8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
Local
County hears about Wolf Plan changes
• COMMISSIONERS
ISSUE LETTER TO
BLM ON SAGE-
GROUSE
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Board
of Commissioners held a
regular session on Wednes-
day, March 15, 2017, 9
a.m., in the Commission
Chambers of the Baker
County Courthouse, which
included among its topics
a Facilities Department
update from Baker County
Facilities Maintenance
Foreman Dan McQuisten,
an Eastern Oregon Coor-
dinated Care Organization
Local Community Ad-
visory Committee (EO-
CCO LCAC) update from
Charlotte Dudley, and an
Oregon Wolf Conservation
and Management Plan up-
date from Oregon Depart-
ment of Wildlife (ODFW)
Baker District Wildlife
Biologist Brian Ratliff, and
Assistant Wildlife Biolo-
gist Justin Primus.
Present from the Board
were Chair Bill Harvey,
Commissioners Mark Ben-
nett and Bruce Nichols,
and Executive Assistant
Heidi Martin.
The meeting was called
to order, and Harvey
provided the Invocation,
and led in the Pledge of Al-
legiance. The agenda was
adopted, with some noted
additions, with a motion
from Nichols, and a second
from Bennett.
Citizen Participation
included Mary Miller,
referencing an article from
the March 3, 2017 issue
of The Baker City Herald,
who spoke about what she
said was an “anti-environ-
mentalist” comment from
Harvey, regarding litiga-
tion from certain environ-
mental groups, concerning
temperatures in bodies of
water, and she said it was a
“very partisan” statement,
and that the Commission
should be more bi-partisan.
Harvey said the com-
ment was his personal
opinion about the groups,
and thanked Miller for her
thoughts on the subject.
The minutes from the
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
regular session were ap-
proved, with a motion from
Nichols, and a second from
Bennett.
The Board discussed Or-
der No,. 2017-117, Board
of Property Tax Appeals
Summary of Actions, and
Nichols spoke about the
different pieces of associat-
ed property, and the status
of each (a document was
included with the Order,
with property values and
totals).
The Order was approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Harvey.
McQuisten provided
a Facilities Department
update, first speaking
about staff—himself, two
part-time, and two full-
time employees, and about
the department’s differ-
ent roles, such as exterior
building maintenance, on
all County-owned proper-
ties. Interior maintenance
includes HVAC, electrical,
plumbing, fire suppression
systems, video monitoring
(some work is contracted
out, he said).
McQuisten listed some
completed projects last
year, including a new
shake roof on the Leo
Adler House Museum,
foundation work for the
Road Department’s stor-
age building, new gutters
and downspouts for the
Courthouse building, and
Courthouse tree removal
work (in conjunction with
the five-year tree plan).
Projects this year includes
purchasing a generator for
the Courthouse backup
power system, stone work
around the Courthouse,
and County Jail plumbing,
HVAC, and roof upgrades.
He said that, in spite of this
winter’s weather, County
buildings have survived
well, overall.
The Board expressed
appreciation to McQuisten
for his department’s ef-
forts, including to other
departments.
Dudley provided an
EOCCO LCAC update,
and she first outlined
the general purpose and
roles of the EOCCO, the
primary focus of which
are the Oregon Health
Plan (OHP), and Medicaid
program, and ensuring
people are receiving the
proper services, and access
to services. She said the
LCAC received $34,700
last year, and projects to
utilize those funds includes
colo-rectal cancer screen-
ing, yearly teen physicals,
and addressing the effects
of depression.
She said that the colo-
rectal screening event was
very successful in raising
awareness, and around 140
children received sports
physicals, during its as-
sociated event. She said
New Directions, North-
west, Inc. received $80,000
last year from EOCCO, for
the purpose of behavioral
health services.
This year, she said, the
LCAC received $48,000,
including for community
education purposes, and
one primary focus is the
reduction of tobacco use.
Harvey asked about ad-
dressing adolescent mari-
juana use, and Dudley said
that conversation came up,
but the committee hasn’t
decided yet.
Harvey said, “I hope
you’ll try to integrate it...”
and Dudley said it makes
sense, and she’ll suggest
that to the committee.
The Board thanked
Dudley for her efforts,
recognizing that there are
funding issues involved.
