CITY/COUNTY: 911 Board holds
‘emergency’ budget meeting. PAGE 3
The
LOCAL: Cosplay workshop held at the Baker
County Public Library. PAGE 5
Baker County Press
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Friday, May 12, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 19
Healthcare hecklers make
for unusual town hall
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The story might have
been that U.S. Representa-
tive Greg Walden chose the
Baker High School gym
as the location for his 14th
town hall this year—had
it not been for the unusual
makeup of the audience.
Therein is the real story.
Members of the group
Health Care for All Oregon
(HCAO), a Portland-based
politically motivated
nonprofi t endorsed by the
Oregon Communist Party
and County Democratic
Central Committees across
Oregon to name a few,
came to the gathering en
masse.
HCAO’s primary goal?
Universal health care per a
single-payer system.
Some of the group’s
members were local to the
venue. Others stated that
they had come in from
outside the area and were
following Walden from
town hall to town hall.
Locally, HCAO lists
Betty’s Books as their only
“business ally.”
Interspersed between
HCAO members across the
bleachers were residents
not belonging to that
group. In contrast to last
month’s town hall with
Senator Ron Wyden, Baker
High School students were
not taken from class to at-
tend Walden’s town hall.
Walden began by
introducing Boy Scout
Troop 444 to lead the Flag
Salute, then said this was
his 144th town hall since
2012, and second trip to
Baker City this year. This
year 1,344 Baker County
constituents have contacted
Walden’s offi ce, with 1,314
responses given so far.
Walden gave a gen-
eral overview of recent
Congressional activities,
such as the passing of the
Omnibus Appropriations
Bill, which fully funds the
Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) program.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Rep. Greg Walden (at right) as Boy Scout Troop
#444 brings in the fl ags.
SEE TOWN HALL
PAGE 5
Geiser
Grand to
expand
City discusses new
Public Safety Utility Fee
• 20 NEW ROOMS TO BE ADDED WITH
HELP FROM A $100K GRANT
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Poppy girls were on hand to sell poppies in remembrance of the debt owed to veterans and their families.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The fi nal item on the agenda, the idea of a new public
safety utility fee, was the hot topic at City Council this
week.
Mayor Mike Downing called the fi rst regular City
Council meeting to order Tuesday night. Councilor Abell
led the pledge of allegiance and gave the invocation for
the evening.
City Recorder/Human Services Manager Julie Smith
called roll with all Councilors answering present. Mayor
Downing next called for the consent agenda that con-
sisted of the 2017 STP (Surface Transportation Program)
agreement.
Approval of this agreement is a cooperative agree-
ment with Oregon Department of Transportation for the
exchange of Federal dollars to State dollars. The 2017
amount will be $112.801.88.
A staff report submitted to Council by Joyce Bornstedt
advised Council that the Public Works Advisory Com-
mittee had reviewed and approved the Pavement Man-
agement Plan that included using the STP funds for the
proposed projects. Councilor Joseph moved to approve
with a second heard by Councilor McQuisten. With a
unanimous vote the consent agenda was approved.
Downing called then for Citizen participation.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with rain showers. Chance of
precipitation is 60%. Highs in the mid 50s.
Friday Night: Lows in the mid 30s.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Chance
of precipitation is 40%. Highs near 50. Lows
near 30.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Chance
of precipitation is 30%. Highs in the mid 50s.
Lows in the mid-30s.
Mary Miller, Chair for the public arts commission came
forward to advise Council that the vinyl wrap project the
commission has been working on diligently for some
time has stalled due to the inability to receive approval to
move forward from ODOT.
She advised Council the commission will try other av-
enues to complete this project and they will keep Council
advised of the progress.
Poppy Day Proclamation
Downing read a proclamation recognizing May 26th,
2017 as Poppy Day in Baker City. The American Legion
Axillary #41 and the V.F.W Auxiliary #3048 twined the
Memorial Poppy and Buddy Poppy to remind the com-
munity of the debt Veterans and their families are owed.
Designated Poppy Girls were on hand to supply Council-
ors with poppies. They then walked through the crowd to
sell additional poppies.
National Correction Offi cers and Employees Week
Proclamation
Downing read this proclamation declaring the week
National Correction Offi cers Week.
He stated he had been out to the Powder River Correc-
tional Facility earlier in the week to present the procla-
mation and was informed they had plans to recognize
employees with different things all week.
SEE PUBLIC SAFETY FEE PAGE 4
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
The Geiser Grand Hotel has been awarded an Oregon
Main Street Revitalization Grant—the maximum grant
size of $100,000 to encourage their efforts to save the
historic Crabill Building, soon to be known as the South
Wing of the Geiser Grand Hotel. That building almost
entirely collapsed from snow and ice load on February 4
of this year. The building’s owners, Dwight and Barbara
Sidway, have committed to save and expand the building
by extending the Geiser Grand Hotel. The couple plans to
add approximately twenty more guest rooms and suites.
“We are so grateful to our downtown neighbors for
their support throughout this trying time,” said Barbara
Sidway. “The aspirations of the merchant group Baker
City Downtown, and the commitment by the City of
Baker City to move forward with becoming a Main Street
community made this grant possible. I know that there
will be so many more resources to come into our com-
munity as the community’s Main Street efforts bear fruit.”
The Sidways have assembled a credentialed design
team. Stu Edwards, Structural Engineer out of Ontario,
has worked with the Sidways since 1993, and was a key
player in saving the Geiser Grand Hotel from the wreck-
ing ball. Jerry Rotnov, architect, fl ies in to Baker from
his home in Clarkston. Electrical Engineer Jack Terry
and Justin R. Beaucannon Mechanical Engineer of Idaho
round out the design team. They are charged with creat-
ing a design that will be strong structurally, and offer
guests unparalleled luxurious comfort, with amenities that
may include a rooftop bar and Jacuzzi.
SEE GEISER GRAND PAGE 3
Award-winning food and beverage
7 a - 9 p Daily
Opera Party
Tuesday Nights
Mothers Day
Brunch and Dinner May 14
G EISER
G RAND
H O T E L
Standing proudly on Main St. in
Baker City since 1889
Reservations please: 541.523.1889
GeiserGrand.com
Facebook.com/GeiserGrand
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
“So I was thinking...” by Jimmy Ingram
Baker Valley Education Association
Commercial marjiuana grow ban?
Sumpter hears about forest access
Fire torches Birch Street yard
Wrongway driver dies in crash
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