FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
City Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Smith questioned, “Are
there any other nomina-
tions?” With none heard,
Smith declared Downing
Mayor.
Smith then stated she
would turn the meeting
over to Mayor Downing.
His first official act of
Mayor was calling for
the appointment of a Vice
Mayor.
Councilor Joseph
nominated Councilwoman
Rosemary Abell as Vice
Mayor with Councilor
Lowe seconding that mo-
tion.
No other nomina-
tions were voiced and a
unanimous vote was cast
officially appointing Abell
Vice Mayor.
Council then proceeded
to tackle the evening’s
agenda.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Downing asked
if Council wished to make
a motion to approve the
meeting minutes from the
last regular meeting that
was held December 13,
2016.
Councilor Lowe spoke
up stating that those min-
utes needed to be amended
as they were incorrect.
It was stated he was not
present when in fact he
was and he asked that the
correction be noted.
Downing confirmed with
Smith that she would make
that correction to which
she stated she would.
Councilor Lowe then
moved to approve the
consent agenda with
corrections, Councilor
Joseph made a second with
Council then casting a
unanimous vote.
Citizen Participation
Mayor Downing then
called for Citizen Partici-
pation. One citizen came
forward: Dan La Place,
who is spending his first
winter in Baker City after
moving from the East.
He advised Council of a
system that was used there
for snow removal where he
recently moved from.
La Place said,“They
used to plow on odd num-
bered side of the streets on
odd days and even num-
bered side of the streets on
even days. It worked pretty
good and they still use that
system to this date.”
Indicating the public
was aware of this plan and
would park accordingly so
that their vehicles didn’t
get plowed in, creating
hazards by narrowing the
streets and making them
more dangerous.
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen addressed
his concern stating that
they had considered a
similar system; however,
it had been decided that
main routes that police, fire
and ambulance use were
priority as were school bus
routes.
They then moved to
east, west and north, south
streets as able.
She also mentioned that
the current snow removal
map was available in the
city website and that where
she hailed from in Min-
nesota she was aware of
the odd, even schedule
and agreed that it did work
well but also noted that if
a car was parked where the
plowing was occurring it
was simply towed at the
owner’s expense.
“We don’t want to be
like that,” Owen said, not-
ing that this community
has a great deal of elderly
and disabled that would be
severely impacted if that
were the approach the City
chose to take.
Board and Commission
Appointments
Smith addressed Council
stating that several of
Boards and Commissions
had vacancies created by
term expirations.
The Golf Board currently
has four vacancies for
three year terms.
Mark Ward, Larry Smith
and Lyle Kuchenbecker
have applied for three of
those vacant seats. The
Historic District Design
Review Commission has
three vacancies.
Lea Gettle has applied
to fill one of those vacan-
cies. The Budget Board has
three vacancies.
Former Mayor Kim Moi-
ser has applied to fill one
of those vacancies.
Public Works Advisory
Committee has three va-
cancies.
John Wickert has applied
to fill one vacancy.
Councilor Joseph asked
Smith if they could just
make a motion to appoint
all applicants to the respec-
tive board or commission
or if they had to do each
one separately.
Smith advised one mo-
tion to appoint all would be
sufficient.
Joseph made that motion
with a second by Councilor
Lowe.
All Councilors voted in
favor of the motion.
Councilor Joseph sug-
gested to Mr. La Place he
might consider volunteer-
ing to serve on the public
works advisory committee.
Mr. La Place smiled
and nodding, saying, “I
wouldn’t mind hopping on
a grader and helping out.”
With seats still open citi-
zens are urged to consider
volunteering their time
to one of these boards or
commissions.
Julie Smith can be
contacted at City Hall or
by calling 541.524.2033
for further information on
how to apply and what is
available.
Resolution # 3780 An-
thony Silvers Street Tree
Grant Program
Anthony Silvers, who
passed away in 2011, left
a substantial amount of
money to Baker City with
the requirement that the
interest earnings be used
for street trees.
The Tree Board recently
developed guidelines to fa-
cilitate public participation
in the program. Passing the
resolution before them will
set clearer guidelines for
the grant program.
