FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Speaker of the House
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Introductions were
made, and Kotek said,
“Good morning, every-
one. It’s a real pleasure to
be here...” She expressed
praise for Inman, stating
that he’s on several com-
mittees, and she explained
the coverage of the District
she represents, north
Portland (the northernmost
District, below Washington
State), including residential
and commercial areas.
“What I’ve noticed
is that every part of
the State has its own
challenges...I’m sure we
(the State Legislature,
in Salem) do things that
are annoying, and I’m
sure we do things that are
helpful, and that’s part of
the reason I’m out here...
My goal is to hear from
you, things that we can be
doing better...” she said.
She outlined some of the
challenges this year, and
the next: housing, educa-
tion, economic develop-
ment, and transportation.
Kotek asked attendees for
questions and comments,
stating that she wouldn’t
take offense regarding
any topic they wished to
discuss. The following is a
summary of some of those
conversations.
Martin thanked Kotek for
her meeting with com-
munity members, and he
agreed with her, that in
order to understand issues
statewide, representatives
need to meet with local
people in different areas.
He voiced concerns about
droughts, and about declin-
ing budgets, to address
local watershed issues, and
he said that better water
management is needed. He
emphasized the importance
of water quality. Kotek
agreed with Martin, ex-
plaining that a $30 million
package to address state
water issues was formed,
and she said that hopefully,
next year, there will be an
additional package.
Bennett stressed the im-
portance of ground water,
and what agriculture means
to the area--$94 million in
revenue, plus the critical,
associated jobs. He echoed
Martin’s concerns, and
he said that, among other
entities, it’s important that
DOGAMI (Department
of Geology and Min-
eral Industries) receive
adequate funding. Kotek
responded about the chal-
lenges to fund and address
issues across the State,
and that funding’s usually
earmarked first for human
services, and education,
but that there needs to be a
strong partnership, in order
to address issues, such as
with water.
Shumway spoke about
the need for the Oregon
Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW) to form
agreements with the irriga-
tion districts, regarding
in-stream water rights and
flows, he emphasized the
need for storage projects
(he said water is vital, and
more storage is needed),
and he asked Kotek for
any assistance she could
provide. Kotek said that
expert advice would be
sought, because responses
to issues such as these
are only as good as the
expertise available. She
cited Bentz as one of the
individuals who is very
knowledgeable, in the area
of water issues.
Guyer thanked Kotek for
her visit to the Ash Grove
Cement plant (near Dur-
kee) that morning, because
the company is a very
important partner to the
community. He said that
the company has not yet
determined how to resolve
issues, such as naturally
occurring mercury in rock
there, and limiting carbon
production. Kotek said
that she wishes to see the
company remain here, and
to keep manufacturing its
products.
Melle stressed the
importance of technical
and career training, and
keeping people in the com-
munity, after graduation.
He asked Kotek about the
connection between CTE,
program expansions, and
community colleges, and
he said that more funding
for equipment is needed.
Kotek said she sees a con-
nection, there are ongoing
revitalization grants, and
community colleges are
essential. She said she
saw an increase in federal
financial aid requested by
college students.
Koopman spoke about
the need for good funding
for equipment and pro-
grams, and to strengthen
the partnership between
K-12, and community col-
leges, for smoother transi-
tions, in sparsely populated
areas, like Baker City,
La Grande, etc. Kotek
responded by speaking
about the challenges, and
differences, between the
more metropolitan areas,
and rural areas.
Harvey said a major
issue is that Baker City
needs a proper community
college facility, and that
opportunities for employ-
ment need to be provided
here. He emphasized the
local economic struggle,
the contrasting west-
versus-east view, issues
with State regulations, and
the lack of a mining and
timber industry. Kotek
said she understands, job
creation is very important,
and she suggested con-
versations first with the
regional economic devel-
opment entity (Northeast
Oregon Economic Devel-
opment District). Harvey
said the local Economic
Development department
had to change its focus,
from bringing in industry
(a difficult task, he said), to
assisting established busi-
nesses, with expansion, for
example.
Witty said there are too
many regulations, too
much bureaucracy, and not
enough flexibility, and the
School District, for one,
can’t meet all of the regu-
latory requirements. Kotek
agreed, that rarely are the
regulations reassessed, let
alone removing any, and
that the regulations are not
solving problems.
County: Sumpter dredge
tailings project on agenda
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County
Board of Commissioners
held a work session on
Wednesday, June 8, 2016,
9 a.m., in the Commission
Chambers of the Baker
County Courthouse, in
order to discuss several
topics, including potential
Sumpter dredge tailings
mining, drought concerns,
train derailment emergency
response, and an offer to
purchase the County’s 1/2
mineral interest property.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioners Mark Ben-
nett and Tim Kerns, and
Executive Assistant Heidi
Martin. Attendance also
included Baker County
Emergency Management
Program Manager Jason
Yencopal, and Baker City
DOGAMI Field Geologist
Jason McClaughry.
