Lyles said he and Extension staff will work with county commissioners in the coming months to develop an annual plan of work, including agreeing on what data and information are needed to demonstrate how OSU Extension is meeting county needs, having a positive impact and using county funds as intended. “In speaking with County Chair Baertschiger, I’m confident that we both share a goal of continuing to serve Josephine County residents with OSU Extension programs and services, and that we are on track toward improving communication and relationships with the commissioners and the community at large.” “We take concerns and feedback seriously, as we are accountable to those we serve and for the public funds we are provided and use with great care,” said Lyles, OSU vice provost for Extension and Engagement and director of the OSU Extension Service. “A discussion of where we are going from here needs to take place,” said Baertschiger, chair of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. Since then, Baertschiger and Lyles have spoken to discuss a path forward. On June 7, the commissioners voted to approve a county Extension budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, but did not approve contributing property tax revenue collected in fiscal year 2024, and terminated the intergovernmental service agreement between the county and OSU that stipulates how funds are managed and how OSU educational programs in the county are provided. The plan that Chair Baertschiger and I are working toward is a ‘win-win’ for all concerned and a collaborative and transparent approach that I am committed to.” “At the same time, there is a lot of great work being done in Josephine County by Extension faculty and staff. “I acknowledge that some of the comments made during the commissioners’ meetings were a surprise to me,” Lyles said. Lyles and Baertschiger recently discussed the concerns raised and agreed to work together on continuing services.
The agreements follow three recent public commission meetings that included a significant amount of positive and critical comment from members of the public and commissioners, prompting a plan to provide greater understanding and transparency of how county tax dollars are used to support local OSU Extension programs and operations. Ivory Lyles, director of OSU Extension, and Herman Baertschiger Jr., county commission chair, have agreed to meet regularly in the coming year as part of a shared commitment to continue providing taxpayer-funded OSU Extension programs and services to county residents. – The Oregon State University Extension Service and the Josephine County Board of Commissioners are working jointly to develop an annual plan of work for delivering OSU Extension services in Josephine County.
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