8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2016
Local
County Departments give updates
• COUNTY ROAD
DEPARTMENT TO
GET NEW GRADER
BLADE, NEW
FISHING
TOURNAMENT
PLANNED
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held its
first, regular session of the
month, on Wednesday, De-
cember 7, 2016, 9 a.m., in
the Commission Chambers
of the Baker County Court-
house, which included
departmental updates from
Baker County Parks and
Recreation Department
Director Karen Spencer,
and District 8 Watermaster
Rick Lusk.
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 Roadmaster
Jeff Smith, District 8 Dep-
uty Watermaster Nathan
Petrucci, Baker County
Facilities Maintenance
Foreman Dan McQuisten,
Baker Heritage Museum
Board Chairman Hal Hun-
tington, Baker Heritage
Museum Board Vice Chair
Dave Hunsaker, Baker
Heritage Museum Board
Secretary Mindy Sherrieb,
Ken Anderson, Bobbie
Danser, Bruce Nichols,
John Creighton, Guy Mi-
chael, Chuck Chase, and
Tork and Wanda Ballard.
The meeting was called
to order, and the optional
Invocation, and the Pledge
of Allegiance were recited,
both led by Harvey. The
agenda was adopted, with
no noted changes, with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Kerns.
There were no comments
provided for Citizen Par-
ticipation.
The minutes from the
Wednesday, November 2,
2016 regular session, and
the Wednesday, November
9, 2016 special session
were approved, with no
noted changes, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
USFS
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Montoya began a
PowerPoint presentation
on the topic of the Blue
Mountains Forest Plan
Revision (BMFPR), using
the County’s Smart Board
interactive screen, with
Fargo’s assistance.
Montoya said in 2003,
the USFS began working
with counties to developed
the Proposed Action, and
the public engagement
process, followed by the
launching of the Forest
Plan Revision process in
2004, in the Schedule of
Proposed Actions.
He said that from 2004-
2009, the USFS scoped,
developed, and analyzed
Alternatives, in a context
of changing Forest Plan-
ning Rules (2005, 2008,
and 2012).
In 2014, he said the
USFS released the Draft
EIS (Environmental Im-
pact Statement) and Forest
Plans, 14 public meetings
followed, with over 1,000
participants, and the formal
public comment period had
been extended to 150 days.
In 2015, he said that the
second from Kerns.
Spencer provided a
departmental update,
which included, among the
details, the following: in
June, the busiest month for
the department, there was a
catastrophic sewer system
failure, due to the failure of
a high-pressure hose, caus-
ing extensive flooding and
damage, and it took four
weeks to repair, totaling
$17,195.95.
She said that, in July,
there was a massive toxic
blue-green algae bloom, at
Brownlee Reservoir, but
it didn’t migrate into the
Powder River, until late in
the season. The Depart-
ment of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) reported
that the bloom was record-
ed at 14,000 points above
the allowable limit.
Spencer said that the
park season was busy, and
self-generated revenue was
reported above average.
She said that, at the end
of fiscal year 2015-2016,
self-generated revenue was
at $77,195, which she said
was good (the best year,
historically, was about
$87,000).
She said that next season,
a new fishing tournament,
scheduled for May 6, will
be a non-motorized canoe
and kayak fishing event,
and on June 3, the annual
panfish tournament will be
held.
Spencer used the
County’s interactive Smart
Board to display some
slides, one of which helped
to explain that pre-cast
concrete will be poured
when the water level at the
Moonshine Mine access
ramp site, between Hun-
tington and Richland, is
low enough, to change the
access level, from 2,052
feet in elevation, to 2,030
feet.
She also thanked mem-
bers of the Facilities, Road,
and Sheriff’s departments,
for their efforts throughout
the season.
Lusk, provided a depart-
mental update, which in-
cluded, among the details,
the following, using the
Smart Board, and slides:
District 8 comprises 3,254
square miles, and includes
Baker County, and the
portion of Union County
within the North Powder
River, and Wolf Creek
drainages.
Primary Water Rights,
3,537, cover an area of
229,420 acres, which
breaks down as follows:
2,861 Surface Water
Rights, covering 218,631
acres; 226 Groundwater
Rights, covering 10,788
acres; and 450 Storage Wa-
ter Rights. Supplemental
Water Rights, 585, cover
an area of 154,748 acres,
broken down as follows:
350 Surface Water Rights,
covering 115,712 acres;
and 219 Groundwater
Rights, covering 39,036
acres. There are 6,671
diversion points in the
District.
A Road Department
grader blade purchase
request was approved,
for Arnold Machinery
Company, for a total of
$14,953, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. Smith spoke
with the Board, prior to
approval. According to the
request, bids were received
from three vendors: Arnold
Machinery Company,
for $59.85 each (for 250
blades); Western States,
for $127.18 each (for 181
blades); and Rebuilding
& Hardfacing, for $75.00
each (for 200 blades).
