10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016
Local
Baker County Commissioners: Tasty Bake
Facilities update, vehicle purchase
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held its
fi rst, regular session of the
month, on April 6, 9 a.m.,
at the Courthouse.
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 Facilities
Maintenance Foreman Dan
McQuisten, Baker County
Roadmaster Jeff Smith,
Baker County Watermaster
Rick Lusk, Baker County
Deputy Watermaster
Nathan Petrucci, Baker
County District Attorney
Matt Shirtcliff, Commu-
nity Connection of Baker
County Transportation
Options Coordinator Jodi
Tool, Northeast Oregon
Public Transit Manager
Frank Thomas, Bruce Mor-
rison, Tork and Wanda Bal-
lard, Ed Hardt, John and
Ramona Creighton, Ken
Anderson, Ron Edge, and
Ed Trindle.
The session was called to
order, and the optional In-
vocation, and Pledge of Al-
legiance were recited, both
led by Harvey. Shortly
after that, the agenda was
adopted, noting additional
items to be discussed later
in the session, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns.
Citizen Participation
included Morrison, and
Edge, who both expressed
negative views, regarding
the County’s actions, in the
Baker County vs. David
McCarty, aka Columbia
Basin Helicopter, case, in
which McCarty prevailed,
costing the County over
$300,000. They said the
lawsuit could have been
avoided, or resolved ear-
lier, that McCarty is now
operating in Union County,
resulting in lost taxes and
benefi ts for Baker County,
and the award amount
would have the addition of
interest owed.
Hardt also commented
during Citizen Participa-
tion that, because funds are
received from hunters and
anglers under the Pittman-
Robertson Act of 1937,
for the purpose of con-
servation efforts, hunter’s
education, and shooting
projects and programs,
benefi ting the State, those
individuals should have a
chance to acquire damage
control tags for wolves,
similar to the damage
control tags for deer, and
elk (he referenced a recent
kill order for four wolves
in the Imnaha pack, by
the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife).
McQuisten provided
a Facilities departmental
update, which included
descriptions of his and
staff roles, and completed,
and upcoming projects.
Major completed projects
include: the removal,
and replacement of City
trees, and curb replace-
ment, under the City Tree
Plan; the total renovation
of gutters, down spouts,
and french drains; Circuit
Court updates, including
the Judge’s bench, and
a Court Reporter work
station installation; and
HVAC unit updates for the
Justice Center Jail--three
completed, with two to
three planned for this year.
Upcoming projects
include: a storage build-
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Ron Edge stands and gives Commissioners a piece of his mind regarding the
Columbia Basin Helicopter lawsuit.
ing project, in partnership
with the County Road
Department; stone repair
for the County Courthouse;
and, the biggest project,
according to McQuisten,
the full implementation of
maintenance management
software, which he said
he’s excited to complete.
Lusk and Petrucci dis-
cussed a vehicle purchase
request, for a 2003 GMC
Sonoma, from Bulldog
Motors, which was ap-
proved, with a motion
from Kerns, and a sec-
ond from Bennett. The
purchase price is $8,000,
and the vehicle will be
replacing a 1993 Ford
F-150, according to Lusk.
He stated that no bids were
returned from Gentry Ford,
Baker Garage, or Powder
River Motors, for similar
type vehicles. The funds
to purchase the vehicle
will come from the exist-
ing Watermaster budget;
$4,000 from the existing
Equipment line, and the
rest from salary savings,
and no additional funds
are proposed to be utilized
from the General Fund,
Lusk stated.
A Professional Services
Agreement, between Baker
County, and St. Luke’s
Regional Medical Cen-
ter, Ltd., for the services
of John Schott, MD, as
Health Offi cer for Baker
County, was approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. Schott will receive
$825 per month from the
County for his services,
according to the agree-
ment, from the period of
July 1, 2015, through June
30, 2016.
A Professional Services
Agreement, between Baker
County, and St. Luke’s
Regional Medical Center,
Ltd., for the services of
Eric Lamb, MD, RPH, as
Consultant Pharmacist,
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns. Lamb
will receive $75 per hour
from the County for his
services, according to the
agreement, from the period
of July 1, 2015, through
June 30, 2016.
