Grants Pass Now

Denise Olson and Steven Monroe, Community Corrections employees, head up the Employer Recovery Support Solutions committee of the Josephine County Methamphetamine Task Force.

“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting.” — Stephen R. Covey

Chances are, your business has a drug problem.

In a study done by the Department of Health and Human Services*, it is found that nearly 1 in 5 full time workers between the ages of 18 and 25 have used illicit drugs in the past month. While the numbers drop with subsequent age groups, the total number of drug users remains surprisingly high and does not include marijuana or heavy alcohol use.

What does this mean for your business? To be blunt, it means less profit. It means more time and money spent on repeatedly hiring and training new employees, often without knowing why the previous employee failed to work out. It means a possible increase in losses due to theft and a greater likelihood of accidents occurring on the job site.

What does it mean for those recovering from addiction or struggling with it now? Most often, they are reluctant to share information. The task force has seen clients go out to the workforce where they’re very vulnerable, and they ask them to be successful. The problem continuously seen is that the employer has no idea that the employee is struggling with this condition…this addiction. For new people in recovery, this is the most stressful time for them. Therefore you have an employee coming to work stressed out, frustrated, going through withdrawal symptoms, and the employer is left to wonder what the problem is. When the worker is afraid to say he/she’s an ex drug addict (and sometimes the employer doesn’t even want to know), there is a tremendous conflict.

Steve Monroe, a Josephine County Corrections employee, is well aware of this problem. When Denise Olsen, a founding member of the Meth Task Force, asked him to become part of a group task force to come up with new ideas for combating the issue, Steve was quick to say yes. They broke off into sub groups, and the Employer Recovery Support Solutions (ERSS) program began to take shape and is still in the process of being molded.

ERSS wants to introduce ways for both employers and employees to cope with this issue in a way that will prove beneficial to both parties. They use the analogy of a copy machine. If the machine is giving you trouble, do you waste the money you invested in it and buy a new one? No. You try to figure out what is wrong, and if needed, a repair man is contacted. That isn’t a very helpful solution, but it is often what happens when an employee isn’t working out. They are often dismissed without much ado, and a new employee is brought in to take their place. What ERSS wants to do is offer employers more productive resolutions to retain their employees, which in turn will help troubled workers be supported on the job.

Because many business owners and managers may not have the time or ability to attend classes or meetings, the idea came about to assemble packets of information and present them to local businesses. The packets would also be available for employees to hand deliver to their bosses. ERSS believes this is a way to create avenues for employers and employees to meet and strip away the anonymity of drug addiction, allowing workers to be safe in telling their employees “I’m in recovery, and need to tell you some issues that are going on.” The information given will allow businesses to understand the medical aspects of addiction and be willing to understand and help support the person going through it. A website will be set up that talks about the 12 steps of narcotics/alcoholics anonymous and will answer questions such as the definition of a sponsor, along with listing resources for both employers and employees.

So why is this the time to introduce such a program? Mr. Monroe has seen the justice system first hand and realizes that just locking up drug users simply doesn’t work. Not only that, but our county is facing a budget crisis that reduces the number of officers on the streets and reduces the availability of jail space, with some jails being completely eliminated. What we’ve done isn’t working anymore. If we continue, we will get what we’ve always gotten, and right now we’re getting a high rate of drug use and those who return to that lifestyle. Employers are getting the short end of the deal, having to hire and retrain over and over and losing money in the process. Having an alternative plan isn’t just a good idea, it’s now become a necessity. It’s time to go head to head with this problem and find solutions instead of throwing it behind bars and hoping it will go away.

This will not only benefit those who fight with addiction, it will enable employers to retain those they hired and lead to a more compassionate and caring environment. It’s a way to fight drug use in our county in a logical and humane way. Right now, people in recovery are lost in that time frame between leaving treatment and going back to work. ERSS would like to fill that gap and have them know there are people out there who are concerned enough to ask them how their day is going and if they’ve been going to their meetings, and know there are people out there supporting their recovery.

While there will always be a degree of recidivism, it can be reduced. While this program is still in the planning stages, the Josephine County Meth Task Force Employee Recovery Support Solution program will be in operation quite soon. Steve Monroe and his fellow workers are excited to be bringing this fresh new perspective to Josephine County employers and employees, and hope that they will be able to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.

While more information on this group will soon be available, those who have questions or need help now can contact the JoCo meth task force by visiting this link: http://www.josephinecountymethtaskforce.org/

Prior to Campaign’08, Grants Pass Now started a series of articles called “Meet the Commissioners.” This series was to conclude with a non-partisan, non-controversial article with Jim Raffenburg. Though Commissioner Raffenburg did not respond to our article request, he did submit content to Dale Matthews for Campaign’08. To view this content, please click on the “Jim Raffenburg” link in the Campaign’08 menu.

Meet Dwight Ellis
Vice Chairperson of the Josephine County
Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Ellis’s office gives an informative insight into the “Boards” Vice Chairman. His position as County Commissioner, which he has held for going on four years is non-partisan, but he wants it known that he is a registered Republican. His office wall and desk display photos of family and friends, commendations, awards, memorabilia, odds and ends, all of which he is certainly proud of. Definitely all Oregon, he is a local boy born and raised, and very much a patriot. His wife Bonnie is from Grants Pass and a true asset to her husband. They brought four children into this world, three of which live in the Grants Pass area and there are four grandchildren to brag about. In the Commissioner’s quite interesting background, there is much to be proud of.

