FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 11
Local
Bentz speaks to City Council Fire Chief
Mark John
resigns
• CITY TO GET NEW
STREET SWEEPER
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
An executive session
began the evening Tuesday
in Council Chambers at
6:30 p.m. as the majority
of Council convened to
discuss real estate matters.
The Regular Council
session was opened by
Mayor Mosier shortly
after the designated seven
o’clock hour with Council
in its entirety present.
Councilor Lowe led the
Pledge of Alliance and
gave the invocation saying,
“I don’t like to ask for
things in prayer but give
thanks.” His invocation
gave thanks to the beauty
of autumn, noting all the
beauty around our City this
time of year. Mayor Mosier
called for citizen participa-
tion. With no one coming
forward Council turned
then to the Agenda.
Rep.Cliff Bentz
State Representative
Cliff Bentz, District 60,
addressed Council con-
cerning transportation. He
advised that work toward
a transportation bill was
put on hold as the legisla-
tors waited to see if ballot
measure 97 passed.
Representative Bentz
said, “For the record, I’m
opposed to 97.” He did
note, “If passed, this mea-
sure would allocate about
500 million to roads.” That
of course would not be all
at once.
He gave a PowerPoint
presentation outlining
some very real statistics.
Bentz indicated the pow-
er point presentation would
be available online within
a week. The point of the
presentation was to inform
Council and Citizens that
Oregon roads are in severe
despair and urgent immedi-
ate attention is necessary.
Bentz stated that it is a
very real possibility many
roads are “going to return
to gravel” because funds to
repair them are simply not
available. He noted that the
gas tax currently in place
provided very little toward
road repair. The same is
the case for registration
and title transfer fees the
DMV collects that in part
fund roads. The Legisla-
tion, when it reconvenes,
will be working on putting
together a transportation
bill.
Bentz wants to get the
word out to as many City
Councils and groups of cit-
izens as he can so that he
can address the legislature
with the people’s voice. “I
want to know, what do you
want me to say?”
Bentz went on to show
recent pictures of roads
in towns such as Vale,
Nyssa, Ontario and even a
highway outside of Juntura
all of which looked like
they could’ve been roads
in a recently bombed third
world country.
Although Baker City
does have some areas of
concern Bentz noted that
our Public Works did an
excellent job with our City
streets, however we were
above normal and said,
“You folks are very lucky.”
Bentz, in an effort to
make understood the grav-
ity of the situation told
Council that if our roads
are untravellable we are
not going to be able to
get exported goods out of
the state resulting in huge
revenue losses.
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
State Rep. Cliff Bentz addresses City Council.
He is proposing transpor-
tation Hubs (he showed a
picture of a hub located in
Tri-Cities) that would truck
local product in and that
product would be loaded
on to train cars and trans-
ported by rail to wherever
it needed to go, thus saving
some wear on our roads
and keeping revenue intact.
The presentation that
shows statistics of road
conditions throughout the
State, roads most at risk
and breakdowns of gas tax,
title transfer and registra-
tion revenue should be
available soon on Bentz’s
webpage. He is urging all
citizens to access as much
information as they can
about revenues, road con-
ditions and solutions and
call him so that your voice
is heard. Call Representa-
tive Bentz at 503-986-1460
He also has a Facebook
page.
SAIF Corporation
100th Year Member An-
niversary Recognition
Fred Payton, eastern
region supervisor and
Michelle Graham, Vice
President of Policy Holder
Services from the SAIF
Corporation, the city’s
worker’s compensation in-
surance provider awarded
the City with a beautiful
special made myrtle wood
plaque, crafted in the shape
of the state of Oregon, to
recognize that Baker City
has been a member for 100
years.
SAIF contracted with
one of their insured from
Rouge Valley to manufac-
ture the unique piece. Ac-
cording to Graham myrtle
wood represents strength
and uniqueness due to the
fact that when cut each
piece has its own pattern.
“This is a big deal to
SAIF,” Graham said.
Graham acknowledged
the partnership began in
May 1916 when worker’s
compensation insurance
was not mandatory. “For
your City Councilors to
recognize the importance
of keeping your work-
ers safe (When worker’s
compensation was volun-
tary) is pretty outstanding.”
