10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015
Local
Sam-O Swim Committee
widens shower discussion
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Committee for the
Sam-O Swim Center met
Monday, November 9 to
hear updates on current
projects happening and to
discuss further the shower
situation as well as fund-
ing for the heating system
update.
The meeting was called
to order by Chair Andrew
Bryan and all members
were present with the ex-
ception of Jason Bybee.
The Committee wel-
comed newest member
Chuck Everson and was
joined for the first time
by newly appointed City
Council liaison Sandy
Lewis. YMCA executive
director Heidi Dalton was
also present as was Aquat-
ics Director Paula Moe.
Michelle Owen, Public
Works Director, began the
meeting giving information
on the sand filters.
“Their scheduled install
date is November 18,
which is awkward because
there is going to be no
water in the pool,” Owen
said.
She asked for a more
realistic install date and is
waiting to hear back. She
noted that they could in
fact install those filters on
the 18th but they would
be responsible for mak-
ing sure they work so that
would require coming back
the details had not been
worked out.
Mid America has begun
the resurfacing, the crew
showed up within the
last week and started the
project. Instead of sand
blasting the crew is using a
process called hydro blast-
ing which is a much louder
process.
Owen advised that there
are particles in the air,
glasses and hearing protec-
tion is required so it was
not a good idea to go in.
The crew did have a minor
setback with a broken part
they were waiting to get
repaired but that has been
taken care of. So it is
going a little slower than
anticipated but still moving
along nicely. A few minor
issues have arisen but ev-
erything is being handled.
“Is everything perfect?
No. Is everything moving
along? Yes,” said Owen.
She is waiting for a crew
chief to arrive and walk
her through the project
addressing any issues that
have come up.
She said, “I have spoken
with Austin, one of the
owners at Mid America
Pools and he has said ‘We
are going to get you a proj-
ect that gets it done and
gets it done right’ so I’m
feeling pretty good.”
Owen then updated the
committee on the heating
system funding. She has
applied for a Swindells
Charitable Trust grant,
they have acknowledged
receipt of that and will be
evaluating that this month.
Ford Family Foundation
has also been submitted to
with that being looked at in
December, a write up for
the trustees is being done
this week.
If of one or both of these
options do not work out as
anticipated Owen claims
she is out of options at this
point and will just have
to wait until the budget
to move forward with the
project.
Andrew Bryan spoke
stating, “As you recall, we
had four projects to priori-
tize. We started with the
resurfacing especially with
safety considerations and
the kids, then we looked
at the filter system so here
we are. I think that most of
the committee understands
it’s a moment in time, we
accomplish what we need
to do this year we’ve got
a clean 15 years without
these types of closures.
Then the boiler and when
the committee made its
recommendations to
Council of the priority of
projects the showers were
the last in line, more than
likely we would seek that
from the 2016-2017 bud-
get. If you recall, I had an
initial bright idea to raise
the funds, bring the swim
community together. Then
we sat back down in the
midst of all the fires and
everything else going on
and we all shook our heads
and said ‘bad time to really
try to raise money’ so we
kind of let that die.”
Bryan went on to advise
the committee he had
been contacted by Randy
Daugherty about rais-
ing money to replace the
showers and not waiting.
Daugherty has secured
$3,000 from six individu-
als to immediately repriori-
tize that project and get it
completed by February 1.
The YMCA board has
agreed to put another
$3,000 toward the project.
Replacing the showers has
been estimated at between
$10,000 and $12,000. The
idea is the City will con-
tribute another $3000 and
fund raise the remainder.
Bryan questioned
whether it was the commit-
tee’s responsibility to fund
raise.
Upon further discussion
of the project questions
were raised as to whether
or not it would also be
a good idea to revamp
the shower replacement
project into an all-encom-
passing project that would
allow for some ADA
improvements, remodeling
of a restroom outside the
locker room to be a family
restroom/changing room
and the discussion also
highlighted installing a
different type of shower in
the locker rooms that may
be a better “fit” rather than
replacing units with the
same type of unit that is
known to have issues.
As the committee
prepared to adjourn they
asked that Owen research
different showers and what
it might take to install
those as far as plumbing
issues and asked that she
address Council as to the
fact that this project may
be bigger than first antici-
pated therefore may need
to be placed on hold for the
time being. Discussion was
had a last week’s Council
meeting, and will continue.
Regional Mayors Council
meets in Richland
BY EILEEN DRIVER
Eileen@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The regional Mayors
Council Meeting was held
on November 12th from
noon to 2 p.m. at the
Shorthorn Restaurant
located at 200 Main Street
in Richland.
The meeting was chaired
by Richland Mayor Gloria
Wilson.
The Mayors Council is a
gathering for city, county
and economic leaders
to get updates on what’s
happening in the towns in
our area and around the
county in a relaxed and
friendly environment.
The gathering also
gives members a chance to
gather advice and infor-
mation from peers and
promotes community unity
and collaboration.
Mayor Wilson gave an
update on what’s happen-
ing in Richland, which
includes working on
replacing their wastewater
system for which they are
in the process of hiring a
contractor.
They are also working
on grants for a water fea-
sibility study and investi-
gating the need for a burn
permit process for their
citizens.
The newly appointed
Mayor of Sumpter, Leland
Myers, informed those as-
sembled that he has mostly
been kept busy getting
caught up on the affairs of
the City and is hoping that
the recent turmoil in the
city is over and they can
get back to accomplish-
ing the City’s business.
Sumpter is also working
on applying for a $30,000
water grant and hiring an
engineer.
Mayor Sheila Farwell of
Halfway reported that they
are gearing up for three
major projects to begin,
wastewater, Oregon De-
partment of Transportation
(ODOT ) street repair and
the building of a new fire
station. She also wanted to
acknowledge the great job
their fire department did in
combating the fires of the
past summer.
