FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
County: tax appeals and chip seals Newman
• COMMISSIONERS
HEAR CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION,
DEPARTMENT
REPORTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Wednesday, the
Baker County Board of
Commissioners held a
regular, bi-monthly session
in the Commission Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse, at 9 a.m.
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 Treasurer
Alice Durflinger, Baker
County Road Master Jeff
Smith, Baker County Weed
Master Artie Grammon,
Jefferson Mining District
Coordinating Officer Art
Sappington, Ed Hardt, Ken
Anderson, Bobbie Danser,
and Wanda and Tork Bal-
lard.
Following the Pledge of
Allegiance and Invocation,
Bennett mentioned some
possible agenda changes,
including inviting Attorney
Dan Van Thiel and Baker
County District Attorney
Matt Shirtcliff to speak at
a future regular session
regarding Public Meeting
Law notices.
The agenda was adopted
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns.
Citizen Participation.
For citizen participa-
tion, Sappington provided
the Board with copies of
a Memorandum of Law
document compiled by the
Jefferson Mining District,
a United States Department
of the Interior, Interior
Board of Land Appeals
(IBLA) document, a docu-
ment titled “Federal Land
Managers Intimidation,
Bullying Threaten Citizens
Rights, a Hostile Environ-
ment,” a suction dredge
Motion for Summary
Adjudication on Federal
Preemption document,
and a letter, dated October
20, 2014, addressed from
Sappington to U.S. Forest
Service Region 6 Forester
Jim Peña.
He said that the Jefferson
Mining District has not yet
received a response to the
October letter addressed to
Pena, which points out is-
sues with road closures and
improper management.
In it, Sappington says,
“For the record, I, in the
lawful capacity of Jef-
ferson Mining District
Coordinator, hereby give
notice for you to cease and
desist all unlawful actions
under color of lawful man-
agement; and instead bring
your actions consistent
with the lawful procedures
and laws and to avoid em-
barrassing and expensive
legal action to counter any
misconduct on your part in
a private capacity, or pub-
lic in that of the Secretary.
To avoid any mistake, the
intent of Congress is clear.
As a matter of law, your
duty is first to put the for-
est reserves into productive
uses, such as improving
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
At left, Alice Durlinger, Treasurer, gives the Commissioners a departmental
update including tax issues.
harvest of timber, limiting
the forest to depredation
by fire, grazing, improving
access, improving flows
of waters, and fostering
and encouraging all lawful
uses, such as development,
extraction and disposal of
the mineral estate. Any
conduct short of these
or any other required by
Congress will be met with
resort to all lawful rem-
edies available to Jefferson
Mining District.”
Sappington’s question,
“Who is the Forest Ser-
vice’s designated coordina-
tor that I am to work with
after the first of the year for
this (Blue Mountain Land
Use Plan and the Resource
Management Plan) and the
Baker City Watershed?”
asked in that same letter
has yet to be answered,
Sappington said.
Sappington discussed
the topic of Federal Pre-
emption, and Hardt asked
Sappington to clarify the
term, because not everyone
understood it. Sappington
responded by explaining
the term, which is defined
as the invalidation of a
state or lower law, that
conflicts with federal law.
Sappington said that the
Memorandum of Law
document he provided the
Board covers the topic, and
that other states, including
Oregon, shall recognize
legislative acts, public
records, and judicial deci-
sions of the other states
within the U.S., resolving
any perceived issue.
Tax Department.
Durflinger gave the
Board a departmental up-
date, providing the Board
documents with details
regarding County main
accounts, payroll accounts,
accounts payable, etc.
Included in the docu-
ments was a ten-year his-
tory of foreclosures.
In 2014, according to
the documents, there were
32 foreclosure properties at
the beginning of the year,
with 18 currently left on
the list, with the County
expected to acquire the
deeds of in 2016.
A tax payment analysis
document Durflinger pro-
vided to the Board stated
that for tax year 2014,
83.8% of total taxes was
collected in full, totaling
$15,142,401.29.
Several Baker County
businesses are appealing
their current tax situation
with the Oregon Tax Mag-
istrate, including Idaho
Power and Ash Grove
Cement, which pay just
over $1 million and $800
respectively.
