10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016
Local
City
Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
The regular session of
the City Council meeting
convened at 7 p.m. with
all Councilors present and
Councilor Thomas leading
the Pledge of Allegiance
and Invocation.
Council voted to ap-
prove the minutes for
regular council meetings
from November 24, 2015
and December 8, 2015.
Without there being any
citizen participation Coun-
cil jumped right into the
meeting.
City Councilor Ap-
pointment
With the resignation
of Mack Augenfeld in
November 2015, Council
accepted applications for
a replacement councilor
to fi ll his seat. Applica-
tions were required to be
accompanied by a letter of
interest before the January
12, 2016 meeting.
Three citizens applied:
Dawn Bucklew, who
submitted and application
in October 2014 to fi ll Ben
Merrill’s vacated seat and
lost to Sandy Lewis, Judy
Head and Daniel Lowe.
According to City
Human Resource Man-
ager/City Recorder Luke
Yeaton, Head withdrew her
application leaving only
Bucklew and Lowe.
All Councilors voted
unanimously for Lowe
who was then sworn in im-
mediately by Yeaton.
Lowe took a seat with
his fellow councilors
for the remainder of the
meeting. Mayor Mosier
addressed Dawn Bucklew
who was also present.
She said,“We have a
number of seats coming
open in the next election
and I would encourage you
to consider that avenue
as well. We also have a
couple of seats available
on Boards or Commis-
sions, that if they interest
you, you may volunteer
for.”
Financial Audit Presen-
tation
Bob Seymour of Guyer
and Associates, Certifi ed
Public accountants ad-
dressed Council in regards
to his audit.
He had worked closely
with Jeannie Dexter City
Finance Manager and
Council had been provided
an 88-page annual fi nan-
cial report for the June 30,
2015 fi scal year end detail-
ing his fi ndings and each
departments numbers.
Seymour did not have
any shocking fi ndings to
report and state, “Baker
City was in a far better
fi nancial position” than
many other cities in East-
ern Oregon.
Seymour indicated that
management was coop-
erative even helpful in the
audit and noted that Dexter
had even worked as an
auditor herself at one time.
Seymour advised to
council only trivial things
were found and brought
to management’s atten-
tion; ways to improve the
issuance of bill credits to
deter fraud better sign off
on internal audit sheets and
those sorts of things.
The City was found to
have one bank account that
was not noted in fi nancial
statements.
Dexter explained to
Council that this was a
fund that was the volunteer
fi refi ghter’s money opened
long ago under the City’s
tax ID number.
Dexter indicated that
they were currently work-
ing with those individu-
als who were the rightful
owners of the money to get
it reassigned so it was not a
City asset. If interested the
Annual Financial Report is
available for any citizen to
review on the City website
bakercity.com and Dexter
has offered to answer any
questions as well.
Discuss East Camp-
bell Annexation Water/
Wastewater Fees
City Manager Kee stated
that it was his opinion
that this item be removed
from the evenings agenda.
Council was all in agree-
ment that the matter
needed no discussion and
they moved forward.
City Council Email
Policy
City Manager Kee
indicated that at a 2015
Goal setting session then
Councilor Augenfeld ex-
pressed concern that City
government be more trans-
parent. His fellow coun-
cilors agreed. Since that
time Kee, as well as other
members of City staff have
been reviewing other cities
email policies and proce-
dures. IT Technician Julie
Smith had outlined what
Kee felt was a “really good
policy” encompassing
staff as well as Councilors.
Much discussion was had
as to whether or not citi-
zens would be so willing to
contact councilors if there
was a thought that their
confi dential emails may be
made public. Mayor Mosi-
er expressed extreme con-
cern over this matter and
who gets to decide what
is made public and what
isn’t. She used the example
of what if someone showed
up on her doorstep and
spoke to her or called her
on the phone? Those com-
munications were expected
to be confi dential why
shouldn’t email. Coun-
cilor Lewis weighed in on
Copyright infringement
laws in certain instances if
all emails were to become
public but also stated she
did not expect her emails
to be private anyway. After
much debate and discus-
sion Council chose not to
vote on the matter only to
take it under advisement
for now.
