FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Local
Sumpter begins its festivities
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter’s holiday events
of December 9th and 10th
spread out over town this
year, with bazaar booths in
four locations and two art
showings. The Sumpter
Valley Railroad also ran
trains over the weekend.
Heather Wilson, who
helped coordinate this
year’s event, praised the
cooperative effort.
Wilson said Toni
Thompson was an invalu-
able source of ideas and
help. Laramie Shanks,
of the Stockade Motel,
also helped with ideas and
Wilson was excited to find
guests for the Motel, which
had no vacancies through
the weekend. Wilson said
many others pitched in
to make everything run
smoothly.
The town-wide bazaar
was held at the Com-
munity Center, City Hall,
Stockade Motel, and the
Museum and featured
vendors selling everything
from mustard to leggings.
Hot soup was served at the
Community Center and
proved to be such a best
seller on Saturday that
they had to start serving
Sunday’s stock.
Lynn Bean’s art gallery
was open for the event.
Bean said this will be her
second year to stay all
winter in Sumpter. She
laughed as she said she’s
been accused of visiting
the nearby marijuana shop
(she hasn’t) as the inspira-
tion for her line of brightly
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
The lineup for Sumpter’s Christmas parade.
colored wildlife paintings.
The colors correspond with
a new jewelry line she has
coming out in February.
The gallery is generally
open every day except
Monday, but Bean recom-
mends calling before com-
ing out to make sure. Her
number is 310-944-4843.
Jennifer Lake also held
an art showing Saturday
at Rustic Realty, featuring
whimsical winter paintings
with small woodland crea-
tures enjoying the season.
Lake’s work can be seen
at jenniferlakeart.blogspot.
com or on Facebook at
facebook.com/jennifer.
lake.988. Also featured
on her Facebook site is the
story of Sumpter’s real life
“Elf on a Shelf” who has
been spotted all around
town trying to figure out
how to get back to the
North Pole.
The annual parade was
held Saturday evening,
with John Young announc-
ing. The parade honored
Glen Wulff, long-time
parade fixture. Brian Love
and Richard Epler served
as the color guard. Kathi
Vinson sang the national
anthem.
After the anthem, Young
turned the microphone
over to Lynda Hempel of
South Carolina to make an
announcement about the
Quilts of Valor program.
Quilts of Valor matches up
quilt top makers with ma-
chine quilters nation-wide
to complete and give quilts
to service men and women
who have been touched by
war.
Hempel’s group had the
goal to “wrap” 250 service
members this year and
have exceeded that goal,
wrapping 300.
Heather Wilson, Hem-
pel’s daughter, read the
dedication on the quilt
she and Lila Young were
displaying, and they then
“wrapped” John Young.
Hempel announced Young
served in the Vietnam War
and told him, “Welcome
home.”
The parade recom-
menced with a Santa Claus
float constructed by the
Sumpter Valley Commu-
nity Volunteers. Wulff’s
son, Jon Wulff, rode in the
float where the Grand Mar-
shall would normally have
ridden. Brightly lighted
ATVs and local emergency
vehicles followed. Im-
mediately after the parade,
Vinson led the crowd in
several Christmas songs.
Jon Wulff performed the
honorary tree-lighting
duties.
Sumpter City Council meets
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Coun-
cil met briefly the crisp
evening of December 12th.
Councilors Linda Wise and
Samantha Rowan were in
attendance, with Mayor
Cary Clarke and Coun-
cilor Robert Armbruster
both out of town. Rowan
chaired the meeting. Min-
utes from November 14th
were approved with minor
spelling corrections. Bills
to be paid were approved.
Fire Dept. Report
Kurt Clarke reported
one flue fire during the
previous month, which
was pretty much out by the
time they arrived.
They checked the attic
for hot spots.
Food boxes are out at
the library, post office, gas
station, City Hall, Elkhorn
Saloon, and Gold Post.
Cash donations can go to
Angie Borello at the Gold
Post. The boxes will be
out until the 20th.
Julie McKinney sug-
gested next year thinking
about a fund for helping
those having a difficult
time paying utilities.
Rowan thanked the
Fire Department and all
volunteers who helped on
Saturday.
She said there was an
awesome turnout for the
event and it was great to
see all the love for the
town.
Planning Commission
Report
John Young reported the
Commission held their
normal first of the month
meeting.
They had one applica-
tion, which was a no-brain-
er, and they approved it
right away. They also did
some work on the evacua-
tion plan.
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Kurt Clarke (R) giving Fire Department Report while John Young (L) waits to
give Planning Commission report.
Utility Manager Report
LeAnne Woolf reported
for Jeff McKinney.
A couple trips have been
made to the intake to keep
it open. The sand filters
have been cleaned.
Water is mostly running
really well.
Trees are being trimmed
back so the snowplow can
get past without knocking
off bits and pieces off the
machine or without leaving
bits of trees in the street.
The town has saved lots
of money by not having
snow.
Alley Vacation
Woolf reported the city
does not seem to have an
ordinance with guidelines
for vacation processes.
She included state guide-
lines in the information
given to Council.
A hearing has been held
and the Planning Commis-
sion decision was split.
Wise stated she would not
want to make a decision
until reading all the infor-
mation. Issue was tabled
for January.
Baker County Nuisance
Ordinance
Council discussed hold-
ing a workshop to go
through the ordinance.
Julie McKinney will poll
the remaining Council
members regarding the
workshop.
