8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016
Local
Sam-O committee gets grants Police chiefs
to upgrade heating system
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Sixteen districts comprise the OACP, the regional
directors making up the Board. According to Chief Rock
Rakosi, Myrtle Point Police Department and President
of the OACP, the mission of the organization is, “To
promote and enhance the highest ethical and professional
standards in law enforcement at all levels throughout
Oregon.”
Not only police chiefs attended the training in Seaside,
but sheriffs, command staff, and representatives from
Oregon State Police. As Lohner put it, “executives in law
enforcement from across the state.”
Added Lohner, “I’m optimistic about the opportunities
to bring positive change in rural eastern Oregon. I think
this is a good opportunity to represent the area.”
P.E.O offers
scholarships
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Sam O Committee, L-R councilwoman Sandy Lewis, Chair Andrew Bryant, Public Works Director Michelle
Owen, YMCA Aquatics Director Paula Moe, Noel Scott, Chuck Everson, and Jerri Wickert.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Monday evening was the
first committee meeting
of the year for the Sam-O
Swim Committee.
Chairman Andrew Bryan
called the meeting to order.
“We have to approve the
minutes of the last meet-
ing,” said Bryan with
City Staff representative
Michelle Owen adding, “I
love it when you follow
that procedure.”
A motion to approve
the minutes was made and
seconded with all present
voting in favor to approve.
Those present were
Bryan, Jerri Wickert, Noel
Scott, Chuck Everson,
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen, YMCA
Aquatic Director Paula
Moe and City Council
Representative Sandy
Lewis.
Jason Bybee was unable
to attend this meeting.
The committee began by
speaking of the successes
of the sand filter replace-
ment and pool resurfacing
projects.
All noted how beautiful
the pool looked. “The wa-
ter’s clean, no abrasions.
Things are awesome,” said
Bryan.
Owen jumped in with
some very big news. “We
got grant money. We
got the Ford grant and
a $27,000 grant form a
privately funded founda-
tion that wishes to remain
anonymous,” she an-
nounced.
Excitement buzzed in the
room.
“Thank you,” said Wick-
ert to whomever made that
private grant possible.
Owen also had good
news on Energy Trust.
She said, “They have
once again increased their
incentives. So initially it
was around $23,000 in
incentives then it went up
to $28,000. Now it could
be close to $32,000.”
That money will not
go into the City coffers
but will most likely be
forwarded straight to the
contractor.
Owen explained it was a
financial challenge to bring
that money into the City
and then try to allocate it
for its intended purpose.
It becomes an account-
ing nightmare and she sug-
gested anyone interested in
looking into those work-
ings speak with Jeannie
Dexter, the City finance
manager for an explana-
tion.
Owen advised that she
is working with Abacus
Engineering, a professional
aquatics engineering team
to put together specifica-
tions for a hopefully very
near future RFP (request
for proposal) to com-
plete the heating system
project that should include
replacement of the boiler,
numeric controls, air han-
dlers etc.
“The engineering team
will write those specs for
us. Things are so particu-
lar with the humidity and
things that come into play
there and we will put all of
that on the proposal page.
They are charging us a
modest hourly rate to do
that and of course they will
want to bid on the job also
which is perfectly allow-
able. Once those RFPs are
out there the bids usually
come as in a lump sum
but we are requiring them
to describe the equipment
that they intend to use. We
need to make sure we are
meeting what energy trust
says we should. So I’m go-
ing to be looking for a little
bit of a guarantee from
whomever does this work
as will Energy Trust. An
on-site visit will also be
required in order to make a
proposal,” Owen said.
There was concern that
bids may come in just a
bit higher than what is
already allocated for the
project but with saving
from energy trust as well
as other areas Owen was
confident that there was
a small amount of “float”
money that could be uti-
lized and that amount may
grow because the project
would most likely not be
done until the weather is
warmer since the project
would require no heat to
the building while being
replaced. “Who is going
to turn off the boiler when
we need it? We’re just not
going to do that.”
Owen also advised if for
any reason bids came back
much higher she would
likely be able to approach
the Budget Board for addi-
tional money to cover any
shortfalls.
Bryan asked “So
this(bids) needs to be done
prior to the budget pro-
cess?” to which Owen said
it should.
In order to have time
to award a bid, to order
parts, address any budget-
ary concerns and overall
prepare things need to be
done fairly quickly.
The Committee came
to the consensus that the
work would best be done
during the routine pool
shut down that happens
every year in September.
Owen was congratulated
by committee members for
her hard work in securing
these grant monies.
Bryan did mention to the
committee that as “press
releases are done we need
to cast this as one more
step completed in this
broader time period where
we’re really trying to do
a lot of renovations. Keep
reminding people that
there is a bigger picture we
are working in.”
Wickert added, “It’s
important, I think, to also
reiterate what’s already
been done too.”
With that tentative calen-
dar they moved forward to
other business.
The group discussed the
showers, which at the time
of the meeting were not
working again.
Owen said that the
consensus she recalled was
that the committee wanted
to remain with the same
type of showers the facility
currently had only higher
quality units with dials
rather than push buttons.
Owen advised she had
“been in contact with Dave
Billings at Action Plumb-
ing out of La Grande” and
he was aware of the type of
units being sought.
