The Latest News
To The Right of Reality – September 20-23
The defeat of Grants Pass Mayor was fully expected by those running the recall effort against her. The drubbing was not. Voters soundly rejected the recall by a no vote […]
To the Right of Reality — August 2023 Edition
“We yanked the funding because all the kids left the program,” Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger said on The Bill Meyer Show Aug. 1. In July a Freedom from […]
The Commissioners discuss the proposed Law Enforcement District
Josephine County Commissioners Meetings July 12th, 2023 Discussions of the Law Enforcement District July 12 2023 JoCo Commissioners meeting “We…we have to keep some insanity in our community and our […]
To the Right of Reality: Councilman Baertschiger’s chats with Bill Meyer
The swaggering hubris of Herman Baertschiger, Chair of the Josephine County Commission, is summed up in one quote from his weekly chats with KMED’s morning talk show host, Bill Meyer. […]
COMMISSIONERS SCOLD HR DIRECTOR IN PUBLIC AIRING OF “DIRTY LAUNDRY”
Josephine County Commissioners Meetings June 6th, 2023 Public HR Director Hearing Dirty laundry was kicked around at an odd little meeting of the Josephine County Commissioners Tuesday, June 6. The […]
COMMISSIONERS DEFUND 4H AND MASTER GARDENER PROGRAMS ACCUSING THEM OF BEING WOKE!
Josephine County Commissioners Meetings May 30th, 2023 4H Budget Meeting A 4H fracas turned into a full-fledged War on Woke after Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger and Commissioner John […]
Call to Action … Commissioners De-Funding Voter Approved Levy for Master Gardeners and 4H
According to the Grants Pass Daily Courier Josephine County Commissioners decided to de-fund the 4H and Master Gardner programs because of rumor and innuendo…a conspiracy theory has been created around […]
Commissioners – Showing their Autocratic Sides
May 17 2023 Commission Business Meeting Josephine County Commissioners have suddenly become very interested in children. Feeding on information from Commission regular Judy Ahrens, whose social concerns come from right-wing conspiracy […]
Commissioners Attack Grants Pass Mayor For Trying To Get Homeless Funds
“It could be a political setup you know.” That’s what Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger said about criticism of their refusal to take steps to get state funding for […]
Commissioners Highlight 4/4 through 6 2023
Business was light at the Josephine County Commissioners’ Weekly Business Session April 5 so those who came to comment were in the spotlight. First up, usually always first up, was […]
Commissioners Admin Workshop-Get Rid of the Emergency Mgr, they say!
3/23/23 Do we have to have an emergency management department? Read on… this should scare you. That’s what Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger asked when Commissioners learned their Emergency […]
Commissioners 3/29/23–25%+ Dept Heads Leave — Oh Well…
A seed was planted for change during the March 29 meeting of the Josephine County Commissioners. During the public comments Jim Gower asked that the Charter Review Commission keep local […]
Commissioners in March Part 1
3/2/23 Administrative Workshop Commissioner John West said he had several complaints about permit fees being charged for projects less than 200 square feet so he wanted to see the fees […]
Commissioners – 3/1 Meeting – Homeless? What Homeless?
Even though a half-dozen people showed up at the March 1 Josephine County Commission meeting to urge the Board to declare an emergency and make the county eligible for funding […]
To the Right of Reality-Anyone see an ethics violation here?
When asked about a $35,000 payment to the Grants Pass Irrigation District due last January during the Bill Meyer Show March 7, Commissioner Herman Baertschiger innocently said he “honestly didn’t […]
Commissioners-Week of 2/21 — So much for Transparency
Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger has said the Board wants the county’s website to be the most transparent website in the state of Oregon. However, you can look all […]
To the Right of Reality – 2/23/23
Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger and Grants Pass City Councilor Dwayne Yunker appeared on right-wing talk radio during the last two weeks. The sum of their discussions is an […]
Commissioner’s Feb. 15, 2023 – Don’t Talk to me about the Sheriff or the Homeless
Read as a PDF If you want to get Josephine County Commissioners riled up walk to the podium during public comments time and mention either sheriff’s funding or homelessness. During […]
Commissioners Report for Week of 2-7-23 — Reducing Transparency
Read as a PDF Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger has gotten bolder with his demands since John West replaced former Commissioner Darin Fowler. Baertschiger and West want people who […]
Commissioners – 2/1/23 – Cutting Off Nose to Spite Face
“We are not an island,” said Valarie Lovelace. “Think about what important agencies have silent constituencies,” said Pat Fahey. These were comments from the public after Josephine County Commissioners hinted […]
To the Right of Reality 1/24/2023
During a rambling discission on The Bill Meyer Show Jan. 24 about Oregon Democrats’ energy legislation in the statehouse, Josephine County Commissioner Herman Baertschiger said when Democrats don’t make sense […]
Commissioner 1-18-23 — Ignore Constituents
This meeting can be seen in entirety here https://josephinecounty.sharepoint.com/sites/PubliclySharedMedia/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FPubliclySharedMedia%2FShared%20Documents%2FGeneral%2FWBS%20Video%20Archive%2F20230118%20WBS%2Emp4&ga=1 Two Josephine County Commissioners lost their reputations for “listening to the people” after demonstrating during the January 18 Business Session they […]
Stop Commissioners Newspaper Order!