Councilor Abell gave
accolades to the program
saying that two very nice
trees were planted outside
of the Pythian Castle on
Washington Street where
the Historic Baker City
office is located.
Abell is currently the sec-
retary/treasurer for HBC.
Councilor Lowe moved
to approve the resolu-
tion that was seconded by
Councilor Joseph.
Council unanimously
passed the resolution.
More information about
the program and require-
ments for participating can
be obtained by contacting
Jennifer Murphy at City
Hall 541.524.2063
Mutual Agreement and
Order (MAO) Negotia-
tion with DEQ Update
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen updated
Council on the ongoing
work to reach an MAO
with the DEQ regard-
ing Baker City’s current
practice of releasing
treated wastewater into the
Powder River.
The City is operating
under a National Pollut-
ant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit
that allows this practice.
The City was fined
$6800 in October 2015 for
exceeding the (BOD) Bio-
logical Oxygen Demand
and a reduction in fine
hearing held in Sept 2016,
at which time the City had
exceeded the BOD once
again earlier in that month.
DEQ then suggested that
MAO be entered into to
prevent future potential ef-
fluent discharge challeng-
es. An MAO would protect
the City from any further
litigation, a reduction in
fine for the first violation in
2015 to 6,400 and no fine
for the second violation in
2016.
The MAO will also
include steps the City will
need to complete in order
to make improvements to
the facility, including a
timeline to achieve these
goals.
Owen indicated that the
option of creating a wet-
lands of sorts or discharg-
ing into fields in lieu of the
river was most likely was
would need to happen.
She advised Council that
she anticipated an MAO
should be expected before
the next council meeting
and that they would then
need to consider what ac-
tion to take.
City Manager/Director
Update
City Manager Fred
Warner addressed first a
letter of resignation he had
received from Councilor
Lowe. Lowe spoke saying
that his “resignation will
be effective at the close of
this meeting.”
He indicated that his wife
has accepted a position
at OHSU in Portland and
they would therefore be
relocating.
He thanked his fellow
Councilors and expressed
sadness that he was leaving
the community and that he
had truly enjoyed serving.
He also urged others to
step up and volunteer in
our community.
Warner advised Council
that he felt applications
should be available until
the next Council meeting
at which time they could
select a replacement.
Warner also com-
mended Public Works on
the good job he thought
they had been doing in the
never-ending job of snow
removal.
He also mentioned the
fire departments campaign
‘Adopt-A-Hydrant’ in
which citizens are urged to
locate their nearest hydrant
and shovel it out so that
if for any reason the Fire
Department needed access
to that hydrant they would
be able to reach it easily.
Owen stated that 500
flags have been ordered to
“mark” hydrant locations
in an effort to assist in
hydrant location.
She also advised Council
that earlier that afternoon
she had receive several
phone calls from citizens
that they had received let-
ters from the Post Office
that they were unable to
deliver mail to some mail-
boxes and for those cus-
tomers would need to pick
up their mail at the post
office until their mailboxes
could be accessed again.
Owen expressed regret
for the situation but stated
that those affected would
have to be responsible for
digging out their own mail-
boxes as Public Works was
taxed already and could
only do so much.
Unfortunately, there
are locations where those
things happen.
She also advised that it
was likely that contingency
money would need to be
transferred in order to con-
tinue those snow removal
efforts and Council will
likely see that at the next
meeting.
She stated that although
costly, they have the
money available and are
still sitting in fairly good
shape.
Council Comments
Mayor Downing praised
the Adopt-A-Hydrant cam-
paign saying “I have seen
a good number of pictures
posted on Facebook.”
With nothing further, he
adjourned the meeting.
OTEC reports Sumpter outage
On Tuesday, January 10,
at approximately 6:27 p.m.
multiple outages were re-
ported in the Baker District
due to a tree, overburdened
with heavy snow, falling
into the line.
With strong snowstorms
moving through the area,
679 members were af-
fected by the outage in
Sumpter and Granite.
