FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Transient Lodging Tax
Firefighter
Committee disperses grants training
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
• $6,750 HANDED
OUT TO THREE
MORE EVENTS
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Tran-
sient Lodging Tax Com-
mittee (TLTC) met for its
regular meeting on Tues-
day, April 21, at 10 a.m., in
the Commissioners Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse. Present from
the Committee were Chair
Carrie Folkman, Beverly
Calder, Kathy Reedy and
Chelsea McLagan.
Attendees included
Timothy Bishop, Baker
County Tourism Market-
ing Director, Karlynn
Dolby, Baker County
Payroll, Bill Harvey, Baker
County Commissioner,
LeAnne Woolf, City of
Sumpter Councilor, Brian
Vegter, Baker County
Cultural Coalition Com-
mittee, Lea Hoover, Baker
Heritage Museum Director,
Paula Moe, Baker County
YMCA Aquatics Director,
Jeff Nelson, Cheryl Martin,
and Cassie Petrucci, Baker
County Chamber of Com-
merce and Visitors Bureau,
Karen Spencer, Baker
County Parks and Recre-
ation Director, and Alice
Trindle, Eastern Oregon
Visitors Association Ex-
ecutive Director.
After roll call, the
minutes from the March
17, 2015 meeting were ap-
proved, with a motion from
Folkman and a second
from Calder.
Three grant applica-
tions were considered by
the Committee during
this meeting: Baker City
Cycling Classic, in the
amount of $3,000; We Like
‘Em Short Film Festival, in
the amount of $3,000; and
Baker Dine-N-Dash, in the
amount of $1,000. All of
these grants were requested
on April 17, 2015.
Vegter spoke about the
Baker Cycling Classic,
June 26-28, 2015. He said
that Sumpter is the planned
Start and Finish location,
and that next year is the
15th anniversary of the
race. Folkman discussed
the budget and revenue
sources with Vegter, and
she informed the attendees
that grants awarded this
year so far have been in the
amount of $27,250, with a
balance left of $750. The
total requested amount
for grants this year was
$46,885. Folkman said
that, as an option, in the
case of approval of any
of the grants requested at
the meeting, funds could
be used from next year’s
budget, available after July
1st.
Calder praised Vegter
for his marketing efforts
regarding the race, includ-
ing gaining more local
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Karen Spencer (front left) and Alice Trindle pose with awards in hand.
sponsorships, as costs have
increased for the event.
Vegter also spoke to the
Committee about the We
Like ‘Em Short Film Festi-
val. He said last weekend,
during the Pendleton Real
West Film Festival, he met
with Tim Williams of the
Governor’s Office of Film
and Television, and that
Williams plans to speak
at the We Like ‘Em Short
Film Festival about the
film industry and its e fect
on Oregon’s economy.
Vegter said last year,
there were about 65 films
submitted for the festival,
including 13 locally pro-
duced, and this year, so far,
that number has more than
doubled, to over 144.
Vegter said he would like
to spend $1,800 this year
on advertising, and that last
year, the amount spent was
about $600.
Moe discussed the Baker
City Dive-N-Dash, to be
held May 3-4, 2015. She
said about 40 swimmers
from out of the area, from
Oregon, Idaho, and Wash-
ington, will be included in
the attendance, for a total
of around 80 registered
for the event so far, she
said. She said the number
of swimmers is steadily
increasing each year, and
while it’s a volunteer-
driven event, the grant
funds would be used to
pay for a referee, includ-
ing fuel costs, training,
and lodging, and to pay for
trophies.
Calder moved to ap-
prove $750, the remaining
grant funds, to be awarded
for the Baker Dive-N-
Dash event, and Folkman
seconded the motion. The
motion carried.
Folkman moved to
approve $3,000 to be
awarded for the Baker City
Cycling Classic event, and
Reedy seconded the mo-
tion. The motion carried.
The funds will be dis-
persed after July 1st, which
is the end of the fiscal yea .
Folkman moved to
approve $3,000 to be
awarded for the We Like
‘Em Short Film Festival,
and Calder seconded the
motion. The motion car-
ried. The funds also will
be dispersed after July 1st.