Council Input
Rowan stated the mayor
reminds everyone to keep
water running to avoid
freeze-ups. There have
already been a couple of
houses in town that have
had the water freeze.
Public Input
Young announced the
Snowmobile Club will be
holding a New Year’s Eve
bonfire and has requested
the use of the Community
Center this year.
They would like to invite
everyone to come out from
about 5-8 p.m. or when-
ever the fire burns out.
There will be hotdogs for
roasting and a warm place
to go inside the Com-
munity Center. All are
welcome.
Woolf asked if there are
any questions about the
bookkeeper’s report.
Wise asked when letters
were sent regarding delin-
quent accounts and how
long they have to respond.
Woolf replied that on two
of the accounts, action can
be taken immediately.
On four, water will be
turned off on the 21st if
there is no response.
Rowan asked how much
the City has spent on the
Robert Armbruster matter
regarding his water hookup
to date.
Woolf checked the
paperwork and reported
about $6,600.
Council agreed to set a
special meeting after the
mayor returns.
Rowan reiterated the
importance of keeping wa-
ter running to avoid pipes
freezing.
McKinney commented
that the air warming up
does not change the ground
temperature.
Man sentenced
in elk poaching
In November of 2016, an Oregon State Police (OSP)
Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a location near
Elgin, Oregon where two large bull elk were shot and
completely left to waste. At the time, OSP was not able to
develop any suspects and therefor, put forward a public
request for information relating to the unlawful taking of
the two bull elk. Through the assistance of the Oregon
Hunter’s Association Turn-In-Poacher (TIP) program,
as well as the public information request, three suspects
were identified and following the investigation, were
charged with multiple wildlife offenses.
One of the individuals, Nathan William Crouch (27) of
Elgin, was recently sentenced for his involvement with
these crimes after admitting that he was the one that shot
both elk. On November 27th, 2017, Crouch plead guilty
to four misdemeanor offenses and Union County Circuit
Court Judge Thomas Powers sentenced Crouch with the
following: 60 days in jail, an eight-year hunting license
suspension as well as other stipulations, and $17,500
in restitution, $16,000 of which will go to the Oregon
Department of Fish & Wildlife.
In an Elkhorn Media Group article, Union County
Senior Deputy District Attorney, Christopher L. Storz
commented, “The defendants in this case just left these
animals to rot. They took nothing and by the time they
were found, no meat was salvageable. Cases like this
one emphasize the need for felonies in the Oregon Game
Code, something that currently just isn’t provided for
under Oregon law.”
Under current Oregon law, wildlife offenses such as
this can only be charged as a class A misdemeanor with
a maximum penalty of one year in jail and fines not to
exceed $6,250.
City Council
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Work Session
The sole purpose of the work session meeting was to
review the Wastewater Facility Plan being proposed. An
MAO (Mutual Agreement and Order) was entered earlier
this year between the City and DEQ. A requirement of
that MAO was that the City provide a new wastewater
facility plan by December 31,2017. Anderson Perry and
Associates was retained by the City to assist in the de-
velopment of the plan. On hand at the work session were
Brett Moore and Eric Smith from Anderson Perry. Moore
addressed Council with information in the plan. Public
Works Director Michelle Owen introduced Smith and
Moore to Council then turned to floor over to Moore.
Moore gave a brief overview that included some his-
tory and why the City is where it is.
He also spoke of what is trying to be accomplished
and how to move forward and costs. He noted also that
DEQ did have requirements, a timeline in which the City
would need to abide by.
He explained that the City’s wastewater system is
divided into three components. The collection system, the
treatment system and the disposal system.
First Moore explained the collection system, the pipe
that collects the water and takes it out to the lagoons. He
noted that there is one pump or lift station on H Street
that is part of the collection system. Since 2005 the City
has done some work on the collection system to try and
improve that system, reducing groundwater infiltrat-
ing the system by approximately 345,000 gallons a day
through replacing leaky pipes. Moore stated that the H
Street lift station was found to be old and corroded there-
fore struggling.
He noted that in 2005 when it was last looked at it was
struggling as well. His opinion was that because of its
age rehabilitation would be difficult and suggested it be
replaced.
He told Council, “The City is at a point now, quite
frankly, where they are probably spending more money
in man power trying to keep the thing operational than if
they would just invest some capital dollars and replace
it.”
Next he addressed treating the water. He told Council-
ors, “How we dispose of the water dictates how we have
to treat it.” He advised that in the past rules were if you
were going to irrigate with it then it needed to be treated
to higher levels, those rules have changed. As it stands
now wastewater disposed of into the river, which is how
the City currently disposes of its waste water, must be
treated to a much higher level that in turn is more expen-
sive.
Moore noted a few things at the wastewater treatment
facility that need to be improved. He explained that water
heading to the facility travels through 36” pipe. Along
the way it passes through a grinder before going into the
pumps. Things flushed, that shouldn’t be such as toys
are caught and ground up before being pumped into the
lagoons for processing.
Moore told council that there is a metering system in
place, which is required by law so that it is known how
much water is actually produced.
“The metering system is experiencing a lot of grit,
sand and rocks,” he said and recommended the City add
a screen to further assist in catching larger particles to
enhance the performance of that portion of the system.
He then spoke of the treatment facility that currently
consists of four ponds, one large and three smaller ones.
He noted that some of the concrete is beginning to
deteriorate and some of the valves are not operational.
He advised Council that those need fixed and the
ponds in general needed maintenance.
SEE CITY PAGE 8