FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
City Council hears about disc golf course,
revisits Baker County Justice Court IGA
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesdays evening’s only
scheduled December City
Council meeting began and
ended in executive session.
Council met in execu-
tive session beginning at
6:30 p.m. to discuss with
legal Counsel Dan Van
Thiel, handling matters in
place of Yturri Rose who
has a conflict interest, cur-
rent and possible litigation
surrounding the issue of
double water and sewer
rates charged to annexed
property owners in lieu of
property taxes located on
the east side of town.
Thirty minutes had been
allotted for this execu-
tive session, and after 35
minutes Council was not
finished discussing the
matter.
City Manager Kee
suggested continuing the
executive session after
the regularly scheduled
meeting, to which Council
agreed.
After Mayor Mosier
opened the regularly
scheduled public meeting,
Councilor Downing said
the Pledge of Allegiance
and invocation. City Re-
corder Luke Yeaton called
roll with each Councilor
answering present.
Mosier addressed the
consent agenda, calling
attention to the one and
only matter listed, a liquor
license application that had
been made by Moe Joe
Smoke & Gift Inc.
This business is planning
to operate at the location
of 815 Campbell Street
next to Subway. With no
discussion among Council,
Councilor Downing moved
to approve with a second
by Councilor Lewis.
Council voted to pass the
motion unanimously.
Mosier called for citizen
participation next, there
was none. Council moved
forward with the agenda.
Ford Family Disc Golf
Project Presentation for
Donation.
Before the presentation
began Councilor Lewis
stated, “I am involved in
this group,” in case of any
conflicts.
Kee advised Council
this presentation was part
of Cohort 5 of the Ford
Family Leadership pro-
gram, “Where a group of
community members get
together and come up with
a project, solve problems,
figure out how to fund a
project and make it hap-
pen.”
The group has chosen to
pursue a disc golf course to
be built at the sports com-
plex. “Eventually, if they
raise enough local funds
Ford Family Foundation
will award a $5,000 grant,”
he said.
Danielle McCauley, a
Baker High School senior
and member of the Ford
Institute Leadership pro-
gram, addressed Council
about the project she has
worked on over the last
year.
She estimated the total
project cost to be around
$15,000, with $5,000 of
that the grant from the
Ford Family Foundation.
She informed Council
that the Cohort 5 has 26
community members rang-
ing from High School age
to retired senior citizens.
McCauley stated, “This
activity is easy to learn,
accessible to those of all
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Danielle McCauley presenting to Council.
abilities and ages and is a
very affordable activity.
We chose this because of
everything it has to offer
our community. It is a free
heathy activity for all ages,
increases physical exercise
and improves coordina-
tion.”
McCauley went on to
say that she had gotten
support from PE teachers
and even offered up the
idea of recreational leagues
possibly being formed.
She told Council that
by adding disc golf to the
complex there is potential
for an increase in value of
the space.
She said, “It isn’t used as
much as it could be—it’s
an amazing complex.”
She also explained that
it gives opportunity to
local business to advertise
through sponsorship of
poles, baskets and benches
planned to be installed.
Natural Structures has
already in anticipation
of the project designed
baskets and benches, the
benches are keeping in line
with those already in-
stalled along the Leo Adler
Parkway.
McCauley explained to
Council this project could
give non- profit organiza-
tions the potential to fund
raise and even felt there
could be a tourism aspect
to the project. Once com-
pleted the Baker School
District will own and
maintain the course.
Councilor Langrell
asked, “When do you
expect to have this operat-
ing?”
McCauley responded that
it was the intention to have
the course completed by
the spring on 2016.
Mosier said to McCau-
ley, “Typically when we
are making donations to
organizations it is through
the budget process. Is there
a reason why the donation
needs to be now rather
than waiting for our budget
cycle?”
McCauley explained
that all the fundraising
money need to be raised by
February in order to get the
project done on time and to
meet requirements for the
grant match.
Kee stated that he felt
money from the Parks and
Recreation budget could
be available however he
would have a better idea
in January what that might
be.
Council agreed at the
second January meeting af-
ter an amount was decided
on the matter would be
readdressed.
Ordinance #3347
IAMP: Third Reading
Mosier read a statement
opening a public hearing
regarding the Interchange
Area Management Plan.
Holly Kerns addressed
Council giving a quick
review of the IAMP noting
three open houses had been
held for public comment
and input, information
about the plan has been
available online through
the consultants Kittleson
and Associates website
throughout the project
and project staff has been
available at any time to ad-
dress concerns the public
has had.
Based on some concerns
that were raised some
changes to the plan had
been made that she felt
worked for everyone.
Kerns stated, “I have not
heard any further public
input or comment.” She
advised Council that the
County Commissioners,
who are joint partners
in the IAMP, conducted
another meeting and “are
looking at revising some
of the language specific
to how Hudson Road is
described and revising
language as to how the
consultation of the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion will go in the County’s
zoning ordinance.”
Kerns assured Council
that the County’s requested
revisions would not have
any effect on the develop-
ment code and there was
no need for concern.
Mosier said she had not
heard any further public
comment on the matter and
her fellow Councilors in-
dicated the same. With no
one present to testify, Kee
read the Ordinance for the
third time by title only.
Councilor Downing
Motioned to accept the
third reading the Ordinance
with a second by Coun-
cilor Abell. Council voted
to unanimously pass the
ordinance.
