8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017
Local
Meeting held about the Orpheum
Mayors Council
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
BY SAMANTHA
O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Saturday, January 21,
Eastern Oregon Regional
Theater invited community
members for a meeting
about the renovations they
are making to the Baker
Orpheum Theater.
The meeting welcomed
community members to
state their opinions, ask
questions, and give feed-
back regarding the new
theater.
Building Committee
Chair Aletha Bonebrake
began the meeting by ex-
plaining the background of
the theater and the project
for reconstructing the
Orpheum Theater.
The Orpheum Theater
did not exist until between
1915 and 1921 and was
used for traveling shows
and theater performances.
In 1943 a fire destroyed
the theater and the prop-
erty was sold to West-
ern Amusements, who
reconstructed the building
in 1948 making it a movie
theater and named it the
Baker Theater.
Bonebrake explained that
EORT named it the Baker
Orpheum Theater to keep
the historical names.
EORT is working to rec-
reate the Baker Orpheum
Theater, restoring it to its
original purpose.
The theater falls under
the Historic Building Code
and they are working under
this code.
In the building, EORT
discovered murals on the
walls from the original
theater that represented
a Greek god. Bonebrake
explained that they are
going to repaint the murals
on panels so they can angle
them in different ways for
people to view them.
The theater was closed in
1956 due to competition
from television and the
outdoor drive in movie
theater.
It then became differ-
ent establishments and the
most recent was Marilyn’s
Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press
Laura Prado from PARC Resources.
Music, which moved out
of that location a year ago.
Local Baker City man
David Burris gave a dona-
tion to EORT allowing
them to buy the building.
Bonebrake explained that
they have written grants
for some of the demolition
and restoration, and to do
the feasibility study.
They received $50,000
from the Leo Alder Com-
mittee, $11,000 from
the Oregon Community
Foundation, and a $5,000
Technical Services Grant
from the Ford Family
Foundation to hire a Capi-
tal Campaign Consultant.
EORT hired Laura Prado
from PARC Recourses
to help them with their
program and help with the
capital campaign. Prado
then asked those who at-
tended for their feedback,
what they wanted to see
from the restoration effort,
and any concerns they had.
In regard to the current
theater, she asked them
what their experiences with
the theater were. Some
answers were; it is too hard
to get up to, it is intimate,
and that not many people
know where it is.
Prado continued to ask
those attending questions
regarding both theaters.
Burris commented,
“Every place they’ve done
these theaters, the down-
town has benefited because
it generates flow into the
town at night.”
Prado asked those at-
tending about community
support and if EORT can
expect support for this
project.
“I think we’ve had a hell
of a lot of support,” ex-
plained Burris. “I haven’t
had one person not say
they liked it.”
Prado explained that
EORT is working on a
timeline for the theater.
“Ultimately, we’d like to
see it done in a few years,
and that’s doable based on
other projects that have
happened around the area.
Although, there are other
projects, for example the
Gem Theater Project in
Athena Oregon. They
started that project in 2005,
so it can take a while. It’s
really, really helpful if you
start out with a solid plan
and a committed group and
I think that this community
has that, not to mention
you guys have a really
strong history of success.
You know the ropes at this
point. I think the time-
line that we’re looking at
setting right about now is
somewhere in the ballpark
of three years but it is go-
ing to happen in phases,
so it could take a little
longer.”
“I know people ask
‘Are you sure the board
can do these types of
things?’ and I’ve been in
theater work for 50 years
and I have to say, out of
all the theater companies
I’ve worked with , this
board is the most unified
board I’ve ever seen,”
explained Leanne Hinkle,
an EORT board member.
“And everyone has a job
and a responsibility. So if
you’re looking for a board
who can achieve this, I
believe this board is one
of the very few I’ve ever
worked with that I know
can achieve this project
and I know the community
will back it when they see
things going on.”
County Commissioners
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 8
They testified that their
property, one 20-acre par-
cel, tax lot 1400, is directly
adjacent to tax lots 1600
and 1700, and lot 1600
is the right-of-way onto
their property, with their
electrical supply running
underneath.
They spoke about the
history of ownership of
their property, which they
purchased in 2009, with
the understanding that it
was then zoned RR-5, and
that they didn’t envision a
mining operation at their
doorstep. They said they
felt they were initially
protected from mining
operation noise and visual
issues, when they bought
the property, and that they
need a buffer, between
them, and any operation.
Harvey asked for further
testimony, and Clark
provided some concerns
(he said he was not provid-
ing testimony in favor
of, or in opposition to the
application) brought to
his attention, by several
Sumpter citizens, prior to
this session. He said they
voiced concerns about the
mining hours of operation,
and about making certain
that reclamation is com-
pleted, since he mentioned
that there were some past
issues. After rebuttal testi-
mony from Jan, no further
testimony was offered,
and Bennett, Nichols, and
Harvey all agreed that the
zoning process needs to
be cleared up, including
seeking legal advice from
County counsel. This mat-
ter is scheduled to be con-
tinued to the next regular
session (two hearings are
routine), on Wednesday,
February 15, 2017, 9 a.m.
After a short break, a dis-
cussion was held with Ash,
regarding a Baker County
Sheriff’s Office purchase
request, for two patrol cars.