Said Graham. The City of
Baker City recognized the
importance of protecting
its workers and has been a
continuous policy holder
since.
Graham told Council
that Baker City is one
of only two policy hold-
ers in the State that holds
such an amazing title. The
other? Bend. “Having
two customers that have
maintained coverage with
us for 100 years is almost
unheard of.”
She said and went on to
recognize that having both
of those customers be on
the East side of the State
was “Pretty Cool.”
Central Park Labyrinth
Aletha Bonebrake ad-
dressed Council regarding
placing a labyrinth along
the Leo Adler Parkway
near Valley Ave. She
advised that this project
would be an asset to the
City and enhance both
Central Park and the
Pathway.
She told council that
a meditation garden had
been envisioned by the
Parks and Recreation
Board in the same area and
in her opinion the labyrinth
would complement that
garden. She advised that
an anonymous donor has
pledged $25,000 toward
the project and the Lion’s
club was on board to help
fund raise the remainder
of the money needed to
complete the project. City
involvement would require
only preparing the ground
which Public Works Direc-
tor Michelle Owen stated
they could do with very
little cost to the City.
Bonebrake acknowl-
edged that once completed
it would be a City asset
however although still in
the development phase she
assured that the mainte-
nance would be minimal
and the site that has been
chosen would not inter-
fere with sprinkler system
already in place.
Bonebrake cited Boise
and The Dalles as having
already installed labyrinths
in their cities and they have
been well received. She
presented a short video
explaining how Hospitals,
Mental Health Facilities
and even prisons have
been utilizing labyrinths
for some time as means for
calming effects.
The labyrinth is installed
flat into the ground and
is ADA accessible. A kit
would be purchased and
then installed. Bonebrake
emphasized the intent to
complete the project prior
to the August 2017 Solar
eclipse in which Baker
City is within the prime
viewing area.
Bonebrake feels that by
having this unique feature
in place in our community
at that time would only
add interest for those here
to witness the eclipse.
Councilor Lowe moved to
approve the project with
a second by Councilor
Downing. Council voted
unanimously in support.
Performing Main Street
City Manager Warner
advised Council that newly
hired Community Devel-
opment Coordinator Robin
Nudd had been talking
with the downtown busi-
ness owners about the pos-
sibility of making our City
a designated Performing
Main Street as it once was
in the 1990’S until 2010.
Baker City was not only
a Performing Main Street
participant but was nation-
ally recognized as having a
premier program.
After some public hear-
ings and concerns over
transparency and account-
ability the program unrav-
eled and Historic Baker
City has since been run
solely by volunteers. With
a number of new busi-
nesses and a Community
Development Coordinator
on staff the timing to revi-
talize our downtown core
seems appropriate.
Beverly Calder, long-
time downtown business
owner of Bella addressed
Council saying, “I can’t
tell you how thrilling it
is to have City Council
talking about HBC. We
were the poster child for
the state of Oregon, we had
one of the best Main Street
Programs in the Country.
We were recognized by the
National Trust for Historic
Preservation. There was
over a million dollars that
came into this historic
district because of that.”
Warner said Nudd has
been working with differ-
ent programs and is very
excited to put flame to
this project. “We’re just
wanting to make sure the
Council is on board as
we go forward,” Warner
stated. Council agreed
unanimously to direct
staff, to work with HBC
and businesses toward the
goal of becoming a viable
Performing Main Street
Program.
Street Sweeper
The 2016 Budget allows
for the purchase of a new
street sweeper. Public
Works Director gave a
run down of the street
sweeper she was request-
ing authorization of funds
to purchase. Sweepers
are on a schedule to be
replaced every seven years,
Baker City however has
not replaced their sweeper
since 2004.
The proposed sweeper is
an Elgin Crosswind. This
sweeper is the recommen-
dation of the Public Works
Committee and was chosen
as their recommendation at
their Oct 18, 2016 meet-
ing. The cost for the Elgin
Crosswind is $253,415 un-
der the budgeted $255,000.
Councilor Joseph motioned
to approve the purchase
with a second by Councilor
Downing. A unanimous
vote was cast.
