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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2016)
i Record-Courier 8 THURSDAY, JUNE 30,2016 PLAY BALL! LITTLE LEAGUE continued from page 1 The Original Rules of Baseball on Exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society Julyl - Oct. 9 Photo by Bryan Dalke 10-11-12 team after tough loss to Harney County on June 25. Documents that the Official Historian of Major League Baseball declared "the Magna Carta of America's national pastime" will be on exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland (1200 SW Park Avenue) beginning this Friday, July 1, through October 9, 2016. The exhibit will be the first public display of these nine teenth century papers, which only recently came to light at an auction in California. The hand-written documents were drafted by Daniel "Doc" Adams and presented at an unprecedented special meeting of all New York area baseball clubs in 1857. The documents, entitled "Laws of Base Ball," conclusively set the game's rules, among which included establishing ninety-foot base paths, assigning nine players to a side, and fixing the duration of the game at nine innings. A full transcription of the documents is available upon re quest; please email rachel.randles@ohs.org for ä copy. Baseball fans will also want to mark their calendars for Tuesday, August 2, as OHS will host John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball, for a lecture on the history of America's favorite game. The lecture begins at 7pm at the First Congregational Church (1126 SW Park Avenue). Tickets are $25 and are avail able online at johnthorn.brownpapertickets.com. John Thorn is the author of Baseball in théGarden of Eden: The Secret His tory of the Early Game and co-author of Thé Hidden Game of Baseball, which established alternative statistics làter recognized; and adopted as offi ciât by Major League Baseball. A sought-after consultant for exhibits and documentaries on America's game, Thorn also talks baseball with fans on his MLB blog, Our Game, The Oregon Historical Society's museum is open seven days a ü .* - „ week, Monday^ Saturday from 10am -- 5pm and Sunday from 12pm - 5pm. The museum and exhibit will also be open on Independence Day, Monday, July 4, from 10am - 5pm. Ad mission is $11, and discounts are available for students, senior^, and youth. Admission is free for OHS members and Multnomah County residents thanks to the recent renewal of the Oregon His torical Society levy. About the Oregon Historical Society For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state's collective memory, preserving a vast collec tion of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon's history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon's cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. Unofficial Results of Sumpter Recall of June 28, 2016 CITY OF SUMPTER MAYOR AND TWO COUNCILIORS RECALL OF MAYOR LELAND MYERS YES 53 NO 51 Under Vote 2 RECALL OF COUNCILIOR CARY R. CLARKE YES 47 NO 58 Under Vote 1 RECALL OF COUNCILIOR SAMANTHA ESPOSITO YES 48 NO 58 Baker City Janitorial Supply Company • Commercial Cleaning Supplies • Restroom Paper Products Free Delivery in Baker City & La Grande Rick and Bekki Hurley 541-403-0574 Photo by Julie K Davis Commissioners Ask Just What to Do with $42,180? By Mary Jane Guyer On June 23, the Baker County Board of Commission ers struggled to find common ground on just what to do, with monies derived from sale of industrial property. At the center of the discussion was where to direct $42,180 - funds received by the County as a result of a property sale in the Industrial Park located on the west side of Baker City. A little background: In the 1960’s a for-profit organ ization, Baker Industries and Resources Corporation (BIRC), was formed. Its goal was to purchase proper- , ties in Baker to ensure potential industrial grounds could be secured. Numerous local leaders interested in Baker’s economic future, purchased stock in the corporation as a means of financing property sales. Over the years, properties were purchased, sold off, and monies were reinvested into other properties. Loans were provided to promote business opportuni ties, monies were donated to companies and commu nity projects that were-viewed’by stockholders as advancing the economic future of Baker County. ' County Commissioner-elect, Bruce Nichbls, served as Treasurer for the BIRC. “The organisation has always been dedicated to pursuing economic develop ment opportunities for Baker County,” stated Nichols. “In feet, BIRC was the>first organization to donate to the Interpretative Center in the amount of $10,000.” Nichols approached the County Commission suggesting that BIRC Industrial Park properties and remaining funds (approximately $85,000) be placed with Baker County Economic Development. The Commission agreed and accepted BIRC’s proposal during a public meeting, according to Nichols. “BIRC was very clear about the intended use of the funds and of the proceeds from sales of those properties,” said Nichols. “It was to go for economic development. Period.” Fast forward to present day: Several months ago, one of those donated