OTEC crews worked
throughout the evening,
safely isolated the area,
removed the tree from the
line and restored power to
all members by 10:15 p.m.
Additionally, beginning
at 8:40 a.m. this morn-
ing, various outages were
reported in the Keating,
Medical Springs and
South Baker areas. OTEC
crews were dispatched,
safely isolated the area and
restored power to all 401
members affected by 10:22
a.m.
Please report outages to
our OTEC outage number:
1-866-430-4265
City Council
has vacancy
The City of Baker City is looking to fill one open
position on the City Council. The City will accept ap-
plications through the office of City Recorder beginning
January 11th until January 24th at 4:00 p.m.
The individual who is appointed by a majority vote of
the City Council will serve one term on the City Council
through December of 2018.
An applicant must be a registered voter in the State of
Oregon and have resided within the City of Baker City
for 12 months immediately preceding the appointment.
To apply go to www.bakercity.com to download and
complete the City Councilor application located on the
City’s home page and submit a letter of interest to Julie
Smith at City Hall. Applications can be returned to:
Attn: Julie Smith
1655 1st Street
Baker City OR, 97814
Fax: 541-524-2024
Phone: 541-524-2033
Email: juliesmith@bakercity.com
Officials ask
for Malheur
Co. state of
emergency
Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) and Senator
Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) have officially requested that
Governor Kate Brown declare a State of Emergency in
Malheur County.
Rep. Bentz said, “Following conversations with
constituents, the Malheur County Judge Dan Joyce, and
Ontario Mayor Ron Verini, I asked Sen. Ferrioli to join
me in a meeting with Governor Kate Brown this morning,
held for the purpose of requesting that Malheur County
be declared a disaster area. I have received a number of
additional requests for assistance in managing challenges
presented by the 30 inches or more of snow blanketing
the Treasure Valley.”
“While in Governor Brown’s office, I asked if we could
contact Judge Joyce and Sheriff Brian Wolfe directly.
The Governor’s staff made contact, placed them on the
Governor’s speaker phone, and the Governor listened to
their description of the problems facing the County. She
immediately instructed her staff to coordinate a response
with the Office of Emergency Management and with
Governor Butch Otter’s office in the State of Idaho,” said
Rep. Bentz.
“I want to thank our Governor for her concern and
willingness to help with the challenges facing Malheur
County.”
Declaring a State of Emergency for the County will al-
low the State of Oregon to allocate additional resources to
the assist Malheur County in their snow containment and
ice removal efforts.
According to measurements taken at the OSU Malheur
Experiment Station, Malheur County received more than
26 inches of snow between December 1st and January
5th. With road closures (currently I-84 and Highway 20),
stores closing because of fear of roof collapse (Walmart
and Albertsons), with rapidly diminishing supplies of
salt and ice melt (not to mention snow shovels and snow
rakes—the supply of which is apparently completely ex-
hausted), and water backing up behind ice dams, Malheur
County faces real and dangerous challenges. It is hoped
that help can be found to remove the ice dams, prepare
for flooding, and restore access to county and state high-
ways.
Chaining up
should happen
when required
All truck drivers and motorists in passenger vehicles are
reminded to look for chain requirement signs and obey
the chain law. Several freeway and highway closures over
the past several weeks, including the closure of I-84 and
I-82 today were due to motorists (typically commercial
trucks) not chaining up when required, then losing con-
trol, crashing and blocking the freeway lanes.
Because of recent severe winter weather chains have
been required on several highway sections at various
times, with snow, ice and slick roadways creating chal-
lenging driving conditions. In some cases chains are
required only for commercial trucks or motorists towing
trailers. In other cases chains are required on all vehicles,
with traction tires as an alternative for chains on some
passenger vehicles.
Know the chain law and stay in compliance. It will not
only help you maintain control of your vehicle, save you
from getting a ticket, but also help prevent road closures
and long delays for other motorists. Don’t risk your life
and the lives of others by refusing to comply with chain
requirements.
For current chain requirements and information on
Oregon chain law, visit www.TripCheck.com.