FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Sgt. Chastain sworn in,
school resource officer
one step closer
• CITY/COUNTY
FIRE MOU, SPRAY
ZONE BUFFER,
BUDGET ADOPTION
ON AGENDA
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday’s Baker City
Council meeting ran the
agenda gamut, starting
early on with a swear-
ing in, moving through
budgetary housekeeping
items and committee ap-
pointments, and review of
two key memorandums of
understanding—MOUs—
one between the City and
5J for a School Resource
Officer, and the other
regarding City/County Fire
protection.
No citizen participation
on off-agenda items was
presented.
Presentation of Plaque,
Swearing In.
Officer Wayne Chas-
tain took the podium in
a surprise presentation to
Chief Wyn Lohner just
prior to his own scheduled
swearing-in as the Baker
City Police Department’s
(BCPD) newest sergeant.
Chastain said in all his
time with the National
Guard, the BCPD has
always been accommodat-
ing of his military schedule
and he’d never heard one
officer there complain
about working around it.
“For this I’m grateful,”
Chastain said.
Chastain presented
Lohner with a framed flag
and certificate signed by
himself and his command-
ing officer, which reads,
“Shindand Air Force Base,
Afghanistan. This is to
certify that this flag of the
United States of America
was proudly flow over the
1st Squadron, 82nd Cal-
vary regiment headquarters
on Shindand Air Base
during Operation Endur-
ing Freedom on September
11, 2014, in honor of the
Baker City Police Depart-
ment.” The date marked
the thirteen-year anniver-
sary of the 9/11 attack.
Luke Yeaton of the
City’s Human Resources
Department then offi-
cially swore in Chastain
as sergeant, who vowed to
uphold the Constitutions
of the United States of
America, the Constitution
of the State of Oregon, the
Baker City charter and to
protect the safety of the
public.
Lohner then pinned the
new badge on the new
sergeant and thanked
Chastain’s family for their
sacrifices. Chastain’s wife,
Farrah, and their children,
watched from the audi-
ence.
Chastain has served
for several years—since
2001 in fact— as a BCPD
patrol officer in between
four military deployments
including Iraq and Afghan-
istan. In that time, he said
he has worked with three
police chiefs.
Lohner explained that
during the last two op-
portunities for promotion,
Chastain had been de-
ployed, but this time, the
timing had been right.
Just recently, Yeaton per-
formed a similar swearing-
in for Dustin Newman,
who transitioned from ser-
geant to lieutenant follow-
ing former lieutenant Kirk
McCormick’s out-of-state
move into a chief of police
position.
Budget and Finance.
“It seems anticlimactic to
now turn to budget,” joked
Mayor Kim Mosier follow-
ing the swearing in.
Resolution 3753 Chang-
ing Fund Structure, though
technically not a budget
item, was up first—it
eliminates the existing
Resort Street Underground
Fund Resolution 3684 that
was utilized in tracking
capital improvement costs
for that project. Since the
funds were depleted and
the project completed,
Council voted to adopt the
new resolution, dissolving
3684.
Resolution 3754 regard-
ing an Interfund Loan
was discussed. A $6,245
loan from the Equipment
and Vehicle Fund would
be necessary to purchase
additional equipment from
Tiedemann Consulting,
LLC. Council voted to
shift these monies into the
Golf Course Capital Proj-
ects Fund under specified
loan terms. This interfund
loan must be repaid in un-
der ten years. The City will
collect concessions fees
from the Golf Course over
six years in order to make
those annual payments.
Mayor Mosier ex-
pressed concerns that the
golf course continues to
absorb funds, such as those
needed for irrigation sys-
tem repairs, and said while
she does not want to come
across as an enemy of the
golf course, she would like
to see hard numbers on
how much tourism and tax
revenue benefit the golf
course provides for future
reference.
Merlin Gath spoke to
the benefits of the golf
course, acknowledging
the money-spending trend
Mosier mentioned, but
feels this last infusion of
money will allow repairs
to be made that solve the
constant need for monetary
infusions. He mentioned
a tourism group of 80
recently came to town to
play at Quail Ridge, and
said they’ll work on cap-
turing harder numbers.
He also mentioned that
Quail Ridge competes with
the course in La Grande,
which is subsidized to the
tune of over $100K per
year by Union County. He
did not believe such sub-
sidization was appropriate
here.
