March 20, 2010 -- Rogue Advocates Environmental group gaining praise, condemnation

Jimmy MacLeod of Williams is one of the principal volunteers for Rogue Advocates, a land-use watchdog group that is making a name for itself in Jackson and Josephine counties.

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

With relatively little fanfare, a new group of Southern Oregon environmental activists has taken the lead in opposing controversial Jackson County planning decisions, earning praise from other environmental groups and condemnation from those who favor more development.

Rogue Advocates' main voice is Jimmy MacLeod, 53, a Williams resident who volunteers his time. MacLeod said the organization carefully chooses the cases it takes and develops arguments that will stand up to legal tests. So far, that strategy has worked.

"Mostly for the stuff we've tackled, we've been successful — either part of it, or the whole enchilada," MacLeod said.

That success has earned Rogue Advocates no friends among those who favor fewer restrictions on property rights and development. Jack Swift, the lead attorney for Citizens for Constitutional Fairness, acknowledges he has referred to Rogue Advocates as a land-use vigilante group.

"If you are planning to do something, you have to anticipate this group is going to appear and challenge you," the Grants Pass resident said.

Citizens for Constitutional Fairness formed to battle in the courts for Measure 37 rights.

MacLeod said in general, state laws have been fairly effective at inhibiting unrestrained growth. The trouble starts at the local level, he said.

"The (county) commissioners' job is to facilitate growth in the area," he said. "If it makes money now, it will be up to the next generation to pay the bill."

Swift said the land-use process is geared toward confusion and expense, which makes development on rural land in Oregon a difficult and risky proposition.

"You have five tiers of regulation, one on top of the other," he said. "A person has to negotiate through this three-dimensional maze."

Because of the complexity of the maze, Swift said it is relatively easy for a land-use watchdog group to battle a landowner.

"You have these no-growth advocates who challenge anything in that three-dimensional maze at no cost," he said. "It is very easy (for Rogue Advocates) to be successful."

He said some environmental groups view any growth as detrimental, and ultimately want to undo the growth that has already occurred, Swift said.

"They would really like to see it return to the 18th century," he said.

MacLeod said it is unfair to characterize his organization as being opposed to any development. He said Rogue Advocates wants to strike a balance that will allow some growth, while encouraging a vision for long-range planning.

"I don't believe in just naysaying," MacLeod said. "There are valid issues on both sides of the debate."

The idea for Rogue Advocates first emerged one day when MacLeod went hiking with Spencer Lennard, another environmental activist, above Applegate Lake. They reached a certain vantage point where they could look out over both the Rogue and Applegate valleys. What they saw on the Rogue Valley side made them think that a lack of planning would lead to more sprawl.

Lennard had worked with KS Wild, and the two talked about creating an organization that would tackle land-use issues head on. MacLeod said he was worried the new organization might step on the toes of Friends of Jackson County or 1000 Friends of Oregon. Later, he learned they welcomed the new organization and they will be working together on certain land-use projects.

At the outset, Rogue Advocates concentrated almost entirely on Josephine County issues. By 2008, it became more active in Jackson County, Now, Rogue Advocates is handling more issues in Jackson County than in Josephine.

Choosing cases is not necessarily based on a fixed policy, MacLeod said, but mostly on whether a land-use action is precedent-setting or has some county-wide significance.

With an annual budget of about $30,000, the organization relies on volunteers, though Ashland attorney Sarah Vaile is paid.

Jackson County Commissioner Jack Walker said his goal as a property rights advocate has been to make local ordinances no less restrictive than state laws.

"That's been a goal of mine since day one," he said.

Walker said Rogue Advocates and other groups want the county to remain more restrictive than the state and will likely fight his efforts at every turn.

"You're looking at a group out there that is looking at every excuse to appeal a land-use decision," he said.

Brent Thompson, of Friends of Jackson County, said he welcomes Rogue Advocates into the community of organizations concerned about the environment and growth in Jackson and Josephine counties.

