FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 11
Local & Entertainment
Bebe’s word search
— Obituaries —
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Carlyne Gae Gregory
It reminded her of the
simpler times of years past
before shopping malls and
crowded freeways, and
where rural family living
was the norm. She was
able to have her dog Star
at Meadowbrook, where
he won everyone over and
was the mascot. She also
had a bird feeder there and
watching the birds feeding
was her favorite activity.
Gae was preceded in
death by her parents, son
Terry and her husband
Loyd.
She is survived by her
son Forest, daughters in
law, Ruai and Marie Greg-
ory, five grandchildren and
four great grandchildren.
Gae's family sends a
special thanks for the lov-
ing care provided by the
local Pine Valley caregiv-
ers and the caregivers and
staff at Meadowbrook
Place in Baker City.
In lieu of flowers,
please give a donation to
the Halfway VFW ladies
auxiliary through Tami's
Pine Valley Funeral Home
PO Box 543 Halfway,
Oregon 97834.
Online condolences may
be shared at www.tamispi-
nevalleyfuneralhome.com.
City Council
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
However, only the inter-
est earnings may be uti-
lized. The Tree Board has
developed guidelines to al-
low grants to individuals in
an effort to get more of the
community involved in the
planting of trees. Approxi-
mately $5250 could be
available this year in grant
money that would allow
a resident (that includes
a renter, with landlord
permission) or property
owner a maximum grant of
up to $300 per year for the
purchase of two trees.
Work would need to be
completed to tree board
standards before approach-
ing them for reimburse-
ment and a $25 match is
required. Applications for
this grant are expected to
be available November 1,
2015 through April 1, 2016
with project completion by
June 15, 2016.
Council voted to
unanimously approve this
resolution.
Fire Department Up-
date
Chief Mark John ad-
dressed Council updating
them on the progress his
department has made in
regards to Fire Safety
Inspections.
To date, 80 inspections
have been done and John
said he fully expected 100
to be completed by the end
of the year.
Mayor Mosier posed the
question of how vulner-
able the city is to a massive
devastating downtown fire.
“Very,” Responded
John solemnly. “Without
exception, education is the
issue.”
He went on to com-
mend his staff for their
response times on calls
sighting that as a factor in
how serious an issue could
become. John also advised
council of an agreement
with the Medical Springs
Fire Department that al-
lows use of a brush fire
truck in the Baker City
Fire Department that has
proved invaluable already
being utilized in several
instances including recent
major fires we’ve had in
the area.
The agreement with
Medical Springs simply
asks that Baker Fire re-
spond to incidents in their
area for assistance.
John also advised council
of fire prevention week
and the program they are
involved in that provides,
free of charge smoke
detectors to those that need
or want them.
His department will
even install them as time
allows. This year the theme
for fire prevention week is
‘hear the beep where you
sleep’ encouraging smoke
alarms in every bedroom
in a home. Statistics have
shown that smoke alarms
increase survival rates by
up to 50%. He encourages
citizens to call or come by
the department to request
theirs.
Authorization of Mayor
to Sign Letter Supporting
Greg Smith as County
Enterprise Manager
Baker County has asked
that Mayor Mosier sign
this letter. In order to
designate Greg Smith as
the enterprise zone manger
support must be obtained
from both the City of
Baker City and the City of
Haines.
Smith is currently the
economic developer and is
therefore the logical choice
to manage the County
enterprise zone.
The current County
enterprise zone manager, a
County staff employee has
been reassigned with in the
county and will no longer
have time to manage this
project.
Discussion was made in
regard to Smith’s abil-
ity and motives for such
a position but in the end,
Council voted for the
mayor to sign the letter.
Administration Vehicle
Purchase
Michelle Owen advised
council of intent and de-
tails of the vehicle selected
to purchase. The purchase
of a new vehicle for City
administration purposes
was included in the 2015-
2016 budget. Several
options were explored with
the final selection being a
2016 Ford Fusion at a cost
of $21,980 from Gentry
Ford in Baker City.
The budgeted amount
for a new vehicle was
$23,500. Several other ve-
hicles were considered but
after staff did a comparison
that included research-
ing reviews in popular
mechanics and similar
publications and taking
into account services Gen-
try was willing to provide
including oil changes and
the use of a rental car
should that be necessary
the Ford Fusion emerged
as the front runner for
recommendation.
Questions were posed
to Owen as to why a less
expensive option that
seemed to meet all the
requirements for the bid
proposed were not select-
ed. Owen explained again
citing reviews, other staff
member recommendations
and services provided by
Gentry.
After lengthy discussion
about the choice Mayor
Mosier in an effort to move
things along asked if there
were any motions.
