8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015
Local
Public Arts Commission
discusses graffiti incident
EOU president
visits Baker
Sunny Werner / The Baker County Press
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
The Public Arts Commission met Tuesday, partly overlapping with the executive session of City Council, to
discuss the “Movie Mouse” controversy surrounding the graffiti ordinance.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Public Arts Commis-
sion meeting was called
to order and the group
unanimously voted to ap-
prove minutes from the last
meeting.
Ann Mehaffy, Chair,
asked if anyone objected to
a change in the published
agenda moving the discus-
sion of the Movie Mouse
to the first item on the
agenda as City Manager
Mike Kee, city staff repre-
sentative, needed to attend
an Executive Session City
Council meeting and one
of the Eltrym owners, Dan
McQuisten, was present.
Hearing no objections,
Mehaffy looked to com-
mission member Brian
Vegter to begin the discus-
sion.
“Well, I was asked by
Mayor Mosier if we would
talk to Council about re-
wording the ordinance (on
graffiti) so there could be
room for interpretation as
in the case of the movie rat
so that if something was
created in a place that was
appropriate for the busi-
ness, the business owner
could elect to keep it,” he
said.
Mehaffy asked, “Did we
decide to do this as a com-
mission or is this just you
as a person?”
Vegter jokingly said that
he believed the commis-
sion had agreed to disagree
but in a previous vote he
cited a 3:2 result in favor
of allowing a business to
keep something they like.
That being the recom-
mendation, they chose to
present to Council.
Kee indicated the
Council was looking for
guidance as far as if they
should allow flexibility in
the ordinance.
Mehaffy felt that there
was definitely a need for
a change, “Because there
shouldn’t be such punitive
action toward the owner
when they did not do it.
Really they are the victim.
In any other ordinance
the victim is not fined or
charged with anything.
That is thing I find unac-
ceptable.”
According to Kee, the
ordinance as is sets now
is pretty firm not allowing
anything to be done other
than exactly what it says.
Kee explained that po-
lice officers use discretion
all the time citing getting
pulled over for speeding
or a seatbelt violation and
not getting a ticket as an
example, but continuing
on saying with the way
this ordinance is written it
does not allow for officer
discretion and so police
must follow that ordinance
regardless.
Kee explained the pro-
cedure stating the City will
go out make contact with a
business owner give them
14 days to remove the
graffiti then if the owner
fails to comply a citation is
issued.
Owners have an op-
tion to utilize the juvenile
department, kids that need
to perform community
service, to paint over the
graffiti matching the build-
ing color as close as pos-
sible at no cost so for the
“victim” there are options
to help with compliance.
Kee stated that in looking
at changes to the ordinance
he felt the City Attorney
would suggest someone
be able to judge content
and Mehaffy felt that was
something the committee
could help with.
It was agreed that Vegter
go to Council and state the
commission’s position for
rewording the ordinance,
and extending willing-
ness to help with decisions
regarding “nuisances.”
The discussion regard-
ing public art ensued for
quite some time encom-
passing issues that have
arisen from Chalk it up to
Art, to the possibility of
local artists, who as Vegter
put it sometimes get fed
up with red tape, erecting
unsolicited sculptures.
Mehaffy ended the
conversation saying that
“the mission of this Com-
mission is to promote
and encourage are for the
public and I think that fits
within our mission to act
as a coordinator between
the city with ordinances
and the public.”
The commission then
moved forward with the
agenda, with Kee having
left.
Mehaffy stated she did
not know much about the
Leo Adler Memorial Park-
way Project and was not
able to speak to that so the
committee agreed to skip
the agenda item.
They next addressed the
Vinyl wrap project.
Derek Hosler mentioned
that with the knowledge
that OTEC had said no to
the idea, he approached
Charlie Chase, who is
on the board, with the
idea and informed her
that OTEC had said no.
Hosler said Chase seemed
surprised that the idea had
been rejected and Hosler
suggested to the commis-
sion that Chase be invited
to one of the upcoming
meetings to become more
informed about the idea.
Mehaffy though it was
good idea and excitedly
bounced ideas of prepar-
ing a slide show or just
other visual aids giving
examples of what the
commission has in mind,
possibly even bringing
with her other OTEC board
members opening up the
possibility of the project
happening on a more
wide scale than originally
thought.
Mehaffy thought show-
ing them what the com-
mission wants to do may
get them give a conception
approval.
As discussed at a previ-
ous meeting Commission
members were asked to
bring art samples that
could be used in the proj-
ect that lead to time spend
critiquing the art samples
in relation to the project.
Mehaffy said that the
actual boxes needed to be
selected so Oregon Sign
Company could make a bid
proposal and the project
could move forward.
At the last meeting the
Commission spoke about
the possibility of a “freak
alley” behind Thatcher’s
Ace Hardware along the
Parkway.
Mehaffy offered to
speak to them regarding
the possibility.
She advised the Com-
mission, “I have an an-
nouncement. Conceptually
yes, they are very inter-
ested and want a proposal
from us. They want to
see something in writing
before they agree.”
Mehaffy suggested at the
next meeting they spend
some time talking about it.
U.S. 395 to be closed for culvert repair
The Oregon Department
of Transportation will be
replacing two culverts
under U.S. 395 (John Day-
Burns Hwy.) in November.