Harvey explained the
reason for the discussion
regarding the potential for
Sumpter Dredge tailings
mining; individuals had
asked last week again
about the possibility, and
what the process is. Yen-
copal discussed this sub-
ject with the Board, first
giving an overview of the
project (copies of a staff
report from September 3,
2013 show interest in the
project in March 2012,
from Yellow Eagle Mining,
and many other firms, who
approached the County
about the possibility).
Yencopal said that meet-
ings were held, and then
a Solicitation of Interest
(SOI) was developed.
This SOI had been placed
National
Convention
Submitted Photo.
Cove’s Chris Barreto, ORP Secretary, addresses
attendees.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Said Jones, “Our ORP Chair and national committee
man and woman are automatic delegates and do not have
to be elected. Many states call these three super delegates.
Ours are bound just like the rest of the delegates.”
“After the convention all the Congressional Districts
(CDs) split up to elect their delegates—each has three
delegates,” said Jones. “Alternates are also elected for
each delegate. The three delegates elected to the conven-
tion from CD2 is Patti Adair, Greg Barreto and me. A list
of the alternates elected was released on the ORP web
site. We also had the election of officers for all Congres-
sional districts. For CD2, in which Baker County falls, we
have: Chair, Joseph Rice (Josephine County), Alternate
Chair - Suzan Ellis Jones (Baker County), Vice Chair -
Rep. Greg Barreto (Union County), Alternate Vice Chair
- Donna Cain (Jackson County), Secretary - Gretchen
Bates (Harney County, Treasurer - Scott Waters (De-
schutes County. This is a four-year term and provides a
seat on the State Executive Committee.”
At last count 654 individuals attended the Salem con-
vention.
Each delegate will be responsible for arranging and
paying for their own transportation to the national con-
vention in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18-21.
All 25 delegates and their alternates will attend.
Jones explained, “Most have to be there on July 17 for
credentialing. Those who are serving on a committee
like Platform or Rules have to be there July 11th. I was
asked to be on Platform committee, but could not be gone
that long.”
Jones said the convention will be held at Quicken
Arena, and security will be so tight that delegates will be
hauled in on secure busses, with other traffic blocked off
for up to a mile around.
“We’re Republicans,” she said. “The hardest part of this
for many of us is that we can’t bring our firearms since
we’re flying.”
Standoff
Photo courtesy of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
John Guthrie, Jr.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Jason Yencopal, Emergency Management Program Manager, addresses the
Commissioners.
in local newspapers, and
emailed to those seek-
ing information about the
project, with the response
to the SOI due on August
30, 2013. Only one SOI
was received, and two let-
ters stating the associated
parties were not interested
in the project at that time.
He said that, since there
was not enough interest
shown at that time, the
project was postponed.
Harvey said it appeared to
be viable—the Sumpter
Valley Dredge Tailings
Reclamation Project—at
the time, because of the
potential for reclamation,
jobs, and revenue. Bennett
said this is County Parks
land (the following is a
description, according to
documentation): the por-
tions of the Sumpter Valley
Dredge tailings which are
owned by Baker County;
this area is generally south
of Highway 7, west of
Huckleberry Loop Road,
east of Highway 7, and
north of Huckleberry Loop
Road; the exact areas will
be determined, depending
on interest.
At this point, Harvey
said, it would need to be
determined whether to
continue with the project,
by developing the RFP
(Request for Proposals).
This development would
include hiring a consultant,
at $75 per hour, according
to Yencopal, and some as-
sociated costs in staff time.
Harvey said that parties are
still very interested in the
project, despite any associ-
ated issues or processes,
and that the County should
have an RFP ready. Ben-
nett said that a good, solid
RFP would be needed.
Bennett said, as the
process moves forward, the
County would ask the City
of Sumpter to hold some
public meetings, to inform
residents there about the
project, and to address any
concerns, and to take input.
McClaughry asked the
Board if the County had
wished to explore the
project itself, and Harvey
responded that the funding
wouldn’t be available for
exploration, and it would
take extra staff the County
doesn’t have.
SEE TAILINGS PAGE 8
BCPD officers, along with Oregon State Troopers and
Baker County Sheriff’s Deputies set a perimeter around
the residence. Once it was determined that Guthrie was in
the residence alone, BCPD made a request for the North-
east Oregon Regional (NEO) SWAT Team to respond,
while investigators prepared a search warrant.
Once on scene, NEO SWAT attempted numerous
methods to encourage Guthrie to come out and surrender.
Amongst those efforts was a request made to the Oregon
State Police Bomb Squad to arrive with mechanical
robots. Once they arrived, the robots were deployed and
used to deliver a phone into the residence. Throughout
these efforts SWAT members could clearly see on numer-
ous occasions that Guthrie was armed with a rifle.
NEO SWAT Crisis Negotiators spent over two hours
talking with Guthrie, who refused to come out and surren-
der. Once Guthrie started escalating his behavior, tear gas
was deployed in the residence to force Guthrie outside.
At about 3:08 a.m. Guthrie left the residence unarmed
and was taken into custody by NEO SWAT members.
Guthrie who had no apparent injuries was then taken to
the hospital for decontamination and a routine medical
clearance. After being cleared he was then transported to
the Baker County jail for being a Felon in Possession of a
Firearm. Additional charges will be likely.
No injuries were sustained to any law enforcement
members.