FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Classifieds / Local
HELP WANTED
BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT is currently accepting applications for an Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach at BHS.
For a complete description of the position and the application process, go to www.Baker5J.org. For additional informa-
tion, please call Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261, or email at cathy.martin@bakersd.org. 7.14
BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT is currently accepting applications for two Assistant Volleyball Coaches at BHS. For
a complete description of the position and the application process, go to www.Baker5J.org. For additional information,
please call Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261, or email at cathy.martin@bakersd.org. 7.14
BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 5J is currently accepting applications for a Paraprofessional at South Baker Intermedi-
ate. Closing Date is July 19, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. For a complete description of the position go to www.baker.k12.or.us.
You may also call Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261 or email cathy.martin@bakersd.org. 7.14
BAKER TECHNICAL INSTITUTE is currently accepting applications for a Part-time Health Services Instructor. Posi-
tion open until filled. For a complete description of the position and the application process, go to www.Baker5J.org. For
additional information, please call Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261, or email at cathy.martin@bakersd.org. 7.21
BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT is currently accepting applications for Bus Driver(s) and Substitute Route Drivers.
Closing Date is July 24, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. For a complete description of the position and the application process go
Job Openings at www.Baker5J.org. You may also call Cathy Martin at 541-524-2261. 7.21
County
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 4
Kerns and Harvey em-
phasized that the process
is not some form of “witch
hunt,” that County staff
don’t drive around looking
for violations, and that the
process has to be, and is
complaint-driven.
Kerns said that she’ll
research how other coun-
ties are addressing this
process, and she’ll provide
an update to the Board.
The Board discussed
some County-associated
issues and concerns with
Billman, who’s been a
Field Representative for
Walden for three weeks.
Billman said that he
planned to meet with
different County Commis-
sioners, for such a discus-
sion, including those of
Malheur, where he traveled
to after meeting with the
Baker County Board on
Wednesday.
Bennett encouraged
Walden’s participation in
resolving Secure Rural
Schools (SRS) and Pay-
ment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) funding issues.
He pointed out the need
for local revenue from sus-
tainable logging contracts,
and he said there was a
failure during the severe
winter of the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) to aid the
County with funding.
Among other issues,
Bennett also spoke of
the high level of poverty
throughout the County.
Nichols said, in addi-
tion to issues with SRS
funding, there are too
many conflicting laws and
regulations, which causes
more harm than good, and
processes are delayed for
years.
He cited the example of
U.S. Forest Service versus
Bureau of Land Manage-
ment rules and regulations,
which differ greatly.
He said that the County
needs to have a bigger
voice, and that there needs
to be better communication
from various agencies.
Harvey said he would
like for Walden to be
able to spend more time
discussing issues and con-
cerns with the County, one
of them being the lack of
logging and revenue from
that activity.
Harvey said that the
Forest Service needs to be
able finish timber projects,
with funding remaining in
place.
Among other details, he
elaborated further on the
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
LAWN / GARDEN
LAWNMOWER. Craftsman lawnmower.
Works great but owner has upgraded
to an easier to start mower for herself.
Retailed for around $350. Asking $100
OBO. 541.519.0572. Leave a voicemail.
PUBLIC EVENTS
LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS. 4 to 6 pm at Geiser Pollman
Park Baker City Events presents Powder River Music
Review. Public invited, attendance by suggested $5 per
person donation. Weekly raffle winner! For complete list of
events: www.facebook/powderrivermusicreview or www.
bakercityevents.net.
• During Miners Jubilee the live music schedule
changes! Please see the Community Calendar on
Page 2 of this week’s issue for that schedule. •
issues regarding timber
sales and logging, blocked
access to roads, livestock
allotment maintenance,
wolves and other endan-
gered species, and the
general economic survival
of the County.
Billman, having grown
up seeing similar types of
issues the County is expe-
riencing, provided his own
understanding and input
during each discussion.
Bennett, speaking about
tourism, said that it’s great,
but that it’s cyclical, and
it’s dependent upon a vari-
ety of factors.
Billman agreed that the
community needs to have
sustainable and dependable
revenues year-round.
Other discussions in-
cluded the still unresolved
issues with management
and structure of the Tri-
County Weed Management
Area (TCWMA).
Harvey and Bennett
pointed out problems with
the lack of staff for Baker
County, and the lack in
communications, among
other issues.
Harvey said that the
County wants to work to
resolve the issues with the
TCWMA, but that one way
or another, there will be
staff located in Baker.
Wolf depredation committee discusses Range Rider
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker County Wolf
Depredation Compensation
Committee held a regular
meeting on Wednesday,
July 5, 20 17, 3 p.m., in the
Commission Chambers of
the Baker County Court-
house, including a discus-
sion of the objectives of
the Range Rider position,
in response to the largest
missing livestock claim
in the history of the State
compensation program,
which was submitted by
Baker County producers
for losses last year.