Important! Stand up to bullying! Show up at 9 am Wednesday Jan. 18, Josephine County Commissioners’ meeting at Ann Basker Auditorium to let them know they cannot bully our local […]
County Commissioners – Week of January 2, 2023
Weekly Business Meeting Jan 4 2023 Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger announced he’s done with trying to fund the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department. At the Jan. 4 Weekly Business Meeting Baertschiger, […]
A Look Back at Our Commissioners in 2022
If moral indignation and malcontent is pleasurable, as author Barbara Holland asserts, then Josephine County Commissioners ended the year blissfully albeit with little self-reflection. Because of that, their 2023 meetings […]
Commissioner Meetings Dec 7 through Dec 15 2022
The following is a summary of Josephine County Commissioner meetings. For more detailed information watch the meeting videos by going to https://www.josephinecounty.gov/government/board_of_county_commissioners/agenda___minutes.php and clicking on the video of the meeting […]
JoCo Commissioners — Catching Up
We’ve been busy preparing for election activities. Here is a wrap-up for Aug 17-Sept 8 2022 Josephine County Commissioners, drained after the laborious tasks of trying to save the Sheriff’s […]
Commissioner’s Updates through July 19th
A couple of files for you to digest. We are under Herman’s skin if you read the radio show update. These are late due to the County Website being updated, […]
Commissioners Update Weeks of 6/28 and July 7
Commissioners are desperate to come up with a plan to finance the sheriff’s department voters in Josephine County, who have a long and proud record of rejecting taxes, will accept. […]
Commissioners Week of 6-21-22
The county web site is undergoing an updating so the last meetings posted were from June 2. Guess we’ll have to settle for the Bill and Herman Show this week. […]
County Commissioners Week of June 14
Commissioners got stung during the height of COVID after being accused of “playing doctor” with their anti-mask stance and refusal to endorse vaccinations so regarding the legal use of psilocybin […]
County Commissioners July 7 and 8 2022
Includes, the conclusion of Sportsmans Park handover. Also, keeping Legal Counsel Hicks busy with drafting ordinances for regulating psilocybin (after next week’s “deep dive” from public health director Weber), and […]
County Commissioners Week of May 31st
This week Commissioners Dan DeYoung and Herman Baertschiger were channeling Fox News during their encounter with SOREDI’s Colleen Padilla, invited by Commissioner Darin Fowler to give a report who didn’t […]
County Commissioners Week of May 19-26
Short meetings and a wildfire discussion between KMED’s Bill Meyer and Josephine County Commissioner Herman Baertschiger that would make a climate scientist weep were the gist of our elected officials’ […]
Commissioners Week of May 9th 2022
Commissioners’ salaries, one of the issues that sparked a recall, were discussed during budget hearings this week and Commissioners Fowler and Baertschiger declared war on the Grants Pass Daily Courier […]
Commissioners Week of April 28,2022
This past week Josephine County Commission Chair Herman Baertschiger was so worried about what the Grants Pass Daily Courier might say about him he was willing to cut transit services […]
Commissioners Report Weeks of April 18 and 25
Two weeks this time because I was off with family during Spring Break so it took me a bit to get caught up. The Whitehorse Park hearing was interesting. Commissioners […]
Commissioners Week of April 11 2022
The week of April 11-13 started with a land use hearing and ended with Josephine County Commissioners’ usual politicking from their seats at the dais. Regarding the Bill and Herman […]
Commissioners Week of April 4th
This is coming up again at tomorrow’s Business Session. Will be at 5:00 PM at Anne Basker. Need to keep pressure on to not transfer/convey/give away Sportsman’s Park April 4 […]
Commissioners — Week of March 27th
Includes Baertschiger’s forum on Sheriff Funding JoCoCommissioners March 27
County Commissioners Week of March 22nd
Switching to an Adobe PDF format… easier to read or print, can download for off-line reading. Some references provided regarding information from the Bill-Herman show. Week of March 22 Commissioners […]
County Commissioners – Week of March 14th, 2022
Josephine County Commissioners transitioned back to Ann Basker Auditorium for their March 16 Weekly Business session but had little to do other than approve some agreements, listen to public comments […]
County Commissioners — Week of March 7th 2022
This week another man learned a lesson about spending money on a business venture before finding out if it’s allowed, Josephine County Commissioners voted to stall new hemp-growing licenses and […]
County Commissioners 2/8/22 through March 2nd
Monday’s Land Use Hearing on Feb. 28 was a “clash of two American dreams” according to Josephine County Commissioner Darin Fowler as he listened to a small business owner and […]
County Commissioners Feb. 22-23 2022
The Republican Party overruled the Josephine County Board of Commissioners last week, so the confusing language going on the May ballot regarding the question asking people to repeal the Code […]
