10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015
Local
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SESSION
Department updates,
commercial harvest proposal,
communication discussed
EOU offers new
family weekend
By Todd Arriola
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held its
regular bi-monthly ses-
sion on Wednesday, April
1, 2015, at 9 a.m., in the
Commissioners Chambers
of the Baker County Court-
house.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioner Mark Ben-
nett, Commissioner Tim
Kerns, and Executive As-
sistant Heidi Martin.
The meeting was called
to order, followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance and
optional Invocation, both
led by Harvey.
With a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns, the Board adopted
the agenda.
For the citizen’s par-
ticipation segment of the
session, Cynthia (Cookie)
Long, retired employee of
the Bureau of Land Man-
agement (BLM), discussed
some of her concerns with
the Board about legislation
regarding state control and
management of federal
land versus local control
and management.
Ed Hardt, Eastern Or-
egon Mining Association
member and local miner,
also voiced that he’d like
to talk more about the sub-
ject, and Harvey mentioned
First Friday with the Com-
missioner, at 9 a.m. on the
first Friday of each month,
also held in the Chambers,
would be a good forum for
that discussion.
The minutes from the
special commission session
on Wednesday, March 11,
2015, and regular commis-
sion session, on Wednes-
day, March 18, 2015, were
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns.
Jeff Smith, Baker Coun-
ty Roadmaster, discussed
with the Board removal
of the concrete slabs west
of the Armory building,
which remain after the de-
molition of the Extension
Service building. There
were concerns about the
timing of the removal and
about bare dirt remaining,
which would be covered
with gravel at the very
least, Smith said.
Practically, the Board
and Smith said, fall may
be the best time to move
ahead with the project, but
for now, a decision hasn’t
been made.
Harvey explained that
the Board is seeking advice
from Andy Reiber, an
expert on governmental
coordination processes and
other topics, in order to
aid with updates and other
relevant changes to the
County’s Natural Resourc-
es Plan.
This is a discussion for
the moment, he said, and
at a later date, the Baker
County Natural Resources
Advisory Committee
(NRAC) will be presented
with the information for
consideration.
Dan McQuisten, Baker
County Facilities Mainte-
nance Foreman since June
2014, was present to give
the Board a departmental
update.
He explained his basic
Submitted Photo.
Families are invited to EOU’s campus this month for
a new tradition—Family Weekend.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Gene Button, executive director at Step Forward, discusses a transportation
Formula Fund grant.
duties and those of the oth-
er staff, one full-time, one
half-time, and one hourly
member, the primary main-
tenance focus being the
County Courthouse.
They also maintain the
County Jail, Baker Heri-
tage Museum, and other
leased properties. This
includes everything from
janitorial services to land-
scaping to structural issues,
he said.
He discussed some of
the projects that were com-
pleted or started, includ-
ing installing an electrical
transfer switch on the west
side of the Courthouse,
used in conjunction with an
emergency generator to be
installed at a later date, in
case of a power outage to
the building, and the work
completed on the Parole
and Probation building.
A five-year plan was just
completed in cooperation
with the Baker City Tree
Board, including removing
and replanting trees around
the City, he said. He said
upcoming projects include
much-needed HVAC
system work at the County
Jail, but with the facility in
operation 24 hours a day, it
will be difficult to coord -
nate that effort. Bennett
thanked McQuisten, and
said he did a commendable
job, especially considering
the shortage of staff.
Karen Spencer, Baker
County Park Director, and
Baker County Forestry
Consultant Lane Perry
discussed the Fizz Springs
Timber sale and manage-
ment with the Board.
A Commercial Harvest
proposal was presented at
the regular Baker County
Parks Board meeting on
March 10, 2015, and it was
determined by Lane Parry
Timber Management that a
commercial harvest should
be conducted on the Fizz
Springs tract, located in the
Sparta Butte area, a total of
120 acres, with 95 of those
harvestable timer acres.
The proposal stated
that timber values have ris-
en in the past year, and are
projected to remain stable
or increase. At current log
values, it’s estimated that
the projected net income
to the Baker County Parks
would be $22,125, accord-
ing to the proposal.
The Baker County Parks
Board determined on
March 26, 2015 to post-
pone the harvest due to low
profit ma gins, according
to the Parks department.
Order No. 2015-114, Ap-
pointing Members To The
Baker County Parks And
Recreation Board, was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. Kevin Bell, Keith
Rogers and Steve McLean
were appointed, Bell’s
and Rogers’s term set to
expire on March 1, 2018,
and McLean’s term set to
expire on March 1, 2016.
Gene Button, Step
Forward Activities, Inc.
Executive Director, was
present to discuss a Special
Transportation Formula
Fund grant application
with the Board, which
would benefit both Step
Forward and Community
Connection of Northeast
Oregon, Inc. The grant
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns.
Order No. 2015-113,
Appointing An Interim
Sheriff, was approved,
based on the public hear-
ings conducted by the
Board, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. Lieutenant Travis
Ash was appointed Interim
Sheriff for the remainder
of the term, set to expire on
December 31, 2016.
