The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved fee schedule changes for several departments in 2025, but excluded a universal fee to help fund Community Development and Planning.
The Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve fee changes in the coming year for Airports, Assessor, Public Health, Public Information and Surveyor as well as the Community Development Department including Planning. The changes go into effect on January 1st.
County Finance Director Sandy Novak testified that the fee changes reflect actual costs of services provided by each department. However, a small universal fee that helps pay for the Community Development Department operations is charged on top of the other services it provides. The Board will take up that topic in the future.
The Board tabled three Administrative Action items pertaining to the sale of The Flying Lark to River Valley Community Church because the documents are not ready for final approval. That includes a lease for parking around the facility.
As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board approved an order continuing the date of the second readings of two ordinances related to the recently formed Josephine County Rural Fire Protection District.
During the public comment period, a man had questions about the new fire district as it pertains to expansion plans of the Applegate Valley Fire District, several people voiced their opposition to the sale of timber properties in the Williams area -- including Pipe Fork -- on December 4th, and one woman had unfavorable comments about Board Chair John West's lawsuit against County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels that seeks to place an injunction on the recall election that is currently set for December 17th.
