8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015
Local
Sumpter’s new mayor takes PEO offers
the helm, Council sworn in scholarships
By Meghan Andersch
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Among business con-
ducted at Tuesday night’s
Sumpter City Council
meeting was the swear-
ing in of reelected council
members, an introduction
from the new mayor, and
election of a new President
of Council.
After leading the Pledge
of Allegiance and oversee-
ing the approval of minutes
from Council meetings on
December 9, 2014 and De-
cember 31, 2014, former
mayor John Young stepped
down for new mayor Me-
lissa Findley.
Those in attendance
offered applause for both
Young in appreciation for
what he has accomplished
the last four years and in
welcome for Findley.
LeAnne Woolf and
Robert Armbruster, re-
elected to City Council,
were sworn in.
Mayor Findley ex-
plained she had been
sworn in earlier in the
month by notary, but of-
fered to repeat the swear-
ing-in publicly.
Mayor Findley’s first
order of business was over-
seeing approval of bills.
Findley also shared that all
Council meetings will be
recorded.
She explained that this
will make it easier to pull
information for minutes.
Anyone else who wishes
to record the meetings is
welcome to do so.
Findley made an
introductory statement to
explain to those in at-
tendance what she stands
for and why she accepted
the offer to be a write-in
candidate for mayor. She
began by sharing a quote:
“Don’t confuse small with
insignificant.” She went
on to say that she hopes to
see Sumpter start enlarg-
ing its vision and said
she is disappointed about
Sumpter’s reputation in
the county and beyond as
people who can’t get along
or make decision. She
pledged to take her orders
from the State, citizens,
and City Charter.
Mayor Findley shared
several ideas of things she
would like to see change,
including use of City
equipment and time, the
way flea markets are run,
public improvement and
maintenance projects, EMS
training and the Quick Re-
sponse Unit (QRU) status,
marketing of Sumpter,
getting a grant writer
for the City, launching a
City-owned website which
will contain marketing
information, forms, and
the ability to pay bills, the
process of employee evalu-
ations and follow-through,
utilization of The Water
Tower communiqué that
goes out with the water
bill, newspaper coverage,
accumulation and use of
comp time, acquisition of
Superintendant’s House
and new bathrooms at the
library, and transparency of
Council votes.
In return, she asked
that citizens, “Show up,
speak up, and not complain
anonymously.”
She asked that citizens
feel free to let her know
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Melissa Findley (left) was introduced officially as the new may r of Sumpter
Tuesday. Findley was sworn in earlier.
their thoughts or concerns,
but requested that they also
respect her privacy. She
offered to share her e-mail
and phone, and asked that
if someone absolutely must
stop by, that they call first
Julie McKinney, City
Recorder, reported that tin
was put on the roof of the
picnic shelter. All that is
left on the Park Project is
to paint the shelter, which
must be completed before
the project is closed.
The City was granted
an extension until June
30, 2015, to complete the
painting. McKinney said
CenturyLink is getting
back to her with the proper
person to talk to about
renewing the franchise fee
contract.
The City received a
letter from Heidi Williams
(DEQ) approving the
$135,000 reduction in cost
for the necessary sewer
system upgrade.
Later in the meeting,
Mayor Findley reported
that they are waiting to
find out if the preliminary
engineering report will sat-
isfy the requirements of the
IFA loan application or if a
new report will be needed
Utility Manager Jeff
McKinney reported that
December went very well,
with no frozen pipes de-
spite some harsh weather.
The City plowed twice, on
12/21 and 12/28.
The water system
plugged up and had to be
brought back online only
twice. He is continuing
research into the most cost-
effective ways to complete
some necessary repairs
and updates to the water
system.
Fire Chief Kurt Clarke
reported one medical call
for the month. Paperwork
was finished and sent on
the Volunteer Fire Assis-
tance grant for the costs
of new certified turnouts,
hose, and equipment for
the brush truck. There
have been some issues
with volunteers’ radios
working.
Kerry Clarke used
$1,000 of his personal
funds to buy two radios.
One more is needed as two
people, Julie Prevo and
Brian Patton, joined the
fire department. On the
last drill night, the QRU
and QRU building were
cleaned and organized.
Much discussion,
including council and
public input, took place
regarding accepting the
property known as the
Superintendant’s House.
Mayor Findley stated she
had some concerns about
the costs to the City for
care and upkeep as well as
restoration. She suggested
that a final decision not
be made until the ques-
tions can be discussed and
settled.
Mayor Findley
explained she would like
to develop a Flea Market
committee outside of the
Council, but utilizing their
experience and input.
She would like to see
the committee made up of
local community members
and businesses. She would
also like to look at what
other attractions could be
brought in at the same time
as the Flea Markets.
Councilperson Annie
Oakley reviewed a few mi-
nor corrections to the new
Employee Handbook as
suggested by CIS attorney.
Resolution 313 regarding
adoption of the new hand-
book was read by Julie
McKinney and voted in.
Mayor Findley ex-
plained that Sumpter has
never had an employee
handbook and that Oakley
and the rest of the Council
have been hard at work to
create one.
Votes were taken for
President of Council.
Findley explained to at-
tendees that the duties of
this position are running
the Council meeting if the
mayor is not present, or
stepping up in the absence
of the mayor to handle any
issues.
With three votes, Toni
Thompson was elected as
next President of Council.
