The battle over the Josephine Community Library’s lease has become one of the most contentious issues in Josephine County government, with accusations of political maneuvering, retaliation, and hypocrisy at the center of the debate. County commissioners—now led by the recently appointed Andreas Blech, along with Ron Smith and Chris Barnett—are pushing to impose a staggering $15,000 monthly lease on the library, a drastic increase from the symbolic $1 per year it has paid for years.
As the community watches the legal dispute unfold, a fundamental question arises: Where is the logic in this decision? If other county-leased properties—including churches and organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol—pay significantly lower rates, why is the library, a vital public resource, being singled out?
This situation originated with recently recalled County Commissioner John West, who, with the support of Chris Barnett and Ron Smith, voted in January to terminate the library’s current lease. Initial discussions floated figures of $0.50 or $1.00 per square foot. Then, just days before his recall certification, West joined Barnett and Smith in finalizing the termination. This abrupt decision came without significant public demand for such action. Since then, negotiations between the library district and the county have been ongoing, but the county’s insistence on an exorbitant lease has made progress nearly impossible.
This move follows an ongoing effort by West and local activist Edgar “Mike” Pelfrey to remove Pelfrey’s property from the library district, a decision critics say is yet another attempt to undermine the library’s financial stability. The sudden push for a massive rent hike seems less about fiscal responsibility and more about a political agenda targeting the library.
To illustrate how extreme the proposed lease is, one only needs to compare it to other county-leased properties. Public records show that the Civil Air Patrol, operating at 210 Tacoma Street in Grants Pass, occupies 7,721 square feet yet pays only $250 per month—a mere $0.03 per square foot. If the library were charged the same rate, its lease would be just $453.18 per month—far from the $15,000 demanded by county commissioners.
The issue becomes even more concerning when considering that Chris Barnett, one of the three commissioner’s pushing for the library’s astronomical rent increase, also runs the Civil Air Patrol program in Josephine County. If he applied his logic consistently, the Civil Air Patrol’s rent should be closer to $7,000 per year rather than the current $223.68—an amount that includes a curious $18.64 overage charge. Where is that extra money going? Counties are expected to budget down to the penny, not throw out arbitrary figures to make the numbers look better. Requests for records regarding these payments and their allocations are being made, as these overages, when accumulated, could be used for the county’s benefit.
If financial fairness is truly the driving force behind this decision, why hasn’t Barnett proposed a rent increase for the Civil Air Patrol? Or for that matter, the numerous churches and private businesses leasing county-owned spaces at similarly low rates?
For example, Options of Southern Oregon, which occupies 8,739 square feet at 324 Ramsey Avenue, pays just $1 per year. If the county applied the same logic used to justify raising the library’s rent to $1 per square foot, Options would be paying over $8,000 monthly. The pattern here is clear—hypocrisy.
The push for this drastic rent increase bears the hallmarks of a political vendetta rather than a sound financial decision. The fact that other county tenants pay far less—some as little as $1 per year—without scrutiny suggests that the library is being unfairly targeted.
This pattern aligns with previous efforts by West and his allies, including Pelfrey, who have been outspoken opponents of the library district. West’s final act before being recalled was to terminate the library’s lease, setting the stage for this outrageous rent hike. Now, Barnett, Smith, and Blech are continuing the push, raising concerns that this decision is more about political retribution than fiscal responsibility. If their true goal was to generate fair revenue from county properties, a comprehensive audit of all county leases should be conducted—rather than targeting the library alone.
At the heart of this issue is an even more pressing question: Who benefits from this decision?
If the library is forced to pay $15,000 per month, it could severely impact its ability to provide services, purchase new materials, and operate efficiently. Meanwhile, county commissioners have yet to offer a clear explanation of where this money would go or why similar increases haven’t been applied to other county-leased properties.
We spoke with Kate Lasky of the Josephine Community Library, who confirmed that the library is scheduled to meet with the Board of County Commissioners and legal representatives on March 13 at 10:30 a.m. in an executive session to continue negotiations.
Meanwhile, Barnett’s Civil Air Patrol program continues to benefit from a vastly lower lease rate without scrutiny or suggested increases. The optics of this situation are troubling—it suggests a clear conflict of interest in Barnett’s decision-making.
Many in the community have expressed frustration with the county’s actions, viewing the rent increase as an attempt to cripple a vital public service for political reasons. The library provides critical educational resources, community programs, and public space—services that would be jeopardized if it were forced to absorb such an unreasonable cost.
Legal battles between the county and the library district continue, with community members demanding transparency and fairness in county lease agreements. If commissioners are truly serious about balancing the budget, then every county-leased property should be reviewed under the same standards—not just the library’s.
Ultimately, this battle over the library’s lease is not just about money—it is a test of the integrity and leadership of Josephine County’s commissioners. If fairness, logic, and fiscal responsibility are truly their guiding principles, then all leases should be examined equally.
The numbers don’t lie—the library is being singled out, and the justification for this drastic rent increase does not hold up to scrutiny. If commissioners genuinely care about the county’s financial health, they should start by looking in the mirror and asking why some properties receive preferential treatment while others are being unfairly targeted.
The public deserves answers—and it’s up to the people of Josephine County to demand them.