10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015
Local
City Council approves goals
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Resolution #3745 Set-
ting Sidewalk Utility Fee
Allocations for 2015 was
approved. Public Works
Director Michelle Owen
said there were “no pro-
posed changes” to that fee
this year. The fee funds a
reimbursement grant of
$3.50/square foot, which
Owen says basically cov-
ers the cost of product to
replace sidewalk. Applica-
tions will be taken through
May 5, with distributions
beginning in July.
Resolution #3747 was
approved, amending
the 2014-2015 budget.
A total of $10,000 will
be transferred from the
Community Development
and Contingency Funds to
the Golf Course Fund to
cover a combination of an
existing defi cit, foreseen
and unforeseen expenses
related to maintenance at
the golf course including
mainline repair, shop door
repair, and repair of the
leaking hydraulic system
on a tractor.
$5,000 was also ap-
proved to be pulled from
the Contingency fund to
complete an Environmen-
tal Impact Study required
by law as the City begins
the process of transfering
the sale of electricity gen-
erated at its small hydro-
electric plant from OTEC
to Idaho Power. OTEC will
no longer purchase that
electricity as of June 30.
Resolution #3746
was approved, setting a
formal protocol for the
Baker City Police Depart-
ment’s Property Inventory
Program—that’s the lost
property room, of which
Lt. Kirk McKormick was
in charge prior to his recent
resignation. Police Chief
Wyn Lohner testifi ed to
Council that this resolution
was unique to Baker City,
triggered by the need to
standardize how individual
offi cers process items such
as backpacks that might
be full of other items. If
an item is discovered that
might be “evidentiary,” he
said, the need for a defi ni-
tive process that eliminates
offer discretion needs to be
in place.
Fees and Budget.
Finance Director Jeanie
Dexter reviewed a few
select budget and fee items
that need revision. In all,
she stated she was look-
ing for input rather than a
vote by Council during this
meeting, there were few
changes, and no infl ation-
based increases recom-
mended this year.
The fi rst change Dexter
mentioned was a simple
name change from “Large
Animal Permit” to “Live-
stock Permit” in order to
clarify that permit.
A new fee, tiered in na-
ture, is currently being set
for the wall for cremains
at the cemetery. Fees will
likely vary based on loca-
tion of cremains placement
within that wall.
One typographical error
for on site consultations at
commercial buildings will
change the $60.96 fl at fee
to read as an hourly rate.
Another error corrects the
permit fees on page 16
for sidewalk construction
to read “in excess of 500
square feet” rather than
100 square feet.
Implementation of a new
hourly rate for the Building
Department would target
plan reviews and special
review requests from
members of the public. A
“somewhat discounted”
rate was also discussed for
nonprofi ts.
City Manager Mike Kee
cautioned that he felt
such an hourly rate would
be used “sparingly” and
stressed the need to talk
more in depth with that
Gary Bood from that de-
partment before continuing
further with development
of that fee.
The proposed hourly fees
and other changes will be
posted with the State so
that the City meets the 45-
day posting requirement
before implementation;
however, the City can still
either approve or disap-
prove these changes at a
later date.
Council decided to bring
the full fee schedule back
at the June meeting and
make a decision at that
point, and formally adopt a
budget.
Goals.
Council voted unani-
mously to approve the ten
goals, and their sub-goals,
as determined in a March
work session, but not
before a lengthy discussion
on the wording beneath the
enhanced water security
goal.
Mayor Kim Mosier said
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
City Manager Mike Kee (seated at right) says a new
proposed hourly fee for the Building Department
needs much more discussion.
she “hesitated” toward
putting “such a huge task
as fi res – fuel reduction”
in the goal list. She said
she’d spoken to the Forest
Service and came away
understanding that fuels
reduction in the watershed
was an overwhelming
process. She pointed to
Environmental Impact
Statements she believed
the City would fi rst need
to commission, and said
that was “just the tip of
the iceberg as to what that
entails.”