He said Friends of Jackson County has been focused on a regional effort to map out the growth of Jackson County in anticipation of a doubling of the population.

MacLeod said unrestrained growth will strain transportation systems, lead to sprawl and ultimately promote a poor quality of life that large urban areas already face, he said.

"There is a whole lack of vision for something better," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.

March 5, 2010 - $90,000-plus salary could be a major reason for increase in number running for county commissioner seats

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

A $90,000-plus salary may be among the reasons the races for two Jackson County commissioner seats have drawn a crowd.

So far, 10 candidates are on the ballot for the May 18 primary, a number not seen since the 1990 and 1994 elections. The filing deadline is March 9, and at least one more Democratic candidate might file, which would push the number to a record level.
How much does a Jackson County commissioner get paid?

Commissioner Dave Gilmour, who is not seeking re-election, said he's not sure what impact the salary has had in attracting candidates.

"I don't think it's the main reason," he said. "But it is a reason."

The three commissioners each have a salary of $94,661, plus $27,000 in benefits. A new commissioner would have a starting salary of $90,168.

Two years ago, a county salary committee recommended the commissioners' pay be raised from $68,432 to $86,341. In addition to the raise, the commissioners could receive a step increase each year, subject to approval by the salary committee. As a result, the salary increased to $90,661 last year, then to $94,661 this year. In the past two years, commissioners have seen their wages jump by 38 percent.

Candidates for the two seats have said they are running to address issues and to improve county government.

However, some have said the salary is appropriate for the kind of professional skills required for the position.

Gilmour said the county commissioner position has become more professional over the past few years, and the salary reflects that trend.

The salary could be one of many factors a candidate weighs when making a decision to run, Gilmour said.

"If it attracts the best people, it is well worth it," he said.

Gilmour, who also works as a Central Point doctor, earlier said he wouldn't take the salary increase but now says he has decided to accept it in his last year as a commissioner because he needs the money.

"It's a little bit of self-interest as I transition back into my practice," he said.

Gilmour said he decided to take the extra money this year to help save for a three- to four-month period next year in which he will not be fully compensated during his transition back to work as a full-time doctor.

For most of his almost eight years in office he has taken a lesser amount in salary than his two fellow commissioners.

"The main thing is I saved $150,000 to $200,000 in salary and benefits that I did not take," he said.

Commissioner C.W. Smith initially turned down the salary increase two years ago, but decided to take it after his re-election in 2008.

Smith said he's not sure how much of an effect the salary increase has had on attracting new candidates.

But, he said that an appropriate salary for a commissioner makes it worth the risk for someone who already has a good career but wants to run for political office.

Smith said county government is a more dynamic part of the community in recent years, dominated by land-use decisions, reopening libraries and steering the budget from a deep hole to building reserves.

Commissioner Jack Walker, who said he intends to file his candidacy papers this week, said that one of the goals of the salary hike was to attract qualified candidates with business sense.

"Our big effort was to get business people involved in government," Walker said. "It makes a huge difference."

Walker said the county is being run more like a business now, which has put the county in a better financial position than it was three years ago, saving millions of dollars in the process.

As part of this effort to run the county like a business, Walker said it requires paying people salaries comparable to what they would have received in the private sector.

"I think it's an incentive to say I've always wanted to participate in government and now I have this opportunity to do this," he said.

Allen Hallmark, chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, said he thinks the salary could be a factor, but from his knowledge of Democratic candidates it is far down the list of reasons to run.

"Most of these guys are pretty sharp and could earn a living some other way," he said.

Hallmark was surprised the salary now topped $90,000, but said a commissioner should be considered a professional who spends a lot of time on behalf of the community.

Mark Ness, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee, said the salary might have some effect on a candidate's decision to run.

"I think that's one of the attractions to it," he said.

However, he added, candidates also have a strong desire to be involved in the politic process and to contribute to the community.

Ness said he doesn't begrudge the commissioners their salary.

"I think the people should be paid well, and there should be a lot expected of them," he said.

