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.
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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.