The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has opted to extend a public hearing concerning four withdrawal requests from the local library district to the following week. After a pause in the proceedings for consultation with Legal Counsel, the Board unanimously voted 3-0 to reschedule the hearing for next Wednesday morning.
During the public testimony phase, all four petitioners asserted that the Josephine Community Library District does not adequately serve or benefit their respective properties. Rachele Selvig, President of the JCLD Board, referred to Oregon Revised Statutes as she testified against the Board’s approval of the withdrawals. Selvig highlighted the array of services offered by the library district and contended that the onus of proof to remove properties from the district rests with the petitioners. She argued that granting approval to library withdrawal requests would establish a precedent affecting service districts statewide. Selvig emphasized that library services constitute a fundamental aspect of community infrastructure and are accessible to all property owners within the district, a decision sanctioned by voters in 2017.
Post-public testimony, Board Chair Herman Baertschiger temporarily halted the hearing to confer with Legal Counsel. Subsequently, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the proceedings until the following week. Baertschiger expressed the Board’s commitment to addressing the questions raised during the hearing, signaling a dedication to providing thorough responses.
