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.