Dwight Ellis is highly educated and received his Business Management Masters Degree by attending night school. Including school time, he spent 24 years in the Air Force, is an Air Force Academy Alumnus and served our country as a U.S. Air Force Officer and jet jockey in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. He flew eighty-two combat missions, all into Cambodia. After that hot tour, he was stationed in England for three years, which he enjoyed. His assignment there was rather unique in that it included sitting “nuclear alert”. I asked the Commissioner to explain, “We carried one 60 kiloton bomb on our two-seater F-4 Phantom jet, which isn’t that big in terms of today’s nuclear devices. It had the capacity to probably wipe out a smaller air field. Our mission, if called upon, was to fly as far into the Soviet Union as we could, drop our cargo and get out. We were virtually on our own after the bomb was dropped. The idea is a maneuver where you simply try to make your way back to the coast line or something like that and hopefully gain assistance in reaching home base. And, you know, they never did tell us if we would survive the bomb blast. But, as luck would have it, we didn’t have to drop the bomb and relations improved with the Soviet Union.”

Dwight Ellis has been married for 37 years to his brother’s wife’s sister. Still with me? Bonnie Ellis is from Grants Pass and a definite asset to her husband. Commissioner Ellis is up for re-election this year and hoped to make it on the primary ballot but now doubts it will happen due to five hopeful contenders seeking his job.REPORTER: When you decided to seek the commissioner’s position four years ago, what was your intent?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “The idea was to eliminate some of the ‘good ol’ boy’ stuff that the voters believed was going on and tighten up the operation. There were some pretty good benefits and perks going on at that time that we have since changed.” said Ellis.

REPORTER: My follow up question was a natural. Was there any good ol’ boy stuff going on?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “I think some of the department heads had been here for thirty years, or so and pretty much built an empire. Most of those have since retired and replaced with younger folks. We have cut county government from 650 people over three years down to just over 400 today. We made some major cuts and I feel it’s better over all for county government operations because we see timber money leaving us and the Fed’s ’safety net’ looks like it might not be re-authorized for another year, but we’re not sure yet. We probably won’t hear about that until June or July. It looks like we’ll be able to get through this year due to money saved over the past three years. And, we’ll set up the new budget based on not receiving the Fed safety net money,” explained Ellis.

REPORTER: I assume this is the most important issue facing the commissioners today?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “Yes, I think it’s our public safety and what we’ll be able to provide if we don’t get the re-authorization from the Feds. What will Public Safety be able to accomplish if we don’t receive those general funds? Public safety includes the sheriff’s operation, jail, the district attorney’s office, the criminal justice system, our juvenile justice system and we are mandated to provide court security.” The commissioner tells of a new understanding, “We are finding out right now that we might not have to have a jail. But, the jail building was built by a bond and we’re still paying that off. If we don’t receive financial operations assistance from whatever source, be it the taxpayers or the federal government, we might have to contract our prisoners out to other jails and shut our jail building down. It may come to this.”

REPORTER: Tell us about the long term funding committee?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “Right now, we have a long term funding committee looking into various options available to us to raise needed funds for our criminal justice system and will make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners no later than April 15th.”

REPORTER: What is the current condition of the county

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “It’s better now than it has been due to programs within some county operations that can charge fees or increase fees and thereby become self-sufficient. They don’t have to depend upon the general fund for their programs. In addition, we’ve been able to reduce the amount of employees and personnel expenses. We increased fees in Parks, the Planning Department, County Clerk’s Office and others so that they too become self-sufficient and not reliant upon the general fund. However, that hasn’t made up the approximately $12 million that we usually get for the federal safety net funding, so that’s the big nut we’re trying to crack right now.

REPORTER: How do we get the needed funds? What method?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “There are two ways to get the money. One we’re still working on is to pressure the U.S. Congress to re-new the safety net (O&C Funds). If that doesn’t happen, the second option is to sue the Federal Government because there is a law on the books that dates back to 1937 that says the O&C (Oregon & California Railroad) lands timber, which makes up a major part of our county, has to be cut in a sustainable manner and that the Federal Government will support local rural economies with money that is gleaned off of those timberlands.

REPORTER: If the government stipend is discontinued, will the Commissioners propose a tax?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “We have nothing on the May ballot, right now. We’re waiting for the long term committee’s results. We have looked at fourteen different money sources including an add-on tax to vehicle registration. But the Oregon Constitution says that money would have to be used for roads within the county and cannot go towards the justice system, law enforcement or anything else. Everything we looked into has a specific purpose by state law. We explored a “bed tax” (hotel/motel) for the county but found that 70% of the collection has to go for visitor marketing purposes. A portion of the remaining 30% could be used for administration or the criminal justice system, but would be a small amount. We even looked into charging aggregate fees for the river rock that is taken out of our rivers and crushed. That collection would have to benefit county roads, only. We looked into increasing the gas tax by two or three cents, but once again that would only benefit our roads.”

“We are looking into a “consumption tax” or sales tax, but I feel that would only pass the county voters if it replaced something else such as the property tax. I’m not personally in favor of a sales tax because businesses are going to fight it. And, I feel it will send local people out of the county to buy their cars, RV’s and other major ticket items. They’re going to go where they don’t have to pay that tax. So basically, in my mind, it boils down to either a short term levy until we can get this safety net law straightened out with the Federal Government, or the sheriff has come up with a district tax idea. The idea has already passed in Deschutes County and he would like to get it passed here as it would guarantee his department’s long term funding. (Look for Sheriff Gilbertson’s “district” idea in grantspassnow.com). The state is currently looking at our tax system, but it will take at least two years and possibly up to six years before they could make the change.”

“We (Commissioners) are discussing approaching the state about adding on a percentage to beer and wine sales. I’m not sure how much that would bring to the county coffers and it is a state legislative issue so they would have to pass it in order for us to initiate it. The beer and wine industry will fight this proposal tooth and nail. So, every turn we have taken to generate county operational funds has run into some sort of road block.”

