8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016
Local
City discusses rate increases, WIC changes
new Community Developer job
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Potential water and City
fee increases were the
main topics at Tuesday’s
Baker City Council meet-
ing. The meeting marked
the very first preliminary
discussion on the issue for
this coming fiscal year.
Vietnam Veteran Rec-
ognition Proclamation.
Mayor Mosier read a
proclamation in recog-
nition of Vietnam War
veterans, in thanks of their
service and sacrifices, and
those of their families.
March 29 is now officially
“Welcome Home Vietnam
Veterans Day.”
2016-2017 City Fees.
Finance Director Jeanie
Dexter pointed out that the
night’s discusion was “just
a preliminary discussion.”
Dexter presented a 19-
page spreadsheet with any
possible changes to fees
highlighted.
The Council sets all City
fees annually by resolu-
tion. The public is encour-
aged to attend the April
City Council meeting for
further discussion, and in-
vited to come to City Hall
to talk with Dexter about
any fee concerns or ideas.
Said Dexter, a fee
increase of 1.2%, based
on the rural Consumer
Price Index (CPI-W) was
used. She mentioned in
past years the CPI-W
had shown an increase of
3-5%, but had not shown
an increase last year.
Most business license and
event fees were recom-
mended unchanged.
One new fee proposed
for the Police Department
was added, said Dexter,
“simply to reimburse us for
the cost of board” for “off
animals.” She said animals
such as horses and pea-
cocks had been impounded
in the past. This fee would
be billed at actual cost.
Fire Department fees,
including ambulance rates
are proposed to be raised at
the 1.2% rate, bringing that
rate to $1,028 for residents
and $1,542 for nonresi-
dents.
Cemetery rates received
the same proposed hike in
order to adjust for increas-
ing contractor and other
costs. These increased
would affect burials, grave
space, mausoleum space,
etc.
The one fee proposed at
a significant increase was
a jump from $100 to $250
from the Planning Com-
mission involving Type III
procedures, which involve
appeals.
2016-2017 Water
Rates.
Dexter pointed out
that she had deliberately
separated the water rates
section on the agenda
from the fees, as the focus
turned to capital improve-
ment projects. An example
of one such project would
have been the new UV
water treatment system,
which necessitated a 5%
hike at that time.
The City foresees a num-
ber of high-dollar projects
coming down the pike in
the next few years, which
will need prioritized in the
face of a limited budget.
One such project is a
$2-million-dollar City well
for backup water supply;
another is a sewer system
maintenance and upgrade
project anticipated to come
in at the $5-7 million
range.
According information
included by Dexter, “The
Council adopted the Water
Facilities Master Plan pre-
pared by Murray, Smith &
Associates (MSA) on
March 8th. This plan in-
cluded a comprehensive re-
view and evaluation of the
City’s water systems and
consideration of needed
capital improvement for
the transmission, treatment
and distribution systems.
MSA identified the need
for $6.2 million in capital
improvement projects
over the 5-year horizon
and $33.4 million over the
6-to-20-year horizon. MSA
recommended that the
City raise water rates
and pursue other funding
sources to make the neces-
sary improvements in the
system.”
MSA recommended
an immediate water rate
increase of 10%.
The City’s current rate
structure is as follows:
Base charge (¾” meter)
- $32.76* per month plus
water usage in excess
of three units per month
charged at $0.69* per unit,
including the proposed
1.2% increase.
One unit of water is ap-
proximately 750 gallons.
Therefore, customers may
use up to 2,250 gallons of
water each month with-
out incurring additional
charges.
Council will be review-
ing the 2016-17 Three-
Year Water Capital Plan at
the April 12th council
meeting.
Dexter presented a num-
ber of scenarios involving
base rate versus useage
rate increases with associ-
ated revenue projections,
in order for Council and
the public to begin discuss-
ing potential increases.
Baker City currently has
the 65th highest water rates
out of 117 Oregon cities.
Court Plaza Grant.
Council approved a mo-
tion to support the submit-
tal of a new grant to the
State that would complete
construction of Court
Plaza, connecting it to the
Parkway and Central Park.
