8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016
Local
City Council: FBI training
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
“But before I begin, I’d
like to start out with some
public thanks. The City
supported me while I was
gone, continued to pay
my salary. I know Chief
Lohner and the other of-
ficers had to pick up extra
duties while I was gone,
obviously, my work can’t
go undone while I’m gone.
I know my wife is not here
tonight but I have to thank
my wife, 10 weeks is a
long time to be gone.”
Newman noted that the
biggest thing he learned
while he attended the
Academy was that the size
of the department didn’t
matter big or small.
He said, “The same
issues affect law enforce-
ment no matter where
you’re at.”
Newman stated he had
always believed that to be
true but after being with so
many diverse departments
and being able to talk
about that he learned valu-
able information that made
him realize, “Baker City
isn’t alone in this” whether
it be community concerns,
personnel issues, or just
trying to get a day off, all
of those things are issues
across all departments.
He noted, “A message
that I heard over and over
was that the best thing we
can do is to be effective
leaders, listen to people,
gain respect, make sure
you are giving tools and
information needed to suc-
ceed.”
Newman alluded to the
fact that there is so much
negativity going on about
law enforcement and
concluded that to get to
that point there had to be a
gap somewhere for it to be
happening so often in so
many communities.
He said, “I know that
was one of the most im-
portant things I took away
from the training and that
I’ll strive to be better at.”
Newman explained that
he was able to attend six
classes at the Academy,
one mandatory Physical
Fitness Training and five of
his choosing.
He said he didn’t choose
five classes that he could
just put a check mark next
to and say he’d done, he
carefully chose his classes
as interests that would be
most beneficial to him
and help him grow and
help better the Baker City
Police Department.
“So, I took some classes
that I really didn’t want
to take. Some put me in
uncomfortable spot but I
know I am better for it,”
he said.
So, after being back for
about two months New-
man says he has already
been able to see how his
training has been help-
ful. One example he gave
was in interacting with the
media.
“That was something
that I didn’t think I
would’ve needed a class
for but it has helped me be
able to communicate more
effectively with them and
make sure that I am getting
them the correct informa-
tion so that that gets to the
public. I didn’t realize how
important that was until
I took a media relations
class while I was there,”
he said.
He spoke to the Social
Media aspect of media
relations and said he is
working on becoming
more Facebook and Twitter
savvy. He acknowledges
how effective and impor-
tant it is at getting infor-
mation to citizens and the
community quickly.
“I think for years to
come I’ll be able to draw
from the experience to not
only make myself a better
leader but also be able to
pass that on to the depart-
ment and citizens as well,”
he said.
The next item on the
addenda was a quarterly
update from Justice Court
however, there were no
representatives from the
Court present so Council
moved to the next item on
the agenda.
Public Arts Commis-
sion Vinyl Wrap Presen-
tation
Ann Mehaffy, Public
Arts Commission Chair-
man addressed Council
about a project that has
been in the works for some
time.
Utility/Traffic boxes at
the intersections of Main
and Broadway Streets and
Main and Washington
Streets have been selected
as the two locations for the
pilot Vinyl Wrap project.
A project that is becom-
ing quite popular around
the country, a utility or
traffic box is covered or
“wrapped” with a durable
vinyl coated, anti-graffiti
laminate that has high res-
olution images printed on
it. Mehaffy explained that
for the Utility box at Main
and Broadway a painting
by Committeeperson Brian
Vegter depicting Bicyclists
competing in a local race
was selected for use and
for the utility box at Main
and Washington Streets an
old photo commissioned
from the Baker County Li-
brary of a local boys choir
had been chosen.
She explained that the
Commission had been in
talks with ODOT, who
currently have control over
both boxes and they had
agreed to allow the project
upon the approval of the
images by City Council.
City Manager Fred Warner
said that ODOT had also
requested that some type
of official agreement be in
place but that agreement
was still in the works and
Council would see that
before any project began.
Councilor Langrell asked
Mehaffy,“Did you do an
open call to the art com-
munity?” in regard to the
selection of Vegter’s image
and the fact that the com-
mission will pay for use of
the image, roughly $250.
Mehaffy admitted they
had not—the Commission
alone had decided on the
images being used.
Langrell made it quite
clear that he felt it very
odd that the art community
did not have opportunity
to submit images and that
Vegter’s image was chosen
without outside input and
he serves on the commis-
sion from which he will
benefit.
Mehaffy stated that since
this was a pilot project
they just wanted to see if
it was something that was
going to be doable. She
indicated that a different
system would be used to
select future images should
the project be successful.
