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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2016)
10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016 Local County Commissioners hold first regular session of 2016 • JUSTICE COURT IGA, ODFW, USFS, AND NEW DIRECTIONS ALL PART OF VARIED AGENDA New Years Eve bonfire held in Sumpter BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd @TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its first, regular session of the month, and the year, on Wednesday, January 6, 2015, at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house. Present from the Board were Commission Chair Bill Harvey, Commission- ers Mark Bennett and Tim Kerns, and Executive As- sistant Heidi Martin. Attendance also included Baker County Planning Di- rector Holly Kerns, Baker County Planner Kari Har- ris, Baker County Asses- sor Kerry Savage, Baker County Parole and Proba- tion Director Lieutenant Will Benson, Cynthia Long, Ken Anderson, John and Ramona Creighton, Tork and Wanda Ballard, Gary and Jan Vinsonhaler, Clay and Christine Gyllen- berg, Karen Yeakley, and Martin Esty. The meeting was called to order, followed by recitation of the Invocation and the Pledge of Alle- giance. Shortly after that, the agenda was adopted, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Kerns. The Citizen Participation segment of the meet- ing included comments from Long, Ramona, both Ballards, and Anderson. Long, present at the last United States Forest Ser- vice (USFS) coordination meeting, on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, spoke about that topic, express- ing concerns about the lack of explanation regarding emergency timber salvage criteria, and issues with the lack of placing value on timber locally before it’s shipped out. Ramona voiced her opin- ion that the Board has done a phenomenal job at the coordination meetings, and Tork said he’s impressed (as well as Harvey) with the response of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) during its coordination meeting, on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, however, less so with responses from the USFS. Ramona and both Bal- lards said that, regarding the situation with the Ham- monds in Harney County, they agree with the cause and the injustice, and that the exposure of the issue is a good thing, but, they don’t agree with certain actions taken to support the cause. Harvey agreed, stating the Board’s support, but, he also didn’t agree with certain actions taken to support the cause. Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press Baker County Parole and Probation Director Lieutenant Will Benson. The minutes from the December 16, 2015 session were approved, with a mo- tion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. A Professional Services Agreement, between Baker County and New Direc- tions Northwest Behav- ioral Health and Wellness, for the support of grant funding through the Baker County School Based Health Center (SBHC), was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. According to the agree- ment, New Directions will provide behavioral health therapy services to the County Health Depart- ment, at the cost of $3,465 per month via a state grant, for the term of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. A Criminal Justice Com- mission Justice Reinvest- ment Grant Agreement, between the State of Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), and Baker County, for the purpose of supporting Oregon localities in fulfill- ing requirements of House Bill (HB) 3194, Amends Sentencing Regulations in the Prison System, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. According to the agree- ment, the term of which is July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017, CJC will provide the County with an amount not to exceed $175,129, to fund the Baker County Justice Reinvestment Program. Intergovernmental Agree- ment (IGA) No. 5153, be- tween the State of Oregon Department of Correc- tions, and Baker County, for grant funding to the County, in order to provide services for addiction treat- ment for certain offend- ers at risk of reoffending. This agreement, effective from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017, includes a grant administered by the Department of Corrections, not to exceed $50,000. Benson discussed both aforementioned agree- ments with the Board, prior to their approval. An approval to entertain negotiations regarding Baker County’s ½ inter- est in mineral rights, on property located in the area of Morgan Creek and Snake River Road, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. The property, a County foreclosure from 1996, is located at Town- ship 12S, Range 45E, Wil- lamette Meridian Section 32, NE ¼ of NE ¼ (Ref #9899 12S45 tax lot 2500). Gary and Janet Vinson- haler, of Boise, Idaho, are in the process of purchas- ing the property, which includes paying back taxes in the amount of $54.95 to the County, in addition to the recording costs of the deed. The Vinsonhalers discussed this topic with the Board, prior to the ap- proval. Holly discussed a Senior Planner Classification Ap- proval with the Board, ex- plaining the details of the position. According