8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
Local
Council hears about grant North Powder
native on ship
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
L-R: Julie Smith, Fred Warner, Jr., Loren Joseph, Rosemary Abell, Mike Downing, Arvid Andersen, Dan
McQuisten and Jim Thomas.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The first regular City
Council meeting was
called to order Tuesday
night by Mayor Downing.
Councilor McQuisten led
the Pledge of Allegiance
and invocation.
All Councilors answered
present when Julie Smith,
City Recorder called role
with the exception of
Councilor Nilsson.
Mayor Downing moved
forward with the agenda
calling for approval of
the consent agenda that
consisted of minutes from
the August 8, 2017 regular
Council meeting, minutes
from the August 22, 2017
regular Council meeting
minutes and a social gam-
ing application from the
Baker Elk’s Lodge.
Councilor Joseph moved
to approve with a second
heard by Councilor Mc-
Quisten.
Council voted unani-
mously in favor. Mayor
Downing called next for
Citizen Participation but
with none, continued on.
Cured In Place Pipe
Bid Award
Public Works Director
Michelle Owen addressed
Council regarding the
matter.
She advised Council that
the cured in place pipe
replacement is an ongoing
City project and the cost
for this year’s 3,321 linear
foot project was budgeted
for.
She explained that
generally the work does
not typically take place
until winter but has found
when bids for the work are
secured earlier they often
cost less.
She received three bids
and recommended Council
approve the bid award to
Planned and Engineered
Construction for $150,850.
Owen did state that the
City had worked with the
company previously and
have been happy with their
work.
With no other discussion,
Councilor Joseph moved to
approve the bid with Coun-
cilor Abell seconding.
A unanimous vote was
cast.
Ordinance #3358 Vaca-
tion of Allen Street
This matter was ad-
dressed by planning direc-
tor Holly Kerns. Kerns
explained that the property
occupied a stretch near
I-84 and Windmill Lane.
Kerns told Council that
property owners in the
immediate area had been
notified and that notices
had been advertised that al-
lowed for public comment.
It was noted that a
similar action had been
attempted in the 1980s but
was never completed due
to a procedural technical-
ity.
She noted that again in
the 1990s the County rec-
ognized that a procedural
difficulty had occurred
and did file an order that it
hadn’t been vacated.
According to Kerns the
process just never moved
forward as it should have
and with City annexation
in 2004 this matter now
needed to be addressed
at the City level not the
County level.
Kerns also clarified that
by vacating the street no
property would become
land locked.
Mayor Downing opened
a public hearing but with
no one present for public
comment the hearing was
closed.
Council Joseph moved
to hear a first reading of
the ordinance, that was
seconded by Councilor
Thomas. Kerns read in full
the ordinance. Councilor
Joseph moved to approve
the first reading that was
seconded by Councilor
Thomas.
Council voted unani-
mously to approve that
reading. Councilor Joseph
moved to hear a second
reading of the ordinance by
title only that was second-
ed by Councilor Thomas.
All Council voted in
favor. Kerns read the
ordinance a second time by
title only.
Councilor Joseph moved
to approve the second
reading with a second
heard by Councilor Abell.
Council unanimously
voted to approve the sec-
ond reading.
SAFER Grant Discussion
City Manager Fred Warner
opened the conversation by
telling Council “On Sep-
tember 1, the City received
word that we had been
granted the SAFER grant
from the federal govern-
ment.”
He explained that what
the grant would do is allow
for the hiring of three addi-
tional firefighter positions
that would be funded in
part by the federal govern-
ment.
Warner said, “The city
would need to pick up
25% the first year, 25% the
second year and 65% the
third year.”
Warner provided Council
with a staff report that
outlined costs.
He advised Council that
there was no anticipation
any hiring would be done
before Jan. 1, 2018 if the
grant was accepted.
Warner stated that the
City had until November
1, 2017 to officially accept
the grant. He anticipated
first year cost to the City to
be $28,791.
He advised that Council
would need to settle on an
acceptable funding plan
before accepting the grant
and he was just open-
ing the matter up so that
thoughts and ideas could
begin to come to light and
be explored.
He did note that he felt
the savings cost in over-
time to the Department
by adding additional staff
would be significant and
those savings in part could
be used to help fund the
grant.
Warner stated that the
Department is currently
running a “bare bones
operation and if call vol-
ume continues to increase
without those additional
positions we would be
forced to consider shrink-
ing the size of the ASA.”
Currently the City covers
roughly 1600 square miles
that includes service areas
outside of City limits in the
County.
Warner noted that by
finding a way to make this
grant work was the most
cost-effective way for the
citizens of Baker County
to maintain ambulance
services throughout the
rural regions.
It was quickly realized
that the County, being a
large user of the Baker
City Fire Department for
Ambulance services was
a resource that needed to
be considered as a way to
increase revenue necessary
to fund the SAFER grant.
Council agreed that
a meeting with County
leaders should be set up to
discuss ambulance service.
It was also stated that there
had been talk of establish-
ing a completely separate
EMS district.
That possibility was
also something Council
agreed that needed to be
researched.
