FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Sumpter City Council has very full agenda
By Meghan Andersch
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council
met on Tuesday night to
hear reports and discuss
and approve several items
of business.
County Commissioner
Bill Harvey and his wife
Lorrie also attended.
Mayor Melissa Findley
opened the meeting with
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Previous meetings’ minutes
were reviewed, amended,
and accepted.
Bills were discussed and
approved.
Findley introduced Mr.
Harvey, who shared infor-
mation on opportunities
and issues in the County
and fi elded questions from
Council members and
meeting attendees.
Harvey stated he had
spoken with Tim Bishop
earlier in the day about
economic issues, including
the possibility of starting a
bike race from Sumpter to
John Day and back.
Harvey said the US
Forest Service is trying to
designate where snowmo-
biles may be driven and
there are similar issues
with 4-wheeler use. Har-
vey stated he has never
seen a snowmobile hurt
the ground under the snow,
and would like to see these
opportunities expanded,
not curtailed. He is work-
ing with the USFS on ideas
to get past restrictions
they’re trying to put on the
County.
Harvey spoke of the
decision to not sign the
Forest Service’s new
Memorandum of Under-
standing, stating the MOU
basically means that the
County would have no say
in what the USFS decides.
Wallowa County joined
Baker County in refus-
ing to sign. Harvey said
he has gotten many calls
thanking the Baker County
commissioners for taking
a stand. Harvey said they
would like to see the For-
est Service come back to
the table to discuss their
differences and proceed
with a plan that will work
for Baker County.
Harvey said the County
is also tackling the possi-
bility of logging in the for-
est, stating, “Jobs is what I
campaigned on, what I be-
lieve in, and what will take
care of many problems in
Baker County.” He said
there is agreement that we
have too much timber in
the forest and would rather
cut it, clean it and thin it
than burn it.
Harvey fi elded sev-
eral questions regarding
closure of roads and what
will happen now that the
County has refused to sign
the MOA. Harvey stated
the USFS never asked
the County for input on
the “desirable amount”
of roads in the forest and
said closing roads would
not only reduce ability for
recreation, harvesting fi re-
wood, and fi ghting fi res,
but would also violate
ADA rules and laws by
impeding ability to rescue
lost or injured persons.
Harvey stated Wallowa
County joining in refus-
ing to sign the MOA had
a startling effect and he
is hoping to have started
something. He reminded
everyone that this is just
one issue affecting the
County and encouraged
everyone to keep being
involved and sending in-
formation to his offi ce.
Harvey has started “First
Friday with a Commis-
sioner” and reserves 9 a.m.
on the fi rst Friday of the
month for anyone to come
in and talk to him about
any issue they want. His
offi ce is located in the
Baker County Courthouse.
After Commissioner
Harvey’s presentation, the
Council heard reports.
Mayor Findley reported
that the Employee Hand-
book process has been
completed. New offi ce
hours are Monday to Fri-
day 8-5.
She asked to delay start-
ing twice a month meet-
ings, on the 2nd and 4th
Tuesday evenings of the
month, to March.
Findley reported a com-
plaint after a private citizen
helping plow out some-
one’s driveway got some
snow berm in front of
another citizen’s driveway.
The situation was
resolved and the berm was
replowed. Findley stated
she does not want to see
“Sumpter stop helping
Sumpter,” just asks that
everyone be cognizant of
how and where.
She also asked that
anyone plowing on City
streets make sure they have
insurance, as a private
citizen plowing would be
responsible to pay for any
damage to signs, water
mains, etc.
Another complaint
involved someone living in
a camp trailer and stepping
outside to urinate in view
of other City residents.
The situation has been
addressed. It was asked
if any ordinance or rule
says that a conditional use
permit is needed to live
in a travel trailer. Findley
clarifi ed that the answer is
yes, especially if they are
using City utilities.
Findley stated she would
really like to pursue getting
the City its own website,
for purposes of market-
ing, sharing information,
making forms available,
etc. She has received one
quote which would run
about $2500 for the full
package, including build-
ing a website that can be
maintained and updated by
the City, and instructional
how-to videos for updating
the website.
Findley stated she will
bring several quotes to
the next meeting and ask
Council to proceed on ap-
proving the expenditure.
Findley reported meet-
ing with Fire Chief Kurt
Clarke last week to discuss
updates to the Fire Depart-
ment. These include ask-
ing John Young to move
training and safety exper-
tise to the fi re side of the
Department and bringing
in Anna Stafford as EMS
Coordinator to train on the
EMS side. Both would be
of equal stature and report
to Fire Chief Clarke and
Jim Sheller.
Findley also asked
Council to approve spend-
ing about $500 to have
Stafford do a consult and
present a business plan
for the Fire Department,
including feedback on
bringing standards, fi les
and training up to par.