He added, however, the benefits packages should be cut, and those running for political office should find their own retirement and health care.

For most people, he said, running for an elected office doesn't make sense because of the time involved and the lack of compensation. He noted that city council members are volunteers and state legislators receive relatively modest stipends.

The commissioners are one of the only local exceptions he could think of.

"Honestly, I don't think they're overpaid," Ness said.

Jan. 24, 2010 - Medical pot a growing presence

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

Next to the federal courthouse in downtown Medford, medical marijuana patients pass in and out of a nondescript building where cannabis is smoked, grown and exchanged between patients.

In the lobby, something that looks like driftwood sits on a desk. It's the stump from a massive marijuana plant that produced 16 pounds of dried bud in a growing climate that many growers say rivals Northern California.

It's no accident that Southern Oregon NORML moved into these offices, where its volunteers have windows that overlook the courthouse parking lot used by judges and sheriff's deputies unloading prisoners for trials.

"The fact that the federal courthouse was here is the icing on the cake," said Mel Barniskis, information manager.

SO NORML is one of eight businesses that have sprung up in the Rogue Valley in the past two years to help patients with the complicated process of getting a medical marijuana card and connecting with a grower who can provide the medication allowed under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act of 1998. In 2006, Senate Bill 1085 increased the number of plants and quantity of dried marijuana a patient could possess to six mature plants, 18 immature seedlings and 24 ounces of usable cannabis.

Cannabis advocates hope setting up SO NORML's operation next to a courthouse sends a message that the medical benefits of marijuana are more widely embraced, laws are relaxing and the stereotype of "Reefer Madness" is fading away.

Jackson County has the third-highest number of medical marijuana cardholders of the 36 counties in the state at 2,931, according to the latest figures from the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Both Jackson and Josephine counties have the highest number of cardholders per capita in the state.

Barniskis said SO NORML, where the smell of marijuana is sometimes evident upon entering the lobby, makes every effort to follow the law and get along with its neighbor, the federal government, which still classifies marijuana in the same category as heroin. The federal government in October agreed not to arrest patients who comply with state laws allowing medical marijuana.

"We have to be operating within the law or we're the biggest idiots in the world," Barniskis said. "We're not the biggest idiots in the world."

Marijuana-related establishments such as SO NORML are part of a growing cottage industry allowed under Oregon's medical marijuana law. But both advocates and opponents of medical marijuana want to change the law, which many think is vague and lacks adequate oversight.

Marijuana proponents' goals range from fully legalizing the drug to classifying it as a prescription medication available at drugstores.

Opponents, particularly law enforcement, want more restrictions and regulation, saying current laws open the door to more cannabis production, which they fear will lead more people into a world of drugs.

Medford Deputy Police Chief Tim George said lax marijuana laws have led to a boost in pot seizures.

His drug unit confiscated 5 pounds of dried marijuana in 2008 and 108 pounds in 2009. "We expect our numbers to be off the charts in 2010," he said.

George criticized current laws that allow a cardholder to possess up to 24 plants and 24 ounces of processed marijuana, the most of the 14 states that have medical marijuana laws.

Medford Police Chief Randy Schoen said marijuana clinics such as SO NORML generate very few complaints, but if problems arise he will consult with the Jackson County District Attorney's Office to help determine whether they are operating within the law.

He said he would wait until a specific case arises before commenting on the legality of these operations. "We have our opinions whether it is legal or not," said Schoen.

In addition to SO NORML and three others in Medford, medical marijuana clinics have opened in Ashland, Rogue River and Grants Pass. Not all have been without incident.

Brenda Thomas, manager of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation in Grants Pass, was arrested in November after law enforcement agents alleged she and others had 200 pounds of marijuana.

SO NORML's offices are just a few blocks from the Medford police station, and Barniskis said she and the rest of the staff welcome the police and anyone else who wants to take a look at their operation.

