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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2016)
BUSINESS: Food Co-Op’s 40th open house, Albertsons to return to Baker City. PAGE 3 The SPORTS: Local man selected as Special Olympics coach for Austrian games. PAGE 7 Baker County Press TheBakerCountyPress.com 75¢ All local. All relevant. Every Friday. Friday, May 13, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 20 Three interview for City Manager • INTERVIEWS, MEET AND GREET HELD THIS WEEK BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com After some of the fi nal candidates for the City Manager position, soon to be vacated by retiring Mike Kee, either dropped out of the running or ac- cepted other positions, three remaining candidates interviewed in front of City Council early in the week. The three fi nalists also attended a meet and greet Monday afternoon, which was open to the public. Only one member of the public who was unaf- fi liated with the City or a candidate attended, as did various City staff and department heads. Interviewed were: • Cheryl Beatty—Cur- rently the Assistant City Manager/Finance Direc- tor of the City of Junction City, Kansas. She has held several other City Admin- istrator positions since 1997. She holds a Bach- elors of Science degree in Business Administration. • Jim Nichols— Former- ly the County Manager of Douglas County, Nevada. He has held several Man- ager and Assistant Manag- er positions dating back to 2005. He has a Master of Science degree in Environ- mental Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. • Fred Warner Jr.—Cur- rently employed by Nelson Real Estate, Baker City. He held the position of Baker County Chair from 2003- 2014. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Though not confi rmed by any member of City Coun- cil, speculation has quickly spread through town that one of these candidates has already been selected as the top candidate, and the hiring process may have already entered the nego- tiation phase. Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Kerry McQuisten/ The Baker County Press Cheryl Beatty. Jim Nichols. Fred Warner, Jr. Regardless, outgoing City Manager Mike Kee stated he anticipates a con- tract could appear on an agenda as soon as the May 24th Council meeting. On Wednesday after- noon, the City announced in a press release that it has an executive session scheduled for Thursday at 5:45 p.m. “to consider the employment of a public of- fi cer, employee, staff mem- ber or individual agent.” Greater Bowen Valley Rural Fire holds open house 911 calls not being recorded BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held an emergency, regular session on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 10 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Courthouse, in order to address the critical issue of Baker County 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center’s failed Stancil Recorder, which has been inoperable since Monday, according to newly hired Center Director, Hope Lindsey. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Com- missioners Mark Bennett and Tim Kerns, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Lindsey passed out copies of a staff report she prepared, and proceeded to explain the emergency situation: all incoming 911 calls, administrative calls, and radio traffi c could not be recorded with the Center’s equipment. Since Lindsey began work as Director in February, she said that the recorder has been experiencing issues, and had com- pletely failed to function on Monday evening. SEE 911 PAGE 8 Meghan Andersch/ The Baker County Press Future fi refi ghter Gabriel Jensen says goodbye to his mom before heading out to the scene of a fi re. BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Greater Bowen Valley Rural Fire Prevention Dis- trict hosted an open house on Saturday, May 7th. Besides grilled burgers and dogs, drinks, and sides, the event fea- tured information on fi re alarm installation and fi re safety, and offered giveaways for kids and adults. Beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures had the kids running outside, fl inging fl ying discs, and clamber- ing over the fi re trucks. Tables set up inside the building gave ample space for the adults to sit and visit. A sign-up for smoke alarms was available. These are provided and installed free of charge to community resi- dents. Anyone in need of smoke alarms can contact their local Fire Department or the Red Cross. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years. Many of the Department members mentioned the need for more volunteers. Tabbitha Jensen said she lives on the far side of Baker City, so has a 20 or more minute re- sponse time to a call out. Volunteers for the Department live locally and throughout the district. Jensen said it would be nice to have more volunteers in the local area to cut down the response time for emergencies. The depart- ment has been providing services to the Bowen Valley area from Baker City to Phillips Lake since 2001. SEE GREATER BOWEN VALLEY PAGE 5 Water rates go up 11.2% BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com • CITIZEN RECOMMENDS AXING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO SAVE $500K Meghan Andersch/ The Baker County Press Tabbitha Jensen explains the free fi re alarm program. It wasn’t the 17.5%, 19% or even the 25% water rate increase that had been tossed around over the past month, but in the end, City Council still voted to increase Baker City water rates by 11.2% total. The increase means a 10% jump in base and usage rates, with an additional 1.2% increase to adjust for infl ation. Councilor Richard Langrell presented the lone vote against the rate hike. Councilors Lewis and Lowe were absent for the vote. The idea of a water rate increase is consistently un- popular among Baker City residents, many of whom are on a limited budget and fi xed income. The councilors who were present at Tuesday’s meeting, and Mayor Kim Mosier, indicated many of those citizens had called or emailed to express their concerns. SEE WATER RATES PAGE 5 Friday Sunny and warm. Highs in the mid 80s. Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Lows in the upper 40s. Saturday Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and storms. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60s. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County. Our forecast made possible by this generous sponsor: Offi cial weather provider for The Baker County Press. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Huntington: Chamber auction Bike parts go to prison program First Friday meeting More County/Sunridge MOU Homemade Goodness: Catfi sh Burnt River fl ashfl ood Page Page Page Page Page Page 8 8 9 9 10 12