FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Local
— Guest Opinion —
City gets clean
Superbowl:
audit report, makes stakes high
appointments
By Melissa Grammon
By Gina K. Swartz
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday night the City
Council met at 6:30 p.m.,
before the 7:00 p.m. regu-
lar session, for an execu-
tive session.
The regular meeting
began right on time at 7:00
p.m., being called to order
my Mayor Mosier with all
councilors present.
The Council’s first order
of business was to approve
minutes for the previous
regular meeting held on
January 13, 2015. It was
noted by City Recorder
Luke Yeaton that a couple
wording errors had been
discovered and changed
in those minutes. It was
moved by Councilor
Downing with a second
by Councilor Merrill to
approve those minutes.
Unanimously, the Coun-
cil agreed to approve the
minutes.
Mayor Mosier opened
the floor to any citizen pa -
ticipation of which there
was none.
Council next attended
to filling one open position
on the Planning Commis-
sion. There was only one
applicant for the one open
position, Brandy Bruce.
Bruce was unanimously
appointed to serve.
Mayor Mosier next
addressed the appoint-
ment of council members
to serve on various boards
and commissions. “I have
heard from three council-
ors interested in positions
on those committees.
Councilor Langrell has
stepped forward for the
Economic Development
Commission, Councilor
Thomas has expressed in-
terest in the Public Works
Advisory Commission,
and Councilor Augenfeld
has stepped forward to fill
the seat on the Public Arts
Commission,” Moiser said.
She then verified that
no other councilors were
interested in those seats
and expressed that there
are other committees and
options for service that
councilors can be involved
with that come up often.
Langrell, Thomas and
Augenfeld were appointed
to the committees they had
expressed interest in.
City Manager Mike Kee
added, “If a councilor’s got
an interest in one of these
things, as long as we don’t
have over three councilors
meeting together it is not
a public meeting. You are
more than welcome to at-
tend meetings, watch and
see what we are doing and
give your input.”
Next on the agenda was
approval of financial stat -
ments for the City. Bob
Seymour of Guyer and As-
sociates, which conducted
the yearly audit of the
City’s financials, addressed
the Council. “I’d be will-
ing to talk all night about
this stuff if you want, but I
am sure you don’t want me
to so I will keep my com-
ments brief. If you have
any questions I encour-
age you to ask. I want to
highlight that the City was
debt-free for sometime in
July of 2013 through just
past the end of the fiscal
year (June 2014) and that
is a very rare occurrence
to have no debt to outside
parties. But unfortunately
you had a UV treatment
plant that you needed to
build and so there is now
debt on that. But I thought
that to be debt-free was a
very notable accomplish-
ment.”
Seymour advised the
council that the auditors
do a risk assessment to see
where likelihood of error
or fraud is based on years
prior numbers and expec-
tations. Anything outside
of expectations is audited
more thoroughly.
Seymour stated that
his opinion was a “clean
opinion” of the financial
records. “That’s the best
you can get out of an audi-
tor.”
Mayor Mosier ques-
tioned Seymour about an
— Editorial —
Being prepared
is no joke
We receive steady press releases from
the State’s office of eme gency manage-
ment, and cover our County’s monthly
Oath Keepers meetings, receiving the low-
down from our local emergency manage-
ment team there. So when we posted on
Facebook a preparedness alert about ef-
forts to plan ahead for the next big Oregon
earthquake, it caught us off our guard to
see that some, despite the science, either
didn’t believe earthquakes can happen in
our State, or thought the whole idea of
preparing for one was a joke.
We happened to get similar feedback
from a different venue—from a reader of
a preparedness booklet we publish who
both disbelieved the scientific e fects of
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker
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lish letters containing factual falsehoods or
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every other week per author. Letters should
be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCounty-
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Advertising and Opinion Page Dis-
claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest
incident involving two
checks.
Seymour responded by
telling council, “What
happened in this particular
case was that the check
stock that came from the
bank had two blank checks
in it. When they went for
signature there was noth-
ing on them so they threw
them away leaving a gap in
check numbers that were
unaccounted for. Luckily,
it happened early enough
in the year those involved
were able to remember
what happened. We have
made the recommendation
that if something weird
like that happens, keep
those and mark them as
void and keep them in a
voided check file.”
The council voted to
unanimously approve the
City’s financial report. The
City’s full financial report
is available on the website
bakercity.com.
Kee addressed the Coun-
cil regarding information
provided by the coalition
to revitalize Main Street
and restore Oregon about
proposed legislation to
give tax credits to those
that rehabilitate historic
buildings.
There is potential to
create as a many as 1,300
jobs.
Council is being asked to
write a letter in support for
Representative Benz and
Senator Ferrioli. “There is
quite a bit of information
so I wanted you to have it
then we will add it to the
next agenda,” said Kee.
Council also set a date
for a goal setting special
meeting for March 21,
2015 from 9 a.m. to 12
p.m.
Before ending the meet-
ing councilor Downing
recognized the Baker City
Police Department for the
strides made with recent
drug arrests. “That was a
big job with a lot of people
involved, a lot of hours
spent. Very well done and
very professional.”
Electromagnetic Pulses, and had no idea
that North Korea is currently trying to put
the finishing touches on that technology
for use as a weapon.
We suppose ignorance is bliss, but we
also wonder what happened to the good
old-fashioned desire for independence and
self-sufficienc . For basic survival even!
Parables such as the one about the ant
and the grasshopper come to mind as do
cliches like “better safe than sorry.”
