10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
Local
Sumpter City Council:
marijuana store?
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council’s
April 12th meeting was
sparsely attended but
lively, with a marijuana
consignment shop and
employee benefits versus
city budgetary constraints
major topics of discussion.
Bills
Councilperson Robert
Armbruster stated he did
not find any record of the
increased CIS insurance
payments being presented
to or approved by council.
Myers replied, “Some bills
are automatic, and have
to be paid.” Armbruster
countered that insurance
is necessary, but that an
increase in benefits that are
discretionary doesn’t need
to be accepted. Rowan
clarified that the Coun-
cil has been paying the
increased bill every month
without a problem since
January. Armbruster stated
that is correct.
Armbruster said it was
his understanding that
the removal of snow to
the McCully water intake
was done prior to the
emergency declaration.
Myers stated that was not
true. Councilperson Cary
Clarke, who did the work,
stated he was not going to
do anything without prior
approval.
Armbruster then asked
what the payment to City
Attorney Van Thiel of $200
for theft of services was
about. Myers replied it had
to do with “investigating
some hookups that haven’t
been made and should be.”
Armbruster inquired
about a $50 payment to
the attorney regarding
marijuana sales. Myers
stated there are people who
want to manufacture and
sell marijuana in town and
he asked Van Thiel what
the City can and can’t do
about it. Motion to pay all
bills exclusive of the snow
removal fee passed.
Armbruster stated he did
not have an issue with the
work done, but it is his un-
derstanding that the work
preceded any approval and
that Council did not know
of an emergency. Myers
stated he knew something
had to be done “now” and
authorized the work. Arm-
bruster replied, “You’re
one of five Council mem-
bers. I can authorize the
same thing? We’re on the
same level.”
Utility Manager Jeff
McKinney stated, “I would
hope you would.” Mo-
tion to pay Clarke was
approved, with Clarke
abstaining from the vote.
Utility Manager’s
Report
High turbidity at Mc-
Cully Creek has been caus-
ing issues, necessitating
over 26 trips in to maintain
the flow. This proves the
decision to plow was the
right one. The storage tank
is at 13.2 feet, less than
½ capacity because of the
disruptions in flow. Due
to all the sand and pyrite
in the water and high flow,
the fish drains are plug-
ging regularly, requiring
constant maintenance.
McKinney has been
in touch with the federal
supervisor of the high-
way project as well as the
County and has been given
an estimated late May/ear-
ly June start date to begin
work on city streets under
the street grant.
McKinney said he talked
with FEMA and local
Emergency Management
regarding relief for the cost
of plowing the access road.
Jason Yencopal suggested
McKinney attend train-
ing with him on accessing
funding for emergencies.
McKinney stated he
received a forwarded let-
ter concerning illegally
dumped tires left in the city
burn pile. He apologized
for not getting them re-
moved last fall as intended,
due to snow. Two truck-
loads of tires have now
been removed with three or
four loads left. McKinney
said the burn pile is high
maintenance and, due to
abuses and issues with the
neighbor, he recommends
it closed until under control
or even permanently.
Rusty piping in the water
plant will need to be re-
paired at a cost of $1,000-
1400. McKinney stated if
the repairs are not done,
there will be rust holes in
the pipes in the near future.
Rust is due to chlorine gas
and became an issue due to
previous years of operation
with leaky pumps and a
broken ceiling exhaust fan.
Fire Dept.
Jim Sheller reported one
small fire in town. The
brush truck is in service.
Training focus will switch
from medical over to fire
a lot more as the weather
gets nicer. Rebecca Long
from Portland presented
high-performance CPR
training last month.
Planning Commission
Woolf reported on 3/17, a
hearing was held regarding
street vacations and lot line
adjustments. The ordi-
nances are being prepared
and Council will probably
see them next month. Dur-
ing the following regular
meeting, the Commission
reviewed a zoning applica-
tion for a property subject
to neighborhood covenants
and restrictions.
During the 4/7 meeting,
the Commission reviewed
six zoning applications.
One was approved with
some changes and two
were approved as sub-
mitted. There will be a
hearing at 6:45 on 5/5
regarding an application
that involved a conditional
use permit. On another,
a setback for a shed was
approved and setback for
a carport was not. This
will be revisited at the
next meeting. The final
application did not have all
necessary steps in place for
approval and was tabled.
On 3/30, the Commission
had a training with Jeff
McKinney on sewer ordi-
nances and DEQ require-
ments. Due to the Town
Hall next week, the 4/21
meeting will not be held.
Marijuana store
Carson Farnsworth stated
he would like to open a
marijuana consignment
shop. Farnsworth stated
like a lot of people, he
was against marijuana use.
Then, he faced a situa-
tion where he was given
two years to live. “I was
supposed to be dead in
February.” Farnsworth
said it was a last-minute
scramble “after all doctors
failed me” and “all the
pills they gave me made
things worse.” He got his
medical marijuana card last
October.