When asked if she is
implying the Fire De-
partment and EMS are
substandard, Findley stated
she is asking the City to
do what they need to do to
be up to regulation in all
aspects and categories and
to take advantage of the
knowledge Stafford has to
offer. She had Stafford put
together a professional bi-
ography, which is available
for anyone who wants to
review it. Council voted to
approve Fire Department
updates with one absten-
tion due to not hearing
discussion with the Fire
Department.
Findley shared a report
from Randy Jones of DEQ
about the potential op-
portunity for a marketing
intern—free of charge—
to work marketing for
Sumpter. She will fi nd out
more this week and report
at the next meeting.
Findley suggested The
Water Tower newsletter
should not be put in with
the water bill until changes
are made and there is full
consensus about what
goes in the newsletter.
She stated that no one is
suggesting getting rid of
it. They want to make it
better, more informative,
and include facts and in-
formation everyone needs
to hear.
City Recorder Julie
McKinney reported that a
reimbursement request was
sent in on the OPRD grant.
Half of the amount will be
sent now, with the remain-
der to follow as soon as
the painting on the picnic
shelter is fi nished. W2s
were sent out and they are
starting work on the new
budget. The city received
its portion of State Rev-
enue Sharing--$1238 year
to date.
Utility Manager Jeff
McKinney reported that
in January the City had to
plow once and the water
clogged up once. He got
a preliminary quote of
$45,900 for the cost of
the new meter required
by DEQ. McKinney is
looking into options to
bring that down as much as
possible.
McKinney reported
the steering box failed on
the utility truck, but Mark
Bork was able to repair
it quickly for return to
service. McKinney com-
mented they are fortunate
to have local mechanics to
meet needs at short notice
and at fair prices.
McKinney also reported
repair of a sewage drain-
ing system fail at Scoop
and Steamer and a failed
water meter at the Elkhorn
Restaurant.
McKinney said he has
started a street sign recla-
mation and replacement
project for the City. Half
the signs in town are gone.
He is working to complete
a cost estimate for materi-
als, time and labor. He
would also like to coordi-
nate with the Fire Depart-
ment to get addresses that
can be seen when they are
called out.
The Fire Chief’s Report
was given by Jim Sheller.
Last month, the City had
one medical call out with
six responders.
OSP gives anti-scam tips
Recently, the Oregon
State Police has taken
reports from people who
have been scammed out of
money by people posing as
law enforcement offi cers
on the telephone.
Scammers have called
and claimed to be members
of a police department or
sheriff's department and
that the victim missed jury
duty, had outstanding fi nes,
or a warrant for their arrest
that could be taken care of
over the phone with a pay-
ment. Callers may instruct
the victims to purchase
re-loadable cards and call
them back with the num-
bers. Similar scams have
been reported in the past
year where callers claim
to be with a utility or other
government agency.
The Oregon State Police
reminds you to be aware
that:
• The Oregon State Po-
lice or any other legitimate
law enforcement agency
does not call community
members seeking payment
for outstanding traffi c cita-
tions or warrants.
• The Oregon State
Police does not call indi-
viduals and demand money
from community members
under any circumstances.
• Individuals claiming
to collect debts may try
to instill fear in potential
victims to persuade them
to forward money.
Tips.
• Never give personal or
fi nancial information to an
unsolicited caller or email.
• Be suspicious of callers
who demand immediate
payment for any reason.
• Utility companies and
government agencies will
never contact you for pay-
ment by GreenDot, Mon-
eyPak or Vanilla Reload.
• Remember that anyone
who has the number on a
prepaid card has access to
the funds on your card.
• Never wire money,
provide debit or credit card
numbers to a stranger.
The Oregon Judicial
Department (OJD) advises
that courts may use an
independent collection
service to collect unpaid
monetary judgments and
fi nes. If someone believes
they are being scammed
regarding an alleged un-
paid traffi c citation or other
court-imposed fi nancial
obligation they can:
• Ask the collector (call-
er) for information specifi c
to the alleged warrant or
unpaid traffi c citation.
The caller should have the
court case number, date of
ticket and vehicle license
number.
• Verify the debt or
confi rm other details by
calling the OJD collections
hot-line at 1-888-564-
2828.
• Use OJD Courts ePay
to directly pay money
owed to state courts for
most traffi c citations, civil
fees or criminal fi nes (For
more information go to
http://www.courts.oregon.
gov/OJD/OnlineServices/
ePay/Pages/index.aspx.