Huntington Mayor Tra-
vis Young was unable to
attend but was represented
by Huntington’s Presi-
dent of the Council who
reported that Huntington
is still struggling on the
marijuana issue, and are
at the land acquisition and
Economic Impact Study
phase of their wastewater
project.
Idaho Power Commu-
nity representative Russ
Weedon reported on the
Snake River Stewardship
program and the Heming-
way to Boardman Line
project that is looking to
be ready to begin in 2020.
He also talked about the
plans to un-integrate Idaho
Powers coal fire plants
and the struggle to get the
temperature of the Brown-
lee reservoir in line with
government guidelines.
Baker County Commis-
sioner Bill Harvey dis-
cussed the County’s work
on watershed protection
including but not limited
to the cleaning of culverts
and ditches, work with the
Forest Service and Bureau
of Land Management
on reseeding and timber
projects, as well as trying
to get the Lime Plant area
cleaned up and the hope to
find a new tenant to bring
in more jobs to the area.
Baker County Sheriff
Travis Ash reported that
as the cold settles in, the
County has slowed down
and been pretty quiet.
He also wanted to stress
that he is always available
to address any questions or
concerns that come up and
encouraged all to call him
anytime.
Ash also stated that he is
shorthanded at this time
with only five deputies
covering 3,000 square
miles.
Greg Smith of Baker
County Economic De-
velopment reported that
they are working hard at
creating jobs in this region
through encouraging the
top 50 employers to add
more jobs and by doing
what they can to promote
logging here. He discussed
the impacts to Baker City
of the Haggen Bankruptcy,
and to Huntington on the
relisting of Farewell Bend
Travel Plaza for sale.
On the brighter side he
reported that according
to Timothy Bishop of the
Baker County Tourism
Commission, lodging in
Baker County is up and
looking to continue to
improve.
Lisa Dawson of the
Northeast Oregon Eco-
nomic Development
District (NEOEDD)
informed all present about
the Agora Investment
Platform, which provides
an online marketplace to
advance community and
economic development pri-
orities by matching com-
munity needs with relevant
funding sources.
Dawson also wanted
everyone to be aware that
NEOEDD would be happy
to set up Business Devel-
opment classes in any city
that would like it.
The Shorthorn Restau-
rant provided a delicious
off-the-menu lunch to all
assembled .
The meeting was ad-
journed with a reminder
that the next meeting
would be held in the City
of Huntington on January
21, 2016.
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Windstorm
triggers crash
Photo courtesy of OSP.
A severe wind and dust storm in Washington and
Oregon triggered a fatality accident and freeway
closures Tuesday night.
On Tuesday November 17th at approximately 6 p.m.
Troopers from the Pendleton Office responded to a report
of a motor vehicle crash on Interstate 84 eastbound near
milepost 193.
Troopers began to investigate a four-vehicle collision
involving two commercial motor vehicles and two pas-
senger cars. The crash occurred during high winds and
visibility was limited due to blowing dust. One vehicle
occupant was seriously injured in the crash.
At approximately 6:17 p.m. Troopers from the Hermis-
ton worksite also began to investigate several minor mo-
tor vehicle collisions that occurred on I-84 eastbound near
milepost 192. The crashes occurred during high winds
and visibility was limited due to blowing dust. While
Troopers were working their way through the minor col-
lisions, they discovered a motor vehicle collision involv-
ing 11 total vehicles at that same location. Emergency
Medical Personnel were already on scene. A total of five
commercial motor vehicles and six passenger cars were
involved in the crash.
Several occupants of the involved vehicles had to be ex-
tricated by fire personnel and were transported to hospi-
tals in Hermiston and Pendleton for treatment of injuries.
The driver of one commercial motor vehicle identified as
William Hernandez, age 47, of Caldwell, Idaho was killed
in the collision.
Pendleton Area Command Troopers are being assisted
in the investigation by OSP crash reconstructionists.
Interstate 84 eastbound remained closed through the
night to allow for investigation and cleanup of the crash
scene.
Agencies assisting at the scene included Fire Depart-
ments from Hermiston, Echo, Stanfield, Pendleton, as
well as Life Flight, Oregon Department of Transportation,
and the Umatilla County Office of Emergency Manage-
ment.
Baker City,
Haines outage
Early November 18, at 2:30 a.m. multiple outages were
reported in the Baker City District due to a strong storm
system moving through the area bringing with it high
winds.
473 members were affected along the west side of
Baker City and Haines. OTEC crews were dispatched
have been on-site throughout the morning isolating the
area, removing downed tree limbs and restoring power to
most members by 6:00 a.m.
The remaining 55 members affected in the Rock Creek,
Mill Creek and Marble Creek areas have an approximate
restoration time of 11:00 a.m.
Please report outages to our OTEC outage number:
1-866-430-4265
Albertsons’
winning bid
only $300K
Last week Albertsons placed a bid on the Haggen
Store at 1120 Campbell Street in Baker City, which was
formerly an Albertsons store six months ago.
The company submitted a bid on the 46,000 square-foot
commercial building, which was built in 2001, and is val-
ued at $2.8 million. The baseline bid was just $300,000,
which Albertsons bid. That amount was enough to win.
Albertsons also submitted baseline bids on five other
stores, winning those auctions as the sole bidder for just
$1 per store.
Economic development director Greg Smith issued the
opinion, “The announcement that Albertsons has pur-
chased the Haggen Grocery is good news for Baker City.
This means residents will continue to have two shopping
locations as well as employment opportunities.”
To date, the company that owns both Albertsons and
Safeway has not expressed that it will operate in both the
former Haggens and current Baker City Safeway build-
ings. Federal Trade Commission review is also pending.