By submitting the grant
and accepting it if won, the
City would be committing
to the $300,000 project.
$50,000 currently exists in
the account for this project.
The grant would provide
60% of the total project
cost, but would require the
City fund the remainder,
and that the project would
be completed within one
fiscal year.
Golf Course Conces-
sionaire RFP.
City Manager Mike Kee
presented a draft Request
for Proposals (RFP) to
solicit a new golf course
concessionaire. Bill Ti-
edemann currently holds
a three-year contract for
that role, which he will not
seek to renew when this
last year is up.
Initially, Tiedemann and
the City had anticipated
that as supervisor under
that contract, he would be
able to earn approximately
$65,000 per year, but the
reality was $20,000 during
the first year and $45,000
during the second.
Tiedemann said he opted
to put the difference in
funds back into the golf
course, as his goal had
always been to improve it.
Councilor Langrell asked
why the “project was com-
pletely ignored”—referring
to an idea begun two years
back to potentially imple-
ment a nonprofit Board
of Directors at the golf
course.
Tiedemann said he was
no longer sure the “pain
was worth the gain” and
that while the accounting
system was in place that
would allow a move to a
nonprofit, the only strong
benefit he saw in that tran-
sition would be more grant
opportunities.
Kee said the revenue
from the golf course was
fairly predictable, and not
at a high enough level to
necessitate the change, in
his opinion.
Community Developer.
Following recent eco-
nomic discussions with the
County and Economic De-
velopment Director Greg
Smith, City Manager Mike
Kee tossed out the idea of
creating a new “Commu-
nity Developer” position
at the City level, in part
to “have a better sense of
what the community devel-
oper was doing.”
In one scenario, this
position might report to
the City Manager, work on
Council projects, complete
grants, keep a log of avail-
able space for businesses,
work on special projects
and events, serve as a
liaison with the Chamber
and Historic Baker City,
and coordinate items such
as street closures during
events.
An idea was that the
position might be funded
by Transient Lodging Tax
(TLT) revenue.
Councilor Lewis began
by expressing confu-
sion about adding a new
layer to existing economic
development efforts, for
which $8,000 per month
is already being spent
through the County-man-
aged efforts of Greg Smith.
In addition, Tim Bishop is
in place promoting tour-
ism. Lewis, like several of
the other councilors, felt
more discussion would be
important to better under-
stand the issues surround
the idea of the position.
While batting around
ideas, Kee responded that
one option might be to
review and look at modifi-
cations to Smith’s contract
with the County.
Councilor Langrell said,
“We’ve created enough
government positions in
this town,” and stated
that such a position could
turn out to be “a frilly,
happy little position” that
“doesn’t do a whole lot.”
Langrell spoke to what
he believes is past misman-
agement of TLT funds.
Councilor Lowe ex-
pressed perhaps the most
initial interest in the new
position, stating it could
be “valuable” and in the
City’s interest as the City
would have increased
control over the economic
development activities that
happen within City Limits
and that utilize City rev-
enue sources. He said the
current situation provides
“no central focus” for the
City.
Mosier emphasized the
importance of continuing
the discussion about this
possible position at future
meetings.
Right now, she said, the
City “has a voice but not
control” over economic
development issues.
She said that in past
conversations with Smith,
he mentioned that com-
munity development was
not his strong suit, that
rather, his office was
more focused on business
recruitment. She relayed
that Smith was “not look-
ing to fill Main Street
store fronts.”
Council intends to
speak further with Baker
County Commissioners at
a regular County Commis-
sioners Session, and go
from there.
City Manager Re-
cruitment Update.
Kee informed Coun-
cil that 11 semi-finalists
had been selected by the
recruiting firm, Slavin,
with supplemental ques-
tions submitted to them.
A report from Slavin is
expected to be provided to
the City next week.
WIC, Oregon’s public health nutrition program, is offer-
ing its families a new way to shop for WIC food benefits
using an EBT (electronic benefit transaction) card. Baker
County WIC started converting families to eWIC on
March 7th, 2016 and will be converting participants until
June 2016.