Hoover spoke with
the Committee about her
experience as the new
museum Director. She
said she’s excited about
the opportunity, and the
museum opened in March,
with many visitors so far
this season. Hoover men-
tioned she is looking to
increase marketing efforts,
and she said that around a
month ago, crew members
representing the Travel
Channel filmed a segment
for the show Mysteries At
The Museum there. She
said that crew has shown
an interest in returning
in the future to film more
segments.
Bishop and McLagan
talked with the Committee
about the Governor’s Con-
ference on Tourism, held
in Eugene, April 12-14,
2015, and emphasized that
it was a successful event,
and that more networking
with different people was
accomplished. Bishop
congratulated Trindle for
receiving the Govenor’s
Tourism Award, and
Spencer for receiving the
Oregon Heritage Tourism
Award for the Sumpter
Valley Railroad (SVRR),
both awards presented at
the conference. He said
the conference is scheduled
to be held in Pendleton
next year.
Trindle talked about what
an honor receiving the
award is, and read from
her plaque: “In recognition
of your tireless dedication
to the future of Oregon’s
tourism industry. Thank
you for providing the qual-
ity experience Oregon’s
visitors enjoy daily.” She
spoke about the state of
tourism in the state, and
about the major contribu-
tions from and recognition
needed for eastern Oregon,
and praised Bishop for his
efforts concerning the tour-
ism industry.
Spencer spoke of her
excitement in receiving the
award, and said the timing
is great, since the SVRR’s
wood-burning locomotive
has been in service for 100
years. She also praised
Bishop for his efforts, and
talked about what tour-
ism offerings there are
locally. The Committee
congratulated both Trindle
and Spencer, and thanked
them and Bishop for their
efforts.
Nelson handed out flyers
for a Business Resource
Meet and Greet, presented
by the Baker County
Chamber of Commerce
and the Baker County
Small Business Devel-
opment Center, held at
Lefty’s Taphouse, 1934
Broadway, in Baker City,
on Wednesday, April 22.
This presentation was the
first one of the year of the
monthly series Pub Talk,
and provided an overview
of the resources and pro-
grams available to busi-
nesses in Baker County.
Nelson also mentioned that
Woolf is a newly-elected
Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors mem-
ber.
Dolby and the Com-
mittee discussed the need
to advertise for a vacant
position on the Committee,
since Deborah Webb had
previously resigned. The
member would prefer-
ably be from an outlying
community. Folkman said
a tourism background is
desirable, but wouldn’t be
required.
The next regular TLTC
meeting is tentatively
scheduled for Monday,
May 18, 10 a.m. to 12
p.m., with the location to
be determined. This will
be the last meeting until
September.
NEOEDD seeks civics projects
It’s time to submit proj-
ects for the Northeast Or-
egon Economic Develop-
ment District’s (NEOEDD)
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy
(CEDS). Economic- and
community-development
projects for Baker, Union
and Wallowa counties
should be submitted by
city and county govern-
ments and non-profit
organizations by Friday,
May 8.
NEOEDD, which is
updating its five-year plan,
seeks projects that will
have a positive impact on
economic and community
development and that are
likely to be implemented in
the next three years.
Projects must be submit-
ted each year to remain
on the current project list.
Transportation projects
should only be included
if there is a strong link to
economic development.
Private projects are not
eligible.
The 2013-2018 CEDS
and the 2014 update are
available here: http://
www.neoedd.org/content/
comprehensive-plan
Use the following link to
submit project information:
http://tinyurl.com/nctg7sr
After May 8, NEOEDD
will ask stakeholders and
the public to rank the proj-
ects by importance.
The Northeast Oregon
Economic Development
District’s mission is to
provide resources and
facilitate quality decision-
making for the benefit of
entrepreneurs, businesses
and communities.
With Governor Kate Brown declaring Baker County
in a state of emergency with drought conditions already,
wild land fires are a realistic threat to the local area
The wildland urban-interface scenario included fir -
fighters from the United States Forest Service, Oregon
Department of Forestry and Bureau of Land Management
fire crews from around the Baker area
Another skill station was in the vicinity of OTEC and
Cutter’s Edge at the Baker City Fire Department Training
Center. The scenario at this stage was a firefighter rescu
from a basement.
