Issuu

FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025

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The Erosion of Democracy? The Rise of Appointed County Commissioner Blech and the Will of the People By: John Oliver For most of American history, county commissioners have been elected by the people they serve — entrusted to oversee local government operations, budgets, and public policy. These officials make critical decisions that affect every corner of daily life, from law enforcement funding to infrastructure development. But in Josephine County, Oregon, this long-standing democratic principle is under threat as appointed commissioners consolidate power without direct voter consent. County commissioners have traditionally been elected to ensure they remain accountable to the public. This electoral process has long been a bedrock of local democracy, where the people retain the ultimate authority to choose — and remove — those in charge. While appointed officials can fill temporary vacancies when necessary, they were never intended to wield unchecked and prolonged control over local government. Yet that is precisely what is happening in Josephine County, where Commissioner Andreas Blech — a twice-appointed official who has never been elected — now chairs the Board of Com-

missioners. In this role, Blech has been granted sweeping, unilateral authority over all county departments for a 90-day period — without public oversight, without a vote, and without accountability to the residents of the county. And who gave him this power? His fellow commissioners, Chris Barnett and Ron Smith. Among Blech’s first moves, carried out with no oversight, was the rehiring of former Commissioner Simon Hare, now serving as Budget Officer and placed in charge of the county’s finances. This hiring took place outside the standard public hiring process outlined in county and state guidelines. There was no public notice, no open application, and no transparent selection process — violating not only ethical standards but also legal requirements. This alone raises significant questions about the integrity of county governance. Josephine County policy and Oregon law require that positions of such significance be publicly posted to ensure transparency and equal opportunity. Discussions and decisions around such appointments are required to comply with Oregon's public meetings law, which mandates that deliberations and votes be conducted

openly. Additionally, county Human Resources protocols require standardized hiring practices that ensure fairness and prevent discrimination. None of these processes were followed in Hare’s appointment. Hare also remains under contract for an IT Broadband Grant project, though there is little to no visible progress on that effort. Public records requests to reveal Hare’s current invoices and scope of work have gone unanswered, fueling suspicions of cronyism and possible misuse of public resources. Compounding the county’s troubles, Blech recently announced a delay to the 2025-26 fiscal year budget process by two weeks, without providing any explanation. This sudden shift leaves county departments scrambling to adjust to new deadlines, creating uncertainty around essential services that rely on timely budgeting. As county employees and residents alike question the leadership's capacity to manage public funds, concerns over the county’s stability grow. In an effort to "stabilize" county operations, Blech has appointed Ruth Nelson as Finance Manager — a role in which she now inherits a volatile financial situation within an already unstable leadership structure. Further compounding the dysfunction, Michael Sellers, who already oversees Information Technology (IT), Emergency

Management (EM), and Board of County Commissioners (BCC) office administration — in addition to working half-time for Senator Robinson now been appointed as Interim Director of both Finance and Human Resources (HR). This creates an alarming concentration of power within a single individual. If Sellers is in control of Finance, HR, and IT, there are effectively no checks and balances to prevent fraud or abuse — a structure that may not be illegal but directly conflicts with accounting best practices. Equally concerning is the fact that Sellers' appointment only violates county hiring policies if he is classified as an employee. If he is being treated as an independent contractor, it would not necessarily violate policy — however, personal services contracts must be reviewed by both Legal and HR to ensure compliance. IRS regulations use a six-point test to determine if an individual qualifies as an independent contractor versus an employee. It is highly questionable whether such an analysis was ever conducted in Sellers' case. Finally, beyond structural and procedural concerns, this consolidation of roles creates serious operational risks. Should a major emergency arise — one demanding full-time leadership from Emergency Management and IT —

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see APPOINTED, page 3

Major Stormwater and Sewer Replacement Project Set to Begin on 5th Street CITY OF GRANTS PASS Residents and businesses along 5th Street should prepare for significant construction activity starting the week of March 11, 2025, as Timber Mountain Construction begins a largescale stormwater and sewer line replacement project. The work will span 5th Street from "G" Street to the Rogue River, bringing needed infrastructure improvements but also temporary disruptions to traffic, parking, and street access. The project, aimed at upgrading aging underground utilities, is expected to improve stormwater drainage and sewer system reliabil-

ity for the downtown area and nearby neighborhoods. However, city officials and contractors are urging the public to be mindful of changing construction zones and road closures as work progresses. Residents and visitors traveling through this corridor should be prepared for periodic street closures, lane shifts, and detours throughout the construction period. People are asked be patient and follow posted signs to ensure both public and worker safety. In particular, on-street parking along 5th Street will be heavily restricted during active construction hours, and residents are being

asked to remove vehicles from the right-ofway to avoid potential towing or obstruction of work. The presence of construction equipment, materials, and personnel will make parking in these zones impractical and hazardous. To help mitigate confusion and keep residents informed, an on-site Traffic Control Supervisor will be assigned to the project. This supervisor will work directly with residents, business owners, and visitors to provide updates on which sections of the street are under construction on a given day and offer guidance for alternate routes or temporary access when possible.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the construction schedule, road closures, or access to properties along 5th Street is encouraged to contact Timber Mountain Construction directly at (541) 956-8700.