Other budget items
were touched upon, which
included the consideration
of various new resolutions
electing to receive State
dollars and to make minor
amendments to the budget.
Larry Abell spoke to the
Council about Historic
Baker City’s efforts to re-
build its membership base
and involvement in com-
munity events, reiterating a
request for $5,000 from the
City toward those goals.
When all was said and
done, the budget was
adopted.
Water Facilities Master
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Officer Wayne Chastain (right) presents Chief Wyn Lohner with a framed flag
and certificate just prior to being sworn in as the BCPD’s newest sergeant.
Plan.
Jennifer of Ray Smith
and Associates gave a brief
update on the progress of
the Water Facilities Master
plan, stating the company
analyzed projected popula-
tion growth, water sources,
etc., and is working toward
a Capital Improvement
Plan. At the end of the
meeting Council Mack
Augenfeld said the brief
presentation only served
to whet his appetite for
information on the matter.
Michelle Owen, Public
Works Director, said she
would gather information
on the full water facilities
master plan meeting held
earlier that day, and make
it available to Council.
Committees.
After the third reading of
Ordinance 3339 forming
the new Sam-O-Swim
Committee was formal-
ized.
Andrew Bryan, Jason
Bybee, Rustin Smith, Noel
Scott, and Jerri Wickert
were appointed to the com-
mittee after two rounds of
balloting among Council
members.
This volunteer commit-
tee is tasked with advocat-
ing for the swim center,
making recommendations
for improvements and
maintenance, etc.
Clair Button was appoint-
ed to another three-year
term on the Tree Board.
Gail Duman and Rick
Taylor were both appointed
to another two-year term
on the Parks and Recre-
ation Committee.
School Resource Officer
MOU.
The City and 5J School
District, after working to-
gether on the idea for sev-
eral months, are moving
closer toward reinstating a
school resource officer at
the high school.
Over the course of four
years, the position will cost
an estimated $402,537.
$125,000 of that expense
will be covered by a COPS
hiring recovery act grant.
$180,399 would come
from 5J’s budget with the
remaining $97,138 coming
from the City.
These figures include
salary and fringe including
insurance, retirement and
social security expenses.
The MOU was created
based on a previous docu-
ment to outline the duties
of the officer, who will
work full-time, usually in
standard uniform at the
high school during the
school year. The officer
will serve as a communica-
tions link between police
and the schools, and pro-
vide confidential student
conferences or interviews
as needed, assist in truancy
drug, and alcohol issues,
etc.
Council reviewed the
MOU and generally ex-
pressed it “looks good.”
City/County Fire MOU.
With the Baker City Fire
Department’s call volume
on the increase, this MOU
essentially allows the
County and City to share
firefighting resources,
particularly Gary Timm.
The agreement is unusual,
according to City Manager
Mike Kee.
As the County’s Fire
Division Manager, Timm,
a County employee to
supplement the City’s ef-
forts, sharing his assign-
ment hours. Timm’s job
duties will increase, but
also now fall under the
direct supervision of Baker
City Fire Chief Mark John.
Kee expressed that this
arrangement will save the
City overtime dollars.
Baker City Fire Chief
Mark John said nearly
every other day, simulta-
neous calls draw on their
resources. In addition,
last year’s 1,700 calls will
likely increase to more like
1,800 this year.
Pilot Program for No-
Spray Zone.
After several meetings
filled with Citizen Partici-
pation focused on banning
herbicides such as Round-
Up, Council asked the
Parks and Rec Advisory
Board to come up with a
pilot program.
The Board met at South
Baker Park on June 15,
and created a proposal for
a two-year pilot program.
With a buffer zone 25
feet south and east of the
playground, volunteers
will control weeds using
non-chemical methods
only, such as trimming
and pulling, in that area.
No fertilizers or synthetic
materials will be permitted
there.
A draft vegetation man-
agement plan has also been
created and is in review.
Upcoming Events.
Lohner concluded the
meeting with advice for
everyone to use caution
with the arrival of the busy
summer event season.
The next few weeks
include several traffic
changes due to the bicy-
cling classic, motorcycle
rally and Miners Jubilee.
