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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2016)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5 Local County Commissioners sent Inmates donate B2H protest letter • NEW HIRES AT SHERIFF’S OFFICE BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held a special session, on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house, which included a Health Department update, a Sheriff’s Office update, the approval of the County Fee Schedule, and the af- firmation of the positions of Baker County Commis- sioner as non-partisan. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioner Mark Bennett, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Commissioner Tim Kerns was absent. The meeting was called to order, and the Invoca- tion and the Pledge of Alle- giance were recited, both led by Harvey. Noted agenda addi- tions included a discussion regarding a Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) Project Final Environmental Impact Statement six-page protest letter, addressed from the County, to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Korn- ze, on December 21, 2016. Bennett and County Planning Director Holly Kerns worked together to form the comments, and the County is continuing its stance that the B2H line should be routed through central Oregon, that the County is concerned that the BLM manages the project, that the lines should be buried, and that more than 80% of it will be on private land. The letter was approved to be submitted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. The other agenda addi- tion included a discussion regarding Oregon Military Department (OMD) Office of Emergency Manage- ment (OEM) Emergency Management Performance Grant, Grant No. 16-501. The grant, between the County and OEM, covers project costs, which will supplement the County’s day-to-day operational costs for Emergency Man- agement, for the period July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, which OEM will reimburse the County for, up to $65,589. The grant was adopted, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Harvey. The agenda was adopted, with noted additions, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. No public comment was provided during Citizen Participation, and no previous session minutes were approved during this session. Interim Health Depart- ment Manager Nancy Staten provided a depart- mental update, which included the news that the electronic records system is up and running. She provided financial receipts from last year, she spoke about clinics and off-site clinics, and she en- couraged youths to receive annual exams. She said that the im- munization clinic, held during school registration, provided shots for about 60 students, and the Health Department received a Partnership Award from the State of Oregon in Octo- ber, for its partnership with Saint Alphonsus and Saint Luke’s medical centers, to provide students medical care, at the Student-based Healthcare Clinic (SBHC). Staten said that the Health Department receives funding from 17 different State and Federal grants, which in turn funds over 24 different programs which are required by law, the Department also bills insurance companies, to help supplement revenue, and the County periodical- ly transfers funds, in order to fill the gaps. She said that the Trien- nial Review is scheduled for April or May, during which State staff will re- view all of the policies and procedures for each pro- gram, and the SBHC will undergo re-certification in March. An attendee asked about County records, whether anyone has refused vac- cines, and Bennett said that the attendee has filed several protests. Staten said that normally, there aren’t many refusals, and she spoke about the refusal process. She said that, in the case of a refusal, the Depart- ment makes every effort to educate the individual refusing, about the risks involved with refusal. Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash provided a de- partmental update, which included a discussion about staffing, which he said the Department was short of this summer, while still having to cover a lot of County area. He said that two employ- ees have retired, and the Department has hired two from the reserve program. Ash said that, per an agree- ment with, and funding from Idaho Power, a new position was created to cover the Hells Canyon area. Ash spoke about the new Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, about the work crew program, which he said is going well, and about the drug and alcohol treatment for the Parole and Proba- tion clients at the County jail, which he said is also continuing, and going well. Ash mentioned an online training program, Police One, which helps to sup- plement deputies’ educa- tion towards earning their intermediate, and advanced certificates, and it helps to keep them consistent, and up to date, on policies, and procedures. A Baker County Sheriff’s Office vehicle purchase request, for a 2017 Dodge Pickup 1500 SSV, and a 2017 Dodge Durango SSV, was discussed, which included three bids: from Baker City-based