Ash Grove’s hearing is in
September and will result
in a nearly $100K refund if
they prevail.
Tesoro, which owns
USA Gas and Shell locally
and pays the sixth larg-
est amount of taxes in the
County, is also appealing
nearly all of their $143K
bill.
The next step, should
these companies be un-
happy with the hearing,
would be to appeal to the
Oregon Supreme Court.
A list of Baker County’s
top 15 taxpayers is also
available from the Baker
County Treasurer’s Office.
Among those are Union
Pacific, Northwest Pipe-
line, Pine Telephone Inc.,
Century Link and Marvin
Wood Products.
ODOT Building.
A scheduled Oregon
State University (OSU)
Extension departmental
update, with Bob Parker,
was previously canceled,
so the Board discussed the
next item of business, the
possible purchase of the
old Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT)
building.
Harvey explained the
options, including purchase
and renovation, at around
$250,000 total. He said the
County already has spent
$6,500 to address some
current issues with the
building, and is currently
paying $1,500 a month to
rent the property.
The Board discussed
issues with making a
decision at the moment, in-
cluding having to relocate
Grammon, who uses the
space on the property for
County Weed Department
purposes.
Harvey mentioned an-
other piece of property as
a possibility, which would
be around $150,000 to
purchase, but the Board
decided to table the discus-
sion until the next regular
Commission session, June
17, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
Travel Management
Committee.
Order No. 2015-123,
Appointing Members To
The Baker County Travel
Management Commit-
tee, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Kerns.
Allan Chase (re-appointed
for another term), Wanda
Ballard and Tork Ballard
were appointed, their terms
set to expire on February
1, 2018.
Anthony Lakes Chip
Seal.
Smith discussed with
the Board a Statement of
Work for Reimbursable
Agreement, Anthony Lakes
Highway Chip Seal—OR
1146(1).
This agreement, between
the County and the Federal
Highway Administration,
according to the document,
provides for funding of a
progression of activities,
and the proposed project
is intended to extend the
pavement life by the appli-
cation of a chip seal, from
approximately Milepost
12.7, at the west end of
the North Powder Creek
bridge, to approximately
Milepost 15.1, near the
intersection of Forest Road
7302.
In general, the docu-
ment states, the condition
of County Road 1146 is
good, but this section will
begin to degrade because it
has reached the end of its
design life. With a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns, the agreement
was ratified.
Sage-Grouse.
Bennett voiced some
concerns over the Greater
Sage-Grouse Final
Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) released
by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) last
Friday. He said that the
FEIS states that there is a
60% decline in the popula-
tion of the Sage Grouse
in the priority habitat area
around Baker City, and he
is attempting to find out via
communication with the
BLM and other agencies
how they determined this
number, and why there is,
according to the document,
such a decline
He suggested that the
Baker County Natural Re-
source Advisory Commit-
tee (NRAC) also address
this major issue, because
of the potential impacts of
the FEIS.
Martin informed the
Board that there is a work
session scheduled for next
Wednesday at 9 a.m., and a
special City of Unity bud-
get session at 10:30 a.m.
The next regular Commis-
sion session is Wednesday,
June 17, at 9 a.m.
Mining Association invites public
Please join the Eastern
Oregon Mining Associa-
tion at 6:30 p.m. June 5,
at City Hall in Baker City,
for a chance to meet Jon
Matye, special agent for
the Forest Service.
Members and guests will
learn about his approach
to law enforcement on the
Forest. Mayte worked on
the Wallowa-Whitman
previously and is familiar
with this part of Eastern
Oregon.
He has had an impressive
career which includes suc-
cessful arson and criminal
investigations, he has in-
vestigated organized crime
drug trafficking and has
been a member of a drug
enforcement task force.
A detour was eventually created for motorists travelling
eastbound.
Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner first pinned a
Lieutenant name tag on Newman’s uniform then ad-
dressed the crowd after Yeaton finished administering the
oath.