REPORTER: As a Josephine County Commissioner, your goal is…..?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “To keep the citizens of Josephine County safe. My main goal is to make sure everyone is safe and if someone does perpetrate a crime we have someplace to put them. If the judge says lock them up, we can accommodate and if the judge says they need some kind of educational training we are also able to provide that. But, right now we do not have the money to support our criminal justice system. If you interview the sheriff or district attorney, they will tell you that if they don’t get some sort of funding, they cannot assure public safety.

REPORTER: How do you wake the town and tell the people?

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “It’s an educational process. Citizens should go to town hall meetings. I noticed a lot of familiar faces at the meetings. The same people are showing up this year as last year and there isn’t very many of them. We appreciate these people; we just want to reach more. We have to get the people talking about the funding problem. I feel the sheriff’s concerns are valid in that he will not be able to provide adequate safety that he would otherwise be able to provide with appropriate funding.”

REPORTER: You are up for re-election this year. Why should we re-elect you??

COMMISSIONER ELLIS: “I feel I have been accessible to the people with an open door policy. If I’m not busy and someone shows up to chat, that’s fine. If you call me, I’ll answer the phone. I don’t have an ‘attack dog’ secretary out front that guards the door keeping me from the people. I also keep an open mind on issues. If I have made a decision and later thought about it or the situation has changed or I received further information on a particular issue, I’m not afraid to change my mind if it’s for the betterment of the county. You shouldn’t let egos get in the way of decision making and I try to do that and stay out of the way of arguments that take place in the board room. If I’m going to join in I try to make sure whatever I’m saying adds to the constructive part of the conversation.

I try to do the best possible job and I hope the voters see that. If you want me I’ll do my best, again.” -Mike Case

Commissioner Ellis may be reached:
Commissioner Dwight Ellis
500 N/W 6th St. Dept. 6
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Telephone: (541) 474-5221

Email: dellis@co.josephine.or.us

Meet Dave Toler
Josephine County Board of Commissioners

As he puts it, Dave Toler is the new kid on the block elected as one of three commissioners to a four-year term two years ago by the good citizens of Josephine County. Dave is a pleasant and straight forward kind of guy. His smile reaches you and he speaks direct with a touch of eloquence. You have the feeling he’s genuinely interested in the conversation and his ability to gain your immediate trust is extraordinary. The Commissioner displays a sincere passion, as well as reason, for what he feels is best for the county and its people.

Dave, who is now single, was born into a military family and traveled throughout his young life spending a lot of time in the traditional South. He came to our beautiful section of the Earth’s surface about twenty-five years ago as a forest service employee and raised his family on fourteen acres of Illinois Valley land, where he resides today. Approximately twelve years have past since he switched to non-profit administration. I asked the Commissioner, “If someone had mentioned when you first arrived in Josephine County, that you were predestined to become a member of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, what would you have said? “You must be kidding! By the way, what does a County Commissioner do, anyhow?” A keen sense of humor has to be on a future commissioner’s job prerequisite list.

Q&A TIME-

REPORTER: “What would you say is most important to the County Commissioners, today?”
COMMISSIONER TOLER: “Gaining the confidence of our voters.” Toler explained, “I have two measuring sticks for citizen confidence in county government. One is a survey the city of Grants Pass conducts each year. The results of this survey indicate that confidence in county government is significantly lower than other local governments. But, the most important measure is the citizens’ willingness to support local services. And, that is where the county has had serious problems for decades.”

The Commissioner continued, “While Grants Pass citizens enjoy quality services day in and day out while support for county government has been rejected repeatedly for over ten years, now. So, what is it that makes Grants Pass citizens support city government on a regular basis and reject support for the county, such as jails, prosecution of criminals, animal control and libraries to name just a few? I’m convinced it is an inherent flaw in the county’s management structure. I believe it to be the main problem.”

Commissioner Toler looked directly into my eyes, assuring his point, “Unlike city government, the everyday management of county government can be politicized media events rather than routine management decisions. The micro-management of the county on the front page tends to shake citizens confidence in county government.” Toler finalized, “The solution is to take three politicians out of daily management, hire one professional manager and enable the commissioners to focus on governing the county.”

REPORTER: “What is the current condition of our county law enforcement and criminal justice system?”
COMMISSIONER TOLER: “We are about to lose two thirds of our county general fund budget. Most of that goes to fund our criminal justice system. We are, in effect, about to lose the system. And, that is an issue every person should be concerned about. Businesses, the elderly, families, everyone should be extremely concerned over what not having a criminal justice system will mean for them. It doesn’t matter if you live in the city of Grants Pass or out of it, it’s going to effect you similarly.”

Toler continued, “The argument can be made that because the city pays their own patrol they will be much safer than those outside the city limits should this scenario play out. I disagree with that. I feel for the fine men and women who serve the Grants Pass Police Department who will be patrolling in a situation where there’ll be no prosecution of the vast majority of crimes in this county, and there will be no jail space in which to lodge the offenders for prosecution.” The Commissioner raised both open hands over his head, “In effect what’s it going to be like? We can’t intervene on crime when the criminals all know that all you’re going to do is drive them to the jail parking lot and let them go.”

REPORTER: “Operational funds will be needed. What should the county do?”
COMMISSIONER TOLER: “The other issue that’s just as important, if not more important, is that in order for us to replace the $12 million plus dollars the county received from the Federal Government, we’re going to have to depend on the citizens of Josephine County to help pay for county operations. The needed funds will probably not be coming from Washington, DC any longer. If it does, it’s only going to be for another year or two. The bottom line is that some time out, they are not going to pay our bills any more. So, if we have to come to our citizens for that money, they have to have confidence in county government. This is why I think this issue, in some ways, looms larger than the funding issue.”

