Sept. 10, 2013 -- Older workers outnumber younger workers

Older Jackson County residents aren't settling into their rocking chairs but instead are vying with younger workers for lower-paying jobs.

"Everyone around my age is still working because of insurance," said Marcia Raven, a 59-year-old Central Point woman who works at Rogue Creamery.

JOB TRENDS OF YOUNGER AND OLDER WORKERS

In Jackson County, the median age is 42 compared to 38 in Oregon.

• The number of jobs in Jackson County dropped from 83,910 in 2007 to 75,410 in 2012. Some industries have posted healthy job growth in the past year or so, but not all.
• With fewer jobs, the unemployment rate as of July 2012 is still at 9.8 percent in Jackson County, 8 percent in Oregon and 7.4 percent nationwide.
• Competition for existing jobs, even low- and minimum-wage jobs, is much tougher than before the recession.
• In the third quarter of 1991, 3,585 14- to 18-year-olds had jobs in the county. In 2012, just 1,353 had jobs.
• In the third quarter of 1991, 1,583 55-to 64-year-olds had jobs, compared to 4,691 in 2012.

— Source: Oregon Employment Department

The high cost of health care, a prolonged recession, high unemployment, faltering retirement accounts and a desire among retirees to remain productive have created a job market in which seniors are rubbing shoulders with younger workers in many local businesses.

Raven said her insurance plan at work and the need to help support her two grown children are some of the main reasons she has a job, though she says she likes her work because it keeps her mind active.

Her 30-year-old daughter is going back to college, and her 28-year-old son has graduated but is making less money now with two jobs than he did years ago as a bartender.

Working alongside employees less than half her age, Raven said she doesn't feel like she's taking a job away from younger people. "No, I'm working to help our kids," she said.

Raven, who had a former career owning five gift shops in Michigan, is anxious to see how Oregon's version of national health care reforms shakes out in October because she's hoping for a better system.

In Jackson County, older workers are trying to keep their jobs or search for another career, while younger workers are increasingly pushed out of the job market.

"This is probably a trend that has increased because of this unprecedented recession," said Ainoura Oussenbec, workforce analyst for the Oregon Employment Department.

Jackson County is more than 8,000 short on the number of jobs available before the recession, she said.

"Competition has been so fierce that, in some cases, more experienced workers have grabbed the job," Oussenbec said. "It has been extremely hard for younger, college-age people during the recession."

Jackson County has various issues that increase the number of older residents looking for work.

The average age in the county is 42 compared with the statewide average of 38. The county still has an unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, compared with 8 percent statewide and 7.4 percent nationally.

Some industries that historically have been an entry point for younger workers have evolved. Many supermarkets have customers fill their own bags rather than hire workers to perform that task, for example.

A stark statistic from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that 1 in 30 grocery store jobs were filled by 14- to 18-year-olds in 2012, compared with 1 in 8 in 1991.

Even worse, in the third quarter of 1991, 3,585 14-to 18-year-olds had jobs in the county. In the third quarter of 2012, just 1,353 had jobs.

In the 55-to-64 age group, 1,583 had jobs in 1991, compared to 4,691 in 2012.

The ability to get a job is dependent on the individual, Oussenbec said, though there have been anecdotal reports of differences between older and younger workers.

For many employers, older workers bring a good work ethic and provide reliability and solid customer service skills, Oussenbec said.

Some employers shy away from older workers because they fear they will demand a bigger salary, she said. They also think that older workers won't keep up with the computer skills and other technological demands of modern jobs.

Younger workers are seen as more technologically savvy and more willing to take on a wide range of jobs, she said.

Nikki Jones with Express Employment Professionals, which has filled 3,000 job assignments this year, said the demand for temporary workers has shot up.

"Our company, not just in Medford, has experienced exponential growth," she said.

While Jackson County may have a deficit of full-time jobs, the nation as a whole has 4 million positions available, Jones said.

At the beginning of the recession, workers in the 35-to-50 age group had a tough time finding anything other than an entry-level job. That trend is changing for the better, she said, particularly for workers who improve their skill set.

The long-term unemployed and those who lost professional jobs were the two hardest hit sectors, Jones said.

"People were willing to work for half their salary, but people were not willing to invest in them," she said.

