10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Local
Sumpter meeting has varied agenda WWII veteran
• EMOTIONS RUN
HIGH AT MEETING
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council’s
second monthly meeting
on April 28th was marked
by moments of levity and
spots of tension, especially
in regard to discussion of
what is and is not appropri-
ate regarding comments
outside meetings.
A group of about 25
attendees and two special
guests fi lled City Hall for
the evening’s meeting.
Mayor Melissa Findley
reported on her attendance
at the “tourism kickoff” for
the Baker County Chamber
of Commerce on Saturday,
stating there was not much
of a turnout but it was a
good try. Findley also met
with Greg Smith of the
Economic Development
Council and discussed with
him some things the Coun-
cil would like Sumpter to
do regarding the Oregon
State Fair. Findley will
make a presentation at the
next meeting.
On April 16th, Sumpter
hosted a Region 8 League
of Oregon Cities luncheon.
Much of the discussion
was about budgeting.
Engineers and DEQ and
IFA representatives were
in attendance, along with
representatives of Halfway,
John Day, Huntington,
Seneca, and Sumpter.
Julie McKinney, City
Recorder, reported she is
working on cleaning up
fi les and still getting lots of
calls about the fl ea market.
Jeff McKinney, Utility
Manager, reported a few
sewer problems dealt with
recently. City water is
coming in fi ne. The sewer
will be irrigated in the near
future. The Park is getting
cleaned up for the season.
McKinney also stated his
wish to publically recog-
nize several citizens—Lee
German, Dale Demaris,
and Marsha Demaris—
for their assistance to an
elderly area resident.
Kurt Clarke, Fire Chief,
reported that personnel
records were moved into
the main offi ce. One new
The
member joined the Depart-
ment this month. Fire
hydrants are being tested
and clean up in the bay is
ongoing. The Firefi ghter
1 class being taught by
John Young is going well.
ODFW approved putting a
new draft area in Cracker
Creek, and work on that
will begin in the next few
weeks.
There have been a few
medical calls and Jim
Sheller put together an
address book for the Quick
Response Unit, which
clearly shows all ad-
dresses.
Clarke stated his wish
to test the big fi re alarm on
City Hall, and was allowed
to do so during the meet-
ing. Clarke asked about
having the alarm sound
when there is a fi re. Clarke
also asked about approval
to purchase a water tender
and said they run in about
the $10,000 price range.
Clarke requested having
until June 1 to review and
submit a business plan.
Findley asked Clarke
to also review changed
verbiage on job descrip-
tions, decide with his team
what they think is the best
language to use, and let her
know which descriptions
still need to be written.
Findley read a list of
things in the Fire De-
partment brought up to
standard and compliance,
including replacing batter-
ies in and testing of self-
contained breathing ap-
paratus. Clarke responded
that the Department pays a
company to do annual test-
ing of the units, which they
did on April 23. There
was some back and forth
on what paperwork, if any,
there is to show what work
was done. Clarke stated
the only evidence he is
aware of is the bill, which
would come to the offi ce.
Findley asked that Clarke
review and approve the bill
before it’s paid, to ensure
someone is signing off that
the work is done. Clarke
stated he will fi nd out from
CS Western what other
paperwork they provide.
Attendee Marlene Bork
and Head of Council Toni
Thompson stated their ap-
preciation for Clarke and
all Fire Department Volun-
teers, a sentiment echoed
by Councilperson Robert
Armbruster.
City bookkeeper Kathi
Vinson gave attendees a
“budget crash course,”
including information on
how the city’s six funds
(general fund, water fund,
sewer fund, street fund,
State revenue sharing,
and water bonded debt)
are funded and what the
money goes to support.
She also touched on items
fi gured into the annual
budget, such as funds for
water line extensions.
Findley then introduced
Travis Ash, Baker Coun-
ty’s new interim sheriff
as of May 1. Ash shared
he would like to get out at
least once a month to each
city. He stated he is gener-
ally always available by
phone for those with any
concerns. He responded to
a few queries about ATV
laws and coverage of the
fl ea markets.
Bryan Vegter with the
Baker City Cycling Classic
was the next guest and
he shared information on
the new stage this year
that will start and end in
Sumpter. The 88-mile
route begins at the Sumpter
Museum/Library, goes out
to Prairie City and returns
to Sumpter. The race
begins June 26th at 12:30
p.m. Vegter described the
race as a “fast-moving
cattle drive,” stating the
racers will take up one lane
and then be gone, return-
ing about four hours later.
When asked about safety
and provision for vehicles
to get around the racers,
Vegter explained that there
will be a caravan with ev-
ery fi eld and a sweep with
the slowest rider to pick
up signs and trash, etc.
Caravan drivers should
only wave vehicles to go
ahead when they are 100%
certain the road is clear of
oncoming traffi c.
Finishing up old busi-
ness, Findley clarifi ed
that the Groundskeeper
position is actually called
Parks Manager. The
position was offered to and
accepted by Anna Stafford
who will hopefully give an
update at the next Council
meeting.
Findley and Thompson
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met with Carey Clark,
head of the Planning Com-
mission, to discuss roles,
responsibilities, and goals.
Unless certain issues
come up for discussion,
the commission is focus-
ing on the comprehensive
plan, evacuation plan, and
defensible space plan.
Findley stated they will
be checking on what other
Oregon cities have written
for Planning Commission
roles and responsibilities
and hope to borrow from
others’ written procedures.
