FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
City Council: herbicide use proves hot topic
• COUNCIL
HONORS BARBARA
JOHNSON,
ACCEPTS TREE CITY
USA HONOR
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The City Council meet-
ing on Tuesday began on
a somber note. Mayor
Mosier began the meet-
ing with the usual pledge
of allegiance followed by
a moment of silence to
honor former City Coun-
cilwoman Barbara Johnson
who passed away April 25,
2015.
She said, “Tonight for
invocation I ask that we
take a minute to remember
Barbara Johnson. Barbara
ended her term in January
and she passed away last
weekend. She spent two of
her last years of her life in
service to this community
as a City Councilor.
“Barbara told me sev-
eral times that she ran for
Council on the platform
of civility. That if nothing
else she promised to work
together with her fellow
councilors to be respectful
and civil. I think that is a
fine goal and something to
be reminded of tonight.”
After that moment of
silence honoring John-
son for her service, Luke
Yeaton conducted roll call.
With all councilors pres-
ent Mayor Mosier moved
forward with the meet-
ing. The meeting minutes
from the last City Council
meeting were approved
unanimously and Mayor
Mosier called for citizen
participation for which
there was none.
Poppy Day.
The next item on the
agenda was the Poppy Day
Proclamation. Representa-
tives of American Legion
Axillary #41 and V.F.W.
Axillary #3048 stood
proud in front of coun-
cil with Natasha Clark,
American Legion poppy
girl and Riley and Taylor
(identified only by first
name), V.F.W poppy girls
as Mayor Mosier read
aloud a proclamation
declaring May 1–May 31
“Poppy Day” honoring
those that have served our
country.
The red poppy has been
designated as a symbol
of sacrifice of lives in all
wars.
After the proclamation
was read, councilors were
given the opportunity to
purchase poppies as were
any citizens attending the
meeting.
Trees, trees, and more
trees.
Dan Story, chairman of
the tree board addressed
Council. Story advised
Council as to some of the
activities the board has
been involved in such as
revamping the street tree
guide including informa-
tion about local nurseries.
The board has been able
to partner with the Parks
Department to prune eight
young trees in community
parks.
They have worked with
property owners to dem-
onstrate proper health and
tree pruning procedures
and assisted with aging or
diseased trees that needed
to be removed.
The board planted 25
street trees and installed
irrigation systems to water
those trees at the fair-
grounds and pruned six
trees at Banner Bank as
well as trees along Resort
Street.
Story told the council the
tree board had the opportu-
nity to meet with Campbell
Street business owners to
open a discussion about
enhancing the most widely
used entrances along that
area.
“Board members will
also participate in an up-
coming meeting with 10th
Street businesses to discuss
possible future opportuni-
ties to enhance the appear-
ance of 10th Street with
street trees,” Story said.
“All thanks to the Silver
Street Tree Fund.”
The board plans to
replace five street trees
along the areas of Basche
Sage Place and the Baker
Food Co-Op for this year’s
Arbor Day project.
Story also indicated that
the board is looking into
creating a grant through
the Silver’s Tree Trust
Fund for property owners
“Who will be able to re-
ceive a street tree through
the program.”
Story noted that the
tree board is a fairly new
program and acknowl-
edged the Council for their
support saying, “We have
been able to do a lot of
great things for the city.
As a lot of the street trees
in Baker City come to the
end of their life cycle we
are slowly getting them
replace with trees that are
less intrusive to curbs and
sidewalks and power lines,
which overall in the future
will reduce the costs for
the City.”
Mayor Mosier asked
story if he could “give
me any information about
a voucher program, can
citizens get vouchers
through the tree board for
trees to be planted on their
property?”
Story indicated they
could but it would be only
for a street tree and that
there are some vouchers
available for that. Current-
ly they are working with
OTEC on a program that
would help property own-
ers replace trees removed
that interfered with power
lines.
As Story wrapped up his
presentation, Katie Lompa
with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry Urban
and Community forestry
assistance program out
Prineville presented City
Council with a 30- year
Tree City USA flag on
behalf of the National
Arbor Day Foundation and
the Oregon State Forestry
Department.
Also two new street signs
were given.
Lompa said, “You’re one
of the oldest members of
the Tree City USA com-
munities in Oregon. City
of Baker City in one of six
cities that have had Tree
City USA status for 30
years or more.”