Ratliff and Primus pro-
vided a Wolf Plan update,
with Ratliff first speaking
about Phase III (which
only eastern Oregon is now
in), the final phase of the
Plan.
He said that there isn’t
much of a change between
Phase II and Phase III as
far as management, except
that now, “...it allows
(U.S.) Wildlife Services,
if they choose to do so, to
conduct depredation inves-
tigations...”
He said that, from a live-
stock producer standpoint,
nothing really has changed,
from Phase II, to Phase III.
Bennett said, “At what
point do you make a de-
termination...” about when
to order a kill on a wolf
(remove it).
Ratliff said (after ex-
plaining chronic depreda-
tion, trying non-lethal
methods, etc.), “Basically,
what it boils down to is...”
chronic depredation, and,
if the removal of wolves
decreases that depredation,
and lessens the damage
(with livestock), then, the
department will order it.
Harvey asked about a
“...government plan to
bring wolves back,” and
Ratliff said, “The State of
Oregon never, ever, has
once—ever—moved, or
reintroduced the wolf...” to
Oregon. Ratliff said that
other state governments
have moved wolves into
adjoining states (Idaho
is one example), which
is why the Oregon Wolf
Plan was developed, an-
ticipating the migration of
wolves to Oregon, necessi-
tating a management plan.
Ratliff spoke about the
increasing wolf population
in Oregon—having just
documented eight breeding
pairs, a threshold number
for the move to Phase III—
and Bennett expressed con-
cern that one County could
have the burden of dealing
with wolf issues (Wallowa
is where the majority of the
wolf population is located),
but that should mean
northeast Oregon should
have more tools to address
those issues.
Harvey spoke about the
increasing livestock losses
in this area, and he said,
half-jokingly, “We’re all
in favor of trapping and
moving them to the Wil-
lamette Valley, and we’d
go out there and help you,
if you’d like.”
Ratliff said, “That’s not
on the table...” prompting
some laughter.
Mike Durgan (of the
Baker County Wolf Dep-
redation Compensation
Committee) asked about
the claimed number of
wolves in Baker County
(he said the information is
that there are three collared
wolves, a low number, and
Ratliff confirmed there
are three), and about the
possibility of dispersing
wolves moving in to areas
of known wolf activity
(AKWA), and poaching
cattle, and Ratliff spoke
about the constant efforts
to track wolves, and about
the debated number of
wolves, versus the number
of claimed livestock depre-
dations.
U.S. Forest Service
Hydrologist Suzanne Fouty
spoke about the positive
contributions to (and from)
wolves, and in improving
wolf-livestock interac-
tions, by addressing water
supply/irrigation issues,
enhancing landscapes, and
finding a balance.
Harvey and Bennett both
spoke about the importance
of the beef industry to the
area, and about livestock
producers needing to be
able to address depredation
issues.
Bennett also spoke
about the local efforts in
implementing non-lethal
methods, and Harvey
spoke about the local
efforts in dealing with
drought situations, both of
which are challenging.
Miller asked Ratliff
about the use of the M-44
cyanide dispersing device,
one which was placed by
Wildlife Services to con-
trol coyotes, that had killed
the Shamrock Wolf Pack
member known as OR48.
Ratliff said that ODFW
doesn’t use the M-44, in
any way, shape, or form,
and that ODFW has sent
communication to Wildlife
Services, to request that
Wildlife Services discon-
tinue the use of the M-44,
as well as unregulated
snares.
Ratliff said, in looking
at the wolf population,
there are many factors
in determining what is
acceptable, not just their
numbers versus deer, elk,
livestock, etc., and there
are many different groups
with an interest in affect-
ing management of Oregon
wolves.
He said that, one the
draft updated Wolf Plan
is released in April, the
public should provide com-
ments.
Order No. 2017-116,
An Order Setting Forth
The Boundaries Of The
Proposed Annexation
Into The Baker Rural Fire
Protection District, was ap-
proved, with a notion from
Bennett, and a second from
Nichols.
Baker Rural Fire Chief
Dan Weitz, using a map,
discussed the Order and
associated details with the
Board, prior to its ap-
proval.
He said that all of the
associated landowners,
except one, requested the
annexation.
