FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Local
County
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 5
He also said that a
confl ict exists between the
Comprehensive Land Use
Plan, and the zoning in the
Zoning Map, and while
the entire issue needs to
be addressed, the applica-
tion needs to be reviewed
using the established
process. He recommended
remanding the request to
the Baker County Planning
Commission, for further
fi ndings and consideration,
based on the information
provided, and the permis-
sible criteria.
After further discus-
sion, Harvey asked for any
testimony, as to remanding
the request to the Planning
Commission, and none
was offered, however, Jan
commented that the Com-
mission needs to address
the criteria. The request
was remanded to the Plan-
ning Commission, with a
motion from Harvey, and a
second from Nichols.
Timm and Yencopal
provided an Emergency
Management department
update, beginning with
a review of last year’s
activities, from Timm.
Among the details, he said
that a major focus of his
was, and is public educa-
tion and training, in the
area of fi re and emergency
planning and response.
This included (and could
include again this year)
water supply emergency
response training, local
RFPD (Rural Fire Protec-
tion District) wildland fi re
training, an annual inter-
agency fi re service event,
and an Oregon Department
of Forestry (ODF)/Oregon
Department of Corrections
(DOC) fi re training school.
Updates to the Com-
munity Wildfi re Protection
Plan (CWPP) were also
completed, in conjunction
with the Cohesive Wildfi re
Strategy (CWS), a regional
approach to fi re emer-
gency response planning.
This year’s goals includes
structural training for
RFPDs, and improving the
County’s current Fire/EMS
model (which Timm said is
fragile).
Yencopal said that 2016
was a busy year, especially
with the wildfi res (he men-
tioned the Rail Fire, which
threatened the Elkhorn
communications repeater
site). Among other details,
he said that this winter
season, he activated an Or-
egon emergency response
number, in anticipation of
emergencies, and County
structural damage was
luckily limited mostly
to non-residential type
buildings, like carports and
sheds.
He said that the current
snow melt rate is better
than expected, and Baker
Valley Irrigation District
Manager Jeff Colton has
been keeping a close eye
on river fl ow, releasing
up to 14 cfm (cubic feet
per minute), to help the
ice melt. Yencopal also
mentioned the major plan-
ning effort in place, to deal
with the expected infl ux of
people to the County, for
the solar eclipse event, on
Monday, August 21, 2017.
A Professional Services
Agreement, between the
County, and St. Luke’s
Regional Medical Center,
Ltd., for the services of
Baker County Health Of-
fi cer, was approved, with a
motion from Bennett, and
a second from Nichols. Dr.
Eric Lamb, as contractor,
was approved as County
Health Offi cer, and he will
receive $825 per month,
not to exceed $9,900 per
year, and his term will be
July 1, 2016, through June
30, 2017, according to the
agreement.
Two Professional Ser-
vices Agreements, be-
tween the County, and St.
Luke’s, and the County,
and St. Alphonsus Medical
Center-Baker City, Inc., for
the services of Mid-Level
Provider, for the Baker
County School Based
Health Center (SBHC),
were approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Nichols. The
term is August 29, 2016,
through June 2, 2017, and
includes the rate of $60 per
hour, from the County, to
each entity, for its services,
according to the agree-
ments.
Grammon discussed with
the Board, a proposed draft
of the Board’s position,
with the Tri-County Weed
Program Area (TCWMA)
management, since Gram-
mon and the Board have
pointed out major issues
with the management and
structure of the program,
for numerous years. In
order for Baker County to
continue its participation
in the program, in part, the
draft states that:
“The Executive Board
of the Tri-County Weed
Organization shall be con-
fi gured with a maximum
of persons. A representa-
tive shall be appointed by
Baker, Union and Wallowa
counties, with a minimum
of two Commissioners on
the Executive Board. The
remaining positions are to
be recommended by the
Tri-County Weed Board
and appointed by the Ex-
ecutive Board.”
Additionally, other ac-
tions deemed necessary
includes the following:
“All counties will be ad-
vised of pending personnel
actions, (hiring, employee
discipline, termination)
prior to any action be-
ing undertaken; A budget
shall be prepared utilizing
a format that is common
to the respective counties.
All expenditures will be
reviewed by the Execu-
tive Board on a monthly
basis and revenues will be
likewise monitored; All
credit card expenditures
will be submitted with a
written explanation as to
the specifi c project that the
charge is to be attached
to; No Tri-County board
members or staff will uti-
lize Tri-County equipment
for personal use; (and) All
surplus equipment will be
sold at public auction to
the highest bidder.” After
further discussion, this
draft was approved to be
sent to other County Com-
missioners in the TCWMA
district, with a motion
from Harvey, and a second
from Bruce.
Warner, Jr. discussed the
changes for the Intergov-
ernmental Cooperative
Agreement For Dispatch
And Records Keeping
Services, between the City
and the County, and the
Economic Development
Council (EDC) agreement,
between the same entities
(the City/County meeting
addressing these topics
was covered in more detail,
in the Friday, February 10,
2017 issue of The Baker
County Press).
Members of the Board
and City Council have
previously discussed
changes to the agree-
ments, and Warner, Jr. said
during this session that
he didn’t see issues with
what was presented. The
proposed recommenda-
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tions from the County,
for the Intergovernmental
Cooperative Agreement,
were approved, with a mo-
tion from Bennett, and a
second from Nichols. The
proposed recommenda-
tions from the County, for
the EDC agreement, were
approved, effective March
1, 2017, and other budget
issues would be addressed
July 1, 2017, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Nichols.