They are also working to
set up some workshops.
Findley inquired if League
of Oregon Cities has any
training available at this
time, and they do not.
However, other cities have
also asked, so there may be
something in the future.
Findley then shared a
derogatory comment made
to her when she ran into an
individual at the Post Of-
fi ce, stating the comment
was unnecessary and unac-
ceptable. There ensued
back and forth between
Findley and the individual
over the matter. The meet-
ing quickly, though briefl y,
descended into bickering
between various parties
as to what is acceptable
and unacceptable, what is
to be expected and comes
with the job, why the is-
sue was brought up in the
Council meeting in the
fi rst place, and comments
made by others to different
individuals in the past. A
citizen in attendance asked
if the individual could be
removed, as there was a
representative of the Sher-
iff’s Department present.
Ash did stand and ex-
plain to the assembled that
as an offi cer of the law, no
laws were being violated
and it was not his place to
get involved. Ash stated
that personally, he would
encourage everyone to
work together whether they
like each other or not and
said, “You’re not going to
accomplish anything with
this back and forth.”
The originally men-
tioned individual offered
an apology and, aside from
another individual exiting
the meeting vehemently,
the meeting concluded
uneventfully.
Findley tabled until the
next meeting discussion on
a quote on purchasing the
cell tower and possibility
of selling 27 acres owned
by City.
Councilperson An-
nie Oakley shared some
concerns including that
the citizen feedback form
seems to have gone by
the wayside, an employee
complaint is still awaiting
resolution over 10 days
out, and offi cial correspon-
dence from government
agencies is not getting to
Council members. She
also asked about progress
on resolving a citizen
complaint and asked about
speaking to citizens to get
background information
before calling up govern-
ment agencies.
Councilperson LeAnn
Wolf mentioned a couple
of policies not yet voted on
by Council, including that
all purchases must be ap-
proved by the Mayor and
restrictions on the Utility
Manager hiring part-time
help. Findley responded
that these are not policies
but temporary procedures
due to budget constraints.
She agreed to rewrite the
temporary procedure on
approval of purchases to
specify a dollar amount
and clarify that it is tem-
porary.
celebrates 90th
Carmelita Holland / The Baker County Press
Walter Saunders celebrated his 90th birthday last
weekend in Richland.
BY CARMELITA HOLLAND
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
World War II Veteran, Walter Saunders Jr. holds one of
many birthday cakes it took to serve a crowded room full
of guests numbering over one hundred thirty, gathered at
the Eagle Valley Grange Community Hall in Richland,
April 18th, to help him celebrate his 90th birthday, which
actually took place April 14th. With Walter were his three
children, Peggy Webster of Las Vegas, Jan Bonn of Rich-
land and Wade Saunders of Baker City. Jan and Wade are
both grandparents, each representing a fourth generation
of the family.
“I can’t believe how many people came from so far to
spend the day with me,” said Walter. “I had friends and
relatives come from all over. “People that came from
Washington were Sam Saunders from Bellevue, Richard
and Noel came from Bainbridge Island, and Glenda Saun-
ders Nordahl came from the Seattle area. Ralph Saunders
came all the way from Billings, Montana.”
Walter is the last living child of a family of nine chil-
dren born to Walter Sr. and Elizabeth White Saunders,
a family that settled in Eagle Valley about 1885, and
became leaders in the sheep industry for many years.
Walter has become an historian of Eagle Valley,
remembering his youth and going through the Great
Depression, and then being drafted into the army to go to
war in Europe during World War II.
During his career as a rancher he also became a carpen-
ter, a truck driver during dam construction, a pilot, and
took higher education to became a teacher at Richland
where he graduated from Eagle Valley High School years
earlier.
Walter is a Granger and still takes part in community
projects.
Federal Land
action group
launched
WASHINGTON — Tuesday, Representatives Chris
Stewart (R-Utah) and Rob Bishop (R-Utah) launched
the Federal Land Action Group, a congressional team
that will develop a legislative framework for transferring
public lands to local ownership and control.
This group, chaired by Rep. Stewart, will build on the
work started by Utah and other states in recent years.
“The federal government has been a lousy landlord for
western states and we simply think the states can do it
better,” Stewart said. “If we want healthier forests, better
access to public lands, more consistent funding for public
education and more reliable energy development, it
makes sense to have local control.”
Rep. Bishop, Chairman of the House Natural Re-
sources Committee, said, “This group will explore legal
and historical background in order to determine the best
congressional action needed to return these lands back to
the rightful owners. We have assembled a strong team of
lawmakers, and I look forward to formulating a plan that
reminds the federal government it should leave the job of
land management to those who know best.”
The Federal Land Action Group will hold a series of
forums with experts on public lands policy, with the goal
of introducing transfer legislation.
Other members of the Group include Representatives
Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Jeff
Duncan (R-S.C.), Cresent Hardy (R-Nev.), and Cynthia
Lummis (R-WY).
Local caregiver
class offered
Powerful Tools for Caregivers Classes will be held at
Community Connection Baker City Senior Center, 2810
Cedar Street, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Sessions are
held every Tuesday and begin on May 5, 2015. Classes
consist of six sessions held once a week.
For more information or to register, contact Rochelle
at 541-963-3186 or rochelle@ccno.org or Amanda at
541-523-6591. Class size is limited and pre-registration
is required.