The Baker County press., August 12, 2016, Page 9, Image 9

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local & Entertainment
City Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 8
Finney advised that
Property Maintenance vio-
lations were down. Finney
also questioned whether
his appearance before
Council was really neces-
sary every quarter.
He questioned whether
a written report to council
might be considered in lieu
of a personal appearance,
although the IGA did re-
quire it and he was happy
to continue personally
appearing if that was what
the Council wanted.
After some discussion
Council said that they
would still like Finney to
appear in person for now
but that they may look into
different options, however
the IGA would need to
be amended to refl ect any
changes made. Judge Wil-
liams was also present and
addressed Council reit-
erating what Finney had
already said.
He did explain to Coun-
cil a few of his policies
regarding diversions, pay-
ment of fi nes and repeat
offenders. Overall, Judge
Williams advised that his
main goal was to help
defendants comply with
the laws.
He said, “The majority
of time that I spend on city
issues is the enforcement
of payment. I do that for a
couple of reasons. One is
that I think people need to
be responsible when they
jump into a car without
insurance or a license. I
think they should ‘stand
up to the plate’ and pay
what they can towards
those fi nes. The second is
that if they are found in
contempt, I can order them
not to drive and if they do
drive I can end up in the
County Jail.”
Finney also stated that
the Court was on the cusp
of becoming LEDS certi-
fi ed, this will allow Court
staff to be able to access
defendant information
instantly to be considered
before rulings.
Williams did say, “I
think that my job fi rst and
foremost as a Justice Court
Judge and representing you
as a Municipal Judge is
the safety of the citizens of
this community.”
Finney added as they
wound up their address,
“We did have someone pay
off over $11,000 in fi nes.
90% of them were from
the City. So that’s going to
go to the City, I’m pretty
excited about that.”
Golf Course Contract
Update
The City recently ac-
cepted bids for a Golf
Course contract. According
to City Manager Warner,
Mike Brooks was selected
as the choice to award the
contract to.
Warner advised Coun-
cil, “Brooks has over 30
years of experience in the
golf course business. He
is a Baker boy who grew
up golfi ng up here at the
Baker Golf Club. As one
of the interviewers said,
‘This is a one in a million
chance to hire somebody
of this caliber to run our
course, to have 30 years’
experience and a love for
our community.”
Brooks was introduced
to Council by Warner. the
fi nal edits to the contract
are being made.
City Manager/Director/
Council Comments
Warner advised coun-
cil that in the 911 center
contract, Commissioner
Harvey has suggested two
new board members be
added.
Council will need to
do an amendment to the
contract. A board meeting
is being held on the 12th
and more work would
need to be done before any
changes were needed.
The City and County are
partners in the 911 center.
Warner stated, “I did talk
to Councilor Downing and
Mayor Mosier and I think
it’s time we have the direc-
tor in to do a 911 report to
the Council.”
Warner also spoke of the
open Community Develop-
ment position scheduled to
close on Friday, August 11
He said, “So we’ll be go-
ing through the process of
trying to hire an executive
assistant community de-
velopment person. I have
been working on the EDC
contract, just some word
changes; it hadn’t been
looked at in the last 10
years. We are also looking
to expand the EDC board.”
After the meeting City
Recorder Julie Smith con-
fi rmed that six of the seven
Council seats were up for
reelection in November.
Councilor Thomas is
the only current Councilor
that is not up for reelection
and will remain seated.
he deadline for fi ling to
run is August 30. Smith
confi rmed that Councilors
Downing, Lowe, Abell
and Joseph have already
fi led to run for reelection.
Further information can
be obtained by contacting
Smith at City Hall or by
calling 541.524.2033.
Bebe’s word search
The Littles’ crossword puzzle
Accidents at intersections addressed
From the Baker City
Police Department: Since
its founding, Baker City
has had “uncontrolled
intersections” (no traf-
fi c lights or stop signs)
in residential areas of the
City. Traffi c safety studies
have consistently shown
that such intersections are
no more unsafe than con-
trolled intersections. Safety
at intersections, whether
controlled or uncontrolled,
depends on three factors:
#1 Driver attention #2 Safe
and legal vehicle speed,
The
and #3 Adherence to the
rules of the road.
Within the past week
there have been two ac-
cidents at uncontrolled in-
tersections in the City. Last
week’s was a fatal crash,
which according to Oregon
State Police investigators
would likely not have re-
sulted in a fatality had the
driver used a seat belt.
In neither last week’s
crash, nor the one Tuesday
at Valley and East Street,
were there any obstruc-
tions that would have pre-
vented all drivers having a
clear view prior to entering
the intersection.
Prevention of accidents
at any intersection depends
on drivers adhering to the
speed limit (25 MPH) in
residential areas, looking
carefully before entering
any intersection to insure
there is no cross traffi c en-
tering the intersection, and
at an uncontrolled intersec-
tion yielding the right of
way to the vehicle closest
to the intersection.
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Across
1- Of course!;
5- Wise ones;
10- Writer Janowitz;
14- Still;
15- ___ once;
16- Bk. before Job;
17- Utah city;
18- Swollen, from an
overactive thyroid;
19- 2002 erupter;
20- Well done!;
21- Self-digestion;
23- Pampering, briefl y;
25- Society-page word;
26- Belongs;
31- Glossy;
35- Chemical suffi x;
36- Siouan speakers;
38- Like some bears and
icecaps;
40- Mystery writer Bu-
chanan;
42- Disgusting;
44- Pianist Peter;
45- Actor Christopher;
47- Water vapor;
49- Floor covering
where the cat sat!;
50- Judges;
52- Spanish Miss;
54- Hosp. area;
56- London’s ___ Gar-
dens;
57- Irritate;
62- Land east of the
Urals;
66- ___ Valley, Calif.;
67- Monetary gain;
68- Wyo. neighbor;
69- Czech river;
70- Shake like ___;
71- Shucks!;
72- Shepherd;
73- Irritable;
74- Bern’s river;
Down
1- Desktop image;
2- Indian garment;
3- Util. bill;
4- Clown Kelly;
5- Wisdom;
6- Baseball’s Moises;
7- Excess;
8- Stationery brand;
9- Fashions;
10- Driving aids;
11- ___ spumante;
12- Range: Abbr.;
13- Got it!;
22- Pound sound;
24- Asian language;
26- Look searchingly;
27- Wound up;
28- Actress Zellweger;
29- Entre ___;
30- Religious offshoots;
32- Eternity;
33- Varnish resin;
34- Purity unit;
37- ___-ball (arcade
game);
39- Church court;
41- Roman greeting;
43- Acquire a Vermont
accent;
46- Kuwaiti bigwig;
48- A Stooge;
51- Graduated;
53- “Hotel ___”;
55- Tonsil neighbor;
57- Helper;
58- Feds;
59- Enclose;
60- Top-notch;
61- Two-wheeled car-
riage, golf bunker;
63- Lab fl uids;
64- Girder type;
65- Johnson of “Laugh-
In”;
66- Rummy;