One existing patrol car,
according to the request,
would be transferred to
the Juvenile Department,
a Chevrolet Tahoe would
be traded to Powder
River Motors for roughly
$13,000 (which would off-
set the cost of replacement
vehicles), and two vehicles
would be purchased, a
2017 Dodge Pickup 1500
SSV, for $30,173, and a
2017 Dodge Durango SSV,
for $31,147 (five different
bids were received).
Harvey said that he
would like to approve the
purchase of one of the ve-
hicles (this request didn’t
include asking for any ad-
ditional funds, since funds
were approved and adopted
in the 2016-2017 budget),
and keep the remainder
of the funds for potential
Sheriff’s Office building
projects (he mentioned a
training room). After a
discussion regarding hold-
ing off on the purchase of
one of the vehicles, studies
about patrol vehicles and
mileage, and Nichols’s
question about whether
rebuilding brakes, etc., on
existing vehicles is feasible
(Ash said law enforcement
agencies normally don’t
do that, but rather, they
buy new vehicles, and he
expressed concerns about
waiting on purchasing a
second vehicle), purchase
of one of the vehicles was
approved, with the remain-
ing funds to be set aside
for now, with a motion
from Harvey, and a second
from Bennett.
Bennett discussed some
minor changes, which
were necessary, to the job
classification of Public
Health Director, in order to
clear up some confusion,
between in and another
classification. The staff
report was accepted, and
the job description and
range was modified, with a
motion from Bennett, and
a second from Nichols.
Bruland discussed an
NRAC advisory letter,
dated January 24, 2017,
and provided to the Board,
requesting that the Board
engage the United States
Forest Service (USFS) as
a coordinating partner, and
bring to the USFS’s atten-
tion, that the federal gov-
ernment needs to follow its
own laws and regulations.
The main issue pointed
out is the length of time
it takes for Baker County
miners to receive a Plan
of Operations from the
USFS (as one example,
Bruland said that a miner
had waited eighteen years
for a Plan of Operations
to be completed). Fur-
ther discussion included
Bennett’s comment that
one year is unreasonable,
let alone eighteen years,
which he said is appalling.
He recommended send-
ing correspondence on the
subject to Congressman
Greg Walden, and Sap-
pington added that staff of
the White House should
receive it, too. This was
approved, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Nichols.
SEE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
PAGE 10
Mike Ybarguen Idaho Power Community Liaison for
Oregon, reported that they are watching the water levels
in the Snake River very closely to prepare for snow melt
and to avoid flooding problems. He also told of the prob-
lem that has delayed Idaho Powers license application. It
seems that the State of Oregon want them to reintroduce
anadromous fish the river above Hells Canyon and the
State of Idaho does not. So until they can agree they can’t
go any farther.
The final item on the agenda was an Emergency
Management update by Jason Yencopal the Baker County
Emergency Services Manager. Yencopal reported that
he is working on an Incident Action Plan for the Eclipse
event with a focus on transportation and communication
which will be keys to making the event successful rather
than to stressful. About the current weather situation,
Yencopal stated that he sent out two forms for damage
assessment, one focusing on homes and businesses, while
the other is for carports, shed, outbuildings, etc.
He would like the initial data from the forms sent back
to him by February 1 if at all possible. At this point we
may or may not be eligible for FEMA funds and this
information will help determine eligibility.
Yencopal explained that right now the snow and ice on
roofs are exerting 39 pounds per square foot of snow.
He is now trying to work on sandbag needs, total need,
distribution and costs all have to figured out. He also
mentioned that it is very important to keep roof vents and
gas meters clear of snow.
Others who attended the meeting were Fred Warner Jr.,
Baker City Manager, Shelly Cutler, Baker County Cham-
ber and Travis Ash Baker County Sheriff.
The next Mayors Council meeting is scheduled for
March 23 at 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Baker City.
Raptor rescued
Submitted Photo
Maverick the hawk became the first member of
OSP’s “Raptor Unit” this week.
Trooper Schuette, Baker City Office, received a report
of an injured raptor at the local truck stop this week.
A truck driver found the bird laying on the ice in front
of his truck frozen to the ground. He gently picked it up
and took it into the truck stop, where he placed it in a box
with towels.
Once Trooper Schuette arrived, he took possession of
the hawk, which he named Maverick. Unfortunately, due
to it being late at night no one was able to assist him until
the morning. So Trooper Schuette secured the box closed,
tucked the box away in a quiet location, and monitored it
throughout the night in the Patrol Office.
The next morning the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife was contacted and took the bird to a local
rehabilitation center. It looks like Maverick is set to make
a full recovery and has been deemed the first member of
the Oregon State Police’s "Raptor Unit."
Trailer burns
Submitted Photo
This trailer burned to the ground last week.
At 1:15 a.m. early last Thursday morning Baker City
Fire Department personnel respond to a General Alarm
fire at the Trails West RV Park, 42534 Cedar Rd. Upon
arriving firefighters found a 20-foot long trailer engulfed
in flames. The occupant of the trailer said she awoke to
flames and escaped outside into the night air. Firefight-
ers deployed a hose line from the fire engine and extin-
guished what was left of the trailer.
The occupant suffered minor injuries and was treated
and released at the scene by paramedics. Baker Rural Fire
Department arrived and assisted with extinguishment
and overhaul. The Red Cross was notified for lodging
assistance for the occupant and eventually the scene was
released to Baker Rural Fire Department because it was
their jurisdiction.