The Commissioner asks, “How do we gain confidence from the county citizens to open up their checkbooks, so to speak, and assure that we have adequate criminal justice in Josephine County? I believe the key to doing this is through professional management. I think a long time flaw in county government, the reason why county government has not for decades enjoyed very much confidence from its citizens, is because you have three lay people (elected commissioners) who basically manage the day to day operation of this $105 Million business (Josephine county government) in the 21st century. It is simply not the way to manage a large organization. What successful corporation would just say OK, who do you like the best? No resume, no experience needed. It’s just who do you like the looks of, or whatever, the most? There is that problem and the bigger issue is, how many corporations would hire three of them to make decisions that one should be making? And, that is where the crux of the issue really lies. Right now, everyday management decisions in this county are being made by a collective of three. This is a structural issue, not one of competence.” The Commissioner explains in a parody, ” If we place three of France’s best chefs in my kitchen to cook dinner, my prediction is that’s going to cost me three times more than it should and will probably take longer for the dinner to be made. And, they know the best way to do it. So, it isn’t a competency issue at all, it’s structural. Consequently, I believe we’re spending more money doing it this way.”

Toler continues,”The citizens of Josephine County are paying its Board of Commissioners over $300,000 per year in salaries and benefits to make a decision where you could spend about half for a manager that will give us professional results. But, way more important to me, is gaining the confidence of the citizens due to this professional watching the day to day management of the store. The biggest argument I hear about this is, ‘oh, you’re removing management decisions from the democratic process’. And, my answer is, yes you are absolutely right. This has been the problem all along.”

“The majority of persons opposing the professional manager approach to running a government entity is a person who has a very different measuring stick of successful government from most citizens. It seems a government that does nothing is a successful government to them.” The Commissioner sat straight in his chair, “It’s their mentality, they don’t want to pay any more taxes, even if we lose the criminal justice system. What they are saying is, ‘we don’t really want you to be more efficient, we don’t really want this to be an effective government because an effective government would gain the confidence of the populace and that would mean the passage of some sort of tax that I don’t want to pay.’

Toler sums it up, “Grants Pass residents are about 40% of the county population. These citizens have consistently rated county government below the city. Actually, they have rated the county below all other government entities such as school districts, etc. They show confidence in their own city. The product of that is my big measuring stick. They have enough confidence in their city government to pay taxes that are required for good services. To me, that’s what local government is, or should be. The county, by state statute, shall provide some of their services, such as the jail, criminal prosecution, public health, restaurant inspection, etc. This of course means if you live in the city or county you rely on those services. The difference is, one entity provides, the other does not. Like a tale of two cities. So, for those who really want to meet that goal for the county, I’m all ears. Or, if they say continue doing it the way we are doing it, now? Show me how that’s going to work?

REPORTER: “Now, the bottom line. How do we pay for these needed services?”
COMMISSIONER TOLER: “I know that a professional manager can save the county money. And, this would allow the commissioners to do the job they were elected to do. And, that is to govern. I advocate a sales tax as the method to raise county operating funds. This would absolutely be capped, not allowing any tax increase without the voter’s consent. I’m suggesting one and a half percent (1 1/2%). With this we can replace that lost $12 Million and pay 5 % of the collection to businesses for handling costs and 8% to the county for monitoring, enforcement and accounting. The ballot would read, ‘This is capped at 1 1/2 % and cannot be increased except by a vote of the citizens.” This is the way to go.

REPORTER: “What is Dave Toler’s goal as commissioner of Josephine County?”
COMMISSIONER TOLER: “By far, our mission is to provide our citizens with the basic services that all American citizens need in the 21st century. That is primarily a good criminal justice system, animal control, public health services, decent roads and parks, libraries, the very basics. We’re not sure we can provide that next year. And, that is a measuring stick that falls far short of reaching our mission’s goal. The citizens of Josephine County have got to get by the debate on county services. We have to have it. We will do it as cheaply as we can, as efficiently as we can, but we have to do it, we all need it. It’s decision time. Let’s figure out together how we’re going to pay for it.”

You can reach Commissioner Toler at the Josephine County Courthouse, 500 N/W 6th St., Grants Pass, OR 97526. Call (541) 474-5221 or email: dtoler@co.josephine.or.us -Mike Case

Michael Case

‘TIS SPRING…….2008

Spring has sprung, the grass has rizz…….. I wonder where all the flowers, is? Janet, age 8.

Remember that one? Perhaps a bit premature as March isn’t recognized as the first breath of spring. I think April gets that privilege?

“I sowed the seeds of love,
it was all in the spring,
in April, May, and June, likewise,
the small birds they do sing.” -Mrs. Fleetwood Harbergham circa; 1700
The first cycle of the new year brings hope and promise. Is your cup half full? I think every positive thinker from Confucius, Thales, Socrates, Sartre and most of our modern day positive slanters including Carnegie and Osteen fully believe in this philosophy. Come to think of it, who in their right mind would want their cup half empty? I know. Freddie, age 6, staring at a full glass of veggie juice? Conversely, a baby holding its milk bottle? A hungry person listening to their stomach growl as they stand in a soup line? They would prefer the top half in their tummies, for sure. Except, Freddie.

Spring tell-tales include a drive-by survey of city/county baseball and soccer parks….folks cleaning out their garages….vacation advertising promising paradise for a fist full of dollars or utopia for a few dollars more….. Schools winding up their class schedules in preparation of graduation day…….and, your daughter or son spending more time than usual fronting the looking glass. Spring is when a young man’s fancy turns to what the young lady has been thinking about all winter. Love is in the air!

Spring is like a child’s face…changing three times a day

Unfortunately, this Spring I’m afraid we’ll be beaten into submission via political advertising. Once again, time to vote for president. And yes, your vote counts. A good example of vote-value could be on the political horizon? Some pundits say that Oregon’s primary could possibly tip the scales, democratically speaking.

Alas, with each spring we look forward to a mail delivery from the I.R.S. Not much we can do about taxes in general, but we can do something about local levy issues. I just happen to have one that we all must address.