A 2015-2016 audit
review was provided, by
Adams, Lindley, and Cook,
to the Board. Financial
highlights includes:
“The County’s net posi-
tion for year ending June
30, 2016 was $43,850,450.
During the fi scal year,
net position decreased by
$2,647,486...due largely
to the determination of the
Courts related to PERS Li-
ability. Baker County’s net
pension liability...at June
30, 2016 was $3,780,230...
Total Governmental
Funds revenues showed
a decrease in 2015-2016
fi scal year of $977,042...a
direct refl ection of the lack
of Capital Grant projects
in the Baker County Road
department...Overall
County Governmental
Fund expenses decreases
$1,243,849 in FY 2015-
2016. The largest reduc-
tion at $2,293,068 can be
found in the Capital over-
lay category...” according
to the Report On Audit Of
Basic Financial Statements
And Supplemental Data.
Order No. 2017-114,
Appointing A Member To
The Baker County Trans-
portation Safety Commis-
sion, was approved, with
a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Nich-
ols. Amanda Stewart was
appointed, her term set to
expire on July 1, 2018.
An Oregon Liquor Con-
trol Commission (OLCC)
Liquor License Applica-
tion, previously submitted
by Durkee-based Darla
Sangston, to OLCC, on
January 27, 2017, for The
Ranch Hand Cafe (for-
merly The Redneck Cafe),
located at 35192 Vandecar
Road, in Durkee, was ap-
proved, with a motion from
Bennett, and a second from
Nichols. Prior to approval,
Bennett said that Sheriff
Ash had seen no issues
with the application, nor
did he discover any nega-
tive information associated
with the applicant.
Global
warming
call to be
held
A task force of the
Oregon Global Warming
Commission will meet
Monday, February 27,
2017 in Salem. The public
meeting will be held from
1 - 4 p.m. in the Tillamook
Room at the Oregon De-
partment of Forestry, 2600
State St.
A listen-only call-in line
will be available for those
who cannot attend the
meeting. Please call 1-877-
336-1831, then use the
access code 872206. Please
be sure to mute your hand-
set during the meeting.
At the meeting, the Forest
Carbon Task Force will
discuss recently-released
data from the Pacifi c
Northwest Forest Inven-
tory and Analysis program,
including carbon data
tables, estimates of emis-
sions from fi res, and how
to estimate changes in for-
est carbon among pools.
Tracks
Submitted Photo.
Pictures of the tracks found in the Neffs’ yard, the
lower showing a boot for size comparison.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Also on February 7, the Neffs contacted both the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and
the Baker City Police Department (BCPD). To Kristin
Neff’s knowledge, ODFW did not return her call; how-
ever Sgt. Mike Regan of the BCPD did. Unfortunately,
heavy snowfall had quickly fi lled in the tracks, the photos
(above) were not clear, and whether or not the tracks
were made by cougars was not defi nitive.
Since then, the Neffs have seen neighborhood deer sud-
denly bolt and run while their dog, inside the house “went
ballistic,” diving at windows.
Then, on Tuesday morning around 6 a.m. the Neffs’
10-year-old son yelled, “Mom, there’s a mountain lion!”
The boy believed he had seen a cougar run across the
horse pen nearby, pause, then cross Highway 7. By the
time his mom made it to the window, what she personally
witnessed were the highly agitated horses.
While the presence of a cougar or two has not been
confi rmed, the hard winter has driven more deer into the
City Limits looking for feed, so the possibility exists that
predators may be simply following the deer. Whether the
presence of such predators can be confi rmed or not, it is
always a wise idea to remain vigilant and aware of one’s
surroundings when outside walking.
SWAT robot
donations still
needed
The fundraising effort designed to provide the North-
east Oregon Regional Special Weapons and Tactics Team
with a much needed robot continues. The Team serves
both Baker and Union Counties and the robot increases
the safety of both offi cers and the public in high risk
police responses to armed suspects.
Thus far the fund raising effort has resulted in dona-
tions of over $5,000. The most recent donation ($1,000)
was from Valley Wide Cooperative based in Jerome,
Idaho. Valley Wide provides goods, services and equip-
ment to the agricultural community and is expanding its
operations into Eastern Oregon.
We still need to raise $20,000 for the purchase of this
important equipment item to become reality. All dona-
tions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged in
writing for tax purposes. We will, for those donors who
desire, issue press releases identifying donations made.
We strongly encourage individuals, businesses and cor-
porations in Eastern Oregon to consider donating to this
very worthwhile effort to enhance public safety. Dona-
tions may be made by check payable to Baker City SWAT
Fund and mailed to the Baker City Police Department,
1768 Auburn Ave. Baker City, OR 97814.
If there are questions regarding this project please call
Jerry Boyd at the Baker City Police Department (541)
524 2014.
Moose poaching
reward increases again
The OSP Fish & Wildlife Division is still asking for
the public's help to identify the person(s) responsible for
the unlawful killing of a cow moose in Wallowa County.
This case prompted 11 OHA chapters across the state
(Baker County, Clatsop County, Hoodview, Josephine
County, Ochoco, Pioneer, Rogue Valley, Tualatin Valley,
Umpqua, Wallowa County, Yamhill County) and the Tra-
ditional Archers of Oregon to pool their resources to add
additional money to the TIP reward of $1,000 to bring the
total TIP reward to $6,850. Call 1-800-452-7888 or email
at Brian.Miller@state.or.us with information.