It was clear that deci-
sions were needing to
made in an extremely
timely manner.
Warner told Council he
would work on setting up
a meeting date with the
County as soon as possible.
Backhoe/Loader Pur-
chase
Owens again addressed
Council. She stated that
in August a request for
proposals for a new back-
hoe/Loader for the Public
works department had
gone out.
She advised that three
bids were received. All
three of the bidders made
available for consideration
their proposed equipment
by demonstration.
Public works employ-
ees were able to observe
all three of the proposed
equipment in action.
Owens stated that while all
of the equipment met the
minimum requirements,
the CAT 430F2 ranked the
highest in overall perfor-
mance and that access to
service was also taken into
consideration.
A total of $135,000 was
budgeted for this equip-
ment purchase and this
backhoe was priced at
119,291.16 and presented
by Western States.
Therefore, she was
recommending the pur-
chase of the CAT 430F2.
Councilor Joseph moved
to approve the purchase
with a second by Councilor
Abell.
Council voted unani-
mously in favor.
Owen did advise Council
that the equipment that
this new loader would be
replacing would be used
through this winter season
before being sold and once
sold the money for that
sale would go directly back
into the same account that
this new equipment was
coming out of.
City Manager/Director
Comments
City Manager Warner
stated that he and Coun-
cilor Andersen had earlier
that day met with the For-
rest Service to talk about
the watershed.
He also reiterated the
SAFER grant and the
need to not make haste in
explore funding options.
He mentioned that he felt
Commissioner Nichols to
be his best liaison at the
County.
Council Comments
Councilor Andersen
also mentioned the Forest
Service meeting and that
while there was a long way
to go on the issue, he felt
“encouraged.”
Downing then adjourned
the meeting.
Subscribe today for just $29.95 per year! www.TheBakerCountyPress.com
Submitted Photo.
Lane Loenning.
A North Powder, Oregon native and 2015 North Powder
Charter School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy
aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Curtis Wilbur.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lane Loennig is an electronics
technician aboard the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-
class guided missile destroyer operating out of Yokosuka,
Japan. Curtis Wilbur is one of eight destroyers forward-
deployed in Yokosuka.
A Navy electronics technician manages preventive and
corrective maintenance on electronic equipment. They
maintain, repair, calibrate, tune, and adjust electronic
equipment while utilizing test equipment and technical
drawings for Command, Control, Computer, Commu-
nication, and Intelligence (C4I) systems, cryptographic
systems, radar systems, and navigation systems.
“The value of hard work was instilled in everyone
back home including my family, friends, community, and
teachers,” said Loennig. “This has influenced me greatly
and helped me since joining the Navy.”
With more than 50 percent of the world’s shipping ton-
nage and a third of the world’s crude oil passing through
the region, the U.S. has historic and enduring interests in
this part of the world.
“Our alliance is rooted in shared interests and shared
values,” said Adm. Harry Harris, Commander, U.S. Pa-
cific Command. “It’s not hyperbole to say that the entire
world has benefited from the U.S.-Japan alliance. While
our alliance helped stabilize the region after the Second
World War, it also enabled the Japanese people to bring
about an era of unprecedented economic growth. And
for the last six decades, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen,
Marines and Coast Guardsmen have worked side by side
with the Japan Self Defense Force to protect and advance
peace and freedom.”
Approximately 300 men and women serve aboard the
ship. Their jobs are highly specialized and keep each part
of the ship running smoothly, according to Navy officials.
They do everything from maintaining gas turbine engines
and operating the highly sophisticated Aegis weapons
system to driving the ship and operating small boats.
Forward-deployed sailors are crucial to the success of
the global Navy mission and earn high praise from their
leaders.
“I had an uncle in the Navy who would tell me sea
stories and just hearing what he had to say inspired me to
join the Navy,” said Loennig.
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated
and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained Navy
officials.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to serve for my
country and protect the freedoms that we hold,” added
Loennig.
With the ability to conduct anti-air warfare, anti-
submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, destroyers
are capable of sustained maritime operations supporting
forward naval presence, maritime security, sea control,
deterrence of aggressive actions on U.S. partners around
the globe, as well as humanitarian assistance. Fast, ma-
neuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide
credible combat power, at and from the sea.
Fall orchestra
The Baker Community Orchestra will begin weekly
fall rehearsals on Thursday, September 14. in the Baker
High School Band Room and continuing at 7:00 – 8:30
p.m. Thursdays through the fall. Music pass out and
registration begins at 6:30 p.m. All interested musicians
are welcome come join in. There is no charge to partici-
pate, though free will donations to help pay for music are
welcome. No auditions are required. We welcome all
orchestra or band instruments.
The Orchestra always has a need for strings, percus-
sionists, saxophones, and any bass instruments. There are
a limited number of “loaner” instruments available. The
purpose of the Orchestra is to provide the opportunity
for community members to participate in making music,
in particular, adult “comeback” players. Many of our
members enjoyed playing in high school or college, then
quit playing for some time, often due to no opportunity to
play.
If you are interested and would like more information or
to chat about joining, please call Brian Watt at 541-523-
4662.