A letter addressed from
Harvey to Tom Mon-
toya, Wallowa Whitman
National Forest Supervi-
sor, requesting an exten-
sion of time to review and
comment on the Granite
Creek Watershed Mining
Projects Draft Environ-
mental Impact Statement
(DEIS), was approved to
be sent as representing the
Board, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
A letter addressed
from Kerns to Montoya,
concerning the Wallowa-
Whitman National For-
est Plan and Sub-part A
(Travel Management), was
approved to be sent as rep-
resenting the Board, with a
motion from Kerns, and a
second from Bennett.
Kerns and Bennett
voiced their concerns about
some negative miscom-
munication to the public,
including some from media
sources, regarding the
subject, and wish to get a
positive dialogue started
with all involved.
Bennett said the letter
is a good idea, to invite
government representatives
to begin discussing in an
informal work session-type
setting the issues of access,
recreation, grazing, min-
ing, etc.
Bennett said that some
of the confusion stems
from the fact that the
Commissioners may have
comments and opinions
individually out of session,
but they may not necessar-
ily reflect what the Board
says collectively, a distinc-
tion that needs to be made
when communicating ideas
and decisions to the public.
Amendment #13 to the
2013-15 IGA (Intergovern-
mental Agreement) for the
Financing of Community
Addictions and Mental
Health, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett, and
second from Kerns.
A public hearing was
held during the session,
regarding Amendment
No. 2015-01, of the Baker
County Public Nuisance
Ordinance.
Holly Kerns was pres-
ent to give testimony con-
cerning the ordinance, and
explained the conflicts and
confusion within it, say-
ing it needs to be revised.
This session marks the 1st
reading (with a minimum
of two readings) of the
amendment, by title only,
which was approved, with
a motion from Kerns, and a
second from Bennett.
Baker County District
Attorney Matt Shirtcliff
discussed with the Board
an agreement with the
District Attorney’s Of-
fice, Count , and Oregon
Department of Human
Services, concerning funds
and management in sup-
port of efforts involved
with juvenile dependency
proceedings. The stated
amount available through
DHS according to the
agreement is $10,592.00
for the period of July 1,
2015 through June 30,
2017.
The agreement was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – The Center for Student
Involvement is inviting students, families and alumni to
be part of a new tradition at Eastern Oregon University:
Family Weekend.
From first-year students looking for something fun to
do, seniors preparing for life after graduation and families
beginning the college search process, the aim is to get
everyone involved.
“Reconnecting current students and families and
enhancing the campus experience by fostering an interest
in student development is the goal,” said Le Alexander,
director of Student Involvement. “The activities we have
planned are all about bringing in families and alumni to
be part of that experience.”
Events are set for Friday and Saturday, April 17-18,
and the annual Island Magic Lu’au and Show Saturday
night is the main attraction. The event includes festive,
traditional dishes and live entertainment – all prepared
and performed by members of the Polynesian and Navi-
gators clubs at EOU.
“The focus is on student life, recruitment and reten-
tion, but Family Weekend is also a great new activity for
La Grande and our area as a whole to look forward to,”
Alexander said.
With commencement just around the corner in June,
EOU’s Career Services Center will hold an open house
and workshop specifically for seniors. Alumni are encour-
aged to participate in this networking opportunity for
soon-to-be-graduates.
Student Services will be promoting its Mountaineer
Family Network as a resource for parents and other fam-
ily members to stay connected with what’s happening at
the university. They will also provide tips to help prepare
for when students return home for the summer.
The senior art exhibition “Disclosure” will be on
display in Nightingale Gallery over the weekend, and
participants are invited to pick up a free pass to the Fit-
ness Center and receive discounted tickets to the Moun-
taineer’s softball games versus the Oregon Institute of
Technology.
The full schedule will be available soon and posted on
the Center for Student Involvement’s website at www.
eou.edu/center. Registration is needed by April 8 and the
form is available online.
Accommodation options include the Best Western Plus
Rama Inn & Suites, where a block of rooms has been
reserved. Book by April 2 using the code “EOUFW” and
receive a reduced rate.
For more information contact the Center for Student
Involvement at 541-962-3704 or e-mail center@eou.edu.
Business meet
and greet ahead
Many business owners are so busy working on their
business, they have little time to cultivate new opportuni-
ties or take the time to discover new resources that could
move them to the next level in their business.
The BMCC Small Business Development Center has
brought together a variety of resources that will provide
people with the latest insights, best practices, and pro-
grams that can help move businesses forward. All in one
location!
The Program:
Learn more about the opportunities and resources
available to businesses in Baker County.
A Free "Meet & Greet" is planned for Wednesday, April
22, 2015 starting at 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, at Lefty’s Tap-
house located at 1934 Braodway in Baker City, Oregon.
The Program will give you a brief overview of the
resources and programs available to businesses and will
also allow for a business card exchange networking op-
portunity.
Contact Gene Stackle at The BMCC Small Business
Development Center by email at gene.stackle@msn.com
or call 541-523-5556.
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