Mehaffy advised Coun-
cil that the Public Arts
Commission had a budget
of $4000 and it would cost
approximately $800 for
each box with a donation
to the Baker County Li-
brary for use of their image
as well as payment to Veg-
ter for use of his image.
The funds were well within
their budget, and a local
company had been selected
to complete the project.
City Manager Warner
advised that the commis-
sion was free to do what
they wished with the
money as it had already
been budgeted to them and
they did not need council
approval to use those dedi-
cated funds.
Councilor Lowe said
he “had no issues” and
was “comfortable moving
forward” with the use Veg-
ter’s image, but advised
a call out to the local art
community would be wise
in future projects.
Mehaffy agreed and
made it clear that she was
there to update Council
on what was happening
with the project and to
seek approval of the im-
ages chosen as ODOT has
requested.
All Councilors present
voted to approve moving
forward using the recom-
mended images with the
exception of Langrell.
Airport Project Bid
Award ConnectOregon
VI and FAA-AIP Project
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen addressed
Council stating that the
FAA had awarded a grant
to the City in September
and the City has only 120
days in which to award
that bid to a contractor.
An additional grant
through ConnectOre-
gon has been applied for
however, that grant is not
expected to be awarded
until sometime near the
end of December.
The City received two
bids back in July when
requested for comple-
tion of the project which
includes reconstruction of
the primary apron, improv-
ing drainage to the apron
and the addition of a new
6,000-gallon jet fuel stor-
age tank.
Owen advised Council
that upon review of the
proposals she was suggest-
ing the Council award the
contract to Knife River
Corporation-Northwest,
the lowest cost bidder,
contingent on receiving the
ConnetOregon grant that
she is fully anticipating.
Councilor Lowe moved to
award the contract to Knife
River Corporation on the
contingency of receipt of
the Connect Oregon Grant.
A second was heard by
Councilor Joseph. The vote
to award was unanimous.
City Manager/Director
Comments
City Manager Warner
did mention to Council
that he had received some
information from Justice
Court Administrator Mi-
chael Finney and said he
had no idea what could’ve
happened that kept him
from attending the meet-
ing.
Warner also advised
Council that an offer for
a six-month interim Fire
Chief had been made but
he had not yet heard back
from that person.
The MAO with the DEQ
is still being worked on but
Warner said he feels the
City will be ready when
DEQ is and that he would
be attending a County
Commissioner work
session later in the week
where the 911 dispatch
center would be a topic of
discussion.
Council Comments
Councilor Thomas
wished his fellow Council-
ors the best of luck in the
election that was coming
to a close that evening.
Thomas’ seat was the only
seat not up for reelection.
Councilors Downing,
Abell, Joseph and Lowe
were all seeking reelec-
tion of their seats. With no
other business, Downing
adjourned the meeting.
Suspect rescued
from badger hole
On November 3, 2016 at
about 7:30 a.m., an OSP
Trooper was on patrol and
located an occupied stolen
vehicle, a 2001 Chevrolet
Tahoe, in Ontario and at-
tempted a traffic stop in the
parking lot of Jack in the
Box (4th Street).
The driver drove away,
jumping a curb, and then
pursued by the Ontario
Police Department. The
vehicle was pursued for a
short distance but terminat-
ed due to safety concerns.
During the pursuit two
males and a dog could
be seen occupying the
vehicle. Information led
police to BLM land near
Vale where a search was
conducted by ground and
air.
One suspect was located
several hours later travel-
ing by foot on the BLM
land. The male was identi-
fied as Jerry E Boatman,
age 35, of Ontario, and
was arrested for Escape III
and a parole violation.
The search continued and
a couple hours later and
aircraft located the vehicle
in a ravine. Tracks from
the vehicle were followed
over a mile and the dog
was spotted. The dog fled
into a large badger hole
and would not come out.
After getting the dog out,
they could hear a male
screaming for help from
Submitted Photo.
Morrow being dug by his law enforcement rescuers
out of the large badger hole
within the hole. Police dis-
covered Gregory A Mor-
row, age 22, of Ontario,
was stuck approximately 8
feet underground and could
not move. He was feet first
in the hole and was losing
the feelings in his arm.
Police immediately be-
gan digging to remove him
from the hole. After about
an hour and a half, Morrow
was rescued and taken into
custody after being identi-
fied as the driver of the sto-
len vehicle. He was briefly
taken to Saint Alphonsus
Hospital for minor injuries.
Following his arrest he was
arrested for a parole viola-
tion warrant.
Sumpter City Council
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Clarke motioned and Council agreed to work out a
deal with the County to obtain the equipment if possible.
