FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
City Budget Board holds fi rst
meeting for fi scal year
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
The City’s Budget Board met for its fi rst meeting of the new fi scal year at City Hall this week.
By Gina K. Swartz
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday evening saw the
fi rst meeting of the Budget
Board for the 2015-2016
fi scal year.
The budget committee
is made up of City Coun-
cil and an equal number
of community members
appointed to the board.
The appointed members
are Gail Duman, Randy
Daughtery, Aletha Bone-
brake, Beverly Calder,
Bruce Nichols, Rustin
Smith and Dan McQuisten.
The City operates by
fi scal year, beginning July
1 and ending June 30.
A budget must be
decided upon and adopted
before the end of each fi s-
cal year per ORS 294 and
is considered a legal docu-
ment that is regulated by
law. Getting to an adopted
budget involves several
meetings by the Board,
including public hearings
and input. This year a work
session aimed at preparing
the proposed budget is set
for May 8 with a Budget
Committee meeting sched-
uled for May 18.
If needed, tentative
plans to meet May 19, 20
and 21 have been sched-
uled also. A budget hearing
is set for June 23 with the
City Council at which time
the budget the commit-
tee has agreed on will be
presented, adopted and any
appropriations made.
This initial meeting of
the Board was information-
al aimed at bringing them
up to speed on the status of
the current budget, clarify-
ing what a budget is and
how it is structured and
allowing an opportunity
for any questions to be
answered or concerns to be
addressed.
The meeting was fa-
cilitated by Jeanie Dexter,
Finance Director for the
City, and Mike Kee, City
Manager, who also serves
as the City Budget Offi cer.
Dexter apprised those in
attendance that the State
Department of Revenue
does hold yearly classes
and workshops that could
help those understand the
process better and if any-
one would like information
regarding those classes and
or workshops she would
be happy to provide that
information.
Dexter also advised that
the Department of Revenue
also has booklets and other
information online that
might be useful in under-
standing the process. Dex-
ter began the meeting with
a power point presentation
explaining the process
and highlighting differ-
ent funds that money is
budgeted into, the biggest
being the General Fund
which accounts for 32% of
the total budget followed
by the Street Fund at 16%
and Water Fund at 12%.
The City Auditor Bob
Seymour was at the meet-
ing to address the com-
mittee on the latest audit
report saying “it was a
clean report and the city
had no debt.”
Audits are required by
the Secretary of State and
as Seymour explained, “A
test to see how well you
did.”
Audits also look for
fraud or mistakes and pro-
vide risk assessments. Sey-
mour also put into perspec-
tive the importance of not
exceeding a budget stating
that technically the City
Council is responsible if
the budget is exceeded and
could be held liable legally,
stressing the importance
of adopting a budget that
is going to work. Commit-
tee members were given
the City’s annual fi nancial
report as prepared by Bob
Seymour.
Randy Daughtery
questioned, regarding the
document, “On page 34,
what are allowances for
uncollectables? That seems
to be up 44% from 2013.”
Dexter responded
“Mostly, those are for
ambulance services.”
Medicare sets a standard
across the board rate that
they can be billed for these
services. The rate Baker
City charges for this ser-
vice is more, therefore the
difference has to be written
off as it is uncollectable.
Daughtery also ques-
tioned a defi cit in the
Central Stores Fund that
was explained by Dexter
as old plumbing fi xtures
that were in storage that
contained lead.
The City has been al-
lowed to continue to use
those fi xtures until recently
when they had to be dis-
posed of and replaced. It
was explained that the city
has to keep a supply on
hand for when emergency
situations requiring those
parts happen.
“Those issues need
fi xed immediately, there
is not an option of wait-
ing a day or two for a part.
You’ve got to maintain
inventory,”said Seymour.
Also brought up was
money that the golf course
owed the city that has yet
to be repaid and money
that is set aside to pay
employees what is owed to
them upon separation for
whatever reason.
City Manager Kee also
gave some updates on
continuing budget item
projects such as the Mt.
Hope Cemetery Veterans
headstone repair, ramp
replacement at City Hall,
window replacement for
City Hall in which some of
the allotted money is being
given to HBC, the heating
system upgrade needed at
Sam-O-Swim Center and
the Fire Department radio
upgrade.
The meeting then ad-
journed.
North Powder man found dead
after walking away from vehicle
According to the Wal-
lowa County Sheriff's
offi ce, William Lee Fox of
North Powder was found
dead after his vehicle
became stuck in the snow
near the Imnaha River
Road Sunday.