If you receive a similar
call, disconnect without
providing any information
or taking any instructions
from the caller. Contact
your local law enforcement
agency. You may also fi le a
complaint with the Oregon
Department of Justice Con-
sumer Protection Offi ce
via the Consumer Hotline
at 1-877-877-9392 from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
or complete an on-line
Consumer Complaint Form
anytime at http://www.
doj.state.or.us/consumer/
Pages/complaint.aspx
Sheller and Neil Bork
mentioned to dispatch the
idea of giving them the
name of the person when
there is a medical call out.
Due to address and street
oddities, this could make
the response time quicker.
Another possibility would
be having a volunteer place
all addresses into a GPS
unit located in the EMS
Quick Response Unit.
Sheller and Dick Malone
replaced a gauge on the
brush truck and they are at
“100% operation, ready to
roll at moment’s notice”.
No one from the Plan-
ning Commission was
available to give a report.
Mayor Findley suggested
dissolving the Commission
for a while, until they are
able to have a quorum and
meet consistently. After
some discussion and feed-
back, both from council
members and the public, it
was decided to put the mat-
ter on the meeting agenda
for next month and invite
all Planning Commission
members to attend.
City Recorder McKin-
ney reported that the IFA
loan application for the
DEQ project needs to be
completed. The pre-engi-
neering report will work
for the application.
Council member Le-
Anne Woolf asked if any
feedback has been received
from the City attorney re-
garding DEQ’s interpreta-
tion of the City’s indebted-
ness limit. As it has not,
Mayor Findley asked for a
copy of the letter McKin-
ney sent in November and
said she will follow up.
Regarding the offer to
the City of the property
known as the Superinten-
dent’s House, Mayor Find-
ley suggested getting all
details on costs to the City,
inside and outside, before
proceeding. Council voted
to rescind December’s mo-
tion to move forward until
they have suffi cient details.
Mayor Findley said she
would like to try a com-
mittee this year for the
Flea Market and said she
has spoken already to Lori
Jean Pruitt and Anna Staf-
ford and charged them with
getting input from other
businesses in Sumpter,
communicating with City
Council, and communicat-
ing with the vendor base.
Council approved appoint-
ing the committee.
Mayor Findley said due
to feedback, the Complaint
Form was renamed. The
new form for Citizen
Feedback and Opportuni-
ties will be made available
several places, including
City Hall, and perhaps the
Gold Post.
Mayor Findley reported
that Sumpter has the op-
portunity to increase their
CenturyLink franchise fee
from 4 to 7%. The extra
3% goes onto customers’
bills. Utility Manager
McKinney asked if Cen-
turyLink will collect and
pass through the additional
percentage dollar for dollar
and cent for cent and was
told yes. Findley recom-
mended moving ahead and
revisiting the issue if it
turns out to be a burden for
citizens.
City Recorder McKin-
ney reported on Supervisor
Training with CIS. Topics
covered included recruit-
ment, employee hand-
books, interview teams,
preferred candidates,
orientation, retiring, etc.
McKinney said the
information was quite
valuable and there was
much emphasis on main-
taining a good rapport with
employees. She stated she
learned never to fi re any-
one without fi rst consulting
attorneys.
McKinney read a let-
ter from the Snowmobile
Club requesting the use
of folding chairs from the
Community Center and the
use of City streets for the
Outhouse races on Satur-
day. The requests were
approved.
Council approved send-
ing Utility Manager Jeff
McKinney to the 37th
Annual Management and
Technical Conference of
the Oregon Association of
Water Utilities the begin-
ning of March. This meet-
ing is “almost mandatory”
and will go a long way
toward getting him needed
certifi cations.
A motion to appoint
Kathi Vinson as Budget
Offi cer was approved.
During the Public Input
portion of the meeting, Jim
Sheller said the Poker Run
will happen Saturday with
or without snow. He said a
trail is set up for those who
want to ride, but it will
likely be hard on sleds.
The Outhouse Races
will either take place at the
Fairgrounds, or Center and
Sumpter Streets, depend-
ing on which site is most
conducive to the event.
Turbo assists
with drug bust
On February 5, 2015 at about 8:00 p.m. Baker City Po-
lice Department Detective Bass stopped a vehicle driven
by Alexander Prentice Griffi n on Campbell Street near
Walnut Street in Baker City, Oregon for multiple traffi c
violations.
While Det. Bass was completing the traffi c stop, BCPD
Offi cer Weaver deployed K-9 “Turbo” around the ve-
hicle. Turbo “alerted” on the vehicle.
More than one ounce of Methamphetamine and just
under an ounce of Marijuana were seized.Alexander Grif-
fi n was lodged at the Baker County Jail for Possession
and Delivery of Methamphetamine.
This investigation is continuing.
John, thank you
for 53 adventurous
years. I love you.
—Roberta
I love beef!
I love lamb!
—Mule Springs
Ranch