FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
County: Mining, McCarty Candidates
forum
and EMS services
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held its
second, regular session of
the month on Wednesday,
April 20, 2016, 9 a.m., in
the Commission Cham-
bers, of the Baker County
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 in-
cluded Baker County
Assessor Kerry Savage,
Baker County Emergency
Management Deputy Di-
rector Gary Timm, Baker
City Manager Mike Kee,
Baker County Facility
Maintenance Foreman Dan
McQuisten, Chris Arvid-
son and Jay Wilson of
Med Transport, Inc., Bruce
Morrison, Ed Hardt, Ken
Anderson, Joelleen Lin-
strom, Kody Justus, John
and Ramona Creighton,
Dave Hunsaker, and Mary
Miller.
The session was called
to order, followed by the
optional Invocation, and
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Shortly thereafter, noting
a couple of changes, the
agenda was adopted, with
a motion from Kerns, and a
second from Bennett.
Citizen Participation
included comments from
Morrison, Hardt, Ander-
son, Ramona, Mary, Hun-
saker, and Lindstrom.
Morrison expressed his
desire to see the Board
issue a statement to the
public, regarding the total
cost to the County, of the
Baker County vs. David
McCarty, aka, Columbia
Helicopter case, including
legal counsel, and private
investigator fees, etc..
Harvey made a note of that
request.
Hardt spoke about a
meeting that was held in
the Geiser Grand Hotel’s
Cellar Meeting this Tues-
day, hosted by the Oregon
Department of Geology
and Mineral Industries
(DOGAMI), on the topic
of proposed permit fees,
associated with placer
mining. He provided the
Board with copies of the
proposal and discussion,
which states, in part, that
there would be an applica-
tion fee of $150 for metal
placer mining operations
that disturb less than 1,500
cubic yards, in a period of
12 consecutive months.
Operations disturbing more
than 1,500 cubic yards
in that time frame would
pay an application fee of
$400. He said he’d like to
see the Board draft a letter
in opposition to the fees,
because he fully disagrees
with the proposed fees.
The deadline for the public
to comment on the pro-
posed rules is Friday, April
29, 2016.
Anderson emphasized the
need to stimulate mining
in the local area, including
recruiting younger indi-
viduals.
Ramona thanked the
Board for its involvement
in addressing the issues
with Federal overreaching
of authority.
Miller expressed con-
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Joelleen Lindstrom speaks out.
cerns about the cost to join
the American Stewards of
Liberty, which the Board
had discussed at an earlier
session. This was also
echoed by Hunsaker, who
strongly opposed the idea
of the County joining
that group. Harvey said
that the amount needed
to join the group, $1,000,
was raised privately, and
is not taxpayer-funded (a
decision has not been made
yet to join the group).
Miller also said the Board
should have notifi ed Union
Pacifi c Railroad before
the deadline, of the intent
to renew the lease for the
Train Depot property, and
Harvey explained the effort
to renegotiate once the
error was discovered, and
also that departments have
a responsibility to notify
the Board of upcoming
contract deadlines.
Linstrom voiced her
disappointment with
County legal counsel
Dan Van Thiel’s com-
ments associated with the
McCarty case, and with
the delay in resolving the
case, resulting in a total
cost to the County of over
$325,000. She said that
doesn’t include what the
County paid to Van Thiel
for his services, and that
the County needs to make
that total available to the
public.
She said she’s very dis-
appointed with the whole
process, and she said she
knows Harvey was not in-
volved when it began, but,
if it all could be cleared up,
that would be a positive
step. Harvey responded
that the Board wishes to
settle the issue, but there
is a process, and the total
owed to McCarty for legal
fees and costs, needs to be
specifi ed.