Present were com-
mittee chair and Baker
County Commissioner
Mark Bennett, committee
member Steve Edwards,
Baker County Commission
Executive Assistant Heidi
Martin, and Baker County
Soil and Water Conserva-
tion Districts (SWCD)
District Manager Whitney
Collins.
Bennett said that more
thorough records are
needed from SWCD-
contracted Range Riders,
including GPS points, map
information, time sheets,
and any coordination with
producers, among other
details, which prompted
the meeting.
He also mentioned the
option of using regular
riders for area producers as
Range Riders. “We want
to make sure that, which-
ever option is chosen, it’s
something that is truly in
the spirit of the preven-
tion, of the program, so
that we’re getting the best
bang for our buck, and
we’re helping the folks out
there—that was the goal of
this,” Bennett said.
Edwards spoke of the
general options, and Col-
lins said, “I had a ton of in-
terested people call—I had
over 80 people call, who
were interested (in apply-
ing as Range Rider), but I
had one who was qualified,
because you have to be a
licensed independent con-
tractor, to carry an actual
contract with the SWCD
(for liability purposes)...”
Edwards asked, “It’s
not just construction?
Any type of contractor?”
Collins said a general
independent contractor,
but technically, the license
should be in a related field,
for example, as a horse
trainer, a designation the
first Range Rider held.
Collins said that the
SWCD is probably
between 60 and 90 days
from recruiting a rider,
because of bid require-
ments, proposals, ranking
of applicants, etc. Bennett
asked about the possibility
of expediting that process,
and Martin asked, “Due to
the time constraints, why
don’t we just stick with the
same guy (Halfway-based
James Chetwood, the most
recent Range Rider), and
just have him do what we
need him to do?”
Collins said that a bid
is still required, because
the contract is worth over
$5,000, and the SWCD
went through this process
every year, with the Range
Rider.
Bennett asked if an
emergency contract could
be sought, and Collins
said she would check into
that possibility. In 2016,
Chetwood logged 318
hours of riding time, at
$22 per hour, for a total
of $6,996, the amount
that was awarded through
the program for limiting
wolf-livestock interaction.
This year, that amount is
$6,599.
Bennett said that one of
the main requirements for
the Range Rider would
be to meet weekly with
Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
staff, including Baker
District Wildlife Biologist
Brian Ratliff, landowners,
and others associated with
the program. Other re-
quirements would include
providing maps where
the rider had been, among
other details.
In response to the sug-
gestion of an emergency
bid and contract, Collins
said, “I’m just not comfort-
able with an emergency
contract on it... I don’t
think it gives people
enough time to really
consider...”
She suggested that land-
owners could have a more
active role on a year-long
trial basis, including acting
as riders in more heav-
ily affected areas, turning
in time sheets, and being
compensated, resulting in
a more focused process.
“In the past, it was a great
partnership with us, but
we’ve got to sit down—I
think we need to have a
hard look,” she said.
Bennett said that, while
exploring different options,
he and Martin need to
determine what the fairest
and most equitable way
would be, and Collins
needs to speak with SWCD
staff and legal counsel, if
applicable.
Martin said, based on
history, there are at least
five ranchers who would
meet qualifications for par-
ticipation in the suggested
trial option.
ODF raises fire restrictions
Oregon Department of
Forestry (ODF) instituted a
set of fire prevention mea-
sures in a Regulated-Use
Closure starting at 12:01
a.m. on Wednesday July
12, 2017.
Open fires are prohibited,
including campfires, char-
coal fires, cooking fires
and warming fires, except
at designated locations.
Smoking is prohibited
while traveling, except
in vehicles on improved
roads, in boats on the wa-
ter, or at a cleared area free
of flammable vegetation.
Non-Industrial chainsaw
use is prohibited, between
the hours of 1:00 p.m. and
8:00 p.m.
Cutting, grinding and
welding of metal is prohib-
ited, between the hours of
1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Mowing of dried and
cured grass with power
driven equipment is pro-
hibited, between the hours
of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
except for the commercial
culture and harvest of
agricultural crops.
Use of fireworks is pro-
hibited.
Possession of the follow-
ing firefighting equipment
is required while traveling,
except on state highways,
county roads and drive-
ways: one shovel and one
gallon of water or one 2 ½
pound or larger fire extin-
guisher.
Debris burning is prohib-
ited, except in burn barrels
for which a Burning Permit
has been issued.
Use of exploding targets
is prohibited.
Use of tracer ammuni-
tion or any bullet with a
pyrotechnic charge in its
base is prohibited.
The use of sky lanterns is
prohibited throughout the
year in Oregon.
The Regulated Use Clo-
sure for ODF’s Northeast
Oregon District affects
private, state, county,
municipal, and tribal lands
protected by the Oregon
Department of Forestry
in seven counties: Union,
Baker, Wallowa, Umatilla,
and small portions of Mal-
heur, Morrow and Grant.