Far in the back of the building, SO NORML has a smoking lounge for people with medical marijuana cards, who can exchange marijuana to find out which strain provides the best treatment for a variety of medical problems. This is one of the few areas that are off-limits to the general public.

She said the operation is self-policing, booting out any member who tries to sell marijuana or does anything that conflicts with the law. About 350 members pay a $100 annual fee, or $35 if they are considered low-income. Some 250 growers are part of the organization, many of whom also have medical marijuana cards.

Sometimes problems do arise, she said. A grower might tell a patient that the plants got ripped off, only to turn around and sell the marijuana for top dollar on the black market.

"You're always going to have somebody abusing the system," Barniskis said. "We as an organization are attempting to weed that out as much as possible."

Local police agencies have been cracking down on medical marijuana growers who exceed the limit allowed by law. On Monday, a marijuana grow site was raided in Gold Hill for allegedly containing 80 pounds of processed marijuana, far more than the legal limit of 12 pounds for the site, which had two registered growers. Police arrested Tommie Dean McIntosh, 37, on manufacturing, possession and distribution of marijuana, as well as being a felon in possession of a handgun.

Medical marijuana users face other dangers, as well. On Friday night, the Josephine County Sheriff's Department reported that two armed men staged a home invasion robbery at the home of a Cave Junction man, stealing his medical marijuana and leaving the man with a fractured skull and two broken fingers.

Barniskis said law enforcement needs to better understand how pot is smoked, ingested and grown before concluding that the six mature plants and 18 immature plants allowed per patient are too much. Indoor operations produce only a few ounces per plant, while outdoor grow sites can develop several pounds of marijuana from a single plant. Outdoor cannabis sites are subject to thievery, bug infestations and mold that can kill a crop, she said.

A marijuana cardholder herself, Barniskis said some patients get better relief from ailments by taking tinctures or eating marijuana, rather than smoking it. But eating marijuana requires more plant material to get the full medicinal benefit, she said.

Barniskis ingests about an ounce of marijuana a week to treat neuropathy, which has caused extreme pain, swelling and bruising in her feet. A former 9-1-1 dispatcher in Alaska, Barniskis said she's tried traditional pain medications to no avail.

Ingesting marijuana is more preferable for Barniskis than smoking because it doesn't produce the buzzy head high.

Patients often try different strains of marijuana to treat different ailments. Barniskis likened choosing the right strain of marijuana to finding the right medication for a headache. And discovering the most effective dosage is like adjusting to high-blood-pressure medication, she said.

Getting a medical marijuana card isn't always a certainty, Barniskis said. SO NORML asks potential patients to look over the list of approved health problems that can be treated with medical marijuana. If they don't have a malady that fits, they are told they won't qualify.

"You can't get a casual pot card in Oregon," she said.

If a potential patient does appear to qualify, he is told to go back to his regular doctor. If the regular doctor won't sign the recommendation for the card, there are up to 24 local doctors who will review medical history before signing the form for a fee. One Medford clinic charges $175 for a consultation.

Rita Sullivan, director of the treatment recovery program OnTrack Inc., said the biggest problem she has with Oregon's medical marijuana laws is monitoring.

The marijuana laws also make the drug more available locally, she said.

Sullivan said prescription drugs have been a problem for those with addictive behavior, but recent Oregon laws now mean these medications are more closely monitored.

She said marijuana appears to be effective in certain medical situations. The list of medical problems that can be treated with marijuana seems acceptable, but "severe pain" is the most common complaint and can be the most subjective, she said.

In some instances, OnTrack clients have tried to use medical marijuana after getting a state-issued card.

Sullivan said that in general her organization doesn't allow it because these clients have shown a propensity for using other drugs.

"We don't want to play Russian roulette with the people who do use drugs," she said.

On occasion, OnTrack has allowed clients who have advanced AIDS to use marijuana if they are very ill, but it is a very uncomfortable decision for her organization. "It puts these people in a tough spot," she said.

Mark Huddleston, Jackson County district attorney, said he hasn't received any criminal cases so far involving clinics or businesses related to medical marijuana in this county.