It's also a difficult environment for professionals who haven't kept up on their skills.

Jones currently has an opening available for a social-media specialist, which requires expertise in YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and other popular applications.

Resumes have poured in from television reporters, photographers and other journalists. In many cases, they have the writing skills but don't have the chops in social media, she said.

Another factor now at play in the job market is that employers are demanding a solid educational background, according to Guy Tauer, regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department.

As a result, younger people are staying in school longer, trying to ride out the recession because they realize they will have difficulties finding a job, Tauer said.

Ron Fox, executive director of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc., said there are other reasons older folks are just not ready to retire.

Fox said his current position with SOREDI is an "encore career," after retiring from PacifiCorp.

"For me, it's a passion," he said. "Retirement is oversold."

In talking to other older residents, he finds that some just enjoy the challenge of a job and the energy it brings to their lives. The alternative doesn't look great, Fox said.

"My wife said that if I retire she will give me a honey-do list that will go on for ages," he said.

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130910/NEWS/309100308

Sept. 9, 2013 -- Lawmakers debate possible special session

Legislators representing Jackson County are preparing for a vigorous debate over proposed pension reform and higher taxes after Gov. John Kitzhaber's call for a possible special session on Sept. 30.

Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, said legislators from both sides of the aisle will need to agree on a deal that could ultimately pump more money into schools. "I think we have a chance," he said.

Reform of the Public Employees Retirement System will require support from moderate Democrats, he said.

"Far-left Democrats don't want to touch anything in the PERS system," he said.

The proposed PERS change asks for a multiyear cost-of-living freeze for high-income retirees but not low- or moderate-income retirees. The estimated long-term pension cost reduction could be $5 billion.

A proposed change in income-tax deductions for high-income taxpayers could net the state $200 million that could be put into schools in this biennial budget. One of the proposals is to not allow a senior medical credit for high-income Oregonians.

To gain support from moderate Republicans, a proposal to offer a tax break to small businesses also is on the table, Bates said. So far, the tax break idea has received the least support, but Bates hopes that Democrats will try to work with Republicans on this issue.

Even though unions won't be happy, Bates said he's ready to vote for PERS reform, the changes in deduction, and the small business tax credit.

"Some of us really mean it when we say we will work both sides of the aisle," he said. "It's easy to say 'no' and be a flame thrower."

Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, said he doubted any meaningful PERS reform would come out of the special session. He said he thinks the governor's real motivation is to raise taxes.

He said the approved state budget already reflects a 13 percent increase in revenue. "It just shows those in charge never have enough money," Richardson said.

He also is suspicious the governor and Democrats might overturn the concessions to Republicans while continuing to support a tax hike.

"Republicans have no confidence any deal that would be made would be honored in the next session," he said.

The ideas being proposed for the special session were debated when the Legislature met earlier this year.

"Nothing has changed since that session," Richardson said.

Kitzhaber has tried to reach across the aisle for a deal that would raise revenue to boost funding for schools and mental health treatment while lowering the cost of public employee pensions. Kitzhaber said he's committed to including support for small businesses — a key demand from Senate Republicans.

Kitzhaber said he will meet with House and Senate leaders from both parties in hopes of securing a deal before holding a special session.

Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, stated in an email that he supported a special session if the governor pushes for additional PERS reform urged by Republicans.
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130909/NEWS/309090309

Sept. 8, 2013 -- State of Jefferson or state of mind

Supporters of a tea party-inspired effort to secede from California encourage Jackson County to rally behind the creation of the state of Jefferson.

"Now the northern part of California and the southern part of Oregon have a chance of making history," said Mark Baird, who owns a radio station in Yreka and has spearheaded the secessionist movement.

Growing discontent over California regulations prompted the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors in a 4-to-1 vote last week to support the secessionist movement.

The lone vote in opposition was cast by board Chairman Ed Valenzuela. He said he took an oath to uphold the state constitution and was elected to solve problems within the existing system.

Siskiyou supervisors hope other rural, conservative Northern California counties will join them. They say they're being ignored by Sacramento legislators while being saddled with excessive regulations.

Modoc County supervisors are scheduled to vote on the issue on Sept. 24.

Both the California Legislature and Congress would have to sign off on any secession effort.

