Use of CJ City Hall for sheriff’s facility mulled
Sheriff Gil Gilbertson and Mayor Tony Paulson in former city jail. (Photo by Scott Jorgesen, I.V. News)
Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson met with Cave Junction Mayor Tony Paulson on Friday, July 6 to explore the possibility of using the basement of city hall as a sheriff’s office substation.
The basement was once headquarters for the Cave Junction Police Dept. (CJPD), disbanded in the early 1980s when federal funding under the Comprehensive Employment & Training Act expired.
Three cells formerly used to hold prisoners now serve as storage for CJPD equipment and other city materials.
Gilbertson said that he ultimately would like to establish three substations in the rural portions of the county. Facilities currently exist in Merlin and Murphy, as well as in the Josephine County Bldg. in the city of Cave Junction, but are not staffed.
“Decentralized law enforcement is what this county needs,” Gilbertson said. “I want to set the Illinois Valley up as a template.”
Illinois Valley is more remote than some parts of the county, Gilbertson said, and Hwy. 199 only provides one way in and out of the valley. As such, a substation could reduce the time that deputies spend driving to respond to valley incidents.
Gilbertson said that he is examining possible use of the former jail cells as temporary holding cells. Doing so could free deputies to patrol and respond to crimes, rather than immediately transporting suspects to the county jail in Grants Pass, he said.
Paulson said that he would not be inclined to charge rent to the sheriff’s office for using the facilities, but that such decisions would have to be made by the city council. Contributions to the utility bills at city hall could be considered under such a scenario, the mayor said.
In exchange for the use of space, Paulson said that he wanted a higher priority placed on calls within Cave Junction city limits.
Gilbertson said that his ultimate vision is to establish a “minipolice force” comprised of reservists, volunteers and a sworn deputy.
“I want somebody out here 24/7,” Gilbertson said.
The volunteers could be trained to investigate crimes when they occur, Gilbertson said, and help provide evidence to deputies.
Having a substation would enable residents to file reports and conduct and any other police business in a central valley location, Gilbertson said.
But he cautions that the CJ substation concept is only being examined, and that no final decisions will be made right away.
“We’re not going to have this happen overnight,” Gilbertson said.
At the Josephine County Bldg. on Redwood Hwy. JCSO’s substation shares space with other entities, including Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (IVSWCD).
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Any potential change of location for JCSO’s substation could affect the building’s other tenants, said Josephine County Chief Operations Officer (COO) Marie Hill.
The county charges maintenance and utility fees to many of its departments to cover those costs.
“What is difficult is the utility costs,” Hill said. “We charge by square foot, so those costs will be borne by other users of the building.”
Hill said that she has yet to discuss specifics of the plan with Gilbertson.
“I don’t know what his timeframes are,” she said. “I think we’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds.”
Earlier this year, Gilbertson launched a feasibility study on the logistics of moving JCSO’s operations from the county courthouse in Grants Pass to the county jail there. Building maintenance and utility fees were among the obstacles to such a move.
However, Hill said that establishing a JCSO substation at CJ City Hall could be easier than relocating all its operations to the jail.
“Really, it’s moving office space vs. moving his entire operation,” Hill said.
The maintenance of the Josephine County Bldg. was discussed Thursday, July 5, when Hill met with the building’s tenants to discuss that issue.
In the county’s recently adopted ‘07-’08 fiscal budget, the Building and Operations Maintenance (BOM) fund was cut by two-thirds, said Hill during the meeting. That cut leaves the county with three janitors to clean all its buildings, which limits maintenance of the county building to once a week.
“With once a week, cleaning just really hasn’t been sufficient because the bathrooms get dirtier than that,” Hill said during a Monday, July 9 interview.
Hill said that she is in discussions with the county’s Community Corrections Dept. regarding possible use of work crews to bolster maintenance.
“They’re willing to work with the building operations people to arrange to have some work crew assistance,” Hill said.
Volunteers are sought to help with customer service and other functions at the county building, and there is one vacant office there.
Potential volunteers can phone Terri Town, of IVSWCD, at 592-3731. Potential tenants can contact Hill at 474-5426.
