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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2015)
8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 Local County: East Face project, Community appointments, resolutions Bank holds charity drive • CITIZENS RECAP LA GRANDE USFS MEETING BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the first, and what will be the only, session of the month, on Wednesday, November 4, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Cham- bers of the Baker County Courthouse. Present from the Board were Commission Chair Bill Harvey, Commis- sioner Mark Bennett, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Commissioner Tim Kerns was absent, due to surgery. Attendance included Baker County Road Master Jeff Smith, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Baker County Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) Coordinator Eric Wuntz, Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort General Manager Peter Johnson, Ed Hardt, John and Ramona Creighton, and Ken An- derson. Following the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance (a change in the order of both, per a citizen’s previ- ous request), changes to the agenda were discussed. Baker County’s response to the East Face Environ- mental Assessment (EA) was added to the list of documents to be signed. The agenda was approved, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Harvey. Harvey, referencing some communication via email, noted that not every county grants citizens the chance to voice comments during sessions, and he said, “We relish the op- portunity for you to give us your thoughts.” This was shortly before the Citizen Participation segment of the session, during which Hardt and Ramona partici- pated. Ramona, of the group Forest Access For All (FAFA), said, to the Board, “I want to thank you again for being at that meeting in La Grande ( the U.S. For- est Service meeting, to dis- cuss access and increased wilderness designation, at the La Grande Armory). I think there were almost 200 people there, and, that was nice…” Harvey reminded those present that another similar type meeting with the U.S. Forest Service is scheduled to be held at the National Guard Armory in Baker City, on Monday, Novem- ber 9, at 6 p.m. Hardt said, speaking about the same meeting, “We didn’t know this go- ing in: the green people (environmentalists) had all their notes. They had everything prepared. They just kept reading, you know, but, it seems that the general audience went off the top of their head,” voicing concerns about proper preparation, and time limits with public comments. Harvey echoed those concerns, but he said that he thought Hardt and oth- ers still did a great job at the meeting. The minutes from the Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press NRAC Coordinator Eric Wuntz discusses the East Face Environmental Assessment. October 21, 2015 session were approved, with a mo- tion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. The Contract Review segment of the session included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort (ALMR), LLC, and Baker County, for the rental and use of snow removal equipment which is owned by the county, and will be used by ALMR, from November 1, 2015, until two weeks after the ski season ends, around May 1, 2016. The equipment includes a 1991 John Deere 772BH grader, and a 1974 CAT 966 loader. Both Johnson and Smith discussed the MOU with the Board, which includes the require- ment that ALMR will bear the costs for parts, and report to the county what maintenance and repair was performed monthly. The document states that ALMR will rent the equip- ment from the county at a rate of $36.66 per hour for each hour of use (each one has an hour meter exclu- sively for ALMR’s use). The MOU was approved, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Harvey. A Professional Services Agreement, between Baker County and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, Ltd., for the services of a Mid-Level Provider for the Baker County School Based Health Center, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. The agree- ment covers the period October 12, 2015 through December 31, 2015, and includes payment from the county to St. Luke’s of $50 per hour for the services. Public comment regard- ing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) government-to-government coordination meeting last Thursday was heard at this session, from Hardt and Anderson. Among other topics, Hardt expressed the need for coordination between the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and ODOT, and Harvey re- sponded that there will be a government-to-govern- ment meeting with ODF on Tuesday, November 24, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers. Both Hardt and Anderson expressed an opinion that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) seems to be slower pursuing opportunities with timber salvage, than the BLM. Wuntz discussed with the Board a letter ad- dressed from the Board to Joshua White, Acting District Ranger, La Grande Ranger District, which details Baker County’s response to the East Face Environmental Assessment (EA). The five-page letter explains that “…Baker County strongly sup- ports Alternative 5 as the alternative that would best meet our objectives.” The letter shows support for the East Face Vegetation Management Project, but, points out issues with the EA, including: a lack of mention of thinning; lack of forest health treatments in areas; a lack of riparian treatments; discrepancies with road densities; and is- sues with forage/elk ratios, among other concerns. The Board thanked Wuntz for his efforts (he was instrumental in ad- dressing issues with the EA, and in drafting the response), and the letter was approved, with a mo- tion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Both Wuntz and the Board said that public comments re- garding the project, which can be sent to comments- pacificnorthwest-wallowa- whitman-lagrande@fs.fed. us, are due by Friday, November 6. Order No. 2015-147, Ap- pointing Members To The Eastern Oregon Coordi- nated Care (EOCC) Local Community Advisory Council (LCAC), was ap- proved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Cindy Denne, her term set to expire on Feb- ruary 1, 2016, and Katie Rudi, her term set to expire on February 1, 2017, were appointed. Order No. 2015-148, Appointing Members To The Early Learning Regional Council, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Mark