The Baker County press., May 20, 2016, Page 5, Image 5

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Compensation
Board approves
2% raises
County Commissioners
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 4
Dielman said, “My
concern is that Baker is
essentially hiring a lob-
byist, with some private
money. We don’t know
where it comes from. We
don’t know what favors
it’s going to buy with the
Commissioners...We need
to know who those people
are, who came up with
$1,000, so the County can
hire a lobbyist ... I want to
know, what’s the precedent
for Baker County, hir-
ing a lobbyist?” Harvey
responded that the East-
ern Oregon Association
of Counties (EOAC) has
hired lobbyists on behalf
of Baker County, and that
the American Stewards of
Liberty is not a lobbyist.
“Sure it is,” Dielman
responded. “You’re hiring
the American Stewards of
Liberty to lobby Congress,
to not change things you
don’t want changed...”
Harvey said that’s not
what’s happening. He
said, “We’re just gaining
information, so that we can
finish writing our com-
ments, that we are required
to do, to have standing, in
an objection...”
Dielman said, “But, you
don’t have to pay $1,000,
to do that. You have the
power, and freedom...to
get your foot in the door,
so that you can be part of
the process, in any further
discussion with the BLM,
about these changes ...We
need to know who is buy-
ing your cooperation, to
then go to the Stewards
of Liberty, a fairly radi-
cal organization, to speak
on your behalf.” Chase
laughed in response to
this, and Harvey repeated
what he said about solely
gathering information, for
the purpose of finishing the
County’s response to the
BLM’s proposals.
Dielman repeated what
he’d said about not having
to pay the American Stew-
ards of Liberty $1,000,
from unknown, private
donors, who are “buy-
ing” unknown influence.
Harvey said, “Sir, they’re
not buying any influence.”
Dielman said, “Well, that’s
what you say, but, I do
not believe you, because
you’re accepting this free
money...Today, I hope
you change your minds.”
Harvey said, “No, sir, we
already spent the money.”
Sappington voiced sup-
port for the County, stating
his opinions from a legal
point of view, pointing
out issues with the BLM’s
proposals. He said that the
County needs standing,
and that there is a responsi-
bility to protect its citizens.
Hunsaker voiced op-
position to the assistance
sought from the American
Stewards of Liberty by the
County. “We’re not here
to stop a juggernaut of
oppression, by the federal
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Vickie Valenzuela expresses her belief that the County is associating itself with
unsavory groups.
Werner Buehler and Mitch Southwick of the Baker
County Compensation Board attended last week’s
meeting.
BY TODD ARRIOLA
government ...” He voiced
the desire to see the Coun-
ty be more “transparent”
with its process, and to “...
be really careful where you
get your input from...I’m
not very happy about this,
either.”
Chase commended the
Board for its efforts. “The
(Planning) 2.0 is one of the
most dangerous things I’ve
ever seen...The County
is the only thing we’ve
got, and the only thing
we’ve got to defend what
we have in the County, is
coordination. We were so
impressed with the Stew-
ards of Liberty, and what
they’ve accomplished...”
Ramona and Danser
responded with support for
the County’s position.
A Request For Qualified
Proposal (RFP), for outside
legal services for Baker
County Commission, and
County Departments, was
approved to be sent to
licensed, area attorneys,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Kerns. The due date for
proposals is June 1, 2016,
and late proposals will not
be accepted, according to
the document.
Order No. 2016-131,
An Order Designating
A Sole Source Provider
For Hot Mix Asphalt And
3/4-Gravel For Baker
County Road Department,
was approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns. High
Desert Aggregate & Pav-
ing, Inc. was designated,
as it is the only provider of
hot mix asphalt within the
area, for the Federal Lands
Access Program project
on Granite Hill Highway,
according to the order,
and as such, it is exempt
from competitive bidding
requirements contained
in ORS (Oregon Revised
Statutes) 279B.075. Fis-
cal years 2015-2016, and
2016-2017 are periods cov-
ered, per the order.
Order No. 2016-132, An
Order Designating ‘H&H
Lock And Key’ As A Sole
Source Provider, was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. According
to the order, the provider
has previous and special-
ized knowledge of Baker
County key/lock functions,
and security; the provider
is the only qualified firm
operating within Baker
County; and the provider is
a local business, located at
2440 Broadway, providing
24 hour emergency service.
Fiscal years 2015-2016,
and 2016-2017 are periods
covered, per the order.
An Intergovernmental
Services Agreement (IGA)
Contract No. 3517-16,
between the Oregon
Department of Revenue,
and Baker County, was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns. The agreement is
for map maintenance, and
related cartographic ser-
vices to be performed by
the Department of Revenue
for Baker County, accord-
ing to the document, for
fiscal year July 1, 2016 to
June 30, 2017. Estimated
staff hours are 194, at a
maximum rate of $60 per
staff hour, for a total cost
of $11,640, according to
the agreement.
A letter, dated May 10,
2016, and addressed to
Oregon State E-Permitting
Program Manager Celina
Patterson, from the County,
stating that the County
wishes to either opt out of
the new Accela Manufac-
tured Home Ownership
Document System, and
the associated IGA, if the
deadline for opting in or
out is not extended, or, to
opt in, if the deadline is
extended, was ratified, with
a motion from Bennett, and
a second from Kerns. The
County stated legal, and
operational concerns with
the program.
An agreement, between
Baker County, and the
Baker County Employees
Association, an affiliate of
SEIU (Service Employees
International Union) Local
503, OPEU (Oregon Public
Employees Union), for
a 2% wage increase for
2016-2017, was approved
to be executed, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Kerns.