BIRC industrial sites was sold for $42,180. The funds have been deposited in the County’s Facilities fund. Craig Ward, Chairman of the Economic Development Council, has strong feelings about where those fund should be, and it is not in the County’s Facilities fund. “This community has dedicated hundreds of volun teer hours and held dozens'of meetings to develop an economic development plan,” said Ward. “At the heart of this plan is our desire to recruit businesses that bring family wage jobs to Baker Cottaty. The people of this community supported, recruitment of employers involved with light manufacturing, call centers, and tech industry opportunities.” To that end, the Economic Development Incentive Fund comes into play. A joint venture of both the City and County, it is designed to help recruit businesses that might be interested in locating to Baker County. It is also a fund that helps existing city and county businesses to expand. It is in the Economic Development Incentive Fund feat Ward wants fee money to be deposited. “I will not back away from this one,” says Ward. “It has always beenour'goal to use those funds to bring family wage jobs to this community.” Accordiiigto Ward, ity' has always been fee understanding feat when a property is sold by either fee City or the.Couuty, fee proceeds of those hinds would go into fee Economic Development Incentive Fund. ‘.T think it cofees down to a question of trust,” stated Ward. During fee June 23 meeting, Commissioner Kerns raised fee question as to fee whereabouts of fee $42,180 in the county’s budget. . Chairman Harvey responded “It’s been addressed by fee EDC Chairman that he was under fee impression feat fee money was supposed to go back to fee EDC, but I have not had a chance to address feat yet in a public meeting.” Harvey stated there is no precedent for fee funds ®6mg"toEDC?“I^thifik it is more of a want ordesireori"' their part, his, so we have not had the chance to address feat, yet. Harvey continued, “Baker City is selling property and they are not giving fee money back.” The Record Courier contacted City Manager, Fred Warner, and inquired about City property sales. Warner. indicated feat while fee City has property available, - parcels have not been sold. Leaving the question of what fee City will do wife money from property sales still open. Kerns pursued fee line of questioning regarding fee whereabouts of fee money. Christina Cook, Baker County’s Administrative Services Director, shared wife the Commissioners feat When fee money came in, it was deposited into the County’s Facilities fund. Cook went on to explain the money was deposited to replace the monies that were spent for purchasing the property adjacent to the County Road Department on 13 th Street. . “To give ybu a heads up on feat,” said Harvey. “Most of fee land is going to fee Road Department and they have budgeted for that land and for their building. So, it makes our portion for the Parks Department, Weed: Department and whoever else we put out there a lot smaller.” He continued, “The $40,000 overshadows feat. We have not really put anything down on paper yet to what plus or minuses - or how we doji.”. Kerns pursued his line of question, “We haven’t approved any new building out there.” Harvey responded, “And we haven’t asked you.” , Kerns continued, “I’m surprised it has been put into an account that’s heading toward fee purchase of feat new building.” Harvey stated fee County took money out of fee" Facilities Budget to purchase fee property. This was to replace that expenditure. Cook then reminded Commissioners that there is no“ money in fee budget for a new building. Commissioner Bennett weighed in saying, “The Commission has made a commitment.that when we; (fee Board of Commissioners) sold property feat feose 7 monies would go back to fee EDC.” Harvey told Bennett he had not found that in writing. Commissioner Harvey then proceeded to share other concerns he had pertaining to fee county’s payment of" $15,000 from fee general fund for a flood plain study to allow for fee sale of any property at fee industrial ’ site. „ “The County should take off fee funds for selling feat property - we should not just give it to another group of people to spend,” exclaimed Harvey. He also announced his displeasure for paying a bill of $15,000 for feeCity’s property to be platted, “so they could sell it and then keep fee money.” Harvey went onto state, “I am going to give them a bill for feat. Commissipner Bennett asked Cook to look into fee various issues feat had been raised and report back to them in July. Harvey continued, “The City has foil advantage. They are selling 12 acres after we paid all fee expenses and they are not giving anything towards fee expenses. They are keeping fee money. We are a piggy bank they. tap into.” Kerns responded, “This is all designed to bring in industry and jobs. I don’t think we should be talking about being a piggy bank or getting an advantage. We should be taking about what we want to do for the community.” “My emphasis is to encourage fee City to be a partner in that effort,” exclaimed Harvey. “But they are not at this point and time. We are going to revisit that”,