Amendment No. 11 To
Oregon Health Authority
2015-2017 Intergovern-
mental Agreement For The
Financing Of Community
Addictions And Mental
Health Services Agreement
No. 147781, was ratified,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Nichols.
Harvey introduced a
draft letter, addressed to
Mark Machiewicz, of the
Bureau of Land Manage-
ment (BLM), regarding
County comments to The
Notice of Proposed With-
drawal: Sagebrush Focal
Areas: Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah and
Wyoming.
Members of the Baker
County Natural Resource
Advisory Committee
(NRAC) were instrumental
in forming these com-
ments, which support a
“No Action Alternative.”
The Board discussed
some changes to the letter
with NRAC Chair Doni
Bruland, and requested she
make the changes, and it
was approved to be sent
to applicable entities, with
changes, with a motion
from Bennett, and a second
from Nichols.
Harvey introduced a sec-
ond letter, which addresses
mining approval timelines,
with the U.S. Forest Ser-
vice, and the BLM.
The Board also discussed
this topic with Bruland,
who explained the purpose
of the letter, which points
outs issues with federal
rules, regulations, and poli-
cies, and requests transfer
of management of all
minerals to the BLM.
Local miner Ed Hardt
added his comments to
the discussion (Hardt has
spoken numerous times on
the subject, and he has ex-
perienced major years-long
delays himself).
The letter was approved,
with a motion from Ben-
nett, and a second from
Nichols.
Economic Development: Grocery Outlet a no-go
in Baker City, upcoming events discussed
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County
Economic Development
Council (EDC) held
its regular meeting on
Tuesday, March 14, 2017,
noon, in the Commission
Chambers of the Baker
County Courthouse, which
included, among other
topics, the answer to the
question of whether there
will be a Grocery Outlet
in Baker City: no, at least
for now.
Attendance included
EDC Chair Craig Ward,
Baker County Commis-
sion Chair Bill Harvey,
Baker City Manager Fred
Warner, Jr., Baker Techni-
cal Institute (BTI) Direc-
tor Jerry Peacock, Baker
Baker Garage Owner
Randy Daugherty, Thatch-
er’s Ace Hardware owner
Scott Thatcher, Baker City
Community Development/
Executive Assistant/IT Li-
aison Robin Nudd, Baker
County Chamber of Com-
merce Executive Director
Shelly Cutler, Blue Moun-
tain Community College
(BMCC) Baker County
Director Dan Koopman,
Historic Baker City (HBC)
President Larry Abell,
Governor’s Office Re-
gional Solutions Coordina-
tor Scott Fairley, Oregon
Trail Livestock Supply
Manager Martin Arritola,
BMCC Small Business
Development Center
(SBDC) Advisor Jeff
Nelson, Northeast Oregon
Economic Development
District (NEOEDD) Loan
Officer Mike Ogan, Baker
County Economic De-
velopment Director Greg
Smith, Smith’s assistant,
Julee Hicks, and Baker
County Tourism Marketing
Director Tim Bishop.
Ward called the meeting
to order, the minutes from
the last meeting were ap-
proved, and Ward provided
a Chair Report, comment-
ing that commodity prices
have recovered somewhat,
though very few potatoes
have been shipped out
currently (which he said is
good, and bad).
Harvey provided a
Commission Chair update,
speaking about winter
weather and Snake River
Road issues (he said there
were twelve snow slides).
He said there are river
access issues in Richland,
but there are efforts being
made to remedy that, in-
cluding concrete work, but
there are anticipated mon-
etary losses and canceled
projects.
He spoke about the
issues associated with
accommodating the an-
ticipated number of people
during the solar eclipse,
August 21, 2017.
He said that, with enough
education, advertising,
and effort, visitors to the
County can be dispersed
more evenly, in order to
lessen the burden (any
talk on this subject has
included positive points
about the economic and
other benefits of tourism to
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
L-R: Economic Development meeting attendees Jeff Nelson, Randy Daugherty,
Jeff Peacock and Mike Ogan.
Baker County, as well).
As part of a City Man-
ager update, among other
topics, Warner, Jr. said that
the Baker City Golf Course
is open, and there are some
positive discussions and
ideas regarding junior
golf, as well as with other
subjects.
SEE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PAGE 9