FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
Sumpter City Council
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PAGE 4
He said they since found
out there is a full-time resi-
dent at the Park throughout
the winter and he didn’t
feel giving back the money
was a viable option.
Armbruster stated
Clarke’s explanation was
accurate. Armbruster
decided after much more
thought, they should keep
to and respect the previous
Council’s decision. He
stated he thought the RV
Park owners should be
awarded $925 and have the
$25 monthly fee waived
indefinitely.
Clarke asked if the sewer
bill should not be paid if
there is a full-time resident
through the winter.
Armbruster replied he
was having a problem with
all the innuendo and verbal
agreements that were made
in 2008 and now in 2016,
the Council is being asked
to make a decision.
Clarke asked if the issue
needed to be tabled and
discussed more and Arm-
bruster said the Council
has tabled enough items,
that something needed to
be done.
Clarke proposed waiv-
ing the $925 and charging
the monthly sewer fee. He
stated if he uses electricity
all year, he gets charged
all year, and that it should
be the same for sewer.
This passed unanimously
with some comments from
Armbruster about having
spent too much time on the
issue already and too many
people not caring.
Guyer and Associates
Letter
Council unanimously
approved the letter for
engagement of next years
audit review.
Settlement conference
After potential conflicts
for Armbruster and Clarke
were identified, Rowan
was appointed to represent
Council at the upcoming
settlement conference.
Resolution 326
Julie McKinney read
resolution 326 to remove
former mayor Leland My-
ers as signer on all City
accounts and add Rowan.
The resolution was unani-
mously approved.
Resignation letter
Rowan read a letter from
Councilor Annie Oakley
dated 7/6 giving her resig-
nation from City Council,
citing health concerns due
to stress. Council voted to
accept her resignation.
Commissioner Bill
Harvey
Harvey stated work is
ongoing with foresters in
an attempt to designate
Sumpter’s watershed. This
includes laying out maps,
trying to define the water-
shed, and helping with the
long-term process of get-
ting it protected. There is
also the potential of some
clearing and fuel load
reduction in the watershed
area, funded from firefight-
ing efforts last year.
Harvey complimented
the newly done road to
Granite, stating he drove
part of it the other day and
it’s beautiful.
He reported meeting with
the US Forest Service in
the last couple of weeks
regarding Buck Gulch
Road, which was marked
for potential closure. This
road has been identified as
a historical road and the
USFS has agreed to protec-
tion, repair, and reopening
up to use. This process is
in the finalization stage.
Harvey referenced the
heavily timbered area
above Buck Gulch Road
and around the area and
has asked that the USFS
put that in their project
lists, as Sumpter is at risk
during fire season with the
abundance of timber.
Harvey also asked the
council to allow the Plan-
ning Commission to have
a hearing for the Scoop N’
Steamer as the first step in
getting them into compli-
ance and following neces-
sary process. He stated
the business first must go
through the conditional use
process for the City, then
can approach DEQ to meet
their requirements, and
after that can get zoning
clearance, building inspec-
tions, and permits.
Armbruster asked about
the Buck Gulch Road res-
toration and if there have
been many more of those.
Harvey responded that
anything before 1904 is a
historical road and belongs
to the County. This is in-
cluded under right of ways
regulations (under Revised
Statue 2477), and also
encompasses waterways,
historical sites, horse trails,
railroad right of ways, etc.
Harvey stated they have
established communica-
tion and are working to
clarify every one of those,
a process he sees tak-
ing a couple of years to
complete. Harvey also ex-
plained that roads on BLM
lands established 1976
and before are considered
historical.
Melissa Findley
Findley read a letter
addressed to Council
denouncing divisiveness
and personal agendas. She
stated she was blessed to
be able to take part in the
City government, despite
disagreement about her
political methods. She
said she hopes to be able
to enjoy retirement and
not have to look forward
to continued threats and
accusations, based not on
merit but on retribution.
She said she is done with
divisiveness and politics.
She wished the Council
luck, an open mind, and fo-
cus on Sumpter. She stated
the town needs them to be
honest, creative, and move
forward.
IFA application grant
Clarke reported he called
Sisul Engineering earlier in
the day and was told they
are willing to move for-
ward on the project. Sisul
will get all the paperwork
he has sent over on Mon-
day so copies can be made
for all Councilors.
Public input
Findley asked about
the process for renewing
conditional use permits and
asked how often they are to
be done. Woolf stated ac-
cording to article 10 of the
zoning ordinance, renewal
is to be annual except in
special cases where the
Commission votes to make
it two years. Findley asked
if it wasn’t a $50 renewal.
