Frustrations are mounting among Josephine County residents as questions swirl around the handling of funds allocated for roof repairs at the county fairgrounds. Despite an apparent need for only $33,000 to complete the repairs, over $370,000 was drawn from the Extension Building Reserve Funds following claims of an “emergency” by Finance Director Sandy Novak.
Local resident, Deb Berg, has been leading the charge for answers, filing a public records request over a month ago seeking documentation to substantiate the “emergency” claim. To date, no supporting evidence, such as a building inspection report, has been provided. Novak’s claim, made on October 17, allowed county commissioners to justify the withdrawal of the reserve funds. However, residents have raised concerns over the lack of transparency and the discrepancy between the allocated funds and the actual repair costs.
“I’ve received no proof of what triggered this ’emergency’ declaration,” Berg said. “There have been no building inspections conducted since the tenant vacated the premises on August 31, according to county emails.”
The legal resolution authorizing the use of funds, signed by all three county commissioners, was formalized on October 30. However, while Berg has obtained a signed copy of Order No. 2024-065, a signed version of Order No. 2024-066 remains outstanding, despite repeated requests.
The controversy stems from a November 13 bid from Rhoads Roofing for $33,000, which appears to cover the repair work. Photographic evidence confirms Rhoads Roofing was active on the auditorium roof that same day. However, the county’s initial request for hundreds of thousands of dollars raises questions about how the additional funds were intended to be used—or if they were needed at all.
Berg only received partial bid documents on December 4, following intervention by County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks. “It’s ridiculous that I had to remind Josephine County officials about Oregon’s Public Records Law (ORS 192.314) to get even this partial information,” Berg stated.
The lack of communication and transparency has deepened public distrust. Berg emphasized the importance of accountability in government spending, particularly when reserve funds intended for other purposes are repurposed without adequate justification.
“This isn’t just about the fairgrounds roof,” Berg added. “It’s about ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and that citizens can trust their government to operate with honesty and transparency.”
As of now, no documentation has been provided to substantiate Novak’s claim of an emergency, and questions remain about how the $370,000 was calculated. Residents are now calling on Josephine County officials to provide a full accounting of the funds, as well as documentation supporting the decision to declare an emergency.
The issue has sparked broader concerns over governance in Josephine County. Transparency advocates argue that this incident highlights the need for stronger checks and balances on local government financial decisions.
Josephine County officials, including Novak and the commissioners, have not yet responded to requests for comment.