Commissioner Smith Confirms Stance on Vacancy and Recusal during Workshop
Commissioner Ron Smith read his public record regarding his position on the filling of the Commissioner Position 1 vacancy and his reasoning for recusing himself from recent meetings as a statement during today's workshop. He then reiterated at the end of the workshop he would not participate in upcoming meetings. During the Legal Counsel Update, the board had no objections to the preparation of adopting an administrative policy, and approved 2-0 the Oregon Department of Energy ECAPP application for a county owned building at 1000 Redwood Avenue. A motion passed to accept the recommendation to move forward with the offer to purchase County property on Winona Road. Department Business followed, with approval of invoices for the Treasurer, Public Works, and Facilities, as well as Human Resources Requisitions and Actions. The District Attorney's request for a subgrant to cover half of an attorney position with Friends of the Children's Advocacy Center, with the County paying the other half, was approved. A revision to a Community Justice IGA between Oregon Youth Authority and Juvenile Justice, reducing liability insurance from $5 million to $1 million, was also approved. The board approved a 3-year-contract with Command Cloud for the Sheriff's Office to provide a tracking program for added accountability, pending vetting from the IT Department.
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City Council Moves Forward with Taskforce Non-Bargaining Salary Schedule
The Grants Pass City Council agreed to continue with the process to adjust the non-bargaining salary schedule during Monday's workshop. Actual costs won't be discussed until a further workshop. There are currently 47 non-bargaining employees and 5 vacant positions. The council chose the Taskforce salary schedule grid, which includes an increase of 4% between annual steps up to market average, and 2% between annual steps above market average. Both moves pending performance review results. A 3.02% Cost of Living Adjustment will be applied to the grid. The council was split on the schedule taking effect either January or July of 2026, voted no on vacation accruals and a holiday adjustment for exempt employees, and will discuss phased implementation and longevity incentives at a later date. Next, the council agreed to move a direction decision for the Comprehensive Fee Schedule to Wednesday's meeting. During the agenda review, Councilman Rob Pell brought up concerns over the ethics of The Update podcast including a
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US Marshals Arrested Central Point Child Exploitation Task Force Suspect
The United States Marshals Service led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force tracked down and arrested a wanted Central Point man hiding out in Alturas, California on November 25. The suspect had a felony warrant following a Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) investigation into possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). U.S. Marshals arrested Larry Lynn James Sr., 64, of Central Point, for six counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and four counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. James is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Investigations led the task force from Central Point to Klamath Falls, and finally to Alturas. U.S. Marshals spotted James’ vehicle and conducted a traffic stop where he was arrested without incident. Modoc County Sheriff's Office assisted. The arrest originated from a search warrant SOCET served December 7, 2023, at a residence in the 6500 block of Blackwell Road in rural Central Point. SOCET served the warrant after discovering numerous CSAM images were uploaded from the residence.
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