NEWS
Wallowa.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
A9
Cities adjust meetings to fi t distancing guidelines
Bill Bradshaw
Wallowa County Chieftain
City governments in
Wallowa County must take
unusual measures in these
days of the COVID-19 pan-
demic to continue to meet
the legal requirements of
access to the public and
public meetings.
The Enterprise City
Council, which next meets
Monday, May 11, will offer
a GoToMeeting option for
the public to attend. Res-
idents also can attend by
phone at 1-800-650-3123,
with a call-in code of 336-
949-525. City Administrator
Lacey McQuead said some
of the council members plan
to attend in person and oth-
ers will use the GoToMeet-
ing format.
People who are present
will maintain social distanc-
ing, she said. The meeting
begins with a work session
at 6 p.m. and the regular
meeting at 6:30 p.m. A sim-
ilar practice was held for the
April meeting.
Public comment will be
taken if submitted by noon
the day of the meeting by
email at lmcquead@enter-
priseoregon.org.
For more information,
call city hall at 541-426-
4196 or visit the city’s web-
site at enterpriseoregon.org
or its Facebook page.
Wallowa is still holding
in-person meetings, Mayor
Gary Hulse said. “Right
now, we’re limiting it to one
item on agenda so we can
limit the number of people,”
the mayor said.
He said that with
fi ve councilmen and the
recorder, four spaces are
open. “We’ve been able to
space our meetings 6 feet
apart,” he said, adding that
if they get more people, they
may move to the fi re station
or outside.
At present, Wallowa is
not planning any sort of vir-
tual meeting. Hulse said that
could change if they get
many requests for it. The
Wallowa council regularly
meets the third Tuesday of
each month at 6 p.m. in City
Hall.
Joseph, on the other
hand, has canceled the meet-
ing that would normally be
held Thursday, May 7, said
Larry Braden, city admin-
istrator. The Joseph council
canceled the April meeting,
as well.
Braden said he’s not sure
when the council’s next
meeting will be, but he’ll
know in a couple of weeks.
He said the county commis-
sioners have offered the use
of a large meeting room in
the basement of the Wal-
lowa County Courthouse, if
the Joseph council chooses
to hold an in-person meet-
ing. He said such a venue
would allow for social dis-
tancing. A virtual meeting
option has produced some
diffi culties.
“That’s been what the
struggle is … getting every-
body on the same page”
with a virtual meeting, Bra-
den said.
On April 30, the coun-
cil held a budget meeting
where Braden presented the
draft budget to the council.
But that has to be approved
in a regular meeting. He
said that’ll likely happen
before the end of the month.
As for Lostine, there
was no response to repeated
calls to City Hall.
Court rejects lawsuit against grazing authorizations
By MATEUSZ
PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
Environmentalists
have failed to convince
the 9th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals that grazing
authorizations unlawfully
harmed bull trout on seven
allotments in Oregon’s
Malheur National Forest.
The appellate court has
rejected allegations from
the Oregon Natural Des-
ert Association and Center
for Biological Diversity
that more than 100 fed-
eral grazing decisions —
including permit approvals
and operating instructions
— violated the forest’s
management plan over a
decade.
Contrary to the plain-
tiffs’ claims, “the record
amply demonstrates that
the Forest Service is
actively engaged in pro-
tecting bull trout habitats
from the effects of live-
stock grazing by monitor-
ing the effects of livestock
grazing on various habitat
indicators and implement-
ing site-specifi c grazing
limitations,” the 9th Cir-
cuit said.
In 2018, a federal judge
dismissed a lawsuit over
Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press File
Cattle graze in the Malheur National Forest. A federal appeals court has rejected
environmentalist claims against grazing on seven forest allotments.
grazing on the seven allot-
ments that had originally
been fi led 15 years ear-
lier, ruling that the plain-
tiffs hadn’t proven graz-
ing caused threatened bull
trout populations to plum-
met in the Malheur and
North Fork Malheur rivers.
The plaintiffs argued
that each river should be
able to support about 2,000
bull trout but instead con-
tain only 50 individuals,
which means grazing must
be restricted enough to
allow for the populations
to recover.
The 9th Circuit has now
determined the judge cor-
rectly ruled in favor of the
U.S. Forest Service and 16
ranchers who rely on the
allotments and intervened
in the lawsuit.
Under a federal strategy
aimed at protecting the bull
trout and other inland fi sh,
the Forest Service must
adjust or suspend grazing
practices if “riparian man-
agement objectives” for
stream health aren’t met.
