I observe public meetings of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners (BoC) as an individual, believing in open government and the public’s right and need to know. I declare that, although I try to be as accurate and objective as possible, errors may occur; therefore, readers should verify any information I report that is of interest to them by listening to the meeting audio themselves. The recordings are made available on the Jackson County website sometime after the meeting, usually the same day.
Jackson County BoC Work Session Meeting Notes for 04/19/2022. In attendance: Dave Dotterer, Commissioner and Chair of BoC, Colleen Roberts, Commissioner, Rick Dyer, Commissioner, Joel Benton, County Counsel, and Danny Jordan, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
1. Update from the Southern Oregon Extension Center, Maud Powell, Small Farms.
— Powell gave a slide presentation outlining all the things she does regarding small farms at the Extension Center. She works part-time and is also a small farmer in the Applegate. She started out growing and selling vegetables and then went organic. Now she sells organic seeds. She then turned to the slide presentation.
— Classes and Workshops: Starting and Operating Small Farms; Pest Control; Planting and Irrigation; Financial issues. Posts publications on their website.
— Small Farm List Serve that helps small farms with things like selling products, buying in bulk as a group, helping to set up networks to share information, farm tours, and marketing together and starting businesses together which can be more profitable than selling as a single small farmer. E.G., have a League of Women Farmers. She helped start the Organic Seed Board. She also does one on one consulting.
— Beginning Farm Ed – have a lot of young people and second career people who are new to the area who are interested in farming. Beginning classes cover basics including doing a survey of the soil and investigating water rights. 3 class series.
— Growing number of Veterans who are interested in becoming Agripreneurs. Program is able to receive grant money to help Veterans. In 2019 had 7 Veterans but Covid cut the numbers when had to go online. In 2021 added back the one-on-one consulting.
— Flagship of the program is a 6-week program – Growing Farms Modules – Introduction through Advanced. Includes drought mitigation strategies. This summer will have dry farm crops at the center. In July, August and September plan to visit 3 different farms that have implemented drought mitigation strategies.
— Have classes in getting grant funding including from State Emergency Relief Fund; Classes on Sexual Harassment which was created at the request of local farmers who were experiencing issues. Also help with Value Added Producer Grants. Value added can be something like certified organic or making salsa or jam and selling it. Commissioners asked a few questions and thanked her for the presentation.
2. Input from County Administrator – Agenda Items for April 20, 2022 Regular Meeting.
— Jordan: The meeting will start with a Name Clearing Hearing for a former employee. His employment ended and he accepted the application to participate in a Name Clearing Hearing. This is not a public hearing in that members of the public cannot participate. The only participants allowed to speak are those people who are invited to speak by Michael Watkins, the former employee. He has an attorney and the attorney will speak.
— Benton: This is not a hearing to contest his termination. It is merely an opportunity for him to present his side of the story.
— Dyer: If he brings something up there can be no response?
— Benton: He is a union member and had the opportunity for a hearing through those processes. This is an opportunity to publicly present his side of the story. He can say whatever he wants to say. Commissioners cannot ask questions or say anything.
— Jordan: This process is not new but, in the past, no one has wanted to do it.
— Jordan: Next item on agenda is Consent Calendar. Discussion item: Order Authorizing a Personal Services Contract with the Children’s Advocacy Center. The center helps children up to age 18 who have been abused. Get some funding from state. Will cost county $189,308.
— Roberts: Expressed concern that members of the public might try to comment on the Michael Watkins Name Clearing Hearing. Benton explained that if it happens, the Commissioner running the meeting needs to stop them.
Benton then noted they have an item for Executive Session and I signed off.
Joyce Puccini Chapman
Illegitimi non corborundum
No longer accepting the things I’m told I cannot change.
Now working to change the things I cannot accept.