The minutes from the
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
regular session were ad-
opted, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
Savage provided an As-
sessor Department update,
and discussed a 2016-
2017 Property Tax Grant
Application. Some of the
details include: there were
no County Tax Collector
offi ce staffi ng changes
noted in the current
2015-2016 budget, and
no changes in the coming
2016-2017 budget year; the
County Clerk offi ce didn’t
have any funded positions
unfi lled for 2015-2016,
and was fully staffed for
2016-2017; there were no
signifi cant Tax Collector
offi ce budget changes for
2016-2017; the County
Clerk offi ce has no staff-
ing changes for 2016-
2017; there were 240 new
construction appraisals in
2015-2016, with 271 pro-
jected for 2016-2017; and
$1,009,158 is the amount
to be considered for the
grant. After some discus-
sion, the grant application
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns.
The Board discussed a
2016 Oregon Department
of Agriculture (ODA)
Wolf Compensation and
Financial Assistance Grant
Agreement. The total
awarded to Baker County,
per the agreement, dated
April 4, 2016, is $22,288,
for the following award
types: prevention, i.e.,
assistance for implement-
ing methods that limit
wolf-livestock interaction
($10,000); administra-
tion, i.e., reimbursement
for qualifi ed expenses
incurred by the county
for implementing the
county program ($495);
and missing livestock, i.e.,
compensation for miss-
ing livestock, or working
dogs, resulting from wolf
depredation ($11,793).
The grant agreement was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns.
Arvidson and Wilson
discussed the idea of a
backup, ground ambu-
lance service (the topic at
an earlier session), which
would be provided by Med
Transport, Inc., for the sole
purpose of inter-hospital
transfers in Baker, Union,
Umatilla, and Wallowa
counties. The service
would be utilized to lighten
the workload of local EMS
resources, and to provide
patients with healthcare
options. This included
comments to the Board and
attendees from Timm, who
discussed the topic, adding
that he supports the idea,
as long as local, existing
services can be maintained.
There were concerns and
issues discussed, includ-
ing non-competition (the
service would not compete
with local services), and
the need to update the local
ambulance service agree-
ment, which Timm said
he is working on. At this
time, without an agreement
in place, the discussion is
still ongoing.
Professional Services
Agreement Addendum No.
1, between Baker County,
and St. Luke’s Regional
Medical Center, Ltd., for
an interim Health Offi cer,
Eric Lamb, M.D., was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. Jon Schott, M.D.,
had originally been listed,
according to the agree-
ment, but he has accepted
another position within St.
Luke’s Regional Medical
Center, and will no longer
be able to provide the ser-
vices as Health Offi cer.
Order No. 2016-128,
Appointing A Member
To The Northeast Area
Commission On Trans-
portation (NEACT), was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. Jodi Tool was
appointed, her term set to
expire on July 31, 2017.
The Board ratifi ed
Amendment No. 3 to the
Oregon Military Depart-
ment (OMD) Exchange
Agreement, between
OMD, and Baker County,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. This agreement
covers the establishment of
a fi nal and binding lot line
adjustment, etc., for parti-
tion purposes.
The Board discussed an
offer made on the County’s
approximate 2.75-acre
property, in the Industrial
Park area, located behind
Powder River Preci-
sion. The offer is from an
established, local business
(no name was mentioned
at this time), looking to
expand its operation. The
decision was made to con-
tinue the discussion at the
next, regular session, with
a motion from Kerns, and a
second from Bennett.
The next, regular session
is scheduled for Wednes-
day, May 4, 2016, 9 a.m.,
in the Commission Cham-
bers of the Baker County
Courthouse.
See how to subscribe for as little as $29.95 per year! Turn to Page 11.
Nelson hoped to be more involved in the County’s
economic development efforts. Justus was able to list the
four or fi ve committees on which the elected individual
would serve.
Arvid Andersen asked all three candidates whether
they would support Commissioner Bill Harvey’s push for
Coordination.
Justus and Nelson both said absolutely yes.
Nichols responded that increased timber harvests were
good, but never directly answered the question.
Kate Rohner asked if the men would view fellow elect-
ed offi cials as peers or subordinates. All three answered,
“Peers.”
Terry Schumacher stood up and asked, “How do you
feel about being proactive in bringing back local control
as much as possible to our county so that things like Har-
ney County don’t happen here?”