“This is a great exercise it really adds to the ongoing
training that we have to do. We have a lot of opportuni-
ties to keep up on skills and learn new skills. Just last
week we did a forcible entry class. Learning different
ways to breach a doorway, size it up, what’s the construc-
tion of it? Does it swing in or does it swing out? What
tools are you going to take to breach that door? Cutter’s
Edge on the outside of town; they manufacture rescue
saws and different equipment. They’re really good about
letting us use facilities out there and props to train with,”
Jason Bybee of Baker City Fire Department said.
The fourth and final skill station of the day was staged
at the Baker City Municipal Airport. The Neff family
participated as victims of a crash in this scenario and later
in the day were thanked for doing an amazing job.
The Airport scenario included a simulated air show
plane crash into the parking lot, which involved, said
Gary Timm, Fire Division Manager of Baker County
Emergency Management, “An airplane fire, vehicle fires
patient extrication, and medical triage for approximately
six community role players.”
At this final skill station, Bowen Valley and Baker Ru-
ral worked together putting out a car fire successfull .
“Each year we create realistic and challenging sce-
narios but the overall goal is to allow agencies to evaluate
and improve response skills, and ultimately enjoy the
day,” said Timm. “While this exercise could be seen as
a fire service preparedness exercise, I’m hoping it will
also be viewed as dedicated local firefighter coming
together from around the county to enhance their abilities
to respond within their own communities.”
Baker City Fire Department Chief Mark John said
earlier in a press release, “This interagency exercise
allows agencies to come together and review incident
stabilization techniques and best practices. It’s also an
opportunity to reinforce common operational platforms
that can lead to the development of standardized practices
throughout the county.”
After the teams completed all of the skill stations,
everyone gathered back at the Baker City Fire Depart-
ment for a late lunch that consisted of donated Subway
sandwiches and Pizza Hut pizza. Participants were also
awarded gift certificates that were donated by Sorbenots
and Barley Brown’s. “Don’t forget when you redeem
these make sure to let them know they were donated for
this event and thank them for their support. Same thing
when you go in for a Subway sandwich, because you
will,” Timm reminded everyone. “They have supported
us from the beginning.”
In an exciting twist of events, as the winner was about
to be announced, a report came in of a service vehicle fire
with possible explosives in a vehicle on Chandler Lane,
calling out Baker Rural as support for Haines Fire.
There was a buzz of excitement throughout the crowd,
as fire service men and women prepared to answer what
turned out to be a very real emergency call. No one was
injured in the fire, but the scorch mark is still visible
Coincidentally, Baker Rural Fire Protection District,
which was called out for that vehicle fire, was also
announced this year’s winner of the Fire Service Task
Performance Exercise.
The four-foot trophy was set aside to be presented once
that team was available to accept it.
The fire services are always interested in bringing on
new personnel. Those interested in joining and or volun-
teering for a local fire department/district are encouraged
to contact their local agency.
Past Winners of the Baker County Fire Service Task
Performance Exercise are:
2005 Keating Rural Fire Protection District
2006 Baker City Fire Department
2007 Baker Rural Fire Protection District
2008 Keating Rural Fire Protection District
2009 Baker Rural Fire Protection District
2010 Baker Rural Fire Protection District
2011 Baker City Fire Department
2012 Baker Rural Fire Protection District
2013 Baker City Fire Department
2014 Eagle Valley Fire Protection District
2015 Baker Rural Fire Protection District
Eagle Valley trees, weed
spray giveaway soon
The Eagle Valley Soil and Water Conservation District,
in conjunction with the Baker County Weed Department,
will hold the annual Eagle Valley Tree and Herbicide
Giveaway on Friday, May 8th at the “Y” in Richland.
SWCD staff will give away trees beginning at 8 a.m. this
year. Free trees will be on a first-come, first-served basis
Folks will also want to bring a five-gallon container
suitable for herbicide transport (such as a plastic fuel
container, etc.) The limit is five gallons of herbicide per
landowner, and one gallon of mixed herbicide is enough
to kill weeds in a 14,000 square foot area. Remember not
to spray when the wind is blowing.