to the document, the Senior Plan- ner will perform Planner duties in addition to pro- viding leadership on com- plex or long-range projects and some oversight in the Director’s (Holly’s) absence. The position will be full-time, with benefits, with a salary at a Range 14 on the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) wage table. A public hearing was held in the matter of Ordinance No. 2016-01 Amending Ordinances 2014-01 And 83-2, An Ordinance Adopting An Interchange Area Manage- ment Plan For I-84 Exits 302 And 306 By Amending The Comprehensive Land Use Plan And Zoning Or- dinance. Holly discussed the details with the Board, and testimony in opposi- tion was heard from the Gyllenbergs, Yeakley, and Esty. Changes to language in sections 610.03, 680.06, and 680.07 were adopted, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Kerns. The first reading of the Ordinance, by title only, was adopted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns, and a hearing on the matter is continued to the next regu- lar session, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at 9:45 a.m. A public hearing was held in the matter of Order No. 2016-101, Naming A Private Road Elk Camp Road, Located Along The Eastern Boundary Of Tax Lots 100 And 101 In Township 10 South, Range 37 East, Section 03C W.M., Baker County, OR. An application was filed by property owner Carl G. Patton, to name an approximate 1,200 foot long private road running north from Sumpter Valley Highway, Elk Camp Road. Both Harris and Holly discussed the details of the Order with the Board, and no testimony was noted. A hearing on the matter is continued to the next regu- lar session, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at 9:45 a.m., with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Order No. 2016-102, Ap- pointing A Budget Officer For Baker County, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Harvey was appointed, his term set as the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Order No. 2016-103, Appointing A Member To The Baker County Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee, was approved, with a motion from Kerns, and a second from Bennett. Mike Dur- gan was appointed to fill a vacancy in the conserva- tion/co-existence category, his term unspecified. Martin said that one more livestock representative is needed on the committee, a position for which there will be an advertisement. For the Commissioner Update segment, the Board discussed legal assistance from the County to the Blue Mountain Translator District (BMTD). Legal services, up to $3,000, from the County to BMTD were approved, with a mo- tion from Bennett, and a second from Kerns. Support this local, family-owned and operated small business, all while getting news for an entire year for as little as $29.95! Go to www.thebakercountypress.com to subscribe. Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press The sky was clear and the air frigid (overnight lows throughout the area plunged below zero degrees), but the bonfire and conversation were warm at the Sumpter Valley Blue Mountain Snowmobile Club’s annual New Years’ Eve Hot Dog and Chili Feed. The event started at 5:30 at Volunteer Park. Tall snow walls surrounded the area plowed out for the bonfire, giving the feeling of a big outdoor room. Sticks were provided for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Inside the warm park building, volunteers ladled chili into bowls. Soft drinks, coffee, cocoa and des- serts were also provided. Tables inside provided plenty of space for attendees to sit and chat while eating. Top: Serious hot dog roasters Middle: Kaden Collett refueling for another run through the snow Lower: Barbara Malone (l) and Lynne Applegate manning the chili station. Couple wants to open distillery On Wednesday, January 20th, 2016 at 7 p.m the Baker City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit request and hold a work session to consider revisions to Development Code Chapter 3.5, Signs. Ryan and Kaylin Chaves have requested a Conditional Use Permit (CU-15-088) to establish a ±5050 square foot micro-distillery (classified by the Baker City Develop- ment Code as manufacturing and production) and tasting room in a building located at 1901 Main Street in the Central Commercial Zone. The property is identified as Tax Lot 5600 in Section 17dd of Township 9 South, Range 40 East, W.M. (Ref. 2937). The public is invited to attend this hearing and to sub- mit comments. Testimony and relevant evidence, either in support of or in opposition to the proposal, must be based on the applicable review criteria and submitted to the Planning Department by 5 p.m., on the hearing date, Wednesday, January 20th, 2016, or in person during the hearing held at City Hall. The Planning Commission will review the application using the criteria in the Baker City Development Code, Section 2.3- Commercial Districts, as well as in Section 4.4.400 –Conditional Use Permits – Criteria, Standards and Conditions of Approval. The staff report will be available for inspection on or be- fore January 13, 2016 at the County Courthouse. Copies can be provided for a reasonable charge, digital versions can be e-mailed for free.