Resolution #3765 Modi-
fying Parking Downtown
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen addressed
council that she had been
contacted by Ryan and
Kailyn Chaves requesting
the addition of a loading
zone and removal of an
ADA parking space along
a north side of Court Street
west of the Main Street
intersection.
She explained in her staff
report that the Chaves have
contacted other businesses
along the area and indi-
cated they had heard no
objections.
The Chaves even indi-
cate that the other busi-
nesses are excited at the
opportunity to bget to use
the loading zone as well.
The Chaves intend to
open a distillery, Glacier
45 at 1901 Main Street.
Because of the volatility of
the product being deliv-
ered to them, 190 proof
alcohol, the state requires
certain specifi cations for
delivery be met in order to
ensure safety during those
deliveries.
The Chaves also have
an upcoming hearing with
the planning commission
regarding a conditional use
permit for the space.
The Chaves addressed
Council on the matter.
Councilor Langrell
found issue with the
request stating, “I will not
vote for this. I do not see
the need to take away from
the citizens (referring to
the ADA space) for some-
thing that may be used a
few minutes once every
month. It’s not a good use
of space.”
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Bob Seymour gave a favorable fi nancial report for the City.
Councilors Lewis and
Abell, both of whom need
either for themselves or
family members ADA
spaces, also expressed
concern.
Both expressed the lack
of ADA spaces along Main
street with Lewis specifi -
cally noting extensive use
of the space in question.
Both voiced disapproval
of a space on First Street
being available as an alter-
native trying to make it un-
derstood that the distance
was not acceptable.
In an effort to satisfy
them, Ryan Chaves sug-
gested the ADA space in
question on the north side
of Court Street at Main
Street be relocated to the
south side of Court at Main
as a compromise.
This suggestion was
acceptable to Lewis and
Abell, however Langrell
was still unswayed in his
opinion.
Mayor Mosier said she
for one was very happy to
see life being breathed into
a downtown building, “It’s
refreshing.”
The building in question
has long been utilized by
a non-profi t with little to
no use or contribution to
our downtown. And while
Mosier stated she was glad
to see new plans for it she
did not at all want to take
away from the non-profi t
that had been able to use it.
Council, after lengthy
discussion about the ADA
relocation all voted to ap-
prove the changes and al-
low the loading zone with
the exception of councilor
Langrell.
It was agreed that the
ADA relocation would
be addressed at a future
meeting.
City Manager Recruit-
ment
Mike Kee addressed
Council advising that the
Slavin Management is
prepared to move forward
with recruitment after
visiting Baker City, talking
with Staff, City Councilors
and Citizens at large.
They have developed a
profi le to place for adver-
tising the position.
Kee said Human Re-
source Manager Luke
Yeaton had put together
what he felt was a great job
description.
Kee asked Council to
review the description as
well as the salary range in
which the job was going
to be advertised. City staff
had reviewed the profi le
and made changes they
deemed necessary such
as mistakes and typos
and he just felt a consen-
sus among council was
needed to allow Slavin to
move forward. A discus-
sion regarding salary was
had noting an increase in
staring salary to be com-
petitive with communities
similar to ours like The
Dalles and Ontario who are
also in the market for new
city managers.
“We don’t want to be
scrapping the bottom
of the barrel, stuck with
leftovers,” said Councilor
Downing in favor of the
salary to be offered.
That beginning salary
is in the $98,000 range.
Council agreed that the
range was within what they
felt it should be. They also
passed a motion to adopt
the job description.
City Manager/Director
Comments/Council Com-
ments
Kee advised Council he
had provided labor trends
for their review and had an
annual report on recycling.
When asked if curbside
recycling was an option
here in Baker City he in-
dicates he was told the re-
cycling center does a good
job in our community.
Public Works Director
Micelle Owen addressed
council regarding the
award of grants for the
heating system and new
credits available through
energy trust.