County Commissioners February 16 & 17
Josephine County Commissioners’ Weekly Business Session Feb. 16 came to life on Zoom with Commissioner Dan DeYoung calling someone “sweetheart” and asking her to bring him coffee. Commissioner Darin Fowler […]
County Commissioners Update Week of 2/8/22
Next week Josephine County Commissioners will discuss whether or not to put an advisory question on the May ballot asking if voters would rather live in Idaho than Oregon. During […]
County Commissioners Week of February 1st
Editorial Comment: Josephine County Commissioner’s power was on display this week, even though the matters they handled were fairly routine. They decided against a land use appeal, considered a host […]
County Commissioners Week of January 23, 2022
One of the last things Josephine County Commissioner Dan DeYoung said last week was that he thought the City/County meeting with Grants Pass Mayor Sarah Bristol and City Council President […]
Commissioners Week of January 17th 2022
The annual proclamation for the Right-to-Life folks topped the Josephine County Commissioner’s work week. Other than that, on Tuesday they held an executive session where they talked behind closed doors […]
Herman on the Radio
Commissioner Herman Baertschiger had his weekly conversation on the radio last week. There were many falsehoods put forth in the show. This particular show may have spurred the recent Courier […]
County Commissioners Week of January 9, 2022
Between the anti-code enforcement people and the recall people, Commissioners found themselves in a pickle. During Wednesday’s short meeting Commissioner Dan DeYoung and Board Chair Herman Baertschiger used their comment […]
County Commissioners Week of January 3 2022
Week of January 3, 2022 Keeping the community safe costs money but as Commissioner Darin Fowler said during Thursday’s budget discussion, “I do want to remind everyone our community decided […]
County Commissioners Dec 21st
December 21 Administrative Discussion meeting Josephine County Commissioners had one meeting last week with one issue: a mining exploration permit extension request they concluded couldn’t be extended but it can […]
County Commissioners Week of December 13th
Commissioners Week of Dec 13, 2021 Josephine Commissioners had a sobering look at their PERS (Public Employees Retirement) obligations and, as Commissioner Herman Baertschiger said, it had Commission Chair Dan […]
County Commissioners Week of December 7th
Week of Dec. 7, 2021 During next year’s growing season Josephine County’s sheriff could conceivably roar up to an illegal cannabis grow in a military-style armored vehicle, round up everyone […]
County Commissioners Week of 11/29-Dec 3
Week of November 29-Dec 3 Josephine County Board members went through an update of their emergency operations plan this week, approved a $1.6 million grant from the state to help […]
County Commissioners Week of 11/8
At Tuesday’s Legal Meeting, the Commissioners once again delayed discussion of implementing minimum standards for private fire departments (impacting the areas of the County not included in a Fire District […]
County Commissioners Week of November 1 2021
Money earmarked for vaccine promotion, originally rejected by Josephine County Commissioners, was dangled in front of Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol, then snatched away through a letter that said they […]
County Commissioners Week of October 25th
October 26 Tuesday Meeting with Grants PassJosephine County Commissioners had a captive audience Tuesday for grievance-airing while representatives from the Grants Pass City Council sat patiently waiting for something…anything resembling […]
County Commissioners Week of October 18th
Of the nineteen people who called in during the October 20 public hearing and second reading of Ordinance 2021-002, giving code enforcers the power to cite and fine property owners […]
CALL TO ACTION: EMAIL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CALL TO ACTION: EMAIL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS The Josephine Board of County Commissioners is having their second reading to finalize the Citation Authority Ordinance 2021-002 this Wednesday, Oct 20th. This ordinance […]
County Commissioners Week of October 11th
It was Republican vs. Republican vs. Republican during Wednesday’s Weekly Business Session of the Josephine County Commissioners. While some landowners here would like to see the messes created by illegal […]
County Commissioners Week of October 4th
This week Josephine County Commissioners were so outlandish in their opinions about vaccines and mandates they made the Oregonian newspaper in Portland this week….. https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2021/10/oregon-politician-says-ask-god-about-covid-19-vaccination-you-cant-trust-doctors.html Wednesday Commissioner Darin Fowler put […]
County Commissioners Week of September 27
Commissioner Darin Fowler sounded like he was starting his campaign for reelection during this week’s monthly city/county meeting between Josephine County Commissioners and representatives from the Grants Pass City Council. […]
JoCo County Commissioner’s Proposed Resolution: “In The Matter of Valuing Liberty”