Fire Department Report
Jim Sheller reported one medical call out in the past
month. He said there was a really good turn out and
thanked all who turn out for the calls. Training focus
during the winter is on medical.
McKinney thanked Sheller and Dick Malone of the Fire
Department for spending a day blowing out culverts with
a fire truck. He said it is not easy work and appreciated.
Planning Commission Report
LeAnne Woolf reported that Mr. Meyers turned off
extra lights and propane water heater at the Grounds.
The Commission met October 20th and reviewed a zon-
ing application for a fence and shed. They approved the
fence and requested more information on the shed. The
Commission also worked on goal eight of the compre-
hensive plan and discussed how marijuana grows fit into
the current plan.
The Commission met again on November 3rd. The
shed application was withdrawn. They discussed goal
nine—economic development. Under the law, marijuana
is considered a crop.
The Commission was sent several laws to review.
Woolf summarized these for the Council. It is required to
hold a hearing and give notice to landowners when rezon-
ing. Passing the marijuana ordinance would be consid-
ered rezoning. If it were to be passed without following
appropriate land use regulations, for the next ten years,
it could be protested to the Land Use Board of Appeals
(LUBA) who could potentially erase the ordinance from
the books and cause the City to start over again.
Marijuana Business Ordinance
After discussion of procedure, reading part of the draft
ordinance, and discovering several items that need to be
fixed, City Recorder Julie McKinney asked if the proper
procedure would not be Council agreeing on the final
version they want, removing the word “Draft,” and post-
ing the ordinance publicaly.
Catherine Dodgens asked if anything more has been
done about polling the people of Sumpter. Rowan stated
she has talked with those who want to bring the business-
es in and they are putting together a survey. Responses
will be anonymous and go into a box. A committee of
people will sit down and look at the responses. She said
she thinks this will settle a lot of the dissension and will
make it apparent what the citizens want.
Jenny Long stated that the process with land use
modifications works similarly. Landowners receive
notice of a hearing at a particular date and time. They
can submit written testimony if they don’t want to attend.
The hearing is an opportunity for everyone to testify as
to their view on the issues they see and have those issues
addressed.
William Cullum stated he’s visited multiple dispensaries
in states where they’re legal and said they have all sold
crack pipes, torches, and other implements. He men-
tioned “tweakers” in parking lots opening up other cars
while their buddy is inside buying a pipe.
Dennis Farnsworth said their proposed business will
not sell pipes or other paraphernalia. They are interested
in providing marijuana only.
Clarke asked the discussion be saved for the public
input portion of the meeting.
IFA Application for Grant
Julie McKinney stated the Council needs to get to-
gether and work on the application grant. They will need
to research what they are applying for and how much.
This was dropped when the former mayor was recalled.
Council scheduled a workshop for Monday, November
14th at 9 AM to address the matter.
Council input
Armbruster said he recommends attending a training to
held by the League of Oregon Cities in Ontario in March
of next year.
Rowan said they will get the marijuana survey put to-
gether and out. Long asked who will receive the surveys
and was told property owners in the City limits.
Public input
Ken Gross of Oregon Telephone addressed com-
ments made by City attorney Dan Van Thiel regarding
a franchise agreement. Gross said Van Thiel mentioned
20 years being a concern for the length of agreement
and said with the last city they bumped the length to ten
years. He said there is no hidden agenda. It’s just a pain
to renew the agreement, so they try to do so as seldom
as possible. They are primarily a telephone company, so
a lot of their business is confidential, but here they are
talking about reusing coaxial cable, which is visible to
everybody. The franchise fee is basically a tax passed on
to citizens. Gross said all they ask is that the fee be the
same as that used with Century Link or any other similar
business to cause an issue with being competitive.
Clarke asked McKinney to write up the proposed
changes to send to Gross and asked to add this to the
agenda for the upcoming meeting.
Myrna Clarke stated the schoolhouse needs to be deep
cleaned. They have talked about getting all the user
groups together in late April or early May when it gets
warmer to do so. They would like the City to provide
cleaning supplies and dispose of the trash and junk as it is
moved out. Mayor Clarke suggested a potluck.
Dodgens asked if all outside groups are charged for use
of the building. Myrna Clarke stated they all pay, and
every group that meets there cleans up after themselves.
Mayor Clarke stated he is good with how the honor
system has been working. Sheller stated that the money
raised by groups using the facility comes back into the
community.
Dodgens asked why business licenses are not being put
on the agenda and why the Planning Commission can’t
approve its own things. Clarke stated they will look into
this.