Comments
City Manager Warner
advised Council that Baker
Fire Chief Mark John had
resigned. He indicated
John would remain on the
job until mid-November.
Warner advised Council
the job opening had been
posted in-house and it was
his understanding that
there was already interest
in the position by some
currently on staff. He also
stated that he was posting
the opening on the City
website. Close date for ap-
plications will be Novem-
ber 7, 2016.
He also advised Council
that La Grande had recent-
ly hired a new Fire Chief
and one of the candidates
for that job had expressed
interest in Baker City.
He told Council he was
negotiating with the police
on a new contract, was still
in talks with the YMCA
and is waiting on DEQ
regarding the MOU.
Just shy of reaching a
two-year milestone with
Baker City as Fire Chief,
Mark John has submit-
ted his resignation for an
opportunity in Spokane,
Washington.
John moved to Baker
City from the Anaheim,
California area.
“For myself and my
family, it’s something that
we just can’t pass up, but
Submitted Photo.
it was a very difficult deci-
Fire Chief Mark John.
sion,” he said.
Around the third week of
November is when John is
expecting to sever his ties
with the Baker City Fire Department.
He said, “Baker City has been a great opportunity for
us, both for my family and myself professionally.”
John reflects on his time in Baker City fondly saying,
“I’ve had such a good experience here. People have been
incredibly gracious and accepting. The Department has
been very receptive to changes that we’ve made in efforts
to improve our capabilities and services. It’s just been a
fantastic experience for me here.”
John noted several improvements the department has
made but does not take full responsibility for anything.
He credits his staff, and said, “They are really the ones
that make those things happen. I think we’ve improved
services overall and we’ve increased staffing recently
which has had a very significant impact on our ability
to respond to calls and provide the vital services of the
department, I think the community has certainly benefited
from those things.”
John spoke of the extremely successful smoke alarm
program that the Department has embarked on over the
last two years. John feels that the program has notably
added a layer of safety to the community that was not
there previously.
“We’ve already installed over 400 smoke alarms and
we just made arrangements to acquire another 100, so be-
fore the end of the year our department will have installed
500 plus smoke alarms in the community within a year to
14 months. It’s really pretty amazing,” he explained.
He said another of the accomplishments he’s been a
part of while leading Baker Fire Department is the addi-
tion last year of a Brush Engine to their fleet. John said it
was “a component that the department didn’t previously
have.”
He also noted that they have entered several interagen-
cy agreements that enhance services to the community as
well. For example, there is currently an arrangement with
Richland/Halfway ambulance service that provides an
ambulance on loan free of charge, providing equipment
that allows Baker Fire to better serve the community.
John also cited an automatic aid agreement entered
with Baker Rural Fire Department and said that they are
looking to having more of those agreements in place with
our neighbors to provide the “best possible service to our
community.”
He also mentioned, “Our fire safety inspection program
in the community, it just adds to the services we provide
and creates a safer place.”
Overall John said he feels that there are so many things
that have been collectively done and says he doesn’t feel
that any one achievement made is any better than the
others.
He says that he is most proud of the way the depart-
ment personnel has responded to the suggestions and
changes that he has recommended.
He said, “I really give credit to the staff for following
through and carrying those things out.”
As far as any one particular moment or event that reso-
nates with him, John declined to specify just one saying,
“I’ve truly enjoyed every moment I’ve been here. I guess
the things that really stand out are when I first learned I
was coming, I was thrilled, and as I am departing I have
mixed emotions because I’ve just really enjoyed what
I’ve experienced here.”
He continued by adding, “There is always a balance
to be struck with the pace that you establish. Especially
coming from the outside, I tried to be very cognizant of
that so as not to change things too quickly because you
always have different personalities, there’s a group that
would like to move very quickly and there’s a group that
would like to move at a more moderate pace.
“That’s the balance that needs to be struck as a leader
and a manger, identifying what that looks like and what’s
the healthiest pace for the organization. I would hope
that I’ve provided some strong leadership and I hope I’ve
been a good example for them.”
John was not sure if the next Fire Chief would be
someone promoted from within or if the City would be
conducting a wide-reaching search, but thought the mat-
ter would be discussed at the City Council meeting held
October 25, 2016.
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