Board of Commissioners Starts Process of Forming Rural Fire Protection District
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning started the process of forming a rural fire protection district and continued its work to tidy up the County Code. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that initiates the formation of a rural fire protection district for Josephine County and set the first public hearing on the district for October 23rd at 9 a.m.. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the district can be formed without a permanent tax rate. He said if the fire district is approved by the Commissioners, a district board of directors will be formed that would set the tax rate for rural properties outside the City of Grants Pass and existing fire protection districts. Hicks said the proposed tax rate for the proposed fire district must be approved by Josephine County voters next May, adding that a fire district can exist without a tax rate. He said the physical boundaries of the district have not yet been finalized and that will be done by the Board with public input prior to its approval. Following four brief public hearings, the Board continued its work to clean up sections of the Josephine County Code that are outdated or no longer necessary. After the first hearing, Board adopted an ordinance amending the Emergency Medical Services Chapter of the Code. Language was simplified and a section was added related to the transport of injured timber workers. The Commissioners also approved the first readings of ordinances repealing chapters of the Code pertaining to ballot measures, genetically-engineered plants and loitering near the county jail. The second readings are scheduled for October 2nd.
Posted on 9/18/24 11:30AM by Sam Marsh