Smith said that, traditional-
ly, 1/2” to 5/8” blades have
been used, with possibly
wearing out two per day,
but, because the depart-
ment will be using the new
3/4” blades, the life of the
blades will be extended,
and they’re the most com-
monly used thickness. He
said that the department
sells the seven-foot used
blades at a dollar a piece,
and many are routinely
sold.
Amendment #2 to Ore-
gon Department of Correc-
tions Agreement #520 was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. According to
the amendment, the date in
Section #21, Implementa-
tion and Duration, was
changed from January 31,
2017, to January 31, 2022,
and all other provisions of
Master Agreement #520
shall remain in effect.
Addendum #6 to the
Lease Agreement between
the County and Sackos
Land Company, Ltd., for
real property, the Poca-
hontas Medical Office
Building, 3330 Pocahontas
Road, Baker City, was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. According to
the addendum, the lease
agreement, entered into,
from July 1, 2009, to July
1, 2016, has expired, and
both parties have agreed to
an extension, from July 1,
2016, to June 30, 2017.
A public hearing was
held, in the matter of a pro-
posed 2017 Baker County
Department Fee Schedule.
The Board discussed the
different fees proposed
in the schedule, with all
three commenting about
the need to further discuss
the fees with department
heads. This was the first
of two public hearings,
and will be continued at
another regular session.
A Baker Heritage Mu-
seum contract employee
discussion was held, with
Huntington, Hunsaker,
and Sherrieb discussing
the matter with the Board.
This conversation focused
on whether the position of
Museum Director should
be converted to a contract
position, and after some
discussion, the decision to
convert the position was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns.
Order No. 2016-161,
Re-appointing Members
To The Mental Health &
Developmentally Disabled
Advisory Committee, was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Kerns. According
to the order, the follow-
ing were re-appointed,
their terms set to expire
on November 1, 2018:
Anthony Washington, Staci
Erickson, Michael Fed-
derly, Jane Chandler, and
Rob Dennis.
Order No. 2016-162,
Re-appointing Members
To The Local Public Safety
Coordinating Council
Committee, was approved,
with a motion from Har-
vey, and a second from
Bennett. According to the
order, Ray Duman was
re-appointed, his term set
to expire on November 1,
2018.
Order No. 2016-163, An
Order Directing The Baker
County Sheriff To Make
Sale Of County Property;
Fixing The Minimum Price
And Providing A Portion
Of The Conditions And
Terms Of Sale, with a mo-
tion from Harvey to set the
minimum bid at $7,500,
and a second from Bennett.
According to the order, the
property is identified as a
75x60 bare lot, in Sumpter,
Reference #5244, with
a real market land value
of $10,580, and $0 real
market structure value.
The total of back taxes
and estimated expenses is
$2,038.04, and the sale is
scheduled to take place on
Tuesday, January 24, 2017,
10 a.m., on the steps of the
Baker County Courthouse.
Order No. 2016-164, An
Order Directing The Baker
County Sheriff To Make
Sale Of County Property;
Fixing The Minimum Price
And Providing A Por-
tion Of The Conditions
And Terms Of Sale, was
approved, with a motion
from Harvey to set the
minimum bid at $30,000,
and a second from Bennett.
According to the order, the
property is identified as
Reference #3491, 1244 3rd
Street, Baker City, with a
real market land value of
$29,740, and a real market
structure value of $30,030.
The total of back taxes
and estimated expenses is
$13,449.59, and the sale is
scheduled to take place on
Tuesday, February 7, 2017,
10 a.m., on the steps of the
Baker County Courthouse.
Order No. 2016-165,
another authorization
for the sale of foreclosed
property, at 90 W. Wash-
ington Street, Huntington,
had been removed pend-
ing more information,
however, the decision was
made to combine the two
associated tax lots, to be
sold at a later date, with a
motion from Bennett, and
a second from Harvey.
A work session had been
scheduled for Wednesday,
December 14, 2016, with
a 911 Dispatch contract
discussion on the agenda,
however, Bennett cited
the need to wait until a
work session in January,
after Commissioner-elect
Nichols replaces current
Commissioner Kerns, and
the work session was can-
celed, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Kerns.
Bennett said that the
Baker County Planning
Commission has not had
enough present members
to meet the criteria for a
quorum for the past two
months, there are efforts to
advertise for the positions,
and he asks that anyone
interested contact Martin.
Bennett said a Board-
man to Hemingway
(B2H) Transmission Line
Project public meeting is
tentatively scheduled for
December 16, 2016, in the
afternoon (the time will be
determined, and the public
will be notified).
An executive session, to
discuss Health Department
employee details, was held,
in accordance with ORS
(Oregon Revised Statutes)
192.660 (2)(i).
Martin said that a retire-
ment party for outgoing
Commissioner Kerns is
scheduled for December
28, 2016, 2 p.m., at the
Baker County Courthouse.