No matter how you count it, Josephine County needs financial help. Those looking the other way have been exposed to HITSS. (Head In The Sand Syndrome) Or, if you prefer the acronym…. Hide-it.

Once again, Michael-Pollsters (family, friends, neighbors, castaways, various pundits and others of questionable note), or MP’s for short, put forth their best efforts and came up with the following suggestions:

The question was; “How would you finance the day-to-day operations of Josephine County?” And, if you propose a tax, what type should it be?

The results are quite interesting:

Unequivocally, a property tax levy was out….again. This is no surprise due to the constant defeat of the measure at the polls.

Some ideas for the County Commissioners to ponder are:

* Lease any available county owned properties to private entities for selected commercial and/or industrial purposes. Establish privately operated (for profit) recreational facilities on county land, set up with short or long term leases.

* Around the country BLM lands are being offered back to local agencies IF their usefulness has become problematic for the Feds. There is established criteria for accomplishing this. Upon completion of acquisition, determine what for-profit uses would be compatible on these BLM properties, and adjacent to BLM lands. Search for businesses that could benefit from these properties and set up a workable lease.

* Assist as much as possible and encourage new businesses. Acknowledge the re-shaping world of entrepreneurial efforts, such as home businesses, etc.

* Do not replace some county worker positions when they become vacant. Use this money for stipends, expense re-imbursements (not wages), etc., for volunteers to perform support duties. This could lessen the work load or even eliminate some full time positions. There are many retirees in the area looking for such activities.

* County libraries could become “Community Meeting Centers”. Encourage groups, clubs, and community gatherings to its use. In return, these organizations could perform county duties, such as volunteer time with the Sheriffs’ Dept. (and, do they need help!), assist in county grounds maintenance and repair, assist in county events and those private paying events being held on and in county property.

* “Use” or sales tax is considered the fairest of taxes. Determine current revenue needed to fund adequate county operations, estimate operational costs for the next three years and tax accordingly, not to exceed 2% for three years. The tax would terminate automatically in three years, unless 60% of county voters agreed to continue its use. By this time a permanent funding solution could possibly be in order.

* Set up a volunteer operated Josephine County Visitor’s Bureau. Construct kiosks in visitor oriented areas. Sell souvenirs and hand out promotional materials.

Some wag suggested a toll booth on the Rogue;……two salmon per pass……sell to visitors stopping by the kiosks! Now, that’s an entrepreneur!

And, the winner is? No, not the salmon. It’s up to the commissioners and voters. Oh, keep in mind that the above suggestions were offered without the help of research, knowledge of existing laws, land availability, etc. Just real suggestions from real people. Have a nice Spring!

Never mind March, we know you’re not really mad
or, angry or bad.
You’re only blowing the winter away
to get the world ready for April and May.

“Effective May 31, 2007 all branches of the Josephine County Library system will be closed due to lack of funding.”

This is what you see when you click on the Josephine County Library’s website. For those who love to read, it’s a slap in the face and for those with children, an embarrassing example of what can happen when adults forget how to prioritize.

While many children in this country visited their local library for the annual Read Across America Day, a national day set up to celebrate reading. On this day, groups and individuals across the nation are encouraged to instill a love for books in the hearts of children. The celebration takes place at or around the time of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which is March 2nd. The theme this year was “Go, Books, Go!”, and in Josephine County, they certainly have gone. On Monday, March 3rd, children and adults gathered outside the locked doors of the Grants Pass library, sitting on blankets and lawn chairs. Some brought their own books, while others took advantage of a table set up with free books for the taking. While they shivered in the chilly air and hoped the rain would hold off a little longer, they could look in the windows and see shelves and shelves of books and cozy places to curl up and read, but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the books they did have.

Josephine Community Libraries is a non-profit corporation hoping to reopen those doors. Parents, business professionals, educators, and many more from all walks of life have joined this group of over 200 volunteers. They estimate that with one million dollars, it would be possible to open all four JoCo libraries and still run them in a professional manner. While it sounds like a daunting task, it would happen with a donation of under twelve dollars per person. The board of commissioners has voted to match $300,000 of the donations received by Josephine Community Libraries. That would bring the amount down to under eight dollars per person. That’s less than the cost of a number seven value meal at McDonald’s and the gas it takes to get there. If gas prices continue to increase, you’ll have to change over to a Happy Meal instead, but let’s not bog ourselves down with details. When you add in the donations of businesses, corporations, and monies raised in funding drives and through foundation grants, you’re down to just a couple of dollars per person.

The point is that residents can take matters into their own hands and have access to our libraries again if we’re willing to take the steps needed to make this happen. If you’re reading this and horrified that you just gulped down a value meal when it could have been used to help open the library back up, do not panic. There are plenty of other ways to help out with the cause. For example, you could join join their mailing list and learn more about the group. The brave can dive right in and join one of their committees, each of which focus on a certain aspect of making Josephine County Libraries Inc. run smooth.

Another easy way to figure out what’s going on with our libraries is to simply attend the board meetings, which are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The next meeting will be on March 18th in the Guild Building located at 1867 Williams Highway. They are held in order to not only discuss business, but to gain ideas from those who attend, such as how to help the community become aware that their libraries can be opened again, how to organize fundraisers, and where books can be bought at minimal cost. If you’re leary of jumping in as a volunteer for Josephine County Libraries, attending these meetings is a great way to get your feet wet before making any decisions.

Benjamin Franklin once said “a house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” When we closed our libraries, we didn’t do ourselves any favors. Josephine County isn’t simply a place we live in, it is our home. Just as the human body craves food, the mind craves knowledge. Public libraries provide that a large portion of that knowledge in the communities that host them. Unless, of course, their doors are locked. -Gina Locke

MEET JOSEPHINE COUNTY SHERIFF, GIL GILBERTSON.
A BUSY MAN WITH A DEFINITE MISSION.