This week’s Josephine County Commissioner’s Weekly Business Meeting includes a Resolution proposing county-wide opposition of “virus rationalized mandates.” Their resolution has been included as part of the consent calendar on […]
County Commissioners Week of September 20th
Note: This is a long post which contains numerous direct quotes plus references to facts. Tuesday’s Legal Review Sept 21, 2021 Other than approving the consent calendar, hearing about rearranging […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF SEPT 13, 2021
According to Josephine County Commissioners the big “news” of the week was that they approved a new jet fuel system for the Grants Pass Airport using COVID money. This is […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF SEPT 7-9, 2021
Josephine County Commissioners – Week of Sept 7-9, 2021 The highlight of this week’s Commissioner meetings was Darin Fowler’s advice to workers who want to defy state and federal mandates […]
County Commissioners 8/31 – 9/2
Commissioner Herman Baertschiger tried to make a connection between negative stories about Commissioners in the Grants Pass Daily Courier to a rejection by SOREDI (Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc.). […]
County Commissioners JULY 28, 2021
County Commissioners Business Meeting JULY 28, 2021 Two tax levies were approved for the November ballot by Josephine County Commissioners. The jail and juvenile detention levy is a renewal while […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF JULY 19-JULY 22, 2021
County Commissioners WEEK OF JULY 19-JULY 22, 2021 July 21 Agenda July 21, 2021 Video – Not available This meeting info will be uploaded after County posts the video and […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF JULY 12-JULY 16, 2021
County Commissioners WEEK OF JULY 12-JULY 16, 2021 July 14, 2021 Agenda July 14, 2021 Video Josephine County Commissioners’ July 14 Business Meeting featured people who actually wanted to pay […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF JUNE 28-JULY 1, 2021
County Commissioners WEEK OF JUNE 28-JULY 1, 2021 June 30, 2021 Agenda June 30, 2021 Video Nagging, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “persistently annoying or finding fault with someone.” Josephine […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF JUNE 21-25, 2021
WEEK OF JUNE 21-25, 2021 The recording of the June 23 meeting was not available at the time this update was written, due to YouTube taking it offline for including […]
County Commissioners – WEEK OF JUNE 14 – 18, 2021
WEEK OF JUNE 14 – 18, 2021 YouTube video from the general meeting was removed due to Medical Misinformation. According to reporting by the Daily Courier, the Commissioners were advised […]
County Commissioners – WEEK OF JUNE 7 – 11, 2021
WEEK OF JUNE 7 – 11, 2021 An unavoidable levy, a reluctant forking over of $30,000, admission by conservative commissioners that health decisions should be personal, a drought dilemma, a […]
County Commissioners – WEEK OF MAY 31 – JUNE 4
WEEK OF MAY 31 – JUNE 4 06/02/21 Agenda 06/02/21 YouTube Letters were Josephine County Commissioners’ main concern this week. On Wednesday, June 3 the discussion centered around their letter […]
County Commissioners – WEEK OF MAY 17-21
WEEK OF MAY 17-21 05/19/2021 Agenda 05/19/2021 YouTube This week Josephine County Commissioners were set to vote on a code amendment called “Unlawful Respiratory Interference” until County Council Wally Hicks, […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF MAY 10 – 14, 2021
WEEK OF MAY 10 – 14, 2021 05/11/2021 Agenda 05/11/2021 YouTube Quotes: in the May 11 General Session recording 25:51 – Baertschiger “I strongly support we just go down to the […]
County Commissioners WEEK OF MAY 3-7, 2021
WEEK OF MAY 3-7, 2021 Budget meetings took up most of Josephine County Commissioners’ time this week. Budget Commission members are the Commissioners plus Jim Brumback, Pastor of the River […]
COUNTY COMMISSIONER WEEKLY UPDATE
The Josephine County Commissioners broadcast their meetings live on their website. Previous meetings will be posted on their website at this link.
If they are not permanently banned, they may still upload to YouTube. To
With the exception of holidays and other planned recesses, the Board of Commissioners convenes the first, third and fourth Wednesdays for Weekly Business Sessions at 9:00 a.m. and the second Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Weekly agendas can be found at this link.
This is where decisions are made that affect every resident in Josephine County.
While these commissioners are supposed to be non-partisan positions, the commentary is continually very partisan and frequently lacks professionalism.
We encourage you to watch live and provide a public comment when they are dealing with issues that are of concern to you. This can be done live, or you can send an email to them at bcc@josephinecounty.gov
Be sure to add “Public Comment” in the subject line and their office will get back to you.
We will do our best to begin providing a brief review of each meeting after they have occurred, as well as links to the YouTube videos.
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