Oregon boasts 56 cities
that hold the Tree City
USA status of the 242 in-
corporated cities within the
State. The country has over
5,500 Tree City USAs.
All others in Oregon are
located in western or cen-
tral Oregon so as Lompa
put it, “For the East side
folks, you’re it.”
Lompa noted that the
status helped “sell” com-
munities and indicated
community leaders and
City staff make good deci-
sions on behalf of their
residents. “There is much
scientific evidence of hu-
man health and well-being
benefits provided by urban
forestry.”
To be a tree city it means
at least $2 is spent per
capita on a tree manage-
ment program, the City
has public tree care in
City code and proclaims
and holds an Arbor Day
ceremony.
Grant writing.
Kat Davis spoke to coun-
cil regarding economic
development. Davis is an
independent contractor
who contracts with the
City to write grants and do
research.
She explained grant
writing and the best way to
obtain grants by “Connect-
ing the dots between that
‘thing’ whatever it is that
you’re wanting the grant
for and a larger under-
standing of what the com-
munity is, where it is now
and where it wants to go.”
She stated that a grant
writer needs to make a
funder feel comfortable
about the idea that the
money being given is go-
ing to go toward something
meaningful and contribute
to the community in some
way.
She noted that a big issue
in this community is the
state of our economy. “We
are,” as she put it, “kind of
flatlined in your economic
development and facing is-
sues like an aging popula-
tion and a slowing in the
growth of new businesses.
Lots of empty store fronts
and the beginnings of the
look of decay in the com-
munity.”
Davis noted that Baker
City is less likely to attract
big industry to correct that
situation and our commu-
nity should focus on the
small businesses, free-
lancers, entrepreneurs and
the artisan aspect to grow
our economy.
Ginger Savage and
Michelle Owen have both
agreed to become involved
and work toward this goal.
Davis cited Hailey, Ida-
ho as a wonderful city to
model efforts after as they
are very similar in almost
all demographics and are
successfully reestablishing
the economic development
there.
Davis, at the direction of
the Council will research
for funds to conduct a
study on how our com-
munity can attract more
business and what types of
businesses would be most
successful.
Herbicide use.
A highly controversial
item on the agenda was the
herbicide report. Michelle
Owen, City Public Works
Director, addressed council
stating, “At the last meet-
ing a citizen brought forth
a concern about herbicide
use in the city.”
Council requested a
report of what was used
in the City that Owen
addressed in a report
provided to each Council
member.
“The City itself uses
herbicide on places like
our lagoon, reservoir,
water treatment plant, the
wastewater treatment plant
and storage facility. Those
are public, city-owned
properties but are not open
to the public. That is one
category that is a little dif-
ferent but I felt we needed
to discuss that.
“We contract with Grass
Masters, Inc. to do our
parks, park like spaces.
And we have a contrac-
tor in place for the golf
course, Tiedemann LLC.
At the airport we contract
with Baker Aircraft to do
ground maintenance out
there, it a 400 acre space
that they have done by
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Representatives of American Legion Auxiliary #41 and V.F.W. Auxiliary #3048
with VFW Poppy Girls attended the City Council meeting as Poppy Day honor-
ing those who served was declared.
aerial spray in the past,”
she said.
A list of products used
can be found on the Baker
City website.
Glyposphate, most com-
monly known as Round-up
and 2,4 – D are used every
spring, however specific
product names vary by
applicator.
“One clarifying point I
did put in my report was
that something had come
up at the last meeting about
Agent Orange, and that
2,4-D was Agent Orange. I
just want to make clear that
2,4-D is not Agent Orange.
2,5,4-T with dioxin was
the product. I’m not dimin-
ishing concerns. I just want
to be clear and make sure
there was not a misconcep-
tion we were using Agent
Orange,” Owen said.
Baker City is directed by
an ORS to control noxious
weeds (lists are on the
website and in the ORS).
Owen indicated she had
been in contact with Arnie
Grammon, Baker County
Vegetation Management
and Weed District, and
inquired about alterna-
tive options he may know
about.
Owen said Grammon felt
the City’s approach was
fairly effective but a bal-
anced approach is what he
has seen in Baker County
meaning some people have
eliminated the reproduc-
tion of weeds by pulling
them, mowing them before
they go to seed, and some
use a more natural type
product, like vinegar. Some
use herbicides.
