Deputy, concerts funding secured

At their July 13 meeting, the Josephine County Commissioners were petitioned to provide funding to the Concerts in the Park series at Jubilee Park and renew an agreement for Cave Junction’s contract deputy.
In a letter to the commissioners, the I.V. Chamber of Commerce stated, “The Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce seeks funding for operating expenses related to our annual series ‘Concerts In The Park,’ held each summer in Jubilee Park in downtown Cave Junction. This free community event runs each Thursday for eight weeks from July 7 through Aug. 25, 2022.
“Concerts in the Park is an annual tradition that we brought back to great success in 2021 after shutting down in 2020 due to the pandemic. We are very excited about producing the event for the community and experiencing the good will that comes from this event.”
Current sponsors of Concerts in the Park include Southern Oregon Sanitation, which has chipped in $100, as well as Friends of the Oregon Caves & Chateau, Wild River Pizza & Brewery and Grocery Outlet, which have each provided $400.
The Chamber has also written a grant requesting $2,500 from the Miller Foundation Fast Track Arts Grant Program.
From the county, the Chamber sought $3,000, nearly half of the $6,800 budget for Concerts in the Park, which breaks down as follows: 8 bands ($300 each) – $2,400; Jammer’s Jukebox (sound system) – $2,400; Jubilee Park rental – $400; Marketing/Advertisements – $1,200; Miscellaneous – $250; Administrative Costs – $550.
A larger Illinois Valley-based economic development request came from the Kerby Small Business Development Center offices of Rogue Community College for $45,000.
According to a letter from RCC, “Since 2008 County Commissioners have made a consistent investment with SBDC to support small businesses throughout rural Josephine County. These funds are invested directly in advising to support rural small business and economic development. Hundreds of small businesses are helped every year, from SBDC offices in the Illinois Valley and Grants Pass.
“2020-2021 saw the highest need and demand for different types of businesses throughout the county, with impacts to every business sector. The number of clients we see has increased over the years, and there is no ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Our adviser team provides a variety of program services to support those diverse needs as businesses face a challenging post-COVID recovery. We support small business needs from pre-venture business planning to start-up, financing, tax planning, marketing–and through expansion and succession.”
“This is economic development that was part of the budget process,” JoCo Finance Director Sandy Novak said regarding the SBDC request at the July 13 meeting. “We went through and approved it for $45,000.”
Annual renewal of an agreement with the city of Cave Junction for a contract deputy was approved. The city will pay Josephine County $43,897.50 per quarter, for a grand total of $175,590 over the next year.
Also, as is typically approved in the same meeting as the contract deputy agreement, an annual renewal for the sheriff’s lease of office space at Cave Junction City Hall was passed. A total of $4,626.72 is paid to the city under this agreement.
The final agenda item of the meeting was an amendment to a lease agreement with CASA of Jackson County for property on D Street in Grants Pass. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. This amendment extends the lease agreement for a year and puts in place an annual cost adjustment for monthly rent to account for changes in costs for labor, insurance, maintenance and utilities.
Commissioner Darin Fowler praised Cave Junction’s Concerts in the Park series during the meeting.
“Illinois Valley really enjoys these Concerts in the Park,” Fowler said. “They have a very successful Farmers’ Market as well. And $3,000 for eight concerts is a pretty good bargain. I appreciate being able to help and giving folks a chance to get out and have some fun and spend some money.”