She also mentioned the
recent updates completed
at the pool including new
sand fi lter installation and
the pool resurfacing.
Councilor Lewis
mentioned an upcoming
YMCA fundraiser dinner
and it was noted that Best
Friends of Baker City and
New Hope of Eastern Or-
egon, both animal rescue
entities, were combining
some of their efforts.
Mosier indicated that it
had been brought to her
attention that she was clos-
ing Council Sessions incor-
rectly that a motion needed
to be made and voted on
before adjourning.
She jokingly asked if
there were any motions
and upon a unanimous vote
to adjourn, she closed the
meeting at 9:15 p.m.
January storm swim meet results announced
Baker Swim Team and
La Grande Swim Club
both had athletes compete
in the January Storm swim
meet on January 8-10 in
Walla Walla, WA. There
were 265 swimmers from
Oregon, Washington and
Idaho representing 11
teams.
Baker had six competi-
tors and La Grande had 19
attend. Riana Scott and
former Baker City resident
Kristal Jensen were two
of the La Grande athletes.
The following are their
results.
Kristal Jensen (14)
Girls 13 & O 200 Free
2:19.01 8th
Girls 13 & O 100 Fly
1:20.33 12th
Girls 13 & O 200 Breast
3:05.80 8th
Girls 13 & O 100 Back
1:15.59 11th
Girls 13 & O 100 Free
1:03.68 6th
Girls 13 & O 200 IM
2:47.07 8th
Girls 13 & O 100 Breast
1:27.56 8th
Girls 13 & O 50 Free
29.30 7th
Riana Scott (13)
Girls 11 & O 400 IM
4:55.03 1st
Girls 13 & O 200 Free
2:03.46 1st
Girls 13 & O 100 Fly
1:06.49 2nd
Girls 13 & O 200 Breast
2:33.88 1st
Girls 13 & O 100 Back
1:07.46 2nd
Girls 13 & O 100 Free
58.05 1st
Girls 13 & O 200 IM
2:19.05 1st
Girls 13 & O 100 Breast
1:13.77 1st
Girls 13 & O 50 Free
27.24 1st
Girls 13 & O 200 Back
2:21.48 1st
Girls 13 & O 500 Free
5:42.15 1st
Riana Scott was the
high point 13-14 girl and
qualifi ed for the Northwest
Regional Age Group meet
in Federal Way, WA in
March. Jozie Ramos from
BST also qualifi ed for the
Northwest Regional meet.
Grants available for museums
The Oregon Heritage
Commission is offer-
ing grants to qualifi ed
museums for collections
projects, heritage tourism,
and education and inter-
pretation projects. Awards
typically range between
$2,000 and $10,000.
Collections projects
may include cataloging,
archival storage, disaster
preparedness and conser-
vation. Heritage tourism
projects may include
museum marketing and
promotions, enhancing
visitor experience, and
training for museum staff.
Education and interpreta-
tion projects may include
exhibits, online education,
school classes, workshops
and camps.
While the grant applica-
tions are online, they are
simple and there is plenty
of support for completing
them.
"Our goal is to support
organizations of all sizes
all over the state in their
valuable work. We provide
assistance in the applica-
tion process," says Kuri
Gill, the grants program
coordinator.
The Heritage Com-
mission is comprised of
nine people representing
Oregon's heritage and
geographical diversity who
have been appointed by the
Governor. There are nine
advisory representatives
from state agencies and
statewide organizations.
The commission's mission
is to secure, sustain, and
enhance Oregon's heritage
by ensuring coordination
of heritage initiatives by
public and private organi-
zations; advocacy on its
behalf; education of the
public about its extent and
value; and promotion and
celebration of its diversity.
To learn more about
museum grants, visit www.
oregonheritage.org or
contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.
Gill@oregon.gov or 503-
986-0685.
Extensions fi led at no additional charge!
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STAN MITCHELL, CPA
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541-523-6471 • brucenichols@integra.net
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