Huntingon Chamber present at Boise meeting
BY EILEEN DRIVER
Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Northwest Community
Development Institute
(NWCDI) was held June
1519, at the Riverside
Hotel located in Boise,
Idaho and was attended by
a representative from the
Huntington Chamber of
Commerce.
NWCDI is a week long
intensive course designed
to teach both professional
and volunteer commu-
nity developers the skills
needed for leadership and
management of community
development efforts and is
sponsored by Idaho Com-
merce, the Community
Development Block Grant
Program, Business Oregon
and Infrastructure Finance
Authority (IFA).
NWCDI has a com-
prehensive program that
teaches individuals how to
identify community prob-
lems, set goals, network
with other agencies and
groups, stimulate com-
munity interaction and
support economic devel-
opment, human resource
development and quality of
life issues.
According to Gloria
Zacharias of Business Or-
egon and Third Year Class
Facilitator, “The classes
are of great importance
with the knowledge you
get, but the people you
meet and the contacts you
make are invaluable.”
This training is impor-
tant for organizations,
community officials and
volunteers of city, county
and state governments,
chambers of commerce,
public and private econom-
ic development organiza-
tions, utility companies,
financial institutions
and anyone interested in
community and economic
development.
NWCDI has 1st, 2nd
and 3rd year classes as
well as advanced studies
for graduates to keep up
with current economic
development issues. This
years classes were attended
by community leaders
from Idaho, Washington,
Arizona, Wyoming and
Oregon.
The Eastern Oregon re-
gion was represented by a
City Councillor / Chamber
of Commerce President
from Huntington, a Com-
munity & Economic De-
velopment Manager from
Pendleton and a Chamber
of Commerce Director /
Snake River Economic
Development Association
Member from Vale.
This year’s classes and
teachers included :
• Economic Impact
Analysis and Ethical Chal-
lenges both classes taught
by Ray Laughter who
has been involved with
Community development
for over 20 years and is
currently Vice Chancellor
of External Affairs for the
Lone Star College System
since 2002. His areas of
responsibility include the
Lone Star College Foun-
dation, the Community
Leadership Institute, the
Small Business Develop-
ment Center and regional
economic development.
• Workforce Develop-
ment taught by John Luthy,
Founder, and Mike Mc-
Mullan, Senior Partner of
The Futures Corporation
which since 1979 has
become a widely respected
firm specializing in public
sector leadership and
organization development
with particular interest
in strategic thinking and
planning that promotes
economic growth, program
performance, productivity
and broadbased commu-
nity development.
• Building Commu-
nity Leadership Networks
taught by Marcia Smart PH
D who has over 20 years
of corporate experience
and is an internationally
known author, speaker and
leadership strategist in
areas such as Leadership
Development, Informal
Leadership, Women’s
Leadership and Personal
Development.
• Creating a Diverse
Community taught by Sam
Byrd, President of Diver-
sity Works, who has more
than 30 years experience
working with crosscul-
tural and organizational
development issues. He
speaks both English and
Spanish fluently, is a very
humorous and dynamic
speaker and has extensive
experience in dealing with
diversity and human rights.
• Building Facilitation
Skills taught by Dennie
Houie who is a regionally
based Business Develop-
ment Officer for Business
Oregon, an organiza-
tion that is the primary
economic development
contact for businesses,
agencies and organizations
within Oregon. Dennie is
well-versed in Community
and Economic Techniques
in both the public and
private sector.
• Managing Change, as
well as Regionalism and
Economic Development
both taught by Kelly
Sills who has worked
for cities and counties in
California, Oregon and
Washington since 1987.
He is currently the Parking
Control Manager for the
City of Portland and has a
masters degree in Public
Administration / Orga-
nizational Change from
California State University.
• Finding a Vision taught
by Nichoel Baird Spencer,
MCRP, AICP, who has
nearly 20 years of plan-
ning experience in Oregon,
Washington and Idaho. She
currently serves as a Plan-
ner for the City of Eagle,
Idaho and also runs a small
planning consulting firm
where she specializes in
community visioning and
planning for small com-
munities.
Anyone interested in
attending NWCDI to learn
about community and eco-
nomic development
for use in your own com-
munity can reach them by
contacting Jerry Miller at
jerry.miller@commerce.
idaho.gov or Jill at jill@
meetingsystems.com