 21, July 14, and July 15 meetings (2-0) and proclaimed July 19–25, 2026, as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week.
Items Discussed but Not Yet Finalized
Several meetings from July 27 through July 31 were listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published, meaning no official decisions are confirmed in the record.
The July 28 Administration Workshop agenda included discussion of a $1,694,008.00 FAA Grant Agreement and contract with LTM, Inc. dba Knife River Materials for airport work, an ORMAP intergovernmental agreement, Amendment 2 to the ODOT Delivered Federal Project for Wolf Creek Bridge, purchase of four pickup trucks for the Public Works Operation Division, and two outpatient treatment provider contracts totaling $188,000 — $113,000 with ADAPT and $75,000 with Options for Southern Oregon. The agenda also listed a $406,616.39 SAIF invoice and an executive session for labor negotiations and employment matters.
The July 30 Legal Counsel Update agenda included discussion of CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Contract 2024 (#H24007) with a conflict of interest item and Amendment #1, an amendment to the Subrecipient Agreement with Home Bridging for the 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program, a personnel policy regarding Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots, 4-H Building Fund Reserves, and an executive session regarding County real property known as Dimmick Campus.
A July 30 General Discussion agenda listed reclassifying an existing job to refill a vacant position through Human Resources. The July 29 Weekly Business Session and July 31 General Discussion agendas listed no formal items requiring votes.
Coming Up
- **August 3, 11:00 a.m. — General Discussion:** The Board will hear an O&C presentation. Commissioners may introduce other matters.
- **August 4, 1:30 p.m. — Administration Workshop:** The Board will review the yearly readoption of the investment policy, a Community Justice provider contract with Continuum Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, designation of Nathan Sanders and Matthew Eide as agents for the 2026–2027 Emergency Management Performance Grant, a personnel requisition for a Sheriff's Department Deputy Patrol Advance re-hire, and county fuel purchasing and P-card guidance.
- **August 5, 9:00 a.m. — Weekly Business Session:** The Board will consider Resolution No. 2026-031, referring a renewal of the Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention five-year local option tax to voters for the November 3, 2026 election. Also on the agenda: CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Contract 2025 (#H25012) and a Subrecipient Agreement with Home Bridging for the 2025 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program.