Commissioners authorize settlements, table historic foreclosure, and direct property and lease actions
May 01, 2026 | Josephine County, Oregon
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After convening in executive session, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners received reports and recorded several directives in open session on April 23.
Legal Counsel Wally Hicks told the board the county should move forward with settlements in pending litigation. The board directed staff to proceed with settlement in the cases listed as Gabbert et al. v. Josephine County (USDC No. 1:23-cv-01434-CL) and Kindred, LLC v. Josephine County (Case No. 24 CV60617) without objection. The board also directed staff to move forward with a settlement concerning surplus proceeds from the sale of tax-foreclosed real property without objection.
A separate agenda item concerning a county foreclosure from 1999 related to Powell Creek Cabin was tabled; no decision was reached on that matter. Regarding county real property located at 1798 SE N Street, the board requested additional information and asked Real Property Manager Helene Lulich to obtain a quote for updating the facility; the board directed her not to proceed on the HP contract at this time.
On communications facility leases for 500 NW 6th Street and 370 Bowhill Road, the board instructed the Facilities Director to communicate on the county’s behalf and to allow the leases to run their terms and remove county equipment from the properties as soon as feasible.
Commissioner Gary Richardson raised the possibility of amending the county’s ordinance governing executive sessions, criticizing the current code’s restrictive language; the minutes record the proposal was brought forward but no formal ordinance action occurred.
The board adjourned at 12:34 p.m.
Legal Counsel Wally Hicks told the board the county should move forward with settlements in pending litigation. The board directed staff to proceed with settlement in the cases listed as Gabbert et al. v. Josephine County (USDC No. 1:23-cv-01434-CL) and Kindred, LLC v. Josephine County (Case No. 24 CV60617) without objection. The board also directed staff to move forward with a settlement concerning surplus proceeds from the sale of tax-foreclosed real property without objection.
A separate agenda item concerning a county foreclosure from 1999 related to Powell Creek Cabin was tabled; no decision was reached on that matter. Regarding county real property located at 1798 SE N Street, the board requested additional information and asked Real Property Manager Helene Lulich to obtain a quote for updating the facility; the board directed her not to proceed on the HP contract at this time.
On communications facility leases for 500 NW 6th Street and 370 Bowhill Road, the board instructed the Facilities Director to communicate on the county’s behalf and to allow the leases to run their terms and remove county equipment from the properties as soon as feasible.
Commissioner Gary Richardson raised the possibility of amending the county’s ordinance governing executive sessions, criticizing the current code’s restrictive language; the minutes record the proposal was brought forward but no formal ordinance action occurred.
The board adjourned at 12:34 p.m.
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