Clarke advocated simplify-
ing the process. Woolf re-
sponded it’s under review
and the learning process
and she will look into this
further.
Michelle Gorden (man-
ager for Scoop ‘N Steam-
er) stated they applied for
an OLCC application for a
limited liquor license and
asked Council to review
and sign 5/28. They have
not heard anything back
or been on the meeting
agendas. Julie McKinney
spoke with Stan Federhoff
of OLCC who explained
it was at discretion of
Council to sign. Council
approved signing, which
was accomplished imme-
diately.
Lila Young addressed
Findley, stating she agreed
with everything said in the
letter and that the town
needs to “put it all behind
us.” She stated to that
end, there is a commu-
nity breakfast this Sunday
from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the
schoolhouse. The menu
includes French toast,
pancakes, eggs, sausage,
and bacon and is donation
only. Money raised goes
to support Sumpter Valley
Community Volunteers
(SVCV) projects.
John Young gave some
example of projects, such
as re-staining City Hall.
The group has obtained
permits to build a cover for
the schoolhouse walkway.
The snowmobile club will
give $800 towards that
with SVCV funding the
rest. Further projects the
group has in mind include
the Superintendant’s
House.
Woolf stated she spoke
with Jeff Smith of the
County Road Depart-
ment. The county does not
expect asphalt overruns,
but suggested speaking to
Triple C (regarding hoped
for donations of asphalt for
a half-basketball court at
Volunteer Park.)
Jeff McKinney com-
plimented Findley on her
letter, saying what she said
was well-stated. He asked
for clarification on whether
or not the City Recorder
and Woolf were driving
around looking for zoning
violations. Julie McKin-
ney stated they checked
on a few things brought to
their attention, but were
not looking to find viola-
tions.
Armbruster reported an
artist has created a model
of the Dredge he believes
is even more impressive
than the one currently on
display at the Visitor’s
Center. The artist will
dedicate the model to
Friends of the Dredge on
Saturday, though he didn’t
know a time for this event.
Woolf reported Sumpter
Valley Restoration is cel-
ebrating 40 years of opera-
tions with a ribbon cutting
at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
BLM plans wild horse gather
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Vale
District is announcing a
plan to conduct a gather of
wild horses in the Three
Fingers Herd Management
Area (HMA). The objec-
tive is to capture 100 wild
horses from the Three
Fingers HMA and return
50 horses (25 studs and
25 mares) to the range to
re-establish the Appropri-
ate Management Level
(AML). The herd popula-
tion is estimated at 202.
The gather will likely
last two to four days with
an expected start date of
July 26.
The Three Fingers
HMA is approximately
25 miles south of Vale,
OR.
Horses that are
removed from the range
will be transported to
Oregon’s Wild Horse Cor-
ral Facility in Hines, OR.
The public can visit and
view the horses once they
arrive at the Corral Facility
any time during regular
business hours, Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. The horses gathered
during this effort will be
made available for adop-
tion later this year.
The Vale District BLM
will host public viewing
days near the capture site
as horses are gathered and
sorted. Viewing may be
scheduled on short notice
but can accommodate a
maximum of fifteen people
each day. Those interested
in viewing should contact
Larry Moore at l2moore@
blm.gov or (541) 473-
6218.
Livestock producers oppose monument
Livestock sale yards in
Oregon and Idaho have
donated $17,300 to support
the campaign to oppose a
national monument in the
Owyhee Canyonlands.
The Producers Livestock
Marketing Association
donated $11,600 raised
through cattle auctions in
June in Vale. The co-op
donated 33 percent of its
commission collected dur-
ing the auction. Treasure
Valley Livestock donated
another $5,700.
“Our business is to sup-
port the ranchers who work
the land and cattle that call
the Owyhee Canyonlands
home,” said Jason John-
son, branch manager for
the Producers Livestock
Marketing Association.
“We’re happy to support
the Owyhee Basin Stew-
ardship Coalition because
ranching supports the
economy and people of
Eastern Oregon..
Malheur County is Or-
egon’s No. 1 cattle produc-
ing county, driving $134
million in annual sales.
The auction donations
support the Owyhee Basin
Stewardship Coalition that
represents Malheur County
families who oppose a
national monument in the
Owyhee Canyonlands.
Special interest groups,
led by Portland’s Keen
Footwear, are lobbying
the president to declare
2.5 million acres near the
Oregon-Idaho-Nevada
border as a monument.