Smith discussed Oregon
Department of Transpor-
tation (ODOT) Agree-
ment No. 31235, between
ODOT, and Baker County,
for the purpose of ODOT
sign upgrades, along Old
Highway 30, within the
County’s jurisdiction or
right of way, according
to the agreement. This is
part of ODOT’s Region
5 Local Jurisdiction Sign
Upgrades 2016 project,
under the Highway Safety
Improvement Program
(HSIP), and the total cost
is estimated at $6,200,
fi nanced fully with State
funds (no matching local
funds are required for this
project, according to the
agreement).
Smith discussed an
ODOT Bargain and Sale
Deed, and Quit Claim
Deed, for rock quarries
located at Poleline Road,
and along I-84, which
was approved, with the
condition of an associated
escrow account, with a
motion from Bennett, and
a second from Kerns.
Tool and Thomas dis-
cussed the ongoing topic
of a Regional Vanpool
Development Proposal,
between Baker and Union
counties, for the purpose of
general employee trans-
portation to and from each
county. A trial run of the
experimental program was
approved, with a motion
from Harvey, and a second
from Kerns. This covers
the period through July 1,
2016, and funds will be
from Economic Develop-
ment, of $500.
Martin discussed the
County Sick Leave Policy,
citing the Sick Leave Law,
which took effect in Janu-
ary. The document states:
“The law requires large
employers, to provide paid
sick leave to employees
who may not qualify for
benefi ts. As a result, Baker
County must offer 1 hour
of paid sick leave for every
30 hours worked to those
employees who work,
on average, less than 20
hours per week. The law
also applies to seasonal,
temporary and reserve
employees. Baker County
currently has approxi-
mately 40 employees who
may qualify. Employees
cannot accrue or use more
than 40 hours of sick leave
in a year. Sick leave will
be paid out at the employ-
ees’ current rate of pay.
Unused sick leave will not
be cashed out upon termi-
nation from employment.”
The policy was adopted,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns.
Trindle discussed issues
with the Lime plant indus-
trial/rangeland area, stating
that property lines need to
be determined, in order for
the County to be able to
negotiate any future sale,
or other actions. He said
he’s interested in a possible
proposal, but someone
needs to properly fi nd the
property lines, using GPS,
etc. He mentioned that an
unknown party has cattle
in the area. Harvey ex-
pressed a desire to separate
the industrial area from
the rangeland, in an effort
to make the Lime plant
area more marketable.
This will be a continuing
discussion, involving more
research, as no decisions
were made at this time.
Shirtcliff discussed the
topic of seeking bids for
outside legal counsel for
the County, regarding
complex land use issues,
administrative law, litiga-
tion prevention, etc.
Harvey discussed the
American Stewards of
Liberty, a “...non-profi t
organization dedicated to
protecting private property
rights, defending the use
of our land, and restoring
local control...” according
to the organization’s web-
site. Harvey said it would
be advantageous to be a
member of that group, and
Bennett and Kerns voiced
budget concerns, and the
need to research the ben-
efi ts more (the minimum
to join would be $500, and
Harvey suggested $1,000).
Several attendees, includ-
ing the Creightons, the
Ballards, and Anderson,
supported the idea. The
discussion will continue at
a later date, as no decision
was made.
Order No. 2016-127,
Appointing A Member To
The Baker County Weed
Board, was approved,
with a motion from Kerns,
and a second from Ben-
nett. David Clemens was
re-appointed, and Thomas
Huff was appointed, their
term set to expire on April
1, 2019.
Resolution No. 2016-
1003, Authorizing Em-
ployees Of New Directions
Northwest To Direct A
Peace Offi cer Or Approved
Secure Transport Pro-
vider To Take Allegedly
Mentally Ill Persons Into
Custody, was adopted, with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Kerns.
The authorized individuals
include Community Health
Director Shari Selander,
Marji Lind, Kelli Wright,
Shad Thomas, Brenda
Carnhan, Julie Farnam,
Mairi Nielsen, David
Stark, Diedre Gestrin,
Erin Aldrich, Chris Hazel,
Timothy Morgan, Molly
Collins, and Catherine
O’Brien.
Amendment No. 5 to
Oregon Health Authority
2015-2017 Intergovern-
mental Agreement For The
Financing Of Community
Addictions And Mental
Health Services Agreement
No. 147781, was ratifi ed,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns.
Other business included
the ongoing discussion be-
tween Baker County, and
the Tri-County Weed Man-
agement Area (TCWMA),
in order to resolve budget
issues, and other concerns,
and lease concerns with
the Union Pacifi c/Baker
County Railroad Depot, on
Broadway, past 10th Street.