“Thank you for all your
work on this; it has been a
long process,” Mosier said
to Kerns.
Resolution #3764
Interfund Loan from
General Fund to State
and Federal Grants Fund
Jeanie Dexter addressed
Council regarding the need
to transfer up to $50,000
from the General Fund
to the State and Federal
Grants fund.
“We do this periodi-
cally when we have a grant
come up like the FFA
grant, which is a reim-
bursement grant,” Dexter
said.
She indicated that in
such cases the City must
front the cost for a project
but will be reimbursed
entirely. This money is for
the apron rehabilitation
project at the Baker City
Municipal Airport.
Downing moved to ap-
prove this resolution with
a second by Councilor
Thomas. Once again the
Council voted unanimous-
ly in favor.
Disposition of Tem-
porary UV Treatment
System 26;41
Michelle Owen, Public
Works Director addressed
Council informing them
that Sentinel, the com-
pany from which the City
purchased the system origi-
nally has made an offer to
buy back the system. “Be-
cause it is an asset of the
City, Council is required
to authorize disposition of
that asset.”
Owen explained to
council that the system was
utilized, but now that the
permanent UV system is
in place this system is of
no use.
The unit is in need of
some repair and OTEC had
requested power be discon-
nected for the unit.
The building that was
built to house the unit
has been repurposed and
is being used to house a
generator. The UV system
is being housed in a ware-
house currently.
Over the last year Owen
had made known at confer-
ences and with consultants
she has interacted with
that the City had this UV
system and did not need it.
“The problem of course, is
that it is not one that could
be used as a new system.
It wouldn’t be validated by
the state,” she said.
Other options were also
considered such as parting
the system out however as
Owen explained the sal-
vage value was extremely
low.
Owen told Council,
“While the offer Sentinel
isn’t marvelous it is cer-
tainly better than any other
offer we’ve come up with
thus far.”
Owen told Council she
just need authorization to
sell it back for $21,000.
The unit originally was
$153,000.
“That’s quite a depre-
ciation isn’t it?” asked
Mosier.
“It is,” Owen said. “But
it’s one of those things,
it’s priceless because we
needed when we needed
it, and it served its purpose
very well.”
Downing moved to
approve the sale of the
equipment with a second
by Councilor Lewis, all
Councilors voted in favor.
Intergovernmental
Agreement for Municipal
Court Services
Kee spoke to Council
regarding the intergovern-
mental agreement between
the City and the County for
the City’s use of the Baker
County Justice Court. The
agreement has been in
place since the late 1980s
but has not been updated
since 1995.
Recently Kee explored
whether or not bringing a
City Municipal Court back
to the City would be in the
best interest of the City.
Based on projected costs
associated with operating a
Municipal Court including
hiring staff and a Judge, it
was found that even while
the City and County split
revenue 50/50 from the
City cases this arrange-
ment is more financially
responsible for the City
than having their own.
One of the benefits Kee
stressed about having a
municipal court was that
there would be regular re-
ports to the Council, which
they don’t currently have.
A revised Intergovern-
mental agreement that
required quarterly reports
to the City Council is be-
ing proposed. Kee stated
that this revision has been
presented to the County
Commissioners and The
Justice court with neither
having an issue with the
request.
Kee also stated that in
the revision it is stated that
the agreement be revised
by February after each
election of The Justice of
the Peace (every six years).
The new revised agreement
has not been signed by
County Commissioners but
is expected to be done at
the December 16 meeting.
Michael Finney, cur-
rent Baker County Justice
Court Administrator,
addressed Council giving
the Court accolades for the
services it provides this
community and has for the
past 26 years.
He stated that they
strongly approve of the
proposed changes to the
Intergovernmental agree-
ment.
Mosier spoke to Kee
addressing the miscommu-
nication the Court had with
the letter Kee sent advis-
ing them the City intended
to look into the matter of
starting a separate munici-
pal court, thus initiating a
60-day termination notice.
Mosier suggested a let-
ter clarifying that it is not
the city’s intent to remove
services be drafted and
sent to the Court regarding
the matter.
There was a consensus
among the council to have
the City Manager enter
into the revised IGA with
the County.
City Manager/Director
Comments
Kee spoke briefly about
pursuing public email ad-
dresses for Council indicat-
ing that was happening but
some concerns were being
addressed. Council was
advised that they would
see more information about
this in January.
He also noted that in
Council packets were City
financial information and
labor trends.
It was also mentioned
that in January the City
Auditors would be making
a presentation to Coun-
cil. Kee also mentioned
that Salvin Management
Consultants will be in
Baker City Thursday and
Friday December 10 and
11 to conduct interviews
with Council, Staff and the
public to create a profile
to begin recruitment for a
new City Manager. Yeaton
advised City Council ap-
plications are due January
7, 2016 at noon.
Council Comments
Councilor Abell re-
minded everyone that the
HBC Parlour Tour was
this coming Saturday from
noon-5 p.m. and said she
felt this year’s offering of
homes was a good one.
Mosier wished every-
one a happy holiday and
adjourned the meeting.
Council then went back
into executive session
to finish the discussion
started earlier regarding
current and possible litiga-
tion surrounding the issue
of double water and sewer
rates.
The discussion was
heated and lasted an ad-
ditional 45 minutes.