Witty and Jamie Larson were appointed, their term set to expire on June 30, 2017. Resolution No. 2015- 1012, amending Resolu- tion No. 2015-1005, A Resolution Opposing The Creation Of A New Na- tional Monument Proposed As The Owyhee Canyon- lands Monument; And The Establishment Or Designa- tion Of Any Other National Monument, National Con- servation Area Or Wilder- ness Area On Public Lands Within Eastern Oregon, Without Concurrence From The Affected Local Gov- ernments And People, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Resolution No. 2015- 1013, amending Resolu- tion No. 2015-1006 and 2011-1012, Designating An Enterprise Zone Man- ager, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. The Economic Development Director (Greg Smith) was so designated. Resolution No. 2015- 1014, amending Resolution No. 2015-1007, A Resolu- tion Naming A Portion Of County Right-Of-Way “Gale Garden”; Located In New Bridge At The In- tersection Of New Bridge Road, Eagle Creek Road And Governor Lane, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Resolution No. 2015- 1015, Transfers Of Funds Per The 2015-2016 Budget Document, was approved, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Harvey. This includes transfers from the gen- eral fund to the follow- ing: Accumulated Leave, $100,000; Fair, $45,000; County Health, $150,000; Technology Fund, $56,226; Consolidated Dispatch, $141,428; Museum Devel- opment, $25,000; Exten- sion Fund, $166,751; Weed Control, $35,000; Facility Maintenance, $42,810; Equipment Replacement Fund, $10,000; Court House Security Fund, $34,600; Road, $118,500; County Projects, $170,000; and Capital Building, $150,000. Resolution No. 2015- 1016, Appropriation Of Unanticipated Funds To Be Expended In The Non-De- partmental And The Sheriff Departments Of The County General Fund, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. SEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PAGE 9 Beginning November 2nd, and continuing through December 18th, 2015, Community Bank is conducting its annual Charity Drive. The program is an effort to collect funds from the community, to be used in that same com- munity during the holiday season. Funds collected will be matched at .50 on the dollar up to a maximum of $500 in matching funds per branch. This year the goal for each Community Bank branch is to work with their community to raise at least $1,000 to support their charity of choice. For each branch meeting or exceeding the $1,000 goal – the local charity would receive at least a $1,500 donation ($1,000 from the Com- munity, $500 Community Bank match). Since the Community Bank Charity Drive began in 2010, the total amount given to area charities now ex- ceeds $95,400, that’s an average of almost $19,000 per year. Charities that will benefit this year: Baker City is collecting for food banks in the Baker City area; Col- lege Place & Walla Walla Branches are collecting for The Walla Walla Senior Citizen Center; Elgin branch, for the Elgin Food Bank; Enterprise & Joseph Branches are collecting for the Community Connection Food Bank; Heppner branch is collecting funds for the Neighborhood Center Food Bank; Hermiston branch is collecting for Martha’s House; La Grande Branches are raising funds for the EOU Foundation Scholarship Fund; Milton-Free- water for the City Light and Power Energy Assistance Program; Pendleton branch is collecting for Neighbor 2 Neighbor; Wallowa branch collects for the Wallowa Food Bank. Branches will have donation jars available through December 18th. All types of monetary donations are accepted such as personal checks, bills and coin. If you have questions about the Charity Drive, you can contact your local Branch Manager. Haircuts for scholarships LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Galen Miller, owner of Blue Mountain Barbers, wants his clients to get more than just a great haircut when they visit his shop on Adams Avenue. A unique partnership with the Eastern Oregon Uni- versity Foundation is making it possible for barbershop patrons to give something back when they have a little – or a lot – taken off the top. It’s called “Haircuts for Scholarships” and clients can designate $1 of their tab to be donated to programs sup- porting the arts, athletics or a general scholarship fund at EOU. Miller hopes the arrangement will help people feel connected to something bigger, something that’s impor- tant to him and the community. “We get so many EOU students in here,” Miller said. “They’re spending their money downtown, so I think it’s important to give something back to them and also sup- port the importance of higher education.” “EOU has been and needs to continue to be part of this town,” he added. “I’d love to see more businesses getting involved.” Since the start of fall term, more than $700 has been raised and the initial effort continues through December 31. EOU’s Scholarship Committee will award the money next year to full-time, on campus students involved in the designated program areas. Miller’s goal is to dedicate one term per year to the “Haircuts for Scholarships” project. “We really appreciate this special effort by a local busi- ness to support our students," said Mike Allstott, EOU Foundation president. "These and other connections show just how important our community is to us." The EOU Foundation is a vital resource for higher edu- cation in eastern Oregon, with current assets of $13 mil- lion. Scholarships will provide over $425,000 to students during this academic year. For more information on the “Haircuts for Scholarships” program and the EOU Foundation, call 541-962-3740 or visit www.eou.edu/foundation. Fees waived for Veterans Day The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on November 11th in honor of Veteran’s Day. “We honor our veterans each November 11th and every other day of the year,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We hope that this time will serve as a way for our veterans and other visitors to find our national for- ests and grasslands as a year-round respite, a place where they can take time out for themselves.” This fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads, and visitor centers. Concession operations will continue to charge fees unless the permit holder wishes to participate. Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions, or other permits still apply. No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and approximately two- thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free.