Councilor Langrell
motioned that a less expen-
sive vehicle, to wit a bid
proposed for a Dodge Dart
be accepted.
With no second, that
motion failed. Councilor
Downing the made a mo-
tion to accept the bid on
the 2016 Ford Fusion with
a second by Councilor
Lewis, all voted in favor
with the exception of
Councilor Langrell.
Review of City Man-
ager’s Employment
Contract
City Manager Mike Kee
will be retiring effective
Nov 1, 2015.
He has proposed to
Council a six-month
contract be extended to
him so that he may finish
up projects, assist in the
recruitment of a new City
Manager and work with a
new manger to transition
into the full role of the
position.
Much discussion was
had over the issue with
Councilor Langrell being
concerned about the cost
to the city of paying two
people in the same role, es-
pecially if a new manager
is found quickly.
Langrell questioned
why Kee felt the City
should be locked into six
months when historically
an interim City Manager
was relieved of duty and
the City not financially
responsible for the interim
as soon as a full time City
Manager was hired.
Kee expressed openness
to that option but stated
he felt it would take six
months to find an adequate
replacement, transition him
or her and allow Kee time
to tie up any loose ends
and complete any unfin-
ished business.
After more heated dis-
cussion Councilor Down-
ing moved to approve a
six-month contract with a
second by Councilor Abell.
New Councilwoman Lewis
chose to abstain from the
vote saying she did not feel
she had enough informa-
tion to make a decision at
this time.
Upon a vote among
remaining councilors all
were in favor with the
exception of Councilor
Langrell passing the mo-
tion.
City Manager/Director
Comments
Mike Kee advised
Council of changes that are
potentially changing with
the 911 dispatch center.
Although it is currently
housed at the Sherriff’s
Department is it not under
the direction of the Sher-
riff’s Department. That
may possibly be changing
soon, due the inability to
find anyone to oversee the
center.
He also spoke of prop-
erty the City owns moving
forward toward sale.
Kee also advised
Councilor Lewis the City
would be providing her
with a handbook outlining
policy’s and suggested she
schedule some time to be
introduced to City staff,
and tour City buildings
and properties noting with
a laugh that “The sewage
treatment plant is always a
highlight.”
Council Comments
Mayor Mosier suggested
scheduling a date to talk
about plan to advertise
for a new City Manager
but Council agreed that
could be discussed at the
next regularly scheduled
meeting.
With that, the meeting
adjourned.
This week’s crossword puzzle
Across
1- Roof overhangs;
6- Ball partner;
11- Santa’s helper;
14- Minneapolis suburb;
15- Mikhail’s wife;
16- Bud’s bud;
17- Ways to go;
18- Exorbitant;
19- B and B;
20- Med. care providers;
22- Like Cheerios;
24- Fortified place;
28- Jumpy;
30- Wild;
31- Stupid mistake;
32- Ruth’s mother-in-
law;
33- Pertaining to a city;
37- Sephia maker;
38- Assail;
39- Bullring cheer;
40- Muscle manipulator;
43- Scope;
45- Future fern;
46- Cured, in a way;
47- Variety of rummy;
50- Hardens metal;
51- Children’s refrain;
52- Member of a largely
Middle Eastern people;
53- ER VIP;
54- One of the family;
57- Knight’s weapon;
62- Wild bugler;
63- Man and Wight;
64- Goof;
65- Bad-mouth;
66- Approaches;
67- Swedish imports;
Down
1- Auction ending?;
2- Foofaraw;
3- By way of;
4- Swan song;
5- Japanese dish of raw
fish;
6- Favored crime of
pyromaniacs;
7- Darn it!;
8- Never, in Nuremberg;
9- Enzyme suffix;
10- Indian of Oaxaca in
Mexico;
11- A-list;
12- Hermit;
13- Amusing;
21- A Stooge;
23- Longfellow’s bell
town;
24- Swindle;
25- Diarist Nin;
26- European ermine;
27- Skye cap;
28- Book of the Bible;
29- What’s ___ for me?;
31- Montana city;
33- Funny Anne;
34- Florence’s ___ Vec-
chio;
35- Author Horatio;
36- English university
city;
38- Primer pet;
41- Morales of “La
Bamba”;
42- Constituent of blood
serum;
43- Walks for pleasure;
44- Swiss peak;
46- Poseidon’s realm;
47- Yielded;
48- Garlic-flavored may-
onnaise;
49- Head supporters;
50- Head lock;
52- Super server;
55- British verb ending;
56- Guido’s high note;
58- Altar in the sky;
59- Heston’s org.;
60- Male swan;
61- Sounds of hesita-
tion;