12 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016
Local
April is child abuse
prevention month
Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press
The fi rst pinwheel garden appeared in front of the Baker County Courthouse
last Friday.
April is Child Abuse
Prevention Month, and
Building Healthy Families,
Baker County YMCA,
Baker County Juvenile
Department, CASA,
GOBHI, and New Direc-
tions Northwest invite
you to join them for the
1st annual Pinwheels for
Prevention Campaign in
Baker County.
As part of this cam-
paign, a pinwheel garden
will was planted on Friday,
April 1st and will be dis-
played at four locations in
Baker County throughout
the month: Baker County
Courthouse, New Direc-
tions Northwest Outpatient
Offi ce, Baker Middle
School and Geiser Pollman
Park.
The pinwheel is a happy,
uplifting symbol of child-
hood and serves as a re-
minder of the healthy start
we want for all children.
Hundreds of shining, col-
orful, spinning pinwheels
make a beautiful sight,
sure to put a smile on a
child’s face.
The pinwheels represent
the great childhoods all
children deserve, and are
a symbol for child abuse
prevention.
Everyone has a role
to play in preventing
child abuse. You can get
involved by making a
donation or sponsoring a
pinwheel. Please contact
RaeAnn Butler of Building
Healthy Families at (541)
398-1363 to learn more
about how you can partici-
pate in the Pinwheels for
Prevention Campaign.
The pinwheel can-
not move on its own. Be
the force that moves the
pinwheel and bring about
real change for children in
Northeastern Oregon. It’s
your turn to make a differ-
ence for a child!
City goal-setting
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 2
John said, “You might
fi nd it a little shocking that
we are not doing that.”
Councilors around the
room agreed with John that
it was critical that someone
calling in with a potential
heart attack, for example,
not be made to wait.
“People are waiting for
service,” John said. Adding
another trained responder
would be high on his wish
list.
John also said he’s fi nd-
ing himself personally
responding to more and
more calls, and even han-
dling administrative duties
such as writing out burn
permits.
“We are the only depart-
ment without an adminis-
trative assistant.”
John said around 600
burn permits per year are
issued from his depart-
ment.
He said his department
has already exceeded
its overtime budget, and
though utilizing County
employee Gary Timm
within the building had
helped slow overtime use
somewhat, that solution
had not been enough.
John’s stated goals
included to increase com-
munity volunteerism, and
to increase paid call staff in
the coming year.
Another of his goals is
to increase ambulance
revenues. His department’s
current annual budget is
$1.6 million with ambu-
lance-related revenue mak-
ing up $700K of that.
John is currently pursuing
a transport primary re-
sponse agreement with St.
Alphonsus, which would
lock in ambulance trans-
port revenue for the City
rather than face losing it
should a private ambulance
service move in to the area
to compete.
He is also looking at
grant potential for the Fire
Department.
Economic Develop-
ment.
Back as a topic of discus-
sion after last month’s City
Council meeting was the
current situation with the
City/County economic
development offi ce headed
by Greg Smith.
At present, Transient
Lodging Tax (TLT) mon-
ies—98% coming from
businesses existing within
the Baker City limits ac-
cording to Councilor Dan
Lowe—go to fund that
offi ce. That leaves two-per-
cent of the bill covered by
TLT monies collected from
businesses in other areas of
the county.
Said Mayor Mosier,
“Our message isn’t we
don’t like what the County
is doing. Our message is
the City isn’t getting done
the things it needs to get
done.”
To that end, exploration
of a Community Developer
position funded by a pos-
sible portion of the City’s
TLT funds was discussed,
as well as perhaps strength-
ening the City’s presence
on the Economic Develop-
ment Council by adding
more members to represent
the City.
Other Areas.
For community parks,
so far the ideas tossed out
as goals are to continue
regular maintenance for lo-
cal parks, play equipment
and the Leo Adler pathway,
as well as and continue
to develop an action plan
for Court Plaza, possibly
fi nishing its connection
to Central Park. A stain-
ability plan for the golf
course was mentioned, as
was increased utilization of
Central Park.
Regarding administration
and government, improv-
ing the Council Chambers’
audio and visual system
appeared to be a priority.
Mayor Mosier stated that
when people approached
her at the grocery store,
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they often mentioned prob-
lems hearing the meetings
when they streamed the
video online.
Promoting joint meetings
with other entities, contin-
ued education opportuni-
ties for staff and council,
identifying cost-saving
areas, and adhering to
a budget were also key
points under that same
category.
For water and wastewast-
er, public relations and
communications with the
public regarding potential
rate increases were men-
tioned, pursuing a backup
groundwater source such
as a well, establishing a
rate structure that isn’t
a burden on residents,
improved communication
with the Department of
Environmental Quality,
and exploring monthly or
electronic billing options
were discussed.
Enhancing water security
was high on the list of goal
ideas.
Under the topic of
“streets,” the only real goal
was to explore funding op-
tions to cover the $6.9 mil-
lion in street maintenance
necessary in the future.
City Recorder Luke
Yeaton mentioned Human
Resources (HR) plans to
update the HR practices
handbook, have an HR
audit conducted, and con-
tinue the City’s Safety and
Wellness program.
More discussions about
the City’s goals and
goal-setting are pending,
and a list of goals will be
released to the public when
fi nalized.
Many around the room
joked that perhaps the
goals should be labeled
“Jim’s Goals” as at present,
Councilor Jim Thomas is
the only one who has con-
fi rmed interest in running
next time.
Members of the public
are encouraged to contact
City staff and Council
members with ideas and
feedback at any time.
Pasta Night’s Back!
Every Wednesday, choose from dozens of the best.
$18 includes salad & sourdough.
incredible food 7a-9p Daily
Reservations please. 541.523.1889
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