FRIDAY, SEPTEMER 1, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
County has new auditor
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PAGE 1
Harvey called the meet-
ing to order, and provided
the Invocation and led in
recitation of the Pledge of
Allegiance.
As there were no previ-
ous meeting minutes to ap-
prove, and there was only
one item on the agenda,
Harvey asked Hardt if he
had any public concerns to
discuss.
Hardt said that, during a
previous session, he had
asked Harvey to look into
resolving issues between a
miner and the U.S. Forest
Service, since the For-
est Service had required
a bond on a bridge in the
Eagle Creek area, and that
the Forest Service was
planning to increase the
amount of the bond.
Hardt said, “There
shouldn’t even be a bond
on it, I would think.” Har-
vey said that he’s looking
into the issue.
Cook said that, in late
May, Guyer & Associates
told the County that the
firm would not be continu-
ing to perform the Coun-
ty’s annual audit, which
prompted a Request For
Proposals (RFP) for bids
on the services.
Two firms responded to
the RFP: Pauly, Rogers
& Co., PC, and Barnett &
Moro, PC. The informa-
tion provided to the Board
includes a bid of $33,500
from Pauly, Rogers & Co.,
for complete services,
and $43,000 from Barnett
& Moro, for the same;
$30,000 for the annual
County audit from Pauly,
Rogers & Co., and $41,000
from Barnett & Moro, for
the same; and $3,500 from
Pauly, Rogers & Co. for
a single audit, and $2,000
from Barnett & Moro, for
the same.
Nichols explained that
the figures were provided
to “compare apples to
apples,” with both firms,
in order to make the best
choice, and Bennett, in
referencing the City’s audit
delays, and expressing
concerns about possible
delays with completing
the County’s audits, asked
Nichols about time frames
for completion, extensions,
and penalties for delays.
Nichols explained that a
single audit would have to
be completed by December
31st, but that an extension
could be allowed, which
would mean probably
January or February next
year, for completion of the
audit.
Nichols said, “Auditors
are becoming quite scarce
in eastern Oregon, so,
it’s a little difficult to get
auditors who want to take
on a project this size (the
County audit)...”
He asked Dave Lindley,
of Guyer & Associates, to
recommend auditors for
the task, and Nichols said
that Lindley recommended
both firms.
Cook said that she had
contacted entities the firms
provided services for, and
that, “They had noth-
ing bad to say about the
groups...”
Nichols said, “One of the
things I liked about their
firm (Pauly, Rogers & Co.)
is they have two CPAs
who are also forensic fraud
auditors. I don’t think we
need that at all, but ... they
may ask to see things that
other auditors may not...”
He said that he likes
to see that extra detail
and education, and while
both firms are qualified
to provide audit services
for the County, and that
he wouldn’t have an issue
with either firm, he sees
more benefits with choos-
ing Pauly, Rogers & Co.
The Board discussed
some concerns with Cook
about employees’ comfort
level in voicing concerns
about issues such as po-
tential fraud, and Nichols
explained that the ap-
proved firm would address
these concerns, and would
communicate regularly
with the County.
Bennett said, “I just
believe that, over the
years, we have learned a
lot of information that not
necessarily was fraudu-
lent, but helped improve
our operation, and make it
better for the community,
the employees, and the
County.”
Nichols said, “That’s
what audits are supposed
to be about—to help you.”
Nichols said he approves
of the idea of encouraging
County employees to visit
auditors with concerns.
Bennett moved that the
Board accept the recom-
mendation of the Audit
Committee, and enter
into an agreement with
Pauly, Rogers & Co., PC,
to perform County audit
services, Harvey seconded
the motion, and it carried
unanimously.
Cook said she will notify
the firm, and that there will
be a contract ready for ap-
proval by the next regular
Commission session,
scheduled for Wednesday,
September 6, 2017, 9 a.m.
27th Annual Memory Cruise held
BY SAMANTHA
O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
August 26th, car lovers
and enthusiasts attended
the 27th annual Baker City
Memory Cruise held at the
Geiser-Pollman Park.
Those attending were
able to participate in the
Show-n-Shine followed by
awards, the Poker Walk,
the Poker Run and down-
town Cruise, and a bar-
beque at the Quail Ridge
Golf Course.
Cheryl and Dan Haber-
man, owners of the Baker
City Dairy Queen, and
Wayne Ryder the owner of
NAPA Auto and Miller’s
Lumber, organized the
event.
The Haberman’s have or-
ganized the Show-n-Shine
for the last twenty years.
Kailyn McQuisten / The Baker County Press
The Show -n- Shine in the park showed off many of the cars that were later
cruised up and down Main Street that evening, including this orange Plymouth
belonging to Keith and Janet Jensen.
Dan Haberman explained
that members of the group
who ran the event before
them began losing inter-
est and it was going to be
dropped.
He and Ryder did not
want to see it go away and
they decided to pick it up.
Ryder explained that the
event was started by a
group called the Thunder
Mountain Motor Sports to
build a drag strip at one
point and the show, along
with other events, was put
on to raise money for it.
Haberman explained that
he begins setting up the
event at the beginning of
the year.