Lohner said, “This is the future of the department. We
will be moving someone into replace the Lieutenant’s
Sergeant position within a few weeks. The department
will take on a whole new face and I think there’s going
to be some exciting things happening. We are getting our
new guys back (from the academy) and they are getting
geared up and ready to go. There are a lot of changes
happening in Baker County Law Enforcement, within our
agency, the Sheriff Department, of course with the new
Sherriff, Travis Ash and Oregon State Police’s Lieutenant
Belding will be taking over regional command for OSP
here in our area. A lot of exciting things are happening
and I see nothing but our agencies all working together
for this community and for this area. Better than we’ve
ever seen before and I think it’s going to be really promis-
ing for all the citizens— that is who we serve. That’s why
we do this it’s for the people out there, not for us.”
After Lohner thanked everyone for coming, Lieutenant
Newman’s son was heard saying “That’s it?”
And that was it.
Just like that the Baker City Police Department began
its journey forward into the future.
Preparedness fair
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Next, was the table set up by the Baker City Pharmacy.
Baker City Pharmacy provided information and displayed
a variety of First Aid kits. Baker County resident Harold
“Mike” Webb conducted a survival class providing more
information on assembling a First Aid kit and quoted
advice he’d received years ago from Dr. Menzie McKim
who advised that duct tape is one of the most important
items to include in any emergency medical kit. Webb said
that duct tape can be used for a variety of medical situa-
tions including bandages and splints.
Webb advised that building skills and practice are the
most important aspects of preparing for an emergency.
“The more you know the less you need,” said Webb.
The Oath Keepers organization displayed survival kits
and offered ideas for those with physical limitations. The
displays included survival bags assembled by several
different people to offer a variety of ideas. Besides the es-
sentials including food, water filtering systems, and cook-
ing equipment, the Oath Keepers also suggested vacuum
sealed items—and demonstrated the value to those with
physical limitations of a wheeled golf bag caddy to trans-
port several survival bags.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Weather Service representatives from
Boise, Idaho distributed information on severe weather
related emergencies and also conducted a Severe Weather
Training Workshop class for local weather spotters.
Participants were trained on cloud and storm recognition,
weather reporting procedures, storm hazards, and safety
tips.
More information on NOAA’s weather spotting pro-
gram may be accessed at internet address: http://www.
wrh.noaa.gov/boi/awareness/skywarn.php, or by contact-
ing Jay Breidenbach, Warning Coordination Meterologist
with NOAA National Weather Service at (208) 334 -
9860 or email jay.breidenbach@noaa.gov or jyencopal@
bakercounty.org.
“We’re building a partnership with Baker County Emer-
gency Management and developing relationships with
people from Baker County,” Breidenbach said.
Monty and Debbie Abbott from Port Orchard, Washing-
ton, work as independent Thrive Life consultants. They
demonstrated and handed out samples of freeze-dried
foods. Their food products retain 100-percent of the nu-
trient through the freeze-drying process and all their prod-
ucts are GMO-free. The foods are picked and freeze-dried
at maximum ripeness and thus burst with flavor.
“A conservative estimate shows that 25-percent of
people’s food budget ends up in the trash. We go head-
to-head on pricing with the grocery stores and our food
can be stored for long periods of time so there is no
waste, resulting in a huge savings on food costs,” Monty
explained. “We live by the motto, store what you eat and
eat what you store.”
The Abbott’s said their food unopened has a 25-year
shelf life and after opening can be stored for one or two
years. Thrive Life products may be purchased at Costco
grocery outlets or by contacting the Abbotts directly.
The Abbotts may be contacted at debbie@morethrive.
com, monty@morethrive.com, or by calling (360) 509 -
8001. More information on Thrive Life products may be
found at internet address: www.pantrytoday.com.
Janice Nelson, food storage expert offered information
on home canning and food storage. She conducts classes
locally and advises that every household have at the
minimum two-weeks of food storage and optimally three
months or a year’s worth of food stored. She handed out
samples of dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
Life Flight made a landing and take-off from the ar-
mory grounds and members of the Baker City Emergency
response team participated during the day demonstrating
medical emergency response capabilities.
The American Red Cross handed out Emergency Con-
tact Cards and stressed the importance of making a plan
to contact family members in case of emergency.
Mindy Sherrieb, Red Cross representative echoed the
sentiment of all the presenters during the Emergency
Preparedness Fair, “Assemble an emergency kit. Then,
make a plan to make a plan, make that plan, then practice
that plan.”