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FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2025

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Grants Pass Seeks Southern Oregon Photos for 2025 Water Quality Report Contest By John Oliver The City of Grants Pass is inviting residents and regional photographers to help shape a public document most households receive but few consider a canvas for local storytelling. Through a new photo contest tied to its 2025 Water Quality Report, the city is asking for original images that capture a simple theme with wide interpretation, what water means to the people who live in Southern Oregon. City officials are encouraging participation from a broad range of photographers, including students, hobbyists, and professionals. Entries will be accepted in three categories: K through 12, amateur, and professional. The contest is designed to highlight the many ways water is experienced across the region, from rivers and rainfall to irrigation, drinking water, recreation, and the natural landscapes that depend on dependable waterways. Two cash prizes are available for the top submissions. The first-place photo will receive $200, and the second-place photo will receive $100. Winning images will also be featured in the City of Grants Pass 2025 Water Quality Report, a yearly publication that provides information about local drinking water and compliance with state and federal standards. Beyond the report itself, the city plans to use selected winning photographs on social media and in promotional or public information materials, and the winners will be recognized during a City Council meeting. The contest includes several key rules in-

tended to keep entries straightforward and reproducible in print and digital formats. All submissions must be original photographs and must be provided as digital files suitable for reproduction. The city is requiring that each entry come from a single frame captured by a camera, which can include a DSLR, a point and shoot camera, or a smartphone. Composite images made by layering multiple photos together are not permitted. The city is

also barring images created by artificial intelligence. Photographers are required to submit an agreement form with each entry. According to the terms, entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and relevance to the theme. The city notes that the judges’ decision is final. Geography is also part of the contest framework. Photos must be taken in Southern Oregon, specifically within Curry, Jackson, Jose-

phine, and Klamath counties. That boundary is expected to keep the focus on local waterways, local weather patterns, and the everyday relationship residents have with water in this corner of the state. The contest terms include provisions that participants should review closely before submitting. By entering, photographers assign the City of Grants Pass a perpetual, royalty free, and irrevocable right to use and reproduce the submitted images for a wide range of public purposes, including publication, promotion, distribution, adaptation, and display. The city states the photos may be used without limitation or compensation to entrants, and that images may be altered or adjusted as needed for formatting in the report or other printed and digital materials. The city further states that submitted photos become city property and may be used for additional materials without restrictions. City employees and their family members are allowed to submit entries and are encouraged to participate, but they are not eligible to receive prizes. Winners will be notified by email by January 9, 2026. Prize rules also specify that awards are non-assignable and nontransferable, with no substitutions. Winners are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with receiving a prize. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on December 31, 2025. Entries are being accepted by email, and participants can submit photos to smorgan@grantspass.oregon.gov

Vacant Commissioner Seat Remains Unfilled

Quorum Dispute Continues in Josephine County

By John Oliver The vacancy on the Josephine County Board of Commissioners remains unresolved following another week marked by procedural stalemate, disagreement over process, and the continued absence of a quorum necessary to move the appointment forward. The seat, left vacant after the departure of former Commissioner Andreas Blech, has yet to be filled, prolonging uncertainty in county governance and delaying official board action. On Tuesday morning at 9 a.m., County Commissioner Chris Barnett appeared for the board’s regularly scheduled general discussion meeting. Commissioner Ron Smith did not attend, leaving Barnett as the sole commissioner present. As a result, no quorum was established and no official county business could proceed. Despite the lack of quorum, Barnett remained in the meeting room for approximately 20 minutes. Commissioner Smith has made clear in re-

cent days that his absence is intentional and rooted in concerns about the appointment process itself. Smith has stated that he believes the current approach to filling the vacant seat is flawed and rushed. He has expressed the position that selecting a new commissioner in a single day does not provide sufficient time for careful consideration of applicants or for resolving procedural questions surrounding the appointment. Until those concerns are addressed and the commissioners reach a shared under-

standing, Smith has indicated he will continue to withhold participation, preventing quorum. The absence of quorum has effectively stalled the appointment process. Without both remaining commissioners present, the board is unable to formally deliberate, vote, or finalize any appointment to the vacant seat. This impasse has now carried into another week, extending the period during which the board operates without its full complement of commissioners. County legal counsel has acknowledged the ongoing dispute and is working to provide further guidance. According to information shared during the Tuesday morning meeting, county legal staff are drafting a new memorandum intended to advise the commissioners on the appointment process and address the concerns that have contributed to the current deadlock. As of the time this article was written that memorandum had not yet been produced or obtained by this newspaper. It is anticipated that the guidance may be available as early as the following day. Until legal clarification is issued and the commissioners agree on a path forward, the appointment remains on hold. No official meet-

ing related to the vacancy has been allowed to proceed, and no applicant has been selected or approved to fill the open seat. The continued delay underscores broader tensions about process, authority, and governance within county leadership. While the county charter and applicable policies outline mechanisms for filling vacancies, disagreement over interpretation and implementation has kept the board from advancing beyond discussion. For now, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners remains short one member, with no confirmed timeline for resolution. County officials and residents alike are left waiting as legal guidance is finalized and the commissioners attempt to resolve their differences. This remains a developing story, and further updates are expected as new information becomes available.