He believes most people involved in Oregon's marijuana program are following the law, though he thinks the way it is written invites abuse and doesn't have enough monitoring.

"Enforcement is difficult under the medical marijuana act," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.

Jan. 20, 2010 - Stink grows over pot control

Lori Duckworth, executive director of Southern Oregon NORML, shows a nursery of cloned marijuana plants being nurtured for patients in Medford. NORML, or the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, opposes Jackson County commissioners’ concept legislation that would limit the amount of marijuana grown and possessed for medicinal use. --Bob Pennell

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

Jackson County commissioners Tuesday decided to prod legislators for a solution to neighbor complaints about legal marijuana gardens rather than pursue local controls.

Commissioners said it would be too complicated to enact a local ordinance to deal with odors, traffic, lights and other issues that have been reported over pot gardens in rural areas.

"Quite frankly, smell would be difficult to regulate," said Kelly Madding, director of Development Services.

She said the legal gardens are considered a not-for-profit agricultural crop, so they don't fall under the same constraints as a business.

Madding said a local ordinance, which likely would be challenged in the courts, would require a significant increase in the cost of code enforcement.

Commissioner Jack Walker said the current law is difficult to enforce because of the way it's written.

"No way in the world can you regulate it," he said.

The county drafted a concept law and sent it to legislators asking for more regulation of medical marijuana grow sites, including alerting law enforcement about new gardens.

Legislators might not carry the bill forward for the county until they see how voters respond to several initiatives regarding medical marijuana that could be on the November ballot.

Mel Barniskis, information manager for Southern Oregon NORML, a cannabis resource and information center at 332 W. Sixth St., Medford, criticized the tenor of the county's proposed legislation.

"It seems to serve the purposes of law enforcement, but doesn't address the welfare of patients," she said. "It seems to put more hardships on patients."

Commissioners propose limiting the amount of marijuana on hand at any one time and restricting patients to possessing one ounce. Instead of six plants for a patient, commissioners propose allowing only two mature plants plus two seedlings.

"Allowing so much marijuana provides a clear opportunity for abuse," the concept legislation stated.

With 2,418 medical marijuana cardholders, Jackson County has the third highest number of patients using the drug behind Multnomah and Lane counties, according to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.

Under current law, a grower can have up to six mature plants and 18 starts and seedlings per patient for up to four patients.

Barniskis said the concept legislation shows a lack of understanding about the way medical marijuana is grown and used.

Barniskis said there is a big difference in the amount of marijuana that can be grown indoors versus outdoors. An indoor plant generally produces several ounces, while an outdoor plant can produce a couple of pounds, she said. Having additional plants helps ensure a grower won't experience a complete crop failure should bug infestations or mold occur.

Patients' needs for the medication vary wildly, she said. Some ingest the drug because they can't or don't like to smoke it, which requires more plant material to produce the medicinal effect, she said. Some patients require more than an ounce a week to deal with a particular health problem, Barniskis said.

Patients sometimes drive long distances to obtain their medication, so limiting them to just one ounce would also be a problem, she said.

Commissioners want to prohibit grow sites within 1,000 feet of a school. Barniskis said her organization encourages renters who want to grow medical marijuana to move to a different area. In other cases, where someone owns a house, she said NORML strongly advises the growers who are near schools to make sure the plants aren't visible and to take precautions to reduce the smell.

Commissioners acknowledged that initiatives in the works could change Oregon's marijuana laws.

In particular, Initiative 28 proposes creating a regulatory process through the Oregon Department of Human Services to keep better track of growing operations.

John Sajo, executive director of Voter Power, an organization backing Initiative 28, said if voters enact the initiative, it would create more regulatory authority and would resolve some of the problems such as large gardens.

He said the initiative would provide a role for county government to potentially enforce zoning restrictions on marijuana gardens.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.