USFS re-engaged with
the public, at 24 meetings,
with over 700 participants,
and the meeting notes were
published on the project
website: fs.usda.gov/goto/
BlueMountainsPlanRevi-
sion. As a result, in 2016,
the USFS decided to ana-
lyze two new Alternatives
(based on Alternative “E”).
Included in the ongoing
BMFPR process, is the
following, Montoya said:
continuing communication
with the public and other
stakeholders, regarding
revisions; cooperating/
coordinating with coun-
ties and states; consulting
with federally recognized
Tribes; completing the
development and analysis
of the two new Alterna-
tives; and consulting with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), and the
National Fisheries Marine
Services (NFMS), on po-
tential Endangered Species
Act (ESA) issues.
Montoya said that the
USFS is consulting infor-
mally with the USFWS
and the NFMS, however,
formal consultation is yet
to happen, and he expects
this process to delay
progress, until sometime in
2017 (the timetable hasn’t
been determined).
He spoke about address-
ing concerns in Baker
County’s 2014 formal
comment letter, and about
addressing priorities in the
County’s Natural Resourc-
es Plan (NRP). Numerous
topics were discussed, in-
cluding livestock grazing,
timber harvest, riparian
conservation strategy, pace
and scale of restoration,
and designated routes.
Some of the questions
from attendees included:
Chuck Chase said, “I
noticed in your Road sec-
tion, you recognize exist-
ing mines...What about
new mines?”
Montoya said, “Yes, we
would...”
Addison said, “On the
slides, when you referred
to the ‘coordination/coop-
eration,’ there was a slash
between those two words,
and usually, when there’s a
slash between two words,
it implies, or infers that
there’s a similar meaning,
between the two words.”
Montoya said, “That
wasn’t my intent; they’re
different things.”
An unidentified attendee
said, “I’ve been coming to
these meetings for years,
and every time I come to
one of these things, I feel
like I’m going to a foreign
land. Everything’s an ab-
breviation. I’m not sure if
the Alternative E is better,
worse, than everything
else. I’ve read mountains
of this literature...Is this
done purposely, to cam-
ouflage what’s going on?
Is this the way the Forest
Service employees speak
to each other, like a secret
code?”
Montoya said, “The
intent is not to confuse
you. I’m sorry if some
of the acronyms, and that
kind of lingo, did that;
we will work on trying to
make these kinds of pre-
sentations a little bit better
explained...The Alternative
E, modified, I think, is a
better Alternative, in terms
of more timber harvest on
the landscape...”
Danser said, “You pro-
posed these new Alterna-
tives; does that mean that
you’re going to re-open the
comment period, to com-
ment on the new Alterna-
tives, or, does that mean
it’s just pulling wool over
their eyes, and you’re still
going to go with the Alter-
natives that you prefer?”
Montoya said, “The new
Alternatives will not go
through public comment.”
Danser said, “Why not?”
Montoya said, “Because
we tried to formulate that,
based on the foundation of
the Preferred Alternative...
There’s nothing outside
of the scope of what we
already addressed, in terms
of the NEPA (National
Environmental Policy Act)
analysis...”
Stroy said, “I’m con-
fused about something
here; all of the Alternatives
you’ve got have not been
in coordination with the
County. Now, you’ve got
a new E Alternative, and,
you’re not coordinating,
and, if you aren’t, why is
that?”
Montoya said, “We are
coordinating; we have
been coordinating.”
Harvey interjected that,
“Not technically; you’ve
been taking our com-
ments, but we haven’t sat
down and worked things
out ... To his (Montoya’s)
credit ...T he County was
not involved in coordina-
tion back then (in 2003)...
The County did not step
up... It’s fairly new to Mr.
Montoya, and myself...We
are going to coordinate;
we have not gotten to that
point yet...”
Among the comments
and questions from the
Board, Harvey read items
from a handout titled “For-
est Service Revision Plan,”
which included a discus-
sion about the purpose of,
and procedure for the coor-
dination process. He read
the following: “Purpose:
(NFMA, or National For-
est Management Act) The
Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop, maintain,
and, as appropriate, revise
land and resource manage-
ment plans for units of the
National Forest System,
coordinated with the land
and resource management
planning processes of state
and local governments.”
He said, “This is the law—
this is the Forest Service
law. So, we need to back
up, and do that, and follow
through.”
Montoya said, “What do
you mean by ‘back up?’”
Harvey said that the
County needs to be al-
lowed to be more actively
involved in the process,
and not just in a position of
providing comments.
Harvey continued:
“Procedure: Notify Baker
County of any proposed
action prior to the initial
planning phase of the
proposed action.” He said,
“Again, we weren’t noti-
fied that you were going to
do this, and involving us
from the beginning.”
Montoya said, “Again,
I think we followed the
procedure.”
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
Karen Spencer of Parks and Rec addresses
members of the public.
SEE USFS PAGE 9