He said that he’s aware of a metal fabrication company
somewhere in the local area, which the new owners of
Tasty Bake have their sights on purchasing, however,
that could not be confi rmed. “I hope they don’t do that
to them (the fabrication company) as well, because, you
don’t need to be destroying economies at all,” Portillo
said.
“You know, the gentleman sounded to me—I’ve never
met him live, only in phone conversations—what was
so interesting was, you just never felt like they were in.
Why would they buy companies, and destroy them so
quickly, I just could not understand that, you know what I
mean? It doesn’t make any sense, right? There are other
reasons for such aggressive moves ...The former owner
(Johnson) is going after them, as well. He loves his com-
pany, and he would take it back in a second, if he could.
He is a person of high ethics ...”
Portillo said that from his understanding, there are Tasty
Bake employees who are yet to be paid, and he empha-
sized what a serious violation of the law that would be.
“If you’re going to do anything, you cannot hold wages
back—that’s a crime... I’m sure Oregon law requires
that every employee gets paid expeditiously... I’ve heard
from them numerous times, that people were not being
paid. Forget about us—the brokers, the sales people, the
subcontractors—you pay cut your employees, and expect
them to work—you can’t do that ...” He emphasized the
impact of the loss to the local community.
He said that the move to purchase Tasty Bake, and pos-
sibly, a metal fabrication company somewhere in the local
area, didn’t make sense to him, since the new owners
have shown zero experience with either subject, accord-
ing to Portillo. “If you’re a doctor, you buy a doctor’s
offi ce, right? If you’re a car business, you buy car lots.
You don’t buy way out of your scope,” he said.
Portillo said that Southern California distribution from
Tasty Bake, under Johnson, had included Ardella’s, which
was the company’s largest contract in California, which in
turn distributed its product to K-12 students in the school
districts. “When you serve the school districts, it’s mas-
sive—thousands of cases,” he said.
“Most of the issues from 2013, I don’t think they
recovered from that ... It was nothing with the quality of
production, or distribution, it was solely for another rea-
son. No one knows what it is ... I just don’t see a reason
why ... You can sell all you want, and we had orders, but
what are you going to do? There was a reason why they
acquired it, and there’s a reason why they closed it ... It
just doesn’t make sense,” Portillo said.
Future plans for the company and the plant, and the
reason(s) for the halt in operation are unknown at this
point, because neither Samarah, nor Chief Financial Of-
fi cer Amit Shukla returned phone calls, to comment on
those topics.
Arrests made in
hunting crimes
On October 31, 2015 the Oregon State Police (OSP)
Fish and Wildlife Division (La Grande) received a report
of suspicious activity involving two bull elk killed in the
Starkey Wildlife Management Unit. A person observed
elk being shot and killed in the early morning hours.
Hunters did not attempting to salvage the meat. Dar-
ren Naillon, age 43, and a 15 year-old juvenile (both of
St. Helens) were contacted at 11:00 p.m. walking back
to their camp. It was determined they had been waiting
since 2:30 p.m. for Troopers to leave. The hunters had
killed two branch antler bulls and only one had a tag. The
hunters did not have any meat with them at the time of
the contact and advised Troopers both elk had been boned
out and the meat was with their packs (left behind in the
forest). Early the next morning, Troopers located both
bulls and the packs loaded with a small amount of meat
for two bull elk. Troopers found that both bulls had only
prime cuts of meat removed. The animals had not been
fi eld dressed and the hides had been partially removed.
Half the meat on both animals had been wasted. The
hunters took the largest of the two elk's antlers.
In March, Naillon plead guilty to Aiding in a Game
Violation and Waste of a Game Animal. He was sen-
tenced to three years hunting suspension, 3 years bench
probation, 30 hours community service, $16,588 fi nes
and restitution. All evidence forfeited, to include: two
custom rifl es, a backpack and antlers.
Tony's Tree
Service
Free evaluations for:
• Proper Trimming
• Safety
• Removal
•Disease Control
• Insect Control
• Tree Replacement
• Stump Grinding
Licensed | Insured | 48 years experience.
Tony's Tree Service.
Accepting payment plans and credit cards.
Nearly fi ve decades of experience.
600 Elm Street, Baker City. 541.523.3708
Owners Tony & Lisa Constantine LCB 6271 • CCB 63504