Jan. 16, 2010 - SOHS plans Jacksonville exodus

Southern Oregon Historical Society board member April Sevick, left, and Executive Director Allison Weiss discuss the future of the organization and its plans to consolidate into downtown Medford's former J.C. Penney building. Bob Pennell / Mail Tribune photo

By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

The financially strapped Southern Oregon Historical Society may pull out of Jacksonville and leave the care of historic landmarks to another organization so it can continue to safeguard Jackson County's history and the million artifacts in its collection.

SOHS has proposed to the county that it sell landmarks such as the U.S. Hotel and the Catholic Rectory and lease out other buildings, including the Jacksonville Museum that once was the county courthouse.

If the proposal is approved by the county, a percentage of the proceeds from the property sales could pay off the historical society's debt, and the lease of other buildings could help pay for a newly formed Jacksonville Historical Society.

SOHS closed down most of its operations last year to allow time for reorganization under a new executive director.

Terrie Martin, SOHS board president, said her organization had to make difficult choices to ensure its survival.

"We have to decide what's important," Martin said. "And what's important is our collection."

SOHS hopes to consolidate its operations in the History Center, a 27,000-square-foot building it owns at Sixth Street and Central Avenue in Medford, and concentrate its efforts on preserving and displaying artifacts and documents from its vast collection.

It would continue to own and run Hanley Farm in Central Point and would continue to lease a building in White City that contains about 1 million artifacts. The society also cares for hundreds of thousands of historical documents and photographs.

Executive Director Allison Weiss said there have been discussions about selling the U.S. Bank and the Catholic Rectory. The Beekman Bank also could be put up for sale, but Weiss said the historical society would like more involvement from the community before that idea is seriously considered.

The historical society leases Jacksonville buildings such as the history museum and children's museum from the county for $1 a year and would likely sub-lease them to a proposed Jacksonville historical society for the same cost, if approved by the county. The new historical society would take over the maintenance costs.

SOHS's money problems began when it lost all of its county support in 2007 as part of a lawsuit settlement. Lithia Motors, a tenant in the History Center, moved out in October, ending a lease that generated $150,000 annually and canceling its option to buy the building.

When Weiss took over leadership of SOHS last July, she was looking at an annual budget of $750,000. Now it is $360,000, with two full-time people and a handful of part-time workers.

In its heyday, the historical society received more than $2 million annually through a voter-approved levy and had about 50 employees.

Weiss said the historical society is on life support.

"We could be out of money any month," she said. "It is a very desperate situation."

If the county agrees to sell off properties and a new historical society takes over management of the other buildings, SOHS would save about $100,000 annually in maintenance and utility costs.

The historical society is hoping to receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the U.S. Hotel to help pay off a $600,000 loan.

If the historical society, which met with county officials Friday, gets the support of the county for its proposals, it plans to reopen its library to the public on May 4 using volunteers.

To cut costs in the future, Weiss said SOHS will foster partnerships with local organizations such as genealogical societies and share staff with smaller historical societies.

Hanley Farm is not sustainable at present, Weiss said. SOHS may rent out space for farmers, create a partnership with the local extension service and host a community garden for Central Point.

Weiss wants to lease out space in the History Center as well to help raise additional revenue.

She said she has heard all the stories and complaints about the bad blood between the county and the historical society, but her board of directors has decided that the only solution is to forget about those past grievances.

"What can we do?" she said. "It is history. I can't dwell on what we did in the past. We've got to move forward."

Taking care of six buildings in Jacksonville is just too much of a burden, she said.

"We have to get out of the property management business," she said.

Selling off historical buildings doesn't mean they would lose their character. Deed restrictions and their historical designation would help preserve their significance for Jacksonville, she said.

An area in the upstairs of the museum has been cleared out and could be used as a community meeting room if the county sells the U.S. Hotel, where the upstairs ballroom served as a meeting space.

All of SOHS's proposals hinge on county approval.

County Administrator Danny Jordan said he has been working with SOHS officials for several months. He said he is hopeful that a proposal will be forthcoming from SOHS that could be presented to the Board of Commissioners.

