FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
County: spay/neuter fund, public Local law firm
lands transfer, sage grouse, etc. gets new
partner
• FLYOVER
SCHEDULED ON
MONDAY OVER
CEMETERY
The law firm of Coughlin & Leuenberger recently
announced that it is bringing on a new partner, atttorney
David R. Auxier, formerly of Yturri Rose, LLP.
Auxier’s move to Baker City was effective April 15. He
is licensed in both Oregon and Idaho.
Auxier specializes in family law, personal injury, busi-
ness law and real estate matters. He will also operate out
of an office in Fruitland, Idaho.
The name of the firm in Baker City will remain un-
changed.
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Wednesday, the Baker
County Board of Commis-
sioners held a regular, bi-
monthly session to discuss
an assortment of topics and
appoint members to vari-
ous committees.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioner Mark Ben-
nett, Commissioner Tim
Kerns, and Executive As-
sistant Heidi Martin.
Attendees included
Baker County Soil and Wa-
ter Conservation Districts
(SWCDs) District Manager
Whitney Collins, Mollie
Atwater and Friends Spay/
Neuter Fund Co-founder
and Program Manager
Suzanne Fouty, Ed Hardt,
Lorri Harvey, Ramona and
John Creighton, Chuck
Chase, Bobbie Danser,
Wanda and Tork Ballard,
House District 64 Repre-
sentative Kerry White from
Montana and Marty Stroy.
The Pledge of Alle-
giance was recited, fol-
lowed by the Invocation.
The agenda was adopted.
For the Citizen Par-
ticipation segment of
the meeting, Chase was
given the floor first, and he
explained and discussed
a five-page handout he
provided to the Board
and the attendees, Baker
County Republican Central
Committee Resolution No.
15-01, a document which
emphasizes the transfer
of title of public lands to
States, including Oregon,
for more local control.
This resolution had been
previously presented by the
Republicans to the Com-
missioners last week.
Hardt also discussed his
concerns with adequate
public input regarding
the transfer of public
lands, citing specifically
problems with U.S. For-
est Service-related land
restrictions. Harvey and
Bennett both responded
that several committees are
working on the issues, but
it may be an uphill battle
when they’re addressed at
the U.S. Senate stage.
After some discussion,
Harvey stated that he
believes Oregon has the
same rights as any other
state, with preferably less
federal management of
public lands.
White provided his input
to the Board and attendees
concerning the topic, and
he said he’s dealt with
the same types of issues
in Montana. He encour-
aged the Board to craft a
plan for the next Legisla-
tive session, regarding
possible watershed and
other projects that could
be implemented under the
U.S. Farm Bill, within the
County.
The Wednesday, April
29, 2015 special session
minutes were approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. The Wednesday,
May 6, 2015 minutes were
approved.
The Board discussed
with Fouty the Professional
Services Agreement (PSA)
between the County and
Mollie Atwater and Friends
Spay/Neuter Fund. She
Haggen opens
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Chuck Chase hands the commissioners copies of Baker County Republican
Central Committee Resolution No. 15-01, regarding public lands transfer.
explained the processes
involved, including funds
dispersal, which is in the
form of vouchers, provid-
ing partial assistance with
the cost to spay or neuter
cats and dogs, to mem-
bers of Baker County and
North Powder, especially
individuals with limited
or fixed incomes. Fouty
showed the Board thank
you notes and positive
comments from the com-
munity, and press releases,
and said the organization is
now listed in the Halfway
telephone directory, as well
as the publication “Health
and Wellness.”
She said the press
releases will be sent to area
newspapers, as updates
during the year. This is
part of the effort to expand
awareness about cat and
dog homelessness, and the
organization is available
to help, Fouty said. She
said in January, students at
Baker Middle School were
asked to create advertise-
ments, and some of these
will be chosen from the
120 submissions, to help
raise awareness about
the issue. One of the
more notable ones Fouty
displayed to the Board and
attendees had the caption,
“Dogs can’t add, cats can’t
subtract, but they sure can
multiply.”
Fouty said efforts are
being made to secure per-
sonnel for more permanent
help. The agreement, with
some minor changes noted,
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns. The
period of the agreement is
from July 1, 2015 through
June 30, 2017. The Board
thanked Fouty, and praised
her for her efforts. For
more information about
the program, Fouty can be
reached at 541-523-2541.
The Board approved the
PSA between the County
and Bud Zunino, FNP
(Family Nurse Practitio-
ner), as Jail Medical Pro-
vider, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. Zunino will be paid
$1,000 a month for the
services provided, during
the period of July 1, 2015
through June 30, 2016.
The Board discussed
the Oregon Department of
Agriculture (ODA) 2015
Wolf Compensation And
Financial Assistance Grant
Agreement. Martin said
that originally, around
$60,000 was requested
from the ODA, but only
$17,315 was dispersed,
per the grant. She said
last year, one range rider
was hired, and this year,
there was an expectation of
hiring two, but the granted
funds aren’t adequate, a
sentiment echoed by the
Board, though the granted
funds will be accepted.
The exact dispersal of the
granted funds will be a
decision to be made by
the Baker County Wolf
Compensation Commit-
tee. With a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns, the grant agreement
was approved.
Collins and Bennett
discussed with the Board
and attendees the potential
listing of the Greater Sage-
Grouse as an endangered
species, after Bennett
handed out copies of an
Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
Sage-Grouse Core Areas
map for Baker County.
Bennett noted the sig-
nificant portion of Baker
County identified as core
habitat and low density ar-
eas, which includes farm-
land. Collins explained
the process for landown-
ers to form an agreement
with the Baker County
SWCD, basically a type of
free, 30-year “insurance
policy,” called a Candidate
Conservation Agreement
with Assurances (CCAA),
as protection in the event
the Sage-Grouse is listed.