Myers asked if a zoning
application has been sub-
mitted. Farnsworth was
advised to talk to Council
first. He said he knows
there are health benefits to
marijuana and he will be
doing just as much good if
not better than a pharmacy.
He stated he has a wife and
five kids who would like to
keep him around.
Farnsworth is proposing
to sell recreational and or/
medical marijuana and
explained the difference
between THC content al-
lowed for each. In regard
to a concern raised about
smell, Farnsworth stated it
will be prepackaged with
minimal smell.
He proposed to use the
house kitty-corner to his
parents’ business (The
Scoop N’ Steamer) as it is
in a commercial-residential
area. He pointed out the
tax benefits to the City and
explained a tax of 1-3%
can be imposed on him as
the seller, a “good margin
when it comes a yearly
thing.”
Discussion ensued about
the time period that Sumpt-
er had for opting out of
allowing marijuana sales.
Woolf stated because the
County overwhelmingly
denied marijuana, cities
had a period in which they
could opt out. Sumpter
did nothing, and there-
fore automatically “opted
in.” Julie McKinney said
that the City must pass an
ordinance and have it go to
the vote of the people that
sales are taxed.
Armbruster asked why
not set up outside the City
limits? Julie McKinney
stated if it’s outside the
City, that would be in
the County and sales are
banned in the County.
Woolf said she tells
people interested in grow-
ing marijuana in the City
that Sumpter has a re-
ally short growing season.
Julie McKinney added that
the deer love it, too.
Armbruster stated it’s
an issue of gateway when
talking of medical versus
recreational use and that
it’s the social element that
has people concerned.
Kathi Vinson said she
has a number of adopted
children with epilepsy and
medical marijuana is the
“only thing that’s keeping
them upright.” She stated
her concern is having the
store be the first thing
people see when coming
into town. She would
prefer it could be “off the
main drag a little.”
Jeff McKinney stated
the law has been passed,
marijuana use is legal,
there’s no way to stop it,
and the City Recorder has
researched how the City
can benefit monetarily.
Clarke asked what’s the
point of revenue when it
ruins the town. McKinney
said he is against mari-
juana, but “we don’t have
a choice.” Farnsworth
responded Huntington was
dead with no business to
speak of, but the town is
making a turn around since
allowing marijuana sales.
Myers said the issue
could not be immedi-
ately resolved and asked
Farnsworth to present his
written information to the
City Recorder. “We will
take it under advisement
and probably appoint a
committee.” Vinson said
ordinances take at least 60
days, so it will need some
time. Farnsworth stated
he is unfortunately one of
many with a need.
Mayor’s Report
Myers said Sumpter
received a letter stating
what they need to do to
obtain the Wright House
(Superintendant’s House).
The City must include a
revisionary clause that if
they plan to no longer use
the property for a nonprofit
purpose, the title goes back
to the State. The City must
state its intent to use the
property for a public pur-
pose. And, the City must
be willing to grant ve-
hicular easement between
the Wright House and the
museum.
Myers stated there is
an alleyway that can be
used for access and that
the last request should be
protested as the city-owned
lot between the buildings
couldn’t be used for any
future plans if there was an
easement there.
Woolf read a draft of a
letter agreeing to the first
two terms and proposing
the alley as a permanent
form of access. John
Young suggested adding
that there are two property
owners who only have ac-
cess through the alley, so it
cannot be vacated.
Council voted to send
the letter of acceptance
with the addition of
Young’s suggestion.
Myers stated he gave
copies to all Council
members of an e-mail
regarding the contract for
the wastewater improve-
ment project. He stated
the first five pages are a
“relatively standard clause
contract” and suggested
Council members take it
home and work on it. The
report also contained an
attachment with specific
things the engineering firm
will do and a spreadsheet
with estimated costs for the
project.
Myers stated they are
working with Shanna
Bailey at Infrastructure
Financing Authority and
looking at a 50% grant.
Bailey is also working
towards other grants.
Parks Attendant Position
An advertisement for the
position has been put out
with a deadline of 4/22.
McKinney stated there
have been no applicants.
Bathrooms
Jeff McKinney stated
he wants to commend and
compliment the volunteer
caring for the bathrooms
at Volunteer Park and that
this happens to be the
mayor who is very humble
and doesn’t talk about
everything he does for
the town. McKinney said
when the park and build-
ing were planned, lots of
people said they’d help
clean the bathrooms but he
hasn’t seem them actually
volunteer. McKinney said,
“When the mayor of the
City is cleaning toilets, that
is above and beyond and I
want to recognize that.”
Lawsuit
It was voted to go to
a jury trial. Myers said,
“This little City cannot
afford this any longer. I
hope we understand we
need to work together and
get it resolved.”
Benefits/Budget
Jeff McKinney stated he
received an undated letter
to staff, Councilors, etc.
from Councilor Oakley.