“The biggest risk of fi re
is from human sources
around the watershed,”
Mosier stated. She pointed
out hunters and people
who live near the wa-
tershed specifi cally, and
recommended that “fuel
reduction” be removed
from the goals.
Kee suggested that fuels
reduction be kept in the
goals. Referring to the For-
est Service, Kee stated, “I
don’t think fuel reduction
is as important to them as
it is to us.”
Councilor Richard Lan-
grell backed Kee’s point
of view. “We’ve got to
get started,” he said. “Or
the problem continues to
grow.” He urged leaving
the goal on the list so staff
would be able to begin fuel
reduction efforts, maybe
not this year, but soon.
In the end, Council
agreed to change the word-
ing of the goal in question
from “fuel reduction” to
something along the lines
of “reducing fi re hazards.”
The goals as presented
are:
• Continue support of
parks and outdoor spaces.
• Continue to promote
communication and col-
Estate / Moving Sale
Ski Boat | Antiques | Guns | Furniture |Appliances
April 25, 2015 Time: 10:00 A.M.
Sale Located at: 452 Bitterbrush Dr., Nampa, Id.
Terms: Cash or bankable check day
of sale. No merchandise removed
prior to settlement.
10% buyers premium.
Concessions available on site.
• 1997 Rinker Captiva
192 ski boat
• Winchester
collectable rifl e
• 1800s pump organ
• Duncan Pfi ffe
• Drexler
• Laz-E-Boy
• Top quality
appliances
• Power tools and
welders
• Quality household
items
• Recreational/
camping equipment
• Brand new whizzer
bike
• Hovearound
• Mantis tiller and
garden tools
• Much more!
This is an exceptional estate.
For a complete description and pictures go to:
www.snakeriverauction.com
Sale Conducted by
Snake River Auction L.L.C.
P.O. Box 672, Payette, Idaho • (541)212-5918
Roger K. Nakashima, Auctioneer
laboration with community
partners and government
entities.
• Develop a wastewater
disposal plan
• Enhance community
liveability
• Evaluate and enhance
the economic development
plan
• Implement an asset
maintenance schedule
• Increase citizen in-
volvement
• Maintain and enhance
water security
• Promote Government
integrity
• Require cost-effective
budget management
Each major category
contained two to fi ve sub-
components. Kee stressed
that the goals were not
listed in order of impor-
tance.
Council Mack Augen-
feld mentioned he would
have liked to have seen the
goals have more “focus.”
Rural Fire Districts and
Annexations.
In 2005, several prop-
erties were annexed by
the City with the under-
standing that they would
be served by Rural Fire
Departments rather than
the Baker City Fire Depart-
ment (BCFD) until further
notice. Council agreed
to begin contacting those
property owners to notify
them of the City’s intent to
begin shifting them under
the BCFD during the 2015-
2016 year. The process
is likely to be lengthy,
including correspondence,
public hearings, etc. and
gathering feedback from
those property owners was
emphasized.
Langrell v. City of
Baker City.
Richard Langrell de-
clared a personal confl ict
of interest and stepped
down, both fi guratively
and physically, for a vote
on whether or not to fi nal-
ize the settlement arrived
at between the City’s
attorney and Langrell’s
attorney. Langrell’s suit put
forward that the City had
illegally charged Langrell
and his wife double sewer
and water fees for years
regarding their property
The Always Welcome Inn,
as part of an annexation
agreement. That agreement
was silent on water/sewer
fee assessment.
The $50,000 settlement
amount, to be paid to
Langrell, was unanimously
approved, with the original
motion made by Mosier
and seconded by Councilor
Ben Merrill.
This fi nal issue on the
agenda was wrapped up
in a matter of minutes,
an anticlimactic end to a
months-long process.
The meeting wrapped up
around 9 p.m.
By that time, that dusting
of snow from two hours
earlier had already melted
outside.