"This isn't going to be easy," Baird said. "It's a long shot, but it's not a joke to us."

Baird got the idea when he heard former California Assemblyman Stan Statham speak at a recent tea party meeting. Statham's ideas fired up Baird and within a month the movement spread, and the Siskiyou supervisors cast their vote. Statham has proposed carving California up into three states. The secession idea has since gained national attention and points to a growing rural/urban divide.

In 2011, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in Southern California hosted a statewide summit to discuss having 13 counties secede from eastern California to form "South California."

Southern Oregon and Northern California have long been known somewhat whimsically as the state of Jefferson, a reference to a movement in 1941 that gained steam until the start of World War II. Since then, the state of Jefferson has been mostly a state of mind.

Baird said Southern Oregon and Northern California share a common interest in logging, ranching and a feeling that lawmakers are standing in the way of creating more vibrant economies.

"That's why we belong together," Baird said.

He hopes to get support from 11 or 12 California counties, from Del Norte on the north coast down to Yuba above Sacramento.

The economics of creating a new state have been one of the main stumbling blocks, he acknowledged. Most of the counties have small populations, a tiny tax base and little industry.

Baird said the idea faces significant challenges, and he hopes to find a university that will devise an economic study on the feasibility of secession.

He said the counties hope to create a more business-friendly environment than currently exists in California to overcome their financial woes.

Jackson County commissioners say there has been no groundswell of support for secession locally.

Commissioner Don Skundrick said he's only received one comment from a local resident favoring secession.

He said he empathizes with the frustrations expressed by folks in Siskiyou County.

"I don't mind tilting at windmills, but the reality is it's never going to happen," he said.

Jackson County has met significant resistance from Salem over the years, but Skundrick said this area has a can-do attitude, though the economic malaise is beginning to chip away at it.

"We don't wait for Salem to get things done," he said.

Going forward, Skundrick said rural parts of the state need to pick their battles and work with metropolitan areas to solve problems.

"If we would stop spitting in the wind and work with moderates, we should just try to chip away at things as best we can," he said.

Commissioner John Rachor said many of the concerns and problems plaguing Northern California counties are similar to those locally, including discontent over policies set in urban seats of power.

"Everywhere but the Willamette Valley is upset with the Willamette Valley," Rachor said. "We all feel the Willamette Valley is calling the shots."

Commissioner Doug Breidenthal, who courted the tea party during his campaign, said he's sympathetic to Northern California counties.

"It personifies the disconnect between the urban portions of the state and the rural portions of the state," he said.

Breidenthal said Jackson and other rural counties have demanded more local control, particularly over management of local resources.

Even though he doesn't see much local support for secession, Breidenthal wouldn't rule out the possibility it could gain significant traction.

"I would never want to predict the future," he said.

In Yreka, which was once proposed as the capital of the state of Jefferson, the reactions to the secession movement are mostly favorable, though many residents have questions about the economics.

Drake Davis, owner of Don's Sporting Goods, said he supports the secession idea up to a point, but wonders how his county can sustain itself if detached from California.

With only 45,000 people in Siskiyou County, there's not much of a tax base and not much industry, he said.

On the other hand, the county is largely ignored by the huge population centers to the south, Davis said.

"Northern California is abused by Southern California and the Bay Area," he said. "It would be nice to have more control over what's going on in this area."

Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong said regulations from both the state and federal levels have strangled the local economy, and it's time for the county to fight back.

A county once home to more than 50 mills now has two veneer plants, she said. Unemployment balloons up to 18 percent during the winter, she said.

"We want to change from being a dependent county to one that is self-sufficient," she said.

Armstrong said locals have many gripes about how the county is treated by Sacramento.

Local residents are fuming over a fire protection fee of more than $100 a property that is sent to the state each year.

She cites the "militarization of fish and game" officials, who she said roll into the county and scare local residents with their guns and other threatening tactics.

"It's not a friendly atmosphere," Armstrong said.

The state largely has left her county out of the ongoing debate over Klamath Basin water issues, even though three dams are within its boundaries, she said.

Harvesting timber also is a big concern locally.

Mark Crawford, a 66-year-old logging company owner in Siskiyou County, said his area has received a lot of regulations and little help from the state.