As indicated by the For-
est Service’s grazing cur-
tailments, the agency “is
not only monitoring, but
also enforcing plan stan-
dards related to the protec-
tion of bull trout habitats,”
the 9th Circuit said.
While the “continuing
struggles of the bull trout”
in the national forest are
“undoubtedly troubling,”
the 9th Circuit cannot act
as a “panel of scientists”
and must “defer to the For-
est Service’s expertise”
regarding grazing rules,
according to the ruling.
Dams,
irrigation,
non-native species and
other factors have also
affected the species, so the
court “cannot effectively
mandate, as ONDA would
have us do, that bull trout
numbers increase,” the rul-
ing said.
From a procedural per-
spective, the agency also
isn’t required to “ana-
lyze and show” in a writ-
ten document that every
grazing decision conforms
with the forest plan, the
9th Circuit said.
“Because the Forest
Service was not obligated
by statute, regulation, or
caselaw to memorialize
each site-specifi c graz-
ing authorization’s consis-
tency with the forest plan,
the absence of such a doc-
ument is not in itself arbi-
trary and capricious.”
Getting the greens in shape
Today, Alpine Meadows Golf Course
looks like America’s best kept front yard, but
it didn’t get that way overnight.
Weeks before the course offi cially opened
the greens’ crew of Mac Huff, Tristan Beck,
Greg Oveson and Jon Hagan, spent many the
day clearing debris from last winter’s fury. JD
Hagan, greens superintendent, says, “With the
many giant black willow trees on the course
there’s always tons of downed branches. The
Johnson rake, Alpine Meadows purchased
a few years ago, has lightened our load but
there’s still plenty of work to be done.”
While JD and crew readied fairways/
greens for opening, several volunteers were
either making improvements in other areas of
the course, or had done so in recent past.
Mike Reynolds set his sights sprucing up
front entrance to clubhouse. He raked dried
leaves, pulled thistles on both sides of fence,
and set painted bumper logs in the parking lot.
He also straightened the leaning light pole by
the entry gate.
Chuck Haines, who is now remodeling the
‘scoring booth’ with the help of Mike Harsh-
fi eld, built new steps to the #1 Tee box.
Another active volunteer, Ron Layton
repaired cart paths and put down red cinder
rock donated by EONL. Also, in early spring
Layton removed the old BBQ brick pit and
teetering light pole.
In regards to Covid-19 rule ‘not touching’,
TEE TIME
By Rochelle Danielson
Greg Oveson’s idea of using pool noodles
in greens’ cups makes it safe to retrieve ball
without removing fl ag sticks. During off-sea-
son, Oveson transported outdoor equipment
out of town for repair. He and Tristan hauled
mower reels to Buffalo Peak for sharpening.
In February several volunteers helped
shovel snow off greens so fungicide could be
put on. Again, Hagan commented, “Greens
conditions are at their best due to actions
taken earlier.”
While Marvin Gibbs, clubhouse man-
ager, claims he has nothing to do with outside
improvements, he’s ahead of the game inside.
His friendly staff, Cheryl Kooch, Belinda
Kuntz and Lil Harshfi eld, donned in color-
ful masks donated by Cindy Parks, are loaded
with expertise. They’re also effi cient in wip-
ing down golf carts.
President, Judy Ables says, “Thanks to all
of you. It takes quite a team to make it possi-
ble for the golf course to work, and we’re so
lucky to have people who care for the course
and are willing to pitch in.”
And that my fellow golfers is why AMGC
looks like America’s ‘best kept’ front yard.
For the
Mom who
has you,
but not
everything.
creativity. not canceled.
many beautiful things happening right in our own homes.
If new floors would make you happier at home, we’re here
to help. Call us today to chat about your next project.
playtime. not canceled.
for Mom!
shop...
you want,
you want,
you want.
Wallowa County
Ace Hardware
Nothing could ever replace you at the top of moms
“favorites” list, but you could make Mother’s Day just
a little sweeter by picking up a gift for her at your
local Ace Hardware Store, The helpful place.
101 W North St, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3622
milestones. not canceled.
You can still get
what she wants
by shopping online,
calling the store
or making an
appointment to
come by and
visit us.
TEMPORARY Mon -Fri 8 am-12 Noon
STORE HOURS for Warehouse pickups
SHOWROOM OPEN Call to schedule a time
BY APPOINTMENT (541) 426-9228
800 S. River, Enterprise, OR 97828
541-426-9228 • www.carpetone.com