He did the other lo-
cal YMCA building and
according to Owen, “Did
a great job,” but she was
still waiting on a number
to give the committee from
him for the cost of replace-
ments.
Owen said she did not
feel that was going to be
in the cards to get done in
this fiscal year and said she
was looking at it to be a
September project also.
Because of the lower
dollar amount, it will not
require an RFP, they can
just hire it done skipping
that step.
Owen said it may how-
ever go before Council for
informational purposes
only.
The question was raised
about adding a water soft-
ener as well to cut down in
the mineral deposits that
over time build up and
cause issues.
Owen said she could add
that to what Billings was
looking into for her cost-
wise.
The committee also
looked at options for the
family/ADA restroom
dressing room. Variations
to the proposal are still
being considered and each
committee member will
have a chance to review
ideas and give input. Also
mentioned was the recon-
figuration of the entire
front lobby area and that
would include the drinking
fountain.
Paula Moe, aquatic
director at Sam-O Swim
brought up the issue that
more often than not users
of the adjacent skate park
come into the facility to
use the drinking foun-
tain causing her to leave
whatever post she is at to
“keep an eye on them.” as
it is currently located in an
area that is not easily vis-
ible. Relocating to a more
visible area may not be an
option as far as plumbing
so she asked if the foun-
tain could be eliminated
entirely.
Owen stated to her
knowledge a public build-
ing was required to provide
drinking water.
It was then suggested
that if unable to move the
fountain due to plumbing
perhaps a water cooler
be an option as a suitable
replacement.
They were cost effective
and could be placed in an
area that was more desir-
able for Sam-O Swim staff
to monitor.
The committee also
talked about fencing of
the property adjacent to
the Truck Corral property
creating a more secure
environment for families
with increasing the use of
the green space (park) and
gazebo being mentioned
as well as ideas for future
projects that may include a
slide and or a splash park.
The Committee agreed
that an update to City
Council needed to happen
soon and that would be
discussed at the next meet-
ing. With that the meeting
adjourned.
Chapter AX P.E.O. offers scholarships 2016 Chapter
AX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood will award two academic
scholarships to two graduating senior girls from high
schools in Baker County and North Powder in May 2016.
The Gertrude Fortner-Rose Haskell Scholarship was
named for two charter members of Chapter AX who
strongly believed in higher education for women. ·
The Mildred F. Rogers Chapter AX P.E.O. Scholarship
was established in 2000 by her daughter and her grand-
children.
Mrs. Rogers was a long time member of Chapter AX,
being initiated in 1951 and holding the office of president
in 1952. She was a descendent of Oregon Trail pioneer
grandparents and lived her entire life in Baker City. Al-
ways a loyal citizen, she gave of herself to the community
of Baker City and to its people, so that future generations
would have the opportunity to appreciate life as she had.
She died at the age of 100.
Scholarship applications are available in the guid-
ance office at high schools in Baker County (Baker, Pine
Eagle, Burnt River and Huntington) and North Powder.
Baker High School applicants must return applications
to the high school office by 8AM February 29, 2016.
Other Baker County and North Powder applicants must
mail applications to arrive by 8AM February 29, 2016 to
Dorothy Mason, PO Box 446 Baker City, OR 97814. All
women students from Baker County or North Powder,
who plan to enroll in an accredited college or university
are eligible.
The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic
achievement, goals, activities, financial need and personal
character.
The P.E.O. sisterhood is an international philanthropic
educational organization, which was founded in 1869
at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. P.E.O.
promotes educational opportunities for women through a
variety of scholarship and grant opportunities.
The P.E.O. sisterhood owns and supports Cottey Col-
lege in Nevada, Missouri. Chapter AX was organized in
1932 in Baker City. For further information about the
scholarships… Contact: Dorothy Mason at 541-523-
7642.
Bentz now on
energy oversight
committee
SALEM—Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek an-
nounced on January 6th the appointment of State
Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario), and three other
State Representatives, to the Legislative Interim Com-
mittee on Department of Energy Oversight. They will
join four Oregon State Senators on this Joint House and
Senate Committee.
Oregon’s Department of Energy (“Department) has
struggled mightily in its attempts to manage several green
energy programs created by legislative action, most noto-
riously, the “BETC” (Business Energy Tax Credit).
Recently, Rep. Bentz and four other Republican
lawmakers sent a letter to State and Federal authorities
outlining alleged improprieties within the Department
emphasizing several issues including the discounting
of BETC tax credits process. These concerns had been
brought to these Legislators by several state employees
concerned about actions and inaction within the
Department.
Rep. Bentz said: “The Department of Energy was origi-
nally established to oversee and regulate nuclear energy
generation. Over time, its charge has been broadened to
include management of many different important and of-
ten expensive programs. It is possible that as the Depart-
ment has evolved, staffing, mission, funding and other
elements of a focused and effective bureaucracy have not
kept up with the duties delegated to the Department by
the Legislature.
“The purpose of the Committee, although not yet fully
developed by the Speaker and Senate President Courtney,
will probably include a review where the Department
stands from a work load perspective, what it is supposed
to be or could be doing, and how effectively (or poorly)
it is conducting its charge. As an eight year member of
both the Revenue and Energy/Environment Committees,
I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the neces-
sary effort.”