Both county and historical society officials say there are no prospective buyers for the U.S. Hotel or other properties, though there has been some interest expressed about the hotel over the years.

If a building were to be sold, it would have to go through a complicated process where the property is declared as surplus, then an auction would be held and if there were no serious offers, it would be put up for sale.

George Kramer, a historic preservation consultant in Ashland, sharply criticized what he sees as strong-arm tactics on the part of Jackson County against a very weakened historical society.

"I don't blame SOHS," he said. "They have a gun to their head and they are trying to save some money. SOHS is on death's door and looking for money any way they can get it."

Kramer said Commissioner Jack Walker forced the historical society to divert funds to repair the roof on the county courthouse, a move that started the friction between the county and SOHS.

"I think the county has played hardball because Jack Walker got so pissed off about 20 years ago," he said.

When voters approved Measure 50 in 1997, a levy that provided $2 million annually to the historical society was consolidated into the county's general fund. Kramer said the county doesn't divert a dime to the historical society.

"The county is the one that has put SOHS in that position, and the county is the one that has taken advantage of that," Kramer said. "SOHS is to the point where it is basically selling a kidney to survive."

What the county forgets is that through the work of the historical society and the city of Jacksonville, buildings such as the U.S. Hotel were preserved years ago and ended up being deeded to the county, he said.

"Don't tell me the county has any claim to anything," Kramer said. "I hold Jackson County entirely responsible for this situation."

Kramer said he is not necessarily opposed to selling a building like the U.S. Hotel, but he thinks the proceeds should go entirely to the historical society and not be shared with the county.

Walker said he didn't want to respond to any personal attacks from Kramer, but did say the historical society appears to be headed in the right direction.

"I am excited about some of the different ideas that are being explored," he said.

April Sevcik, SOHS board member, said the time for rehashing what happened in the past is over if the historical society hopes to move forward.

She said nonprofit organizations everywhere are facing difficult economic times and the historical society wants to work with everyone to find a solution.

"We have tried to create a working relationship with the county," she said. "What was, was, and what isn't, isn't."

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.



Any new group that tends landmarks will be pressed


By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

A newly formed historical society faces an uphill battle to reopen Jacksonville's museum, the Beekman House and other historic buildings. The Jacksonville Historical Society is filing paperwork with the state and federal governments to create a nonprofit organization to run the Jacksonville Museum and other buildings run by the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

"We don't even have a dollar to our name yet," said Jacksonville resident and history buff Larry Smith. "We don't even have a bank account. This thing is still being formed."

Smith said the decision by SOHS to pull out of Jacksonville after 65 years caught him and other residents off guard as they scramble to create their own historical society.

"I was surprised the Southern Oregon Historical Society gave up so quickly in Jacksonville," he said. "They are burning their bridges. They are leaving so fast."

Discussions about selling the Beekman Bank also have caused bad feelings, he said. The bank contains a collection of Gold Rush artifacts that he said shouldn't be moved out of the building.

"You would lose the historical context if you move everything out," he said.

Smith said he could see selling off the U.S. Hotel.

If the new historical society takes over the museum, Smith said it will inherit a lot of deferred maintenance, with costs estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars.

He said there is no elevator to the second floor, which would make the room upstairs unavailable to the handicapped.

There is no bathroom in the building or running water, which would make it difficult to lease out space, he said.

Although SOHS would share artifacts with the new historical society, Smith said there has been talk of a fee, which would be difficult for his struggling organization.

He said the Beekman House could be tied into the Britt Festival grounds, offering a venue for weddings and musical events in a space in the back of the building. The Children's Museum would remain as is, and the building, a former jail, is in pretty good shape, Smith said.

Brooke and Mel Ashland, who were involved in restoring the historic three-story Jacksonville School, are also part of the new historical society, Smith said.

Since the events have unfolded so quickly, Smith said his organization has had only a few weeks to begin grappling with the enormity of the task ahead of it.

"There are no easy answers, and we don't know if we would even be successful at this point," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.