Resolution 312, to remove
John Young and LeAnne
Woolf, as outgoing mayor
and President of Council,
as signers on City ac-
counts, and add Melissa
Findley and Toni Thomp-
son as signers on the ac-
counts, was read aloud by
Julie McKinney, voted on,
and passed by Council.
Mayor Finley proposed
the idea of bi-monthly
City meetings, starting in
February.
She suggested keeping
the second Tuesday of the
month for business and
using the fourth Tuesday
to “get stuff done.” She
stated that she believes
there are some things that
can be done in a more
expeditious manner.
Councilperson Robert
Armbruster distributed
to Council a suggested
form to document citizen
concerns.
The form contains space
to record incident date,
name of the person with
the concern, ordinance
violation (if any), support-
ing evidence, and recom-
mended fixes.
Mona Clarke, in at-
tendance, suggested having
the forms signed as well.
Armbruster explained
that he has a folder of
complaints, many of them
anonymous, and that it
is frustrating to try and
resolve issues when they
are being reported second
or third-hand.
Armbruster also sug-
gested taking a more active
role in evaluating training
opportunities available
through League of Oregon
Cities and other approved
entities.
He suggested that when
an employee wants to at-
tend such a training, that
the Council members un-
derstand what the training
is about, approve it, and
review a participant evalu-
ation to better understand
the benefit of the training
and decide if others would
also benefit from the o -
portunity.
There was discussion,
including public input,
over the scope and role of
duties of the mayor.
Findley asked Council if
they would like to continue
the precedent set by the
previous mayor in hav-
ing her do the day-to-day
handling of the office and
staff.
Council voted to ap-
prove this.
All were invited to stay
afterward for coffee and
cookies to welcome the
new mayor and returning
members of City Council.
Chapter AX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood will award two
academic scholarships to two graduating senior girls from
high schools in Baker County and North Powder in May
2015. ·
The Gertrude Fortner-Rose Haskell Scholarship was
named for two charter members of Chapter AX who
strongly believed in higher education for women. ·
The Mildred F. Rogers Chapter AX P.E.O. Scholarship
was established in 2000 by her daughter and her grand-
children. Mrs. Rogers was a long-time member of Chap-
ter AX, being initiated in 1951 and holding the office of
president in 1952. She was a descendent of Oregon Trail
pioneer grandparents and lived her entire life in Baker
City. Always a loyal citizen, she gave of herself to the
community of Baker City and to its people, so that future
generations would have the opportunity to appreciate life
as she had. She died at the age of 100.
Scholarship applications are available in the guid-
ance office at high schools in Baker County (Bake , Pine
Eagle, Burnt River and Huntington) and North Powder.
Baker High School applicants must return applications
to the high school office by 8AM March 2, 2015.
Other Baker County and North Powder applicants
must mail applications to arrive by 8 a.m. March 2, 2015
to Dorothy Mason, PO Box 446 Baker City, OR 97814.
All female students from Baker County or North
Powder, who plan to enroll in an accredited college or
university are eligible.
The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic
achievement, goals, activities, financial need and personal
character.
The P.E.O. sisterhood is an international philanthropic
educational organization, which was founded in 1869
at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. P.E.O.
promotes educational opportunities for women through a
variety of scholarship and grant opportunities.
The P.E.O. sisterhood owns and supports Cottey Col-
lege in Nevada, Missouri. Chapter AX was organized in
1932 in Baker City.
For further information about the scholarships, contact
Dorothy Mason at 541-523-7642.
Cemetery
grants available
The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries is of-
fering grants for qualified historic cemeteries. The annual
grants fund projects that preserve historic cemeteries.
Projects funded in the past include marker repair work-
shops, fencing, signs, interpretive panels and brochures,
security lighting, access improvements, records manage-
ment and more.
Awards typically range between $1,000 and $4,000, but
have been higher. Anyone can apply for a grant. While
the grant applications are online, they are simple and
commission staff can provide support.
"Our goal is to preserve Oregon's historic cemeteries,
so we try to make it easy for people to access funds to
do that while ensuring the funds are appropriately used,"
notes Kuri Gill, historic cemeteries program coordinator.
Patricia McCracken with Winchester Elementary
School mentioned the assistance on her grant report. "We
were new to filling out grants, sta f was extremely helpful
when we called," she said.
There will be grant workshops on project planning
and grant writing. A two-hour workshop will be Feb. 3 in
Salem. A one-hour webinar will be available on Feb. 5.
State law established the seven-member commission to
maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites
in Oregon; promote public education on the significance
of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and tec -
nical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining
their appearances. To learn more about the grants or visit
www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.
Gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
4-Hers, OHA to
raffle off pistol
The Patriots 4-H club, in cooperation with the Oregon
Hunters Association, is holding a raffle to raise money for
its shooting sports participants.
The Patriots 4-H Club is a local club that participates
in archery, shotgun, and rifle. The club has participated
in a statewide contest for the past four years. The club
has also sent a team to Albany to compete in Oregon
State Shooting Competition.
Club members shoot in at least one of the disciplines
every week. Members also do community service within
the area. Some of these projects have been canned food
drives and painting at the local trap club.
The item up for raffle is a Springfield Loaded Operato
.45 cal. pistol.
Only 100 tickets will be sold at a price of $20 each.
Funds raised will be used to offset travel expenses for
shooting sports competitions.
For information or to purchase tickets, contact Toni
Myers, at 541-540-1332.
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