The Sheep Gulch Culvert
near mile post 6.1-C and
the Vance Creek Culvert
near mile post 11-C are
insufficient to handle water
and debris flows antici-
pated due to erosion issues
left after the Canyon Creek
Complex Fire that burned
through the area in August
and September. The U.S.
Forest Services is estimat-
ing a 100 to 650 percent
increase in water and
debris flow along several
creeks that drain off the
mountainside into Can-
yon Creek and other local
tributaries. The project
will replace the culverts
with new structures that
are designed to accommo-
date the anticipated flows.
These culverts need to be
replaced immediately.
To facilitate the project
U.S. 395 will be closed
between mile post 2.5-C
and 17-C for about 10
days beginning November
4th, followed by several
days of single lane travel
controlled by pilot cars and
flaggers while crews con-
tinue the work. ODOT will
work with local fire/emer-
gency service providers,
private property owners
and others needing access
between the two work
sites to help accommodate
critical needs as much as
possible during the closure.
ODOT will be sharing
information about the need
for this project and the
temporary highway closure
at the Wednesday (Oct.
14) Grant County Com-
mission meeting in John
Day, sometime between 9
and 11 a.m. Information
will also be shared at the
Harney County Commis-
sion meeting in Burns on
Oct. 21, sometime between
10 a.m. and noon. Both
meetings are open to the
public.
Information will also
be posted on the ODOT
Region 5 website at www.
tinyurl.com/odot-region5 .
OSP doesn’t know what killed wolves
The Oregon State Police
has suspended its investi-
gation into the deaths of
two wolves found in Wal-
lowa County the week of
August 24th.
The wolves were necrop-
sied, however due to decay
the cause of death has not
been determined.
The Oregon State Police
does not know if the wolf
deaths were human caused.
The two wolves were
found dead in the Sled
Springs area.
One of the wolves found
dead was collared (OR21,
female). After the collar
emitted a mortality signal,
law enforcement respond-
ed and found two deceased
wolves within 50 yards of
each other. The collared
wolf and a male she was
with were known as the
Sled Springs pair and were
newly established.
EOU president sips wine with Alyssa Peterson of
Peterson’s Gallery on Main Street.
• PETERSONS GALLERY HOSTS EVENT
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Monday, October 12th a contingent of Eastern Or-
egon University administration and staff came to Baker
City.
First on their agenda was to meet with the leadership at
Baker Technical Institute.
BTI’s Mission Statement states:
“It is our mission to provide opportunities for students
to achieve their personal best, become responsible and
productive citizens, and embrace lifelong learning in a
safe and positive environment. We believe all children
can learn and excel with developmentally appropriate
materials, practices, and strategies.”
Because of the remarkable success BTI has had over
the past year educating students who desire a different
path than college, EOU was interested in meeting with
staff to discuss ways that the university might be of as-
sistance.
Presently, the Technical Institute offers training and
education in the following career pathways:
Agriculture, Building Construction, Culinary Arts,
Engineering and Health Services. Aquaponics and Weld-
ing are also on offer.
Future programmes will include Information Technol-
ogy and Mechanics.
Tim Seydel, Vice President, University Advancement
Executive Director, EOU Foundation, commended Baker
for being “an advanced community” in regard to devel-
oping and supporting Baker Technical Institute.
Seydel went on to say that many communities face the
same issues with high school graduates who may not be
college bound but still need education in a career. “Baker
is providing a resource for those students,” he said.
Rick Paradis, Director of Development, explained,
“Practical education is so important, so that those stu-
dents have the skills leading to a career.” Paradis said
that the primary reason for the visit to Baker was to
“encourage, support and discuss the courses, and how to
make the transitions easier for the students.”
He went on to point out that “students might complete
the studies in Construction, for example, and then realize
they would like to own their own company. They could
transfer to EOU and get a degree in Business.”
Following the tour of BTI, the EOU officers and staff
went to Peterson’s Gallery for a President’s Reception.
Hosting the reception were Davey and Alyssa Peterson.
Davey is a graduate of Eastern Oregon University with
a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics).
Alyssa said they support EOU and were happy to host
the event.
EOU President Tom Insko circulated during the
reception in his honour, visiting with local community
residents.
Insko mentioned his appreciation of the Petersons host-
ing the event and congratulated them on the success of
their enterprise.
“We always enjoy seeing what our graduates have
achieved,” he said, “and we are happy to receive their
suggestions for inclusion in future courses.”
Insko also commended Baker for the community sup-
port Baker Technical Institute receives.
The delicacies on offer were catered by Zephyr, a
nearby store to the Gallery.
Trail designation
comments sought
An open house is set Oct. 26 to seek comment on
designating the South Shore Phillips Lake Trail as a State
Designated Scenic Trail. The open house will from 6-7:30
p.m. at the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort Street.
Oregon Scenic Trails are non-motorized trails that pro-
vide access to significant national, state or regional scen-
ery and showcase Oregon's natural gems. Scenic trails
are longer than one mile, open to the public, substantially
complete and lie on public lands.
The South Shore Phillips Lake Trail winds along the
south shoreline of Phillips Lake. At 6.6 miles, the non-
motorized trail is a mostly flat, family-friendly route to
be enjoyed in all seasons. Comments on this proposed
trail designation can be submitted online at http://www.
oregon.gov/…/Trail_…/Pages/PhillipsLakeTrail.aspx.
Comments will be accepted through Nov. 13, 2015.