“Gil” is not a big man in stature. If you have never met him, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. First off, he is unassuming, definitely unlike the top cops you see on the plasma. His smile is genuine and his hand shake is firm. The Sheriffs office is clean, but not pretentious in any sense of the word. His desk is busy with documents, memos and letters. John Wayne’s picture is proudly displayed over the chief’s desk displaying a definite look of approval.

The Sheriff’s day starts very early. In country vernacular, before the rooster crows. A day in the life of JoCo’s Sheriff is not that much different than some other small county sheriffs, except he does it with an extremely narrow budget. Due to lack of county funds and the recent loss of about five department positions, you’ll find Gilbertson’s hands on many day-to-day duties that most chiefs are able to delegate to a subordinate, thereby allowing more time for the department head to take on more important law enforcement issues.

“Back in the year 2000, we had a total of 118 deputies and the county was working quite well, in terms of law enforcement. Since then we have been whittled down to just 86 positions and I just cut 5 more the other day,” complained the frustrated sheriff. “Everything we do for the county’s safety is based upon the personnel we have. The more people we have the more service we can provide.” Gilbertson continues,” Back in1981, Josephine County decided they needed 25 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property evaluation to operate the county government. In 1995, it was decided they needed 33 cents per thousand dollars of property evaluation to run the libraries. In 1997, Measure 50 permanently fixed those two amounts together at 58 cents per thousand.”

Gilbertson explained that JoCo’s growing population actually pays $52 Million dollars in taxes per year which for most part goes to the state of Oregon. He went on to explain, “What’s left over, which amounts to about 6% or $3 Million, is to operate our county government.” The sheriff’s office gets about 60% of that, or $1.8 Million. The jail alone cost taxpayers over $4 Million to keep open.” Where does the needed funds come from? Gilbertson said his office did some search and rescue work by requesting over a million dollars in grant monies to help defray operational costs, but has received only $143,000 to date. “These are temporary funds, with no assurances, and certainly not the way to run a railroad or a sheriff’s office. “And,” he added, “O&C money is a thing of the past”.

Gilbertson said his office is down to 81 positions due to cut backs and trained personnel leaving. “Since, 1990, our department has gone through 98 people. Training costs average approximately $100,000 per person. By the time you recruit, do the necessary testing, finish their training, bring them home, suit them up, go through their field officers program, it all takes about 18 months. What we turned into is a training facility for other law enforcement agencies. Fourteen people have left the sheriff’s department to work for the city”, complained Gilbertson… “People left due to not knowing if they will keep their jobs with the county?” The sheriff was asked to have the new recruits sign a contract. “It isn’t legal”, Gilbertson explained.
He said the Sheriff’s Association is working on that, but as of now, the contract idea can’t be enforced.

The Sheriff explains the results of too few deputies and a weaker law enforcement agency; “We either have slow or no response to traffic accidents and drugs is a serious problem, we issue less traffic tickets, and fewer warnings. We are overwhelmed with calls for service. Crime statistics are under reported, due to our lack of response. I have 700 cases since 2007 that haven’t been entered into our computers. We just don’t have the personnel to do it. Crime is much worse in Josephine County than is reported. Accidents are increasing. Alarms, burglaries and property crimes have increased dramatically. Meth lab reports are down, but we lost 32 deputies about the same time as meth lab reports were decreasing. We need deputies to get out there and do the research.”

Gilbertson says that weak law enforcement means insurance rates could go up, property values could come down, community growth stagnates, and the area becomes a magnate for criminals. “We have intercepted telephone calls and letters from our inmates inviting their friends to come to Josephine County as there is no law enforcement. That should scare a lot of people. It does us”, warned the sheriff. “We need pro-active law enforcement”, claims Gilbertson.

Sheriff Gilbertson’s program is to engage pro-active law enforcement tactics obtained through directed patrols based on analysis of collected data, which means you identify the problems through forecasting and analysis. He says, you can forecast what your crime is going to be, where it’s going to be and who’s doing it. The sheriff says they are now targeting and going after those issues as best as they can and seeing some results using this approach. Sheriff Gilbertson states, “If we only react to crime, we’re never going to get there. If we can aggressively go after crime, once we identify the area, the problem, the people and the time, we could target those things and that throws the bad guys off. We are engaged in this activity now and it’s showing positive results. We need funds to hire the people, and keep; them, to make this the success it can be. If we don’t get additional funding by July 1, 2010, we’ll have to close our doors. We’re going to have to. $3 Million can not run this county. This is a statewide issue. There are 18 counties in the same situation.”

If you would like more information on the current financial problems of concern to the sheriff’s department, or more information on the sheriff’s plan of pro-active law enforcement, please call the Sheriff’s Office at (541) 474-5123.

Gilbertson’s energy seems endless. He appears in complete control of his office and its activities, and is considerate of his people. I saw him again a couple of days after our interview at the Meth Summit in Grants Pass and he knew me from Adam. He probably never forgets a face?
I drove very carefully back home to Williams. -Mike Case

Julie Rubenstein

Reinventing County Government
Learning to live with or overcome starvation-level revenues is a critical problem for Josephine County government, and for the people it serves. None of the various strategies considered, proposed or deployed to date –restructuring of county departments, hiring freezes, waiting to see what dribbles out of Congress or the State Legislature, suing to take back our timberlands for lumber production — have much prospect of success. Even if something does work, taken alone or together none of these solutions will achieve the most-desired result — a high-functioning local government. Such coping strategies are only biting around the edges; they don’t address the inadequacies of an antiquated system that can no longer run in the same old grooves, fueled by an unstoppable supply of big timber.