The private sale of
County foreclosure prop-
erty, located at 1905 14th
Street, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Harvey
(Kerns abstained). Accord-
ing to the staff report, the
property was foreclosed on
in 2007, and the back taxes
owed total $15,088.12.
The current tenants are
willing to purchase the
property for the back taxes
owed, and sign a release to
waive interest on the un-
paid taxes, and the tenants
will pay all closing costs,
title insurance, and title
company costs.
The Board discussed a
Memorandum of Under-
standing (MOU), formed
on October 14, 2014,
between the Sunridge
Inn, and the County,
regarding the discharge
of Transient Lodging Tax
(TLT) penalty payments.
Harvey explained that the
options before the Board
(this topic was discussed
during several Commission
sessions) were to forgive
the debt owed by Sunridge
Inn, $16,362.67, or to
collect that amount. After
further discussion, Bennett
made a motion to have the
penalty amount set aside,
and to have the Sunridge
Inn continue with monthly
TLT payments (as per the
MOU).
Order No. 2016-133,
Re-Appointing A Mem-
ber To The Baker County
Parks And Recreation
Board, was approved, with
a motion from Harvey, and
a second from Bennett.
Steve McLean was re-
appointed, his term set to
expire on March 1, 2019.
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Compensation Board met for its
annual meeting on Thursday, May 12, 2016, 2 p.m., in
the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court-
house, in order to consider a 2% pay increase for elected
officials.
Present from the Board were Mitch Southwick, and
Werner Buehler. Board member Jim Grove was absent.
Also attending were Baker County Board of Commis-
sioners Chair Bill Harvey, and Executive Assistant Heidi
Martin.
The minutes from the May 20, 2015 Compensation
Board meeting were approved, with a motion from
Buehler, and a second from Southwick.
The sole, brief public testimony, or comment from an
elected official was that from Harvey, who said that the
documents under review looked fine (no public, or other
elected official presence was noted).
Martin began review of the meeting notes, stating first
that revenues are rising slowly, taxes will be up 2.5%,
state revenues will be up slightly, fees are about the same,
and transfers to special funds have increased.
She said that the County is currently in negotiations
with the BCLEA (Baker County Law Enforcement Asso-
ciation) for a law enforcement wages contract (it expired
on June 30, 2014), and for the law enforcement employ-
ees to pay 10% of the health insurance premium cost (the
County would pay 90%), with a 10% cap. Health insur-
ance costs are estimated to increase by about 8% for law
enforcement, and PERS (Public Employees Retirement
System) costs are expected to increase by possibly 20%.
Buehler responded that the increase in PERS costs is a
huge concern, making determining the budget difficult,
and that the State should provide some kind of range of
what the increase would actually be.
Buehler asked Harvey if the County budget could
absorb that increase, and he said that he wasn’t certain
yet. Buehler asked Martin if it would be possible to
calculate what the impact of the PERS increase would be
to the County budget, and she said that she would speak
to County Administrative Services Director Christena
Cook, as Cook had most likely already determined that.
Southwick commented that salaries are a major part of
the budget. Martin said that roll-up costs (costs in addi-
tion to salaries, including PERS, health insurance, etc.)
could be between 30 and 35%.
Continuing with the review, Martin said that SEIU
(Service Employees International Union) Local 503
wages will be up by 2%, per contract (a recently negoti-
ated wage opener contract), and an estimated health in-
surance cost increase of 8.7% is expected. She said that
non-represented personnel and department head wages
will be up by 2%, and health insurance costs will also
increase by 8.7%.
There is an expected increase in wages for elected
officials, she said, of 2%, and health insurance costs are
expected to increase by 8.7%. The following information
was provided, regarding current (2015-2016) wages for
Baker County elected officials (all are full-time positions,
except where noted): Sheriff, $74,256; Assessor, $66,720;
Clerk, $66,720; Treasurer, $66,720; Surveyor, contracted;
Justice of the Peace (half-time), $33,360; Commission
Chair, $74,568; Commissioner (half-time), $32,724; and
Commissioner (quarter-time), $16,368.
SEE COUNTY
COMPENSATION BOARD
Durkee: Drunk driver sets off
fire near Plano Road
Explosion
PAGE 8
On May 12, 2016, Baker County
Deputies, Oregon State Police and
Baker Rural Fire responded to a
report of a vehicle fire off of Plano
Road near Interstate 84 Milepost
331.
When Deputies and Rural Fire ar-
rived the vehicle was fully engulfed.
The vehicle had been traveling on
Interstate 84 Westbound when it had
left the roadway crashing, starting
the vehicle and a small grass fire.
An Oregon State Police Trooper
and a Baker County Deputy located
a subject walking on Interstate 84
Westbound near the vehicle crash.
The subject was later identified as
Gerardo G. Mejia-Zuniga of Buna,
WA, the operator of the vehicle and
the lone occupant.
Mr. Mejia-Zuniga was subsequent-
ly arrested by the Oregon State Po-
lice for Driving Under the Influence
of Intoxicants, Failure to Perform
the Duties of a Driver involved in
a Motor Vehicle Accident involv-
ing property damage, No Operator's
License and Failure to drive within
lane of travel. Mr. Mejia-Zuniga was
transported and lodged in the Baker
County Jail.
The vehicle involved was a 2004
Chevy Impala registered in the State
of Washington, and was a total loss.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
However, the explosion was severe enough to cause at
lease some structural damage as well—visibly knocking
the roof apart from a wall.
After quite a bit of debate between responders as to
how and where to transport Amans, a landing site for Life
Flight was identified in the parking lot of the Burnt River
School. No update on his condition was available in time
for print.