Bennett noted that the list-
ing decision will unfortu-
nately be a political one,
and if the Sage-Grouse is
listed, at that point, it will
be too late for a landowner
to enter into a CCAA with
the SWCD. Collins can
be contacted at 541-523-
7128 for more information
regarding the CCAA.
Collins said she plans to
request $12,000 from the
County in the next fiscal
year (after July 1, 2015) to
assist with implementation
of the CCAA program.
Order No. 2015-118, Ap-
pointing Members To The
Baker County Travel Man-
agement Committee, was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. Chuck Chase
and Page Frederickson
were appointed, their term
set to expire on February
1, 2018.
Order No. 2015-119,
Re-Appointing Mem-
bers To The Water And
Stream Health Committee
(WASH), was approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. Fred Phillips, Clair
Pickard, Marion Crow,
and Mac Kerns were re-
appointed, their term set
to expire on May 1, 2018.
Kerns noted that these are
volunteer positions.
Order No. 2015-120,
Appointing A Member To
The Transient Lodging Tax
Committee, was approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. Lea Hoover was
appointed, her term set to
expire on August 1, 2017.
Order No. 2015-121,
Appointing Members To
The Baker County Fair
Board, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett, and
a second from Kerns. Cliff
Schoeningh and Cynthia
Norton were appointed,
their term set to expire on
August 1, 2018.
Order No. 2015-122,
Appointing A Member
To The Northeast Oregon
Economic Development
District Board, was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. Bob Parker was
appointed, his term set to
expire on December 31,
2015.
Resolution No. 2015-
1002, Appropriation Of
Unanticipated Funds
To Be Expended In The
Sheriff Department Of The
County General Fund, was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. The amount
of $8,000 is listed as rev-
enue from the Leo Adler
Foundation, to be applied
toward Search and Rescue.
Resolution No. 2015-
1003, Appropriation Of
Unanticipated Funds To Be
Expended In The Tobacco
Prevention Department Of
The Count Health Fund,
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns. The
amount of $1,000 was
received from the James
G. Tyler Foundation, to
be applied toward miscel-
laneous.
Resolution No. 2015-
1004, Appropriation Of
Unanticipated Funds To Be
Expended In The Fam-
ily Planning Department
Of The County Health
Fund, was approved, with
a motion from Kerns, and
a second from Bennett.
The additional amount of
$8,000 was received by
the State of Oregon, to be
applied toward travel and
office supplies.
Harvey informed the
attendees that the Court-
house will be closed on
Monday, May 25, for the
observance of Memorial
Day, and he has the honor
as speaker at the Veterans
of Foreign War’s service
presentation at Mount
Hope Cemetery, at 11 a.m.
with a flyover scheduled
for 12 p.m.
Checkout spaces have become wider with new flooring
beneath. The deli has expanded. The care center that was
installed and opened last year near the from of the Alb-
ertsons store has been removed with no plans to reopen.
The store’s pharmacy has successfully transferred records
to its new system, and will also offer price-matching. The
new pharmacy phone number is 541-524-1125.
According to the Haggen web site, the company’s back-
ground is: “Founded in 1933 in Bellingham, Washington,
the company currently operates stores in Washington,
Oregon and California, and is in the process of acquir-
ing 146 stores and establishing a second headquarters
in Irvine, California. With this acquisition, Haggen will
expand from 18 stores with 16 pharmacies to 164 stores
with 106 pharmacies; from 2,000 employees to more than
10,000 employees; and from a Pacific Northwest com-
pany with locations in Oregon and Washington to a major
regional grocery chain with locations in Washington,
Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona.”
4-Hers compete
at state-level
shooting event
The Patriots 4-H Club will be sending 8 members to
participate in the 4-H State Shooting event at Albany,
OR, June 17-19th. Eight youths will be competing in
archery, 5 in shotgun and one in small-bore rifle. Addi-
tionally, one member will also travel to the 4-H National
Championships in June to compete in shotgun.
The club has been conducting fund-raising activities,
including a pop-can drive and firearm raffles, to cover
travel expenses. The club would like to extend a special
thank you to the OHA, as well as The Little Pig for their
generous help in making this possible.
OTEC delivers
capital credit
allocation notice
This week, OTEC will be mailing all members their
annual notification of capital credit allocation. OTEC,
as a not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivers electric
service to our members at cost. In the event that revenues
exceed the operational expenses of providing electric-
ity, OTEC allocates these operating margins back to its
members.
OTEC Board of Directors President, Greg Howard
said, “Allocating and retiring excess revenue to members
helps distinguish the cooperative business model. This
is an underlying principle of the cooperative model and
is one more way we keep your electric rates as low as
possible. We’re proud to support our communities by
putting money back into the local economy—and into the
pockets of those we serve.”
The amounts shown on the notice represents each
members’ share of the operating margins realized by
OTEC in the previous year, as well as, the cumulative
unpaid capital credit balances. These funds are returned
to the members as the Cooperative is deemed financially
able by the Board of Directors.
These notifications are a record of each OTEC
members’ ownership in the Cooperative and should be
preserved. The announcements are for informational
purposes only, are not negotiable and cannot be applied to
a member’s electric bill.
Livestock Producers
scholarship open
Applications are now available for the Baker County
Livestock Producer’s Foundation Scholarship for the
2015-2016 school year. Must be a resident of Baker
County, a sophomore or higher in college. Deadline is
July 15. Must be pursuing an agriculture-related course of
study.
Contact the Extension Office at 541-523-6418 or Kay
Markgraf at 541-523-2203 for more information.