Nichols asked Schumacher to explain what he meant by
local control.
Schumacher said, “In a way that holds Federal agen-
cies accountable ... in a way that they have to Coordinate
through the County as the County is our elected offi cials
and they are not ... I realize we can hide behind the laws
and such, but we need to start looking at ways we can
change these laws.”
“Okay, basically we are a nation of laws,” said Nichols.
“That’s what the Constitution is about.” He then advised
people to vote to change the “atmosphere in D.C.”
Nelson again said he’d advocate and organize people to
communicate with lawmakers. “I don’t agree with doing
it by force.” He pointed out, however, that the Bundy’s
standoff did help many points rise to the surface in the
media, though he personally would take a different tact.
Justus said, “I believe we have a moral obligation to
make people feel like their rights are protected to avoid
what we had in Harney County. You know, when you
see people, when they think they have nothing to lose
they become desperate people and they make desperate
decisions. All elected offi cials have a moral obligation to
provide a buffer between the people and anything that’s
trying to encroach upon their rights.”
Micah Huyett’s question audibly struck home with
many in the room, when he asked what they would do if
the Forest Service closes roads without citizens consent-
ing. He stressed for Nichols not to answer the question
“hypothetically” as he had with Crawford’s question. He
continued, “Or would you just say, ‘Eh. The law’s the
law. We have to live with it?’”
Nichols said, “We do have to follow the laws but yes as
a County Commissioner I agree we have to get involved
with road closures if it’s contrary to the needs of the
County. We have to voice your concerns all that we can.
But as a manager of the County we can only go so far.”
He suggested trying to change laws.
Nelson said, “I’d personally be mad as hell if they did
that. I’m an advocate for the roads. I promise you I’d not
only be talking to the Federal and State agencies ... I’d
be on the computer and the phone and have a group of
volunteers doing the same thing.”
Justus said, “It’s not as much of a hypothetical ques-
tion as you might think. The Forest Service added Travel
Management in 2005 and the goal of that was to close
roads. Through public input it was realized that there
were discrepancies between what they’d been governing
themselves by ... and so they scrapped the Travel Man-
agement Plan and started working on the Blue Mountain
Forest Plan. The law is that anything that existed prior to
FLPMA going into existence is a preexisting right of way
... is actually a County road.”
Tork Ballard, seemingly unsatisfi ed with the response
given to Andersen’s question, asked again if the candi-
dates would support Harvey’s Coordination efforts or
rather, cooperation.
Nelson and Justus again stressed their support of Co-
ordination. Said Justus, “It’s the only thing that gives the
County equal standing.”
Nichols said, “Coordination ... I don’t know. I’ve yet to
see the real benefi ts of it.”
Suzie Dyke asked if the candidates would take their
ultimate directive from the Constitution or the Supreme
Court. Justus and Nelson said the Constitution is the guid-
ing document and hoped the courts followed that. Nichols
agree with them, then stated the court system interprets
laws “so we take direction from that.”
A question from the Baker County Republicans was
then given asking if they supported the transfer of public
lands to state or county levels and if they believed it do-
able. Justus stated it was absolutely doable and he was in
favor. Nelson stated he would like to see control of those
lands brought back to the county, but just to the state level
would make him happy. Nichols’ opinion differed again
in that he questioned the State’s effectiveness and was
against transfer to a county level entirely.
Other questions from the audience involved Payment
in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) money, case law for Coordina-
tion, the Boardman to Hemingway power line, and a fi nal
question asking if the County took back management of
its forests, how they’d maintain it?
During closing statements, Nelson graciously com-
mended his opponents. Nichols then turned to Justus and
took a closing potshot. Nichols said, “Kody I think is very
good at Coordination ... He needs to stay right where he’s
at on the committee he’s on. I think that would be the best
benefi t the County.”
Justus gave his summation and added that auditing was
not a function of a County Commissioner as that service
was contracted out.
The candidates then made their way out into the audi-
ence for an informal meet and greet as people dispersed.