"It's big money interests in Sacramento pulling the strings," he said.

Crawford said it can take six months or longer to get a permit to harvest timber, noting the same permit in Oregon usually takes about a month.

The secession movement will succeed or fail depending on how seriously people in Northern California counties take it, he said.

"If nothing else, it should get Sacramento's attention," Crawford said.

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130908/NEWS/309080350

Sept. 7, 2013 -- Two candidates challenge Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters

Two candidates from local law enforcement have stepped forward to challenge Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters as he seeks a fourth term in November 2014.
Sheriff's Lt. Bob Sergi, who is on the Jackson County sheriff's SWAT team and is a night supervisor at the jail, said it's time for a new direction.
Corey Falls, deputy chief at the Ashland Police Department and a member of the Medford Police SWAT team, said it's time for a change in the leadership at the Sheriff's Department. Sergi and Falls filed papers in August with the Oregon secretary of state to form political action committees.
They can't file candidacy papers with the Jackson County Elections Center until Sept. 12.
Winters said he plans to run for sheriff in 2014. He took office in 2002.
If three candidates run in the May 2014 primary election, and one of the candidates gets 50 percent of the vote plus one vote, that person would be the only candidate qualified to run in the general election.
Otherwise, the top two vote getters would run against each other in the November general election. Falls, a 40-year-old Medford resident, said the sheriff's department needs a fresh set of eyes. "I think training and experience is exactly what this county needs now," he said.
Falls said he was critical of the helicopter program that the sheriff runs as well as other resources used by the sheriff. "It's time to really look at how we're using personnel," he said.
Falls said he thinks the sheriff hasn't worked effectively at community outreach and responsiveness to the public. He said he wants to develop a better problem-solving strategy to reduce crime while improving social issues locally.
Reducing jail overcrowding and decreasing early release are two of his goals.
Falls has worked for law enforcement in Washington state, has been on a drug task force, studied at the FBI Academy, and is working on his doctorate in business administration.
He's also gone through programs in tactical training, leadership training and emergency preparedness.
While he grew up in Jackson County, he hasn't worked with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, but he has worked with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office in Washington state.
Sergi, a 57-year-old Central Point-area resident who works part time in real estate, said Winters has been too focused on emergency management to the detriment of law enforcement.
Sergi, who has worked for police departments in Long Beach, Calif., and Medford, said he was critical of the video surveillance equipment installed in Shady Cove schools and the high-tech gear for the helicopter. "I think that we need to go in a different direction and focus more on law enforcement," he said.
A SWAT team leader for 12 years, Sergi said he believes he has a lot of support from other deputies in his bid for sheriff.
An important issue for Sergi is the number of forced releases of prisoners because there's not enough room in the jail.
A jail commander from March 2010 to February 2011, Sergi said he wants to find ways to keep prisoners in the jail. With a degree in business administration, Sergi said he has certifications in corrections and criminal justice.
Sergi's recent stint with the sheriff's department started three years ago. For the first year and a half at the sheriff's office, he said he had heard mostly positive things about Winters, but now his opinion has changed, though he didn't offer specific reasons why.
Winters, 55, who lives in a rural area outside Ashland, said the county has been well-served by his time in office.
"I think I have a long record of accomplishments," he said. "It will absolutely stand any challenges."
Winters said he takes issue with Sergi's criticism of the video surveillance in Shady Cove because it is a technology that could prevent the slaughter of children. "Coming from a SWAT commander, that is an absolutely ludicrous statement to make," he said. "Schools have been forced to endure budget cutbacks, so a video surveillance system provides a cost-effective means to protect children."
He said he's got a strong record of law enforcement, but he said emergency management is one of the primary jobs of the sheriff, who has to collaborate with other emergency service providers in the area.
Winters said his department runs a fairly cost-effective aviation program that is necessary for search and rescue missions as well as drug seizures. He said his department spent about $40,000 in 2012 for helicopter operations after accounting for federal grants that help fund the program. He said a National Guard helicopter can respond to emergencies but it can take up to four hours before it gets to Jackson County.
The sheriff's department uses the helicopter only as needed, he said. Winters said he has carefully watched the sheriff's budget and stands by his record.
"It's up to my opponents to make their case," he said.
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130905/NEWS/309050314

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.