Currently, participants of WIC, a program of the
Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division, use
paper vouchers to buy the healthy WIC foods. Now, with
this new card, shopping will be easier and WIC families
will be able to better track their monthly food balance.
Participants will also have access to a new WICShopper
Smart Phone App allowing them to scan a food’s bar code
to determine if it is a WIC allowed food.
WIC provides services at over 100 clinic sites through-
out Oregon and serves 161 thousand lower-income
pregnant women, infants and children under age 5. These
WIC families shop at more than 500 Oregon grocery
stores, pharmacies, farm stands, farmers’ markets and
spend $64.7 million a year with their WIC food benefits.
In Baker County 371 women, infants and children use
WIC and $227,179 was spent last year at local WIC
stores and farmers’ markets for healthy foods. Each par-
ticipant saves about $60 on groceries each month. Anna
Clark, WIC Coordinator states, “WIC is excited to offer a
new, convenient way for our families to shop.”
Baker County WIC has been offering participant-
centered nutrition education, healthy foods, breastfeeding
support and has been serving as a gateway for preventa-
tive health for over 40 years. It is considered one of the
most successful, cost effective and important nutrition
intervention programs in the county. Baker County WIC
has appointment openings.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch). The
Health Department also has a walk-in clinic for WIC one
day per month.
Participants or interested families can follow Baker
County Oregon Health Department on Facebook for
walk-in information. For more information about WIC,
visit Baker County Health Department at 3330 Pocahon-
tas Rd, call 541-523-8211 or visit www.healthoregon.org/
wic.
Juntura cutoff
road gets
funding
The Oregon Legislature,
in the short 2016 Session
just ended, approved $2
million of funding for the
Juntura Cutoff Road Project
in Malheur and Harney
Counties. The funding will
complete the $6.9 million
dollar sum needed for the
project which will recon-
struct the failing road,
providing essential support
for local industry, ranching
access, and recreational op-
Submitted Photo.
portunities.
The Juntura Cutoff Road
Rep. Cliff Bentz.
is of high importance for
local economic development
partners. The extraordinarily poor condition of the 7-mile
long road has dramatically increased the cost of the min-
ing operations conducted by EP Minerals, one of Malheur
County’s largest employers. Currently, the road serves
as the main access point to the mine and a transportation
route from the mine to EP Mineral's production facility in
Vale. E. P. Minerals, Malheur County Economic Devel-
opment, Business Oregon, ODOT, and Regional Solu-
tions have coordinated to construct a financial package
to fund the estimated $6.9 million project. To date, they
had secured approximately $5.4 million. The $2 million
allocation from the Legislature will complete the funding
for the project.
"E.P. Minerals, Malheur County Economic Develop-
ment, Business Oregon, ODOT, Regional Solutions and
both Malheur and Harney Counties have done great
work in finding available funds to fix this critical access
road," said Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario). “The
fact that a substantial portion of the mine is located on a
State of Oregon School section of land, generating some
500,000.00 per year in mineral royalties to the state, cer-
tainly helped in making the argument that the state should
contribute to the project. I am pleased the Legislature
has recognized the importance of this project and has al-
located $2 million to finish the funding package. This has
truly been a team effort."
In addition to supporting local business and industry,
the Juntura Cutoff Road serves as a point of entry to both
state and federal lands for recreational opportunities. Dur-
ing fire season, the road also serves as one of the few ac-
cess points for firefighters to protect a significant amount
of BLM rangeland.
In 2015, Rep. Bentz presented the Juntura Cutoff Road,
and the mine that it serves, as an economic development
opportunity at the Oregon Business Summit, and later
to several legislative committees. Rep. Bentz thanks
Senator Betsy Johnson, who, volunteering the use of her
private airplane, flew a number of legislators to Ontario a
year or so ago for the express purpose of touring the road
and the mine. He also thanks Rep. Greg Smith for his
work. Their efforts played a significant role in the posi-
tive outcome of this funding effort.