They set up the trophies
for the event, coordinat-
ing with the City to have
things done, setting up
music, and gathering the
raffle items.
They also look for dona-
tions, from sponsors, to
help with the event.
There were about 20
businesses that sponsored
the event and they buy two
plaques as trophies that are
given away at the end of
the show.
Some of the sponsors
for the event were Superior
Towing, Grumpy’s Auto
Repair, NAPA Auto Parts,
and Dairy Queen.
They purchase a lot of
the raffle winnings and
some of the proceeds made
from people purchasing
raffle tickets goes to pur-
chase raffle item.
Community Bank do-
nated $100 this year to go
towards raffle prizes.
Some of the proceeds
also go to Veterans.
Cheryl Haberman
explained that they had
around 180 people partici-
pate in the event last year,
but they average around
160 to 165 generally.
“This brings lot of peo-
ple to Baker,” explained
Ryder. “The Car Culture’s
a group of people that, it’s
their life, their hot rod car
is their life.”
Dog park
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Bornstedt discussed that they have a few community
members helping by soliciting donations, through which
they raised $1,285.
Duman explained that a community member came for-
ward with another grant possibility and they are working
on other fundraising ideas for the park.
One fundraiser they are doing is the 1st Annual Dog
Jog Fun Run/Walk on October 7th. It will start at Central
Park at 9 a.m. that day and will end at Central Park. All
proceeds will go to the construction and maintenance of
the Dog Park.
Prizes will be awarded for best “dressed” pet and
participant. Having a dog is optional for participation.
Registration forms are available at Baker City Hall or for
download on the Baker City Partners for Paws Facebook
page.
“Originally thinking just, for a fund raiser,” Duman
explained about the Dog Jog. “But now that we got that
grant, we’re thinking that this will help to maintain the
park every year—and make it a yearly thing.”
Their construction plans for the park are adding bench-
es, fencing, planting trees, and adding a water source.
Duman explained that most parks have a double entry,
to help get dogs settled down, and so other dogs cannot
escape while people are going through.
They are thinking they will begin construction around
spring next year and they have three years to utilize the
grant funds.
They also have three sponsors for the Dog Jog so far;
Baker Valley Physical Therapy, the Baker City Herald,
and the YMCA.
ODOT launches
distracted
driver campaign
SALEM — Who are Oregon’s safest drivers? That’s
what a new campaign created by AAA Oregon/Idaho,
ODOT and the Oregon State Police seeks to discover.
DriveHealthy’s aim is to help reduce the incidence of
distracted driving in Oregon by introducing friendly
competition.
Why the need for this?
A recent survey found that while 69 percent of Orego-
nians are very uncomfortable riding with a driver who
is sending a text message, 72 percent admit to driving
distracted themselves.
In Oregon on average eight people are hurt or killed by
a distracted driver each day.
This has contributed to the largest increase in traffic
fatalities in Oregon in a decade.
At the same time, cell phone use in vehicles has strong
addictive properties: Changing this behavior will be dif-
ficult.
“We’re connected to each other socially with technolo-
gy,” said ODOT Director Matthew Garrett. “And the fact
is, that connection doesn’t stop when we get behind the
wheel. So we want to replace the addiction to the phone
by using those same social connections, combined with
immediate feedback on driving and friendly competition.”
“Here’s how it works,” said Garrett. “It’s simple. You
get with your closest friends, family or co-workers and
form a group. Your group works together to beat others
in the same category—like schools, civic clubs, religious
organizations or co-workers at other Oregon businesses.
You can also compete on your own as an Oregon resi-
dent.”
Organizations can register at www.DriveHealthy.org.
Starting September 1, they can download a free app from
Lifesaver https://lifesaver-app.com/ and the competition
begins. Each month is a new opportunity to compete.
Will it be effective?
Data suggests that a recent similar campaign in Boston
reduced distracted driving among participants by 47
percent.
By not opening your phone while driving, you keep your
score high.
At the end of each month, the groups with the highest
scores win bragging rights on the DriveHealthy website.
“We’re convinced,” said Garrett, “that while technol-
ogy helped create the problem, technology can also help
provide a solution to distracted driving.”
DriveHealthy started as the result of a statewide task
force, which also recommended passage of tougher cell-
phone laws.
House Bill 2597 takes effect October 1 and, among
other changes, increases the penalty for using a mobile
electronic device while driving to $2,000.
Businesses, corporations, organizations and media out-
lets can support the DriveHealthy campaign in a variety
of ways:
Adopt the campaign as a cause for your organization
Sponsor media promotion for DriveHealthy in your local
market
Sponsor monthly rewards for the best drivers
For information on how to sponsor DriveHealthy monthly
rewards, contact LifeSaver (info@lifesaver-app.com).
For information on how to adopt DriveHealthy in your
community, contact Tom Fuller (503-986-3455, Thomas.
Fuller@odot.state.or.us).
“Our goal is lofty,” said Garrett. “We want to change
cultural norms around distracted driving like they
changed regarding seat belt use and drunk driving. It
took decades to make significant progress in those areas.
Today things change at Internet speed so I’m hopeful the
norms around driving healthy can become a part of our
culture quickly.”