A Few Minutes with the Mayor – February 2026

HELLO TO A NEW YEAR! For such a small city, we have a lot going on. Each fall, Jeff Alvis, our City Administrator, and I, sit down to discuss the accomplishments of the prior year, along with our priorities, biggest challenges, and plans for the upcoming year. This year was no exception, and I’d like to share with you a brief recap of some of what we accomplished in 2025, and a preview of what our year might look like in 2026. Jeff and I will be presenting this and more at our annual “State of the City” report to the Jacksonville Boosters at their February 9, 2026, meeting here at City Hall, starting at 9:30am.

Meeting our goal of re-staffing our Police Department was one of our biggest challenges over the last few years. It was a bittersweet moment on December 2, when I thanked Chief David Towe for his 35 years of service, and presented him with a key to the city. On the same evening, we swore in Sergeant Matt Hannum as our new Chief of Police. Chief Hannum was well-prepared and ready for the responsibility, thanks to his years working with Chief Towe. You may have noticed our police officers driving newer vehicles on patrol. Thanks to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, we acquired two SUVs from their fleet for our use. The funding for this purchase was through a grant from the Masonic Lodge. We were also fortunate to receive two new Electric Bikes for use in the Woodlands and areas that are not easily accessible by vehicle. This purchase was possible with a grant from the Jacksonville Woodlands Association. We are also in the process of updating our Police Department with new safety upgrades and other features.

Our Fire Department recently upgraded with two new vehicles. We received our new truck, Fire Engine #19, a structural fire engine, paid for with Urban Renewal Funds. We retired and will be selling our old Engine #19, after 29 years of faithful service. Our other new acquisition is a Heavy Brush Fire Engine subsidized by the Oregon State Fire Marshall’s office. It is for the Wildland Urban Interface areas. An essential addition to the Jacksonville Fire Department is our new Holmatro Hydraulic Vehicle Extraction Tools. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment Program provided these tools, which strengthen JFD’s ability to safely and efficiently rescue individuals trapped in vehicle collisions and other complex rescue situations. We continued work on Fuel Reduction for fire prevention and will maintain our efforts on fire safety this year. The addition of a Fire Cam at the Britt grounds is also a new safety feature.

The Public Works Department has free sand and bags for those people who live on properties that back up to our local creeks. Please call the city at 541-899-1231 to find out if you qualify for this program. A new site for a much-needed additional Public Works building, along with open space and outdoor park space, is undergoing studies.

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce continues its quest to serve the city. Don Litchfield was recently hired as their new Executive Director. Don, along with his able staff, ran a very successful Victorian Christmas event. The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Victorian Christmas Parade, Father Christmas, and a month of celebrations were a great hit. We saw record participants from Jacksonville, the Rogue Valley, and folks from around Oregon, and out of state. We are currently seeking space for the Chamber to expand its offices. Their current space in the old train station is simply not large enough for their needs. It is a great space for a Visitors Center and a Trolley Stop, but it can’t accommodate office space.

Jacksonville has a substantial roster of agenda items for 2026 already, some of which involve continuing work on revisions to the Jacksonville Municipal Code Titles 1 – 14. Councilor Steve Casaleggio has taken the lead on this project, and we can see the end coming closer. Steve has been spearheading this since 2021. We have completed the revisions for Titles 2,3,4,6,7,8, 9, and 13. Next work begins on Titles 5, 10, and 14. The Jacksonville Unified Development Code, Titles 15 – 18, continues to be revised by a separate CAC supervised by the Planning Department.

Lunar New Year Celebrations are this month. Please see the article in this issue of the Jacksonville Review for the events planned.

The new Jacksonville Museum base in Old City Hall, is still on schedule for opening later this year. Work progresses on renovating the building with exciting exhibits highlighting development in different eras in our region. ADA ramps, interactive displays, and more are on the way!

Jacksonville is pleased to continue offering Historic Preservation Grants this year, along with Transient Lodging Grants, to support building and business owners in town. The Jacksonville Review, the City Newsletter, and the City Website (www.jacksonvilleor.us) are the places to watch for news regarding upcoming participation and eligibility.

In April 2025, I began meeting monthly with Mayors from the Rogue Valley to discuss happenings in our cities. This has proven to be a valuable exchange of news, ideas, solutions, and networking for each of us, and one that we will continue this year. It has led to a new understanding of other cities in our region and how we all solve issues, create opportunities, and grow as communities. One of the ideas recommended was a tour of the Jackson County Jail. I, and the City Councilors who have not toured the jail, will be doing so this spring.

All in all, it was a successful 2025, and a pretty great start to 2026, in Jacksonville. Stay tuned for further updates on a possible Pedestrian Plaza, Pickleball Courts, the Jacksonville Heritage Collaborative Project (a precursor to re-addressing the Vision 2028 Project from 2008), and the Heritage Apple Project. I sincerely hope 2026 is shaping up to be a terrific year for all of you, and I wish you the best in the coming months.