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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2020)
LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 COUNCIL Continued from Page 1A Councilor Lynette Perry, who said during the Council’s Oct. 13 meeting that the proposed policy “terrifi es” her, said Tuesday that she believes it should be called the Baker City Exces- sive Force and Civil Rights Demonstra- tion Policy “because it is covering both of those.” “We got a little lost in it being called ‘excessive force’ which really was not as much the issue as the demonstra- tion portion as far as I was concerned,” Perry said. The proposed policy reads: “It is the policy of the City of Baker City that: 1. Its law enforcement personnel shall not use excessive force against any individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations, and 2. Applicable state and local laws that prohibit physically barring entrance to or exit from a facility or location which is the subject of such nonviolent civil rights demonstra- tions within its jurisdiction shall be enforced.” Councilor Doni Bruland, who also has objected to the language in the proposed policy, said she wants the city to help New Directions Northwest acquire the federal grant to build the fi tness center for its clients in mental health and addiction treatment. The facility wouldn’t be open to the general public. “I think the center is needed and I appreciate, honestly, the work you did and the people that can use it,” Bruland said. “It still comes down to us as a group, as a governing body, being forced to sign something that we already have in existence.” Bruland compared the block grant requirement to blackmail, with the federal government enticing the city with money. She reiterated her belief that the Baker City Police’s existing 8-page use of force policy already covers the issues listed in the proposed policy. “You’re asking an entire community to sign on to a redundant policy to get money for a few,” Bruland said. “And it’s that blackmail that I’m against. It’s the idea that we are being forced to sign something that we already have as a law, not just a policy. “This is opening a huge can of worms and setting a precedent that ‘we’ll take your money and agree to “You’re asking an entire community to sign on to a redundant policy to get money for a few.” — City Councilor Doni Bruland whatever you want to tell us to say’ and that’s not right,” Bruland said. Perry agreed with Bruland. “I’m in total awe that you got the grant and what you want to do, it’s a wonderful project. My objection is the wording,” Perry said. Mayor Loran Joseph, who has urged his fellow councilors to approve the policy and secure the grant for New Directions, said Tuesday that elected offi cials in more than 15,000 other communities nationwide have adopted the policy since 1990. Perry said she would support adopting a policy if the wording was changed. “If we could have something that refl ects what we have in place (as a use of force policy) and state it for their approval that this is what we have in place, that would be wonderful. But for them to say you have to have it in these words, that doesn’t really defi ne what we’re signing off on, is where I object,” said Perry. Councilor Larry Morrison was absent Tuesday, and councilors did not take any action. A motion to table the matter failed by a 3-3 vote, with Perry, Bruland and Arvid Andersen voting yes on the motion, and Joseph, Jason Spriet and Randy Schiewe voting no. Several residents attended the meet- ing to comment about the controversy over the proposed policy. Ethan Wolston, a member of the Baker Community Justice Project, endorsed the policy and grant. “Our group seeks to make Baker City a more open, welcoming, and just community for all people,” Wolston said. “We value respect, human dignity, and inclusive values. We resist racisim, xe- nophobia, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination.” He said the group’s support of the grant for New Directions is driven by a desire to include and provide opportu- nity to all members of the community. “In building their wellness center, New Directions will provide opportuni- ties to traditionally underserved popu- lations here in Baker City,” Wolston said. BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A Troy Lepley of Baker City objected to the proposed policy. “People I’ve talked to across the board, the concern is the way this has come about,” Lepley said. “This has come about through a grant, through money, that is requiring us to enact a policy that has absolutely nothing to do with the grant itself. And I’m also concerned about, does that mean any policy? If someone could wave enough money in front of us, we’ll enact what- ever?” New Directions CEO Shari Selander asked councilors to consider “what is the cost to our community if we don’t approve adopting the policy.” “Loss for economic development, loss of being able to have a positive impact for our at-risk youth and adults, the vulnerable population here in Baker,” Selander said. “It makes a difference for the 17-year-old suicidal young man that we continually deal with. It makes a dif- ference for the adolescent girls that are cutting and struggling with inner pain.” Selander said traditional therapy doesn’t work for everyone, and the fi t- ness center would allow people in treat- ment to spend time with friends. “It makes a difference in their lives and that’s what I see every day, that’s what my staff sees,” Selander said. She reminded councilors that Baker City Police Chief Ray Duman is not op- posed to the city adopting the proposed policy. Duman told councilors Oct. 13 that he doesn’t believe the policy would affect how officers do their jobs. Shad Thomas, addictions program director for New Directions, told coun- cilors that about 37% of Baker County’s population qualifies for Medicaid and would be eligible to use the proposed fitness center. “Additionally, that population of 37% has a huge impact on everyone else,” Thomas said. “You take into account mental health, substance abuse issues, these are kids and families that are growing up that your children and your grandchildren are going to be involved with. They are people that are going to be owning businesses in the next 10, 15, 20 years. What type of community are we trying to build and support to leave our children?” Thomas said there is no effective medications to treat methamphetamine abuse, saying the best treatment is exercise. “It increases the probability that they will remain sober, it also decreases their withdrawal symptoms,” Thomas said. Switch and get LATEST PHONES FREE No Hidden Requirements Wallowa-Whitman National Forest / Contributed Photo A fi re on Tuesday night damaged the historic Peavy Cabin in the Elkhorn Mountains. CABIN escaped from the fi replace chimney, setting fi re to a wall Continued from Page 1A and the cabin’s ceiling, ac- The cabin, along the North cording to Cikanek. Fork of the John Day River Flames burned a section between Anthony Lakes and of logs on the outside of the Granite, was built in 1934 by cabin in one area. George Wilcox Peavy, then The hunters spent much dean of the School of Forestry of the night pouring water on at Oregon State University. the fi re, Cikanek said. 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