It’s not necessary to re-invent the wheel. Reinventing government is a notion that’s been kicking around this country for over 15 years, thanks to a book of the same name by authors Ted Gaebler and David Osborne. Maybe it’s time our County’s elected leaders took a thoughtful look at some of its principles:

1. Government does not have to be a bureaucracy geared to delivering all public services at every level. Elected officials should focus on “steering” rather than “rowing.” “Steering,” say Gaebler and Osborne, “requires people who see the entire universe of issues and possibilities and can balance competing demands for resources. Rowing requires people who focus intently on one mission and perform it well.” Bureaucracies are full of rowers, and they’re led by rowers.

Our County Commissioners take up the oars every day, so focused are they on details of county administration (since they have no manager for this function) and so disconnected are they from one another that there is no chance they can even approach a good policy discussion, much less keep a steady hand on the helm or a keen eye on the horizon.

2. Tap into the power of the entrepreneurial process, free market forces and the committed communities that already exist to get the best bang for the buck. Public employees themselves can be incentivized to save money by allowing their departments to keep any cost savings they find within their own budgets, and apply it to other purposes instead of giving it back to the general fund. Freeing policy managers to shop around for the most effective and efficient service providers allows competition to drive up quality and accountability. As for committed communities, just take a look around at Josephine County: we have an unusually high concentration of volunteer-based nonprofits in the service delivery business, most of whom can operate leaner and meaner than any counterpart within the civil service system. Mental health services grew without any additional cost to county government when Options took it over. Gospel Rescue Mission is another agency that comes to mind, capable of providing a bed when our county jail cannot.

3. You can cut taxes, cut costs and improve services all at the same time by transforming from a rule-driven to a mission-driven organization.

Yes, this sounds a little like a product that guarantees you can lose weight without sacrificing any food, but it’s true. Our county, if it ever had a mission, seems to have long since forgotten it. To the average citizen looking at it from the outside, Josephine County’s mission appears simply to be a savage struggle for survival. Petty fights over who’s breaking rules or personality disputes dominate the headlines, and all the while we wonder when is anyone going to take on the challenge of how we fund our essential services five, ten or twenty years down the road? Our Sheriff tries to get a little entrepreneurial about relocating his headquarters - he’d save money and improve efficiency - but his good idea gets frustrated by rules made at a time when funding was steady and reliable. Yet I don’t see any policy makers working to make such rules more flexible or responsive to today’s needs - you get back to that rowing problem again.

There are more principles covered in Reinventing Government, including chapters on “Results-Oriented Government: Funding Outcomes, Not Inputs,” and “Customer-Driven Government: Meeting the Needs of the Customer, Not the Bureaucracy.” The book’s ideas are radical, visionary and transformative in the hands of the right reader - someone who actually holds the power to initiate change.

“Change” has now become the buzzword of the 2008 Presidential contest - and it wouldn’t be a bad thing to start looking for changes in County government as well. Maybe a good time to start such a dialogue will be in the run-up to the May primary, as two Commissioner seats go up for grabs. Let’s have a little talk with the candidates about steering versus rowing, maybe even ask them what they think the County’s mission is, or ought to be.

Michael Case

SAY IT…IT LOOKS GREAT FOR 2008 !
    Just the other day while in the bank to withdraw some needed (after Christmas buying) cash, I heard a couple of older dudes chat about the new year as though it was a sure bet for Armageddon. They didn’t specify the exact date, which made me feel better. Now, according to Webster, Armageddon is the final conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil.  Rather a harsh prediction by the octogenarian gentleman, don’t you think?  Unfortunately, there’s a bunch of folks in the same mode, feeling the new year will be one of recession, lost values, runaway inflation, no jobs, etc.  I don’t think so. What is the axiom? If it looks like a recession, sounds like a recession, smells like, etc, then it is one?  Wait a minute…hold your horses! If you think it will be bad…so be it. If you know you can prosper during negative-thinking times, you will succeed beyond your wildest imagination. ”Buy now.” J.P. Morgan said that a lot and he did quite well.

     The Economic Cycle Research Institute, who just happens to keep its finger on the pulse of our national economy, says job figures are holding up. Industrial manufacturing figures are also holding…but, down from the June high. As we all know, housing is down nationally, and could go lower.  Locally, due to pent up frustration on the part of some California retirees, we could see some R.E sales activity in the spring or summer of this new year. Remember, the Baby-Boomers will  begin their exodus before long. And, corporate earnings are still holding…but some slowing is possible. In other words, a recession isn’t inevitable. 

TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, WHAT YEAR DO WE APPRECIATE? 2008

     The Kiplinger folks have a few tips on saving money this new year. Take advantage (if you can) with the higher IRA rates. Eliminate as much debt as possible. Sign up for auto-pay on your monthly bills where you can. The trick here is to make sure your bank balance is appropriate. Easy to overlook this…ask me? Keep three to six months of expenses available in a liquid account. And, start today tracking down all of your 2007 receipts, W-9’s, interest and dividend statements, any and all evidence of tax breaks.  Remember the guy who tried to list the family bow-wow as his newborn child? He could still be in the slammer, for all I know? You don’t have to go that far, just find everything that will assist you in lowering your taxes…and start doing it, now! The IRS offers many publications and tips on what to do. Yes, they want you to take advantage of what is due you…but, they want their due as well. I think they called it a win/win situation? I consider what some other countries take from their good citizens and I’m willing to pay my tax bill…after I’ve exhausted all means of tax deductions offered.