Huntington
man sentenced
On April 13, 2015 Chet Schisler (dob 04-04-83) of 165
E. Monroe St., Huntington, Oregon, was sentenced to
30 months with the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Schisler pled guilty to Unlawful Delivery of Metham-
phetamine within 1,000 Feet of a School. Schisler was
also sentenced in Grant County on April 9, 2015 to 30
months in prison for an Unlawful Delivery of Metham-
phetamine charge. The Baker County prison time will
run consecutive to the Grant County prison time for a
total of 60 months in prison. The plea was part of a plea
agreement with the Baker and Grant County District At-
torney’s Offi ces.
The case was investigated by the Baker County
Narcotics Enforcement Team. The team was able to
utilize an undercover informant who purchased metham-
phetamine from Schisler and his co-defendant Jeremy
Mclean. Mclean was also sentence to fi ve years in prison
between the two counties back in January. The under-
cover sale in Baker County occurred near South Baker
School.
Schisler was further sentenced to 3 years post
prison supervision which will follow his fi ve year prison
sentence. He also must complete alcohol and drug treat-
ment. “Schisler was eligible for prison as he had two
prior drug convictions and had previously served prison
time,” said D.A. Matt Shirtcliff.
Hamilton gets
jail time in Ace
Hardware theft
On April 14, 2015, Theresa Marie Hamilton, 45, of
Oregon City, Oregon, pled guilty to one count of Theft in
the First Degree, a Class C Felony and one count of Theft
in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor. Two
other counts were dismissed in a plea agreement with the
District Attorney’s Offi ce.
Hamilton was sentenced to fi ve years of formal proba-
tion on the felony count and must serve 60 days in the
Baker County Jail. She was ordered to pay $24,091 in
restitution to Scott and Diana Thatcher, the victims in
the case. On the misdemeanor count, Hamilton must
serve an additional 30 days in jail consecutive to the 60
in count one, for a total of 90 days in jail. She was also
ordered to complete alcohol and mental health treatment
as part of probation.
Hamilton stole cash from Ace Hardware where she
was employed as a bookkeeper. The thefts occurred
between February 2013 and July of 2014. Hamilton
utilized a scheme where she altered deposit slips that she
took to the bank thereby allowing her to steal cash that
belonged to the business. “The victims were pleased
with the sentence as Ms. Hamilton is serving jail time,
but will also be required to pay back full restitution as a
requirement of her probation.”
Community
Bank holds
new contest
Community Bank is announcing a new contest start-
ing in April. The “Traveling HAMilton Photo Contest”
involves taking and entering a photo of HAMilton, the
Community Bank pink piggy bank, on an adventure. You
do not have to be a customer to enter. You can pick up
your own HAMilton piggy bank now from a local Com-
munity Bank branch to get started.
Entry into the weekly contest begins April 17th. Win-
ners will be determined by a Facebook voting platform.
Each week there will be one winner of $100, distributed
as “Hamiltons” (ten dollar bills). There will be one win-
ner each of the nine weeks. Weekly winners are automati-
cally entered into the Grand Prize voting period occurring
from July 6, 2015 to July 20, 2015. The winner of the
Grand Prize will receive $1000, also distributed as “Ham-
iltons” (ten dollar bills with Alexander Hamilton’s face).
Entrants must be 13 years old or older to enter. To see
complete details and a schedule of the entry and voting
periods for this contest, please see the Offi cial Rules
online at www.communitybanknet.com/fi les/Traveling-
HAMilton.pdf.
Inmate dies at
Snake River
An inmate died unexpectedly early Tuesday morning at
Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario.
As with all unanticipated deaths in state prisons, the Or-
egon State Police is conducting an investigation.
At approximately 11:25 p.m., Monday, April 13, inmate
John McKinley's cellmate alerted staff that McKinley,
53, needed medical attention. McKinley was found
unresponsive, at which time staff began CPR. He was
pronounced dead at 12:18 a.m. McKinley entered DOC
custody on November 19, 2008, on one count of sodomy
in the fi rst degree and one count of unlawful use of a
weapon out of Multnomah County. His earliest release
date was March 3, 2038.