Said Steve Russell,
chairman of the Owyhee
Basin Stewardship Coali-
tion. “We’ll put the funds
to good use promoting the
work our families have
done to care for these lands
for generations.”
To support the Owyhee
coalition, call Produc-
ers at 541-473-3136. The
Owyhee Basin Steward-
ship Coalition opposes a
monument designation
through executive order.
Supporters can join the
Owyhee Basin Steward-
ship Coalition and donate
to the campaign at Our-
LandOurVoice.com.
School Board
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
There were 305 surveys completed regarding the two
contracts. 60% believed the proposed and current four
day options best served students. 38% believed the five
day week best served students and the remaining 2%
indicated no preference.
The interim calendar is a recommendation that consists
of four-day student weeks. According to Witty’s presenta-
tion, this recommendation will roll forward the 2015-16
school year four day calendar in lieu of adopted 2016-17
calendar, pending negotiations. It will invest in targeted
Friday opportunities for students at each building, pilot
enhanced Friday programming through community part-
ners, and continue providing processional development
opportunities for staff, pending available funds.
“The BEA is in support of the district’s action tonight
and we look forward to negotiating our contract,” stated
Amanda Wilde, a member of the Baker Education As-
sociation and the negotiating team.
“I think it’s a step it’s a step in the right direction,” said
Dawna Blincoe, a high school teacher. “I think that it re-
ally opens some negotiation discussion and it shows some
support for working together.”
According to a press release from the Board, “In an ef-
fort to provide appropriate time for students, parents and
the District to plan for the 2016-17 school year, the Baker
5J Board of Education today approved to implement a
calendar for 2016 –2017 that closely mirrors the previous
2015—2016 school calendar. In April, in accordance with
District Policy and District Goals, the Board approved
a calendar that provides a framework to enhance educa-
tional offerings to all students and to address appropri-
ate professional development time for staff in order to
support effective teaching strategies required of the rigors
educators face in addressing the needs of a diverse popu-
lation of students. Currently, the Board is working with
members of the Baker Education Association (BEA—
representing Certified staff in the District) to negotiate
a contract, which expired June 30. The Baker 5J Board
has proposed a contract to BEA that includes the Board
adopted calendar approved in April. At this time, negotia-
tions have not concluded. The Board looks forward to
suggestions from BEA leadership that address enhanced
student learning opportunities and effective professional
development time inclusive of all Certified staff.”
Ferrioli visits
According to Ferrioli, “You should never talk politics
while you’re eating. It’s bad for the digestion.”
Over lunch with the Mayor and Councilwoman Driver
at Howell’s Cafe, the Senator inquired about what the
needs of the town are. Mayor Guerri replied, “Jobs are
our number one priority as we have a high percentage of
low income or fixed income people here.” The possibil-
ity of creating a “Port District” in the Farewell Bend
area was discussed to help accomplish this. Other topics
of discussion were the new road tax being discussed in
the Oregon Congress, which would change the tax from
being paid at the pump to being charged by how many
miles one drives, which could cause rural communities
who have to drive long distances just to buy a gallon of
milk even more financial hardship than they have already.
The windmills being erected around Huntington as well
as the shifting ground under Highway 30 causing the road
to buckle between Huntington and Farewell Bend, and
the regulations by DEQ that are requiring Huntington and
many small communities to build new expensive sewer
systems were also discussed.
After lunch Senator Ferrioli toured the businesses in
town to get an idea of how the marijuana businesses are
affecting other businesses in town and learned that busi-
ness has seemed to increase for them as well.
The Senator stated, “Huntington has become the great
social experiment and everyone is watching to see how it
turns out.”
Before leaving town for appointments in Baker City
Senator Ferrioli took a tour of 420Ville to see the busi-
ness for himself.
Those who would like to talk to the Senator about any
issues, can reach him at sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us or
visit his website at www.oregon legislature.gov/ferrioli.
Only one applies
for City Council
opening
At Wednesday’s Baker City Council meeting, council
members voted to temporarily table the appointment
of a new council member who would fill the seat to be
vacated by Sandy Lewis at the next meeting.
At that time, two qualifying residents—Chris Parker and
Loran Joseph—had submitted applications. The thought
of the Council was to postpone the appointment until the
return of Mayor Kim Mosier who was absent Wednesday,
and to allow the new appointee to take his or her posi-
tion among the other council members after Lewis had
completed her last meeting.
On Wednesday, however, Parker announced that she
was withdrawing her application from consideration.
That announcement leaves only Joseph as a contender for
the open slot.
The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, July 26, 7
p.m. in the Council Chambers at Baker City Hall on First
Street in Baker City.