He stated there are allega-
tions in the letter and that
Vinson and himself have
responses to the allega-
tions. Myers stated this
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Carson Farnsworth (center, left) addresses the
Sumpter City Council.
should be taken care of in a
different arena.
McKinney stated he had
another letter concerning
things said in a Council
meeting that reflect poorly
on employees and he
would like them addressed.
He asked if the mayor
would like to do that later,
too? Myers responded
that some of what needs
to be done should be ac-
complished behind closed
doors. McKinney stated
the comments were made
during a public meeting.
Oakley stated that at a
recent meeting allegations
were made about her being
on drugs and not needing
to be driving. McKinney
stated that was said after a
meeting, but was inappro-
priate, and he apologized.
The ensuing discus-
sion was headed by Cary
Clarke (voted at a previous
meeting as liaison between
Council and City em-
ployees.) Myers sat back
from the Council table and
listened to the discussion.
Clarke reviewed the writ-
ten responses of City staff
and asked that a copy be
given to Oakley. Oakley
stated that if an attack is to
be made on a Councilor,
the Councilor should be
asked if they want an open
or closed meeting. McK-
inney stated this was not
an attack, but respectful
responses to her questions
and was all very positive.
Clarke handed the copy
he had reviewed down the
table to Oakley. McKin-
ney read aloud through
the letter by Oakley, also
reading the answers by
City staff to each question
or statement. Several had
to do with benefits to City
employees in comparison
to employees in other
nearby cities. Others had
to do with maintenance,
upcoming repairs, and
reserve funds.
Bookkeeper Vinson
then explained the cur-
rent budget was passed
before these issues came
up. It was approved by the
Budget Committee, which
included Council. Oakley
said every year between
April and July, Council
must get together and
see if they can afford the
increases. Vinson said that
is very true, but changes
can’t start in the middle.
Vinson is working on the
new budget.
Information from local
cities was discussed, in-
cluding Halfway employ-
ing an outside firm to do
their bookkeeping. Young
stated under a previous
mayor, Sumpter looked
into hiring an account-
ing firm and found it cost
20-30% more than hiring a
part-time bookkeeper.
Vinson said she talked to
several cities and Halfway
is the only one requir-
ing employees to pay a
percentage of benefits. She
stated it’s fine if that’s what
Council wants, but that
must be negotiated with
personnel and it is not their
fault the Council did not
discuss this option for the
current budget year.
Clarke stated it is neither
employee nor City fault
that insurance costs are
increasing. Both McKin-
neys and Vinson shared
examples of how their
benefit costs are increasing
and coverage reduced.
Oakley stated when
a business is not profit-
ing, cuts have to be made
somewhere and that
Sumpter keeps adding
things on. Clarke said the
City needs to figure out
how to keep a balanced
budget without taking
money from employees.
Jeff McKinney stated he
believes Oakley has a con-
ception of a budget short-
age but hasn’t conferred
with the City Recorder or
Bookkeeper.
Armbruster said he is
hearing a lot of numbers
and that they need a matrix
that compares cities and
populations with employee
compensation and benefits.
Vinson stated she is con-
centrating on the budget
and can’t spend more hours
on this issue.
McKinney asked Vinson
permission to read a line
from a letter she submitted
to Council. Vinson stated,
“I suppose so,” and left the
room temporarily. McKin-
ney read, “Get someone
else, if you feel I am not
qualified.”
Armbruster said it has
been a year since employee
evaluations were conduct-
ed and that Council needs
to set a time for an Execu-
tive Session to redo them.
Myers said he asked
for an extension on the
reviews and wants to stand
by that. He said part of the
reason is that the manual
(Employee Handbook)
is in question and asked
for a motion to put off the
reviews until September.
Clarke motioned to put
off the reviews for further
education. Motion passed
three to two with Arm-
bruster and Oakley against.
Armbruster stated there are
in “excess of fifteen review
areas that have gone un-
touched for 9-10 months.”
He said, “If that’s account-
ability and what we expect,
so be it.”
Public Input
Young stated the
snowmobile club usually
donates $400 to the City
for rent of the hall for all
meetings and the Poker
Run. This year, the club
proposes the alternative
of donating $800 towards
construction of a canopy
over the walkway into the
schoolhouse The funds
would be put in the control
of the Sumpter Valley
Community Volunteers
(SVCV). Young said
hopefully at the SVCV
meeting, they will agree
to put up the remain-
ing funds. Clarke gave
an estimate of $1200 for
materials. SVCV and the
snowmobile club would do
the construction them-
selves, including cover and
handrails. They would like
to include electricity, but
are not sure about per-
mits. The lighting may be
left to the City to put out
to bid after the project is
turned over to them. If this
project doesn’t go forward,
the snowmobile club will
donate the $400 as usual.
Motion to allow the project
and appoint Clarke liaison
was carried.