Grammon indicated to
Owen “that he supports
the balanced approach, but
feels what we are doing is
appropriate for the require-
ments we have to contain
the noxious weeds. City
Staff is well versed on our
applicators, I’m not. I’m
not certified. We are aware
of notification require-
ments and we do try and
post.”
Public comment was
taken in the matter. The
first citizen to speak
was Yvonne Da Torre, a
resident of Elkhorn Village
Apartments. She specifical-
ly made note to the upcom-
ing date of April 30, which
signifies the ending of the
Vietnam War, 40 years ago
tying together that signifi-
cance with Agent Orange.
She said, “2,4-D and
2,4,5-T are 50/50 in Agent
Orange so 2,4-D is a part
of Agent Orange and we
have a lot of generational
problems with our Veter-
ans, especially those from
Vietnam. I was here at the
last meeting on Tuesday.
On Wednesday an article
was in the paper along with
my letter to the editor and
on Thursday my apartment
complex, particularly me
and two of my neighbors
were sprayed with Round-
up. I kinda thought some-
one was giving the middle
finger salute on that one.
The Mayor reassured me it
wasn’t the town.”
Da Torre continued,
“We have collected several
letters of those that have
been effected by this, I
have several symptoms of
poisoning by Round-up
and so did my next door
neighbor. I found her
unconscious in the hallway
and when awakened she
was disoriented.
“After staying away for
four days she returned
home, let her dog outside
who ate some grass and
was ill for two days. An-
other neighbor asked the
person spraying what they
were spraying and was told
Round-up.”
One of the symptoms Da
Torre says is listed that she
experienced was hostility.
“I can guarantee you I had
plenty, still have plenty. I
was sick for over a week.”
Other symptoms Da
Torre says she experienced
were blurred vision, lung
pain, sleeplessness, short-
ness of breath and palpita-
tions as well as flu like
symptoms.
According to Da Torre
the person who spayed did
so on a windy day, on the
bike path with people and
pets around and no notice
was given or signs posted
before or after spraying.
“We three old ladies
and two dogs are going
to file a class action suit
against the persons who
sprayed us and the persons
who ordered it, which was
Beehive Homes. And for
anyone else who thinks
they can poison us in this
way you can hold onto
your pocketbooks because
that’s where we’re going to
hit you next!”
Mayor Mosier addressed
Ms. Da Torre saying, “I
was concerned when you
called me and said that
you’d been sprayed a day
and a half after you’d come
and talked with us about
not wanting to be sprayed.
I did speak with Mr. Kee
who did some follow up.”
Mosier deferred to City
Manager Kee who said,
“We found that no City
staff or contractors had
sprayed during that week.
Public Works did find that
a contractor did do some
spraying on private prop-
erty near the bike path. I
contacted our Department
of Agricultural investigator
who is in Ontario and gave
him the information.”
Owen confirmed she had
spoken with the investiga-
tor in regards to vehicles
the City uses when spray-
ing.
Owen said she did go
out to the site in question
when the call was received
but missed whomever was
spraying and assured that
they did take this com-
plaint very seriously.
Da Torre said she had
received a letter from the
Department of Agriculture
that the investigation was
ongoing but vowed, “I’m
not going to let this go. I’m
not going to shut up so get
used to seeing me.”
Others spoke to Coun-
cil about the issue, citing
what adversely effects one
person might not bother
another, illness caused
from sprays and how there
is big money behind prod-
ucts like Round-up.
The question was also
raised as to whether or
not an ordinance could be
passed requiring users on
private property to notify
others by posting even a
handwritten sign warning
of spray usage.
Although initial con-
sensus was that was not
a plausible idea Council
agreed that the issue
needed more investigation
and discussion. If other
more natural products were
available at a similar cost
that are as effective that
maybe be a move toward
that needed to be made
“You have to understand
though, even if it happens
it probably won’t be this
year,” Downing said in an
effort to be diplomatic yet
realistic.
Owen did discuss Aqui-
fer storage and Recovery
well use. She told Council
that so far the water situa-
tion in Baker City is good.
They can no longer collect
water but as of now she
didn’t see that as a problem
even with Governor Brown
declaring a State of Emer-
gency for drought condi-
tions in our County.
Kee also addressed
council about developing a
Mission Statement for the
city and said he was going
to e-mail suggestions to
the council members in
an effort to avoid a work
session.
Kee also suggested an
executive Session be held
as soon as possible to ad-
dress real estate issues.
That closed Executive
Session was scheduled for
Thursday April 30, 2015 at
6:00 p.m.