Powder River Motors, for $30,173 for the Pickup, and $31,147 for the Durango; from Island City-based Legacy Dodge, for $30,136 for the Pickup, and $31,147 for the Durango; and from the GSA (Gen- eral Services Administra- tion), for $29,829.34 for the Pickup, and $29,741.47 for the Durango. Ash said that, while the GSA bid is cheaper, he prefers to purchase locally, from Powder River Mo- tors. This request includes previously-approved funding, however, Bennett suggested continuing the discussion after the New Year, pending information regarding PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) funding. A Baker County Road Department request for a fuel tank monitoring system was discussed, with County Roadmaster Jeff Smith. The request includes the purchase of a new fuel tank monitor, from Northwest Pump & Equip- ment (Veeder-Root), for $6,939. Smith said that the new system would greatly benefit the County, as the current one doesn’t monitor current fuel supply accurately, and the new system would be able to detect leaks and water in the fuel tank. Two other bids were received, from Mascott Equipment, for $7,037, and from Northwest Pump & Equipment (Incon), for $7,681. Commissioner- elect Bruce Nichols had questions about the vari- ance in fuel delivery, Ben- nett again expressed his concerns regarding PILT funding, asking Smith to report in the New Year, and both purchase requests, from the Sheriff’s Office, and the Road Department, were tabled until the New Year, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. A second public hear- ing was held in the matter of Order No. 2016-167, Adopting A Baker County Fee Schedule. Richland resident Gary Golbert commented about the fee increase in commercial season passes for parks, now at $150 per year, and non-commercial passes at $40 per year. Harvey suggested $120, Bennett suggested incre- mental increases, and the Fee Schedule was adopted, with the commercial sea- son pass at $80 for 2017, and increased incremen- tally to $120 next year, with all other fee changes adopted, with a motion from Harvey, and a second from Bennett. A public hearing was held in the matter of Or- dinance No. 2016-03, An Ordinance Affirming The Positions Of Baker County Commissioner As Non- Partisan And Declaring An Emergency. Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff discussed the ordinance, explaining that it will be- come law, whether it were signed during this session, and that its purpose is to affirm what County voters have already decided (in favor of Measure 1-76, on November 8, 2016). Harvey then read the ordinance by title, and also the full text of the docu- ment. The ordinance, which will become effective January 1, 2016, was ad- opted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Order No. 2016-165, Appointing Members To The Baker County Plan- ning Commission, was ap- proved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Tim L. Kerns (current Baker County Commissioner Kerns) and Robert E. Crawford were appointed. Kerns’ term expires on September 1, 2020, and Crawford’s term expires on September 1, 2017. Resolution No. 2016- 1036, A Resolution Supporting Funding For Oregon Veterans, was ad- opted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Both Commissioners were in favor of the resolu- tion, expressing the need in Baker County. A Proclamation Com- memorating Baker County School Choice Week was read and approved, and the Board recognizes Janu- ary 22-28, 2017 as School Choice Week in Baker County, calling this obser- vance to the attention of all citizens. Order No. 2016-166, Appointing A Member To The Greenhorn City Council And Setting Term Limits, was adopted, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Francis Villwock and John Bradfelt, nominated by write-in on the Novem- ber 8, 2016 ballot, were appointed to Positions 2 and 4, respectively, both serving two-year terms. Charles Nathan Wright was appointed to Position 3, serving a four-year term. The three members will then appoint two more members to fill the remain- ing positions on City Council, according to the order. Amendment No. 10 to the 2015-2017 Intergovern- mental Agreement (IGA), For The Financing of Com- munity Addictions and Mental Health Services Agreement No. 147781, was ratified, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Harvey. Faculty exhibition to open at EOU The Nightingale Gallery rings in a new year and new term with an exhibi- tion of works by Eastern Oregon University’s accomplished and interna- tionally recognized visual arts faculty. Gain an in-depth look at the recent studio practices of exhibiting professors Jaime Gustavson, Nathan Prouty, Michael Sell, Jessie Street and Kerri Rosen- stein. An opening reception is planned from 6-8 p.m. Fri- day, Jan. 13 in Nightingale in Loso Hall on campus. In conjunction with the exhibit, faculty will present a gallery talk at a date to be announced later. The show includes a painting by Gustavson, ad- junct instructor of design, and a series of recent ce- ramic sculptures by Prouty, EOU’s new assistant professor of ceramics and sculpture. Sell is presenting selec- tions from his latest series of portraits, while Street is showing some of her ink prints. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Twenty bags—ten for males and ten for females—went to the Juvenile Department. They also wanted to reach children that are involved or have been impacted by do- mestic violence and twenty went to the MayDay, Inc. The last group they did was twenty bags to the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Program and those bags, instead of being Christmas oriented, those were more aimed towards children just going into child care. They donated a total of 60 bags using over $600 at the Dollar Store for the items. Bork explained they have money left over they are thinking of using the funds for food boxes from the gro- cery store to provide a holiday meal for a family. “A lot of them recognize, through treatment, a big push through treatment is taking a really hard look at what we call the ‘Ripple Effect’ or the damage that their crimi- nal conduct and their alcohol and drug use had on their communities, upon society, their families, their children,” explained Bork. “And so one of the big things we empha- size is being pro-social when they’re back in the com- munity and so a lot of them want to start giving back. I’m not sure how it originally came about last year, but I was able to go to the community this year and tell them; ‘Hey, we did this program last year, what do you guys think?’ And they just jumped on it.” “It originated from a couple of inmates getting together and saying; ‘Is there something we can do to give back to the communities that we have torn apart for so many years? Is there something we can do for these kids so they can have a better Christmas than what we did when we were younger and going through the system?’” said Dennis Walton, Program Director at New Directions Program. “That’s basically what it originated from and we had to go through the process of organizing how they were going to do the money and how that was going to be distributed. But even last year they actually chose where the bags were going to go and how that was going to work and how much money they donated. It came about because they’re more aware now, going through the pro- gram that they need to give back to the communities and that’s what they want to do now, they’ve taken so much that they want to give back.” Bork explained that the adults in custody gave every dime they raised for the program. The adults in custody receive $42.50 every month for ordering things, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, snacks and other things for them. Walton explained that the adults in custody used the money that they are given for themselves and gave it to the program for the children. “It represented some definite personal sacrifice on their parts,” said Bork. “They wouldn’t be able to afford certain things for themselves in order to give.” Bork and Walton both explained that this program is one they believe they will continue to do on an annual basis. “There’s a separation between New Directions North- west and Powder River Correctional Facility,” explained Walton. “So New Directions Northwest is actually in charge of the Alternative Incarcerations Program. That’s what we do. We’re contractors at the prison, so we’re not actually Department of Corrections employees but DOC has a lot to do with what we do there and if it wasn’t for them, then this obviously wouldn’t happen. Just a shout out to them for them being where they’re at and helping us now and letting these guys do these sorts of things where they can give back to their community.” EOU names new VP of student affairs Eastern Oregon University has appointed Lacy Karpilo, Ph.D., as its vice president for student affairs effective February 6. Karpilo comes to EOU from the University of Alaska Anchorage where she has a seven-year career history, most recently as interim associate vice chancellor for enrollment. Prior to her interim appointment, she served as associate vice chancellor for student access, advising and transition. While at UAA, Karpilo led numerous departments and programs ranging from new student recruitment and ori- entation to academic advising and TRiO student support services. She has also worked with military, veteran and native student services, among many other areas, and her first position at UAA was as its director of residence life. Prior to joining UAA, Karpilo was the assistant direc- tor of residence life at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. She also worked at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver. She has experience working with accreditation and assess- ment teams, has conducted extensive research and is the recipient of numerous fellowships. Karpilo completed her doctorate in education and hu- man resources at Colorado State University. She holds a master of arts in counseling psychology from the Univer- sity of Denver and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Her background also includes working in behavioral and mental health. Karpilo was selected following a national search. She is moving to La Grande with her family in January.