A GOOD YEAR…

     Just my opinion, but since you asked…here’s my prognosis, predictions, summaries and other great thoughts on the advantageous year before us.
     We should see that small spurt of real estate sales activity during the year. It will take more time to get the kinks out of the home lenders rope before any big time movement can take place. Those planning on moving to our pristine area in the near future is vast. With the influx of baby-boomers and others, you’ll see another good size jump in property values.  Yes, it can go higher and probably will. But, are we ready? Money is needed to operate our municipalities and counties to maintain the increase in public services. Just how we do that is up to us. You know the drill? Write your city council person or county supervisor. Tell them your thoughts…it’s really worth it. The big question to me is, how do we keep low key, laid back, provide needed services and remain pollution free with all of this going on?  Aha…guess what? We have to come up with a plan…you and me and thee.
 
FOR BETTER OR WORSE IT’S THE NEW LAW…

    By the by…new Oregon laws effective Jan 1 that might affect you; Insurance companies will be required to pay for birth control pills, if they already provide benefits for other drugs. Employers will have to provide nursing mothers a quiet place to pump breast milk…and time off to do so.  Grandparents will be expressly allowed to take advantage of family medical leave laws to care for ill grandchildren. Merchants will no longer be able to sell gift cards that expire, or decline in value over time. There are new identity crime stoppers…it is officially a crime now to steal someone’s identity, even if they are dead, and if you are 18, or younger, no more cell phones while behind the wheel.  You can check all of this out in Mondays (Dec 31st) Daily Courier.  

     Hope you had a great holiday? We got set for New year’s Eve…fire crackling nicely in the fireplace…my favorite lounge chair fluffed up for some serious sitting…hot cider on the convenience tray…Old Shep asleep by my feet…now, we’re ready and waiting for that New York ball to drop at midnight (recorded earlier). At precisely 10:30 my snoring sent Old Shep out of doors and Pam, my beloved wife, locked herself in the bedroom. I was fast asleep…couldn’t hear a ball drop, if I wanted too? 
     From all of us at Grants Pass Now, have a happy and very prosperous new year. It could be a great one!

Pastor Keith Heck , Director of the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission

Dr. Edwin H. Friedman, a late family therapist and ordained Rabbi once said, “Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future.” Many of  our community leaders today find themselves in this capacity and lead us in the direction of forward movements in restoring faith and kindness in mankind. Keith Heck, director of the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission, is a wonderful example of a great leader and excellent role model.

Pastor Keith Heck has been the director of the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission since July 15, 1997. He accepted the position after the death of Walter Fikso, the founder of the mission, in 1996. The Gospel Rescue Mission of Grants Pass was started in April of 1983 with the second hand store, now the Second Chance Thrift Store. Since it was established, the Gospel Rescue Mission has expanded to include a Men’s Center, the Fikso Family Center, the Community Recycling Center, and the Ray Allen Center for drug and alcohol abuse recovery. The largest number of residents live at the Men’s center on E street in Grants Pass, currently around forty-nine men. The Fikso Family Center houses twenty-six women and twenty-three children at this time and the Ray Allen Center for abuse recovery can provide for thirty residents. With so many programs and numerous citizens in need, an incredible amount of love and faith drives Keith Heck to direct such a foundation.

Pastor Heck is a man of God and with his strong faith and powerful guidance he shows compassion for people in need and offers far more than a residence. It takes much more than that and according to him, “Our community members in need require support rather than a  place to live and a job. We need to teach them how to live, not just to exist.”

The Gospel Rescue Mission is not the only organization to benefit from Keith’s wonderful example. He has devoted many years and countless hours to bettering the lives of many community members in need. His service began in the United States Military in July of 1959, with an honorable discharge in 1963. In that same year he married his wife, Carol and had two children, later seven grandchildren. He studied at Western Bible College and has been a pastor since 1970. Pastor Heck has continued with service ever since and some of his more recent involvement includes a ten-year period as a volunteer board member with the Citizen Review Board, involvement with cases at the Department of Human Services, service as a board member for Pathways to Care Network, service as a board member and vice chairperson on the Siskiyou Community Health Center Board, Rotarian of Grants Pass Rotary Club, and many other local non-profit organizations.

In the last twelve months, the main goal for the Gospel Rescue Mission of Grants Pass has been raising funds for the new Men’s Center which will be located across the street from the Fikso Family Center on the corner of Foundry and G streets in Grants Pass.  The way the mission operates requires the entire amount of money needed before the project begins. The estimated cost for the 23,000 square foot building is approximately $3.2 million. Due to many generous donations and money earned through the Second Chance Thrift Store and the Community Recycling Center, the Gospel Rescue Mission board has set aside fifty percent of the total cost. This is an amazing feat, considering the amount of funds and other materials required to run each center day-to-day. An average of 5600 meals served each month at the three facilities, the up-keep of the G.E.D. program, and various other organizations such as the Prescription Assistance Program, which offers assistance to people in need with life-threatening medical issues bring up many budgeting concerns.  Such costs as these keeps Pastor Keith Heck and a Gospel Rescue Mission board of eight members very busy.

Pastor Heck never loses faith when faced with difficult budgeting, although he has said it is hard to plan to spend money that may or may not be there when it is required. The board budgets according to what is available and what they hope to receive in grants and donations. The goals for 2008 are focused on raising money for daily life for residents of these facilities and also raising the remaining required funds to build the much needed men’s facility. The space will house as many as eighty men, while only forty-nine are being housed at the current facility.

With so many people in need this Christmas Season, we all need to remember to give and help our neighbors in need. Members of the Guild Building are having a food drive for this Christmas season, all donations going to the Gospel Rescue Mission of Grants Pass. Please bring non-perishable items to the Guild Building at 1867 Williams Highway, Grants Pass. If you would like to contribute to the Gospel Rescue Mission, please call 476-0082, stop by 120 SE J. Street in Grants Pass, and visit www.gospelrescuemissiongp.org. To contribute to the Second Chance Thrift Store, go to the corner of 6th and J streets or call 479-9748. To support the Community Recycling Center, call Kevin Maloney at 955-1091 or go to 1010 SW Foundry Street in Grants Pass.