Fox, who had several
health conditions, includ-
ing chronic lung disease,
had attempted to walk
out and is thought to have
passed away of natural
causes on the way.
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Sheriff position
Continued from Page 1
Hoopes’s letter of intent states, “My name is John
Hoopes and I am submitting this letter to notify you of
my interest in the position of interim Sheriff of Baker
County, Oregon.
“For nearly 15 years, I have proudly served and pro-
tected the residents of Baker County, as well as the count-
less visitors who come to this area, as a Sheriff’s Deputy
for the Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce. I started my career
with the Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce in the Reserve
Deputy Program under Sheriff Terry Speelman in 2000.
During my time as a Reserve, I attended Eastern Oregon
University and worked as a temporary parole offi cer,
prior to being hired in 2001 as a Jail Deputy for the Baker
County Jail. In 2002, I was hired as a Patrol Deputy and
certifi ed through the Oregon Department of Public Safety
Standards and Training (DPSST) as a police offi cer. To
date, I have earned my basic, intermediate and advanced
police offi cer certifi cations.
“In addition to my duties as a Patrol Deputy, I am union
president of the Baker County Law Enforcement Associa-
tion. As a volunteer for the Association, I have repre-
sented and guided our Sheriff’s Offi ce employees in a
leadership role as president and vice president for nearly
5 years.
“I proudly served my country as a United States Marine
between the years of 1986 an 1991. I completed two
tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan, as part of my training
as a Marine Corps infantryman and held a secret clear-
ance status for 3 ½ years. I was honorably discharged
in 1991, and in 1996, I returned home to successfully
raise my own children as a single parent and to assist my
father with the automotive repair business my grandfather
started in the 1950’s. In 2002, my wife Lauri and I were
married—together we raised fi ve children and are now
the proud grandparents of 7 grandchildren. As a sixth
generation resident of this county, I take pride in knowing
my family has called this area home for over 100 years.
“I am eternally grateful to Baker County for provid-
ing me the opportunity to be a law enforcement offi cer.
I take great pride in the uniform I wear, protecting the
people I serve, and working with the employees I con-
sider family. It is my hope and desire to be selected for
this appointment—it would be a sincere honor to serve
our community as Sheriff.”
Hoopes and Ash will meet with County Commission-
ers March 11 during a special session at 9:30 a.m. at
the Courthouse. The public is invited to attend and ask
questions.
A decision between the two candidates is expected
March 18.
Republicans add
more guests to
annual banquet
The Baker County Republican Party will hold its an-
nual banquet on Saturday, March 21 at the Baker Elks
Lodge. Special guest Congressman Greg Walden will be
the keynote speaker.
Other guests include, State Representatives Greg Bar-
reto and Cliff Bentz. State Senator Ted Ferrioli will also
be in attendance. Bill Currier, newly elected Oregon
Republican Party (ORP) state Chairman, and Chris Bar-
reto, returning ORP Secretary, have also both announced
their attendance, as has Oregon’s National Committee-
man, Solomon Yue. The group may also may have some
special surprise guests.
Silent auction items will be available to bid on, as
well as a couple of items auctioned off by Congressman
Walden. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the
night. The party will also have a presidential straw poll
for all attendees to participate in.
Tickets are on sale now for the prime rib dinner at $35
each. Tickets are on sale at Dunn & Associates at the
corner of Main and Broadway, or call Suzan Ellis Jones
at 541-519-5035. All precinct committee people in the
county are also selling tickets.
Deadline to purchase tickets is March 18th.
Congressman Walden is appearing at this event only as
a featured speaker. Congressman Walden is not asking
for funds or donations.
Free smoking
cessation class
offered
Saint Alphonsus - Baker City is excited to offer Baker
County residents a free tobacco cessation program. This
is a four day course Monday March 9th – Thursday
March 12th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Classes will be
held at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City
in the Powder River Conference Room. To register call
today 541-524-9023. Space is limited so register now.
Nancy Caspersen is a Registered Nurse, Tobacco Ces-
sation Specialist and ex-smoker. She has been studying
tobacco and educating tobacco users for over 20 years.
Nancy has helped and educated over 10,000 smokers and
tobacco chewers in her live class. Her new DVD program
has been getting rave reviews from the medical profes-
sion as well as smokers and chewers who have been
given the knowledge and the inspiration they need to quit.
When participants complete the live four-evening
program they will receive the Quit with Nancy DVD
program for free! This DVD program sells for $350 on
Amazon.