There are situations that could arise at
any time without warning—anything from
a natural disaster to an economic depres-
sion to war. These things have happened
since the beginning of civilization, and
based on that fact, will happen again.
So when acts as simple as storing food,
water, medical supplies, fuel, ammunition
and the like could be the difference be-
tween life and death for your family, why
would these things be viewed as “fringe”
activities about which to joke?
Stop and think about it for a minute.
Then become the ant.
—The Baker County Press Editorial Board
Opinions or Letters to the Editor express
the opinions of their authors, and have not
been authored by and are not necessarily
the opinions of The Baker County Press, any
of our staff, management, independent
contractors or affiliates. Advertisements
placed by political groups, candidates,
businesses, etc., are printed as a paid
service, which does not constitute an
endorsement of or fulfillment obligation
by this newspaper for the products or
services advertised.
Super Bowl XLIX is upon us, and mil-
lions of Americans will be cheering on the
Seattle Seahawks and New England Patri-
ots. Fans have been waiting all season to
see their teams reach the big game and the
stakes are high in more ways than one.
USA Today estimates $12 billion was
bet on the Super Bowl last year. Super
Bowl wagering reaches such a fever pitch
that folks bet not only on the game, but
on things like who will sing the National
Anthem, what color clothing they will
wear, how long they will hold the note on
the word “free” etc. For most people it’s
really just a way to have some fun, but
for the thousands of Oregonians who are
problem gamblers, the Super Bowl stakes
are much higher.
Many people aren’t aware that gam-
bling can become just as addictive as
substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and
drugs; and events like the Super Bowl can
serve as “triggers” for those with gam-
bling problems.
This concerns not only problem gam-
blers, who may see betting on the Super
Bowl as a last hope to recoup their losses
from wagering on the season, but youth
as well. Thirty percent of youth in Baker
County have self-reported as gambling
in the past 30 days and those who have
gambled are more likely to engage in
other risky behaviors as well, such as
binge drinking and using tobacco.
It’s something we need to pay attention
to and address. Parents can use this event
as a teachable moment to talk to their
kids about
the fact that
gambling
can become
addic-
tive. There
are great
resources
for kids and
parents at
www.prob-
Submitted Photo
lemgam-
Melissa Grammon is
blingpreven-
the Prevention Coordi-
tion.org.
nator for Baker County
In Baker
and works at New
County, it’s
Directions Northwest.
estimated
that there are
over 400 adult problem gamblers. Since
each problem gambler affects 6-10 people
around them, the impact in our small com-
munity can ripple out quickly
How to know if someone has a gambling
problem:
•
They are often preoccupied with
gambling.
•
They bet more money and more
frequently.
•
They lie about the money and
time they spend gambling.
•
They often chase their losses by
betting more in a futile attempt to regain
the money they’ve lost.
If you or someone you care about
is putting too much at stake with their
gambling, free and confidential help is
available by calling 1-877-mylimit or by
going to 1877mylimit.org. Help is also
available from problem gambling counsel-
ors at New Directions Behavioral Health
and Wellness at 541-523-3646.
Are you a family member of a prob-
lem gambler? You too can get help with
or without the direct involvement of the
gambler.
— Letters to the Editor —
Tired of being force-fed by USFS
To the Editor:
Countless people in Eastern Oregon are
consumed by the forest plan or the travel
plan that is being force-fed us by the
USFS. We spend part of every single day
living the possible impact of losing our
access and open forest system. Impact,
negative impact on economy, health and
welfare, carry over to every aspect of our
personal lives. We don’t need a graph to
know we are tied historically and pres-
ently to our public lands.
At the moment we are being fed,
“strategy.” As always I associate a change
in terminology and new words with an
individual’s possible advancement in the
agency. The dictionary tells me, “strat-
egy,” the science of planning and directing
military operations. Esp, using strata-
gems.
Okay what is “stratagems?” Back to
my dog-eared ancient dictionary. “Strata-
gem” 1. a trick plan for deceiving an
enemy in war—2. Any tricky ruse. I’m
not saying the choice of words was inten-
tional, maybe a poor choice at best.
I can point to a few, but not all the strata-
gems, “this plan doesn’t close roads,”
“this project doesn’t close roads,” all
the while closures are hidden and buried
behind vocabulary such as “desired condi-
tions,” “habitat,” “reclamation,” “restora-
tion,” “collaborative,” or “partnerships.”
Looking at the invitations to the “strategy
meeting” would leave most reasonable
people wondering. To my knowledge
every representative except FAFA, is
willing to let our roads and open forest
be negotiated away without a thought, or
consideration of our previous losses.
The Travel Management Plan, was strong-
ly opposed, resulting in the Record of
Decision, being withdrew. Now we have
the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision,
that has met with overwhelming nega-
tive reviews. Presently eleven counties
have voiced opposition to the forest plan,
accompanied by over 1,000 submitted
comments that are 95% against the plan.
The message is very clear, but I guess the
volume is set to low for the forest service
to hear.
These plans generate employment for
an agency that has lost all credibility with
the public.
Who is in charge? The condition of our
vast forest resources are in deplorable
condition and will continue to decline if
the present mentality of managing people
takes priority over healthy forests.
I’m offering a strategy,” cut funding to
this top heavy agency.”
Wanda Ballard
Baker City
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Governor.Oregon.gov
State Rep. Cliff Bentz
503.986.1460
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