SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — A3
COMMUNITY
RESTROOMS
POWER
Continued from Page A1
In the past, the city’s parks mainte-
nance contractor unlocked restrooms
around 6 a.m. daily. An offi cer from the
Baker City Police Department then
locked them at night, although in some
cases not until after midnight, Bornstedt
said.
She said many of the incidents over
the past two months or so happened
after 8 p.m. — in some cases the city
could pinpoint the damage by reviewing
photos from the security cameras the
city installed in both parks earlier this
year.
There are six cameras in each park.
The city received a grant of $18,745
from the Leo Adler Foundation to help
pay for the cameras. The city’s total cost,
including installing electric lines and
poles, was $36,319.
Among the problems city offi cials
have dealt with recently, in addition to
graffi ti, are:
• someone tried to rip the urinal off
the wall in the men’s restroom at Geiser-
Pollman Park
• fi res have been lit in restrooms in
both parks
• people have plugged sinks in rest-
rooms, apparently to facilitate bathing,
leading to fl ooding
• people have been found sleeping
inside restrooms
Bornstedt said graffi ti has been an
occasional problem in restrooms — and
elsewhere in the parks — over the past
few years.
“But it’s been escalating,” she said.
“This year it seems like almost every
day we’ve had something. We can’t keep
up with it.”
Bornstedt estimated the city has
spent around $2,000 to repair damage
over the past two months or so.
APPEAL
Continued from Page A1
Documents from the DEQ
outline two types of violations,
both related to the discharge
permit the agency issued to the
city in 2004.
The fi rst type involves four
separate instances in 2019 and
2020 when the city allegedly
failed to monitor wastewater
either as it arrived at the treat-
ment facility or before treated
wastewater was released into
the Powder River.
The monetary fi ne is for
those alleged violations.
The second type of violation
involves the release of waste-
water into the river — what’s
known as the effl uent — and
allegations that in four cases
the effl uent exceeded permit-
ted limits of certain pollutants.
The DEQ is not proposing
to fi ne the city for any of those
instances.
Owen said she plans to chal-
lenge the agency’s contention
that the city failed to monitor
Baker City Public Works Department/Contributed Photo
This image from a security camera shows a person prying open the locked
door of the restroom at Central Park around 8:20 p.m. on June 18.
The city’s parks department budget
has $1,000 allocated for dealing with
vandalism during the current fi scal year,
which ends June 30. The budget for the
next fi scal year boosts that amount to
$3,000.
The security cameras have yielded
limited success, Bornstedt said.
On June 14, Baker City Police cited
two girls, ages 11 and 12, on criminal
mischief charges for graffi ti in Geiser-
Pollman Park after Bornstedt recog-
nized the girls from a video captured by
a city camera.
A camera at Central Park also
recorded a person who used a tool to
pry the plate off the door handle of the
restroom around 8:20 p.m. on June 18.
The person, who has not been identifi ed,
also damaged the vent at the bottom of
the door, Bornstedt said.
She noted, however, that the cameras
are of little use in identifying people who
wastewater as required by its
permit — the alleged violations
for which the city would have
to pay the $8,924 fi ne. Owen
said she believes the issue in-
volves how the agency, and city
offi cials, interpret the permit.
The specifi c allegations in
the DEQ notice include:
• That the city failed to
monitor the temperature
of wastewater, prior to its
discharge into the river, during
January 2019. The permit
requires that measurement to
be done weekly, according to
DEQ.
• That the city failed to
monitor wastewater, prior to
its discharge into the river, for
“excess thermal load” during
January 2019. The permit
requires that measurement to
be done weekly, according to
DEQ.
• That the city failed to
monitor wastewater, prior to
discharge, for three factors dur-
ing the week of June 2, 2020.
Those factors are “biochemi-
cal oxygen demand,” total
cause damage inside restrooms, since
the cameras only cover areas outside.
Bornstedt said issues are not limited
to the parks themselves.
The two bridges over the Powder Riv-
er on the Leo Adler Memorial Parkway
between Madison and Broadway streets
have been tagged with graffi ti, she said.
And Baker City Police have removed
homeless camps from beneath the
bridges.
Bornstedt said the city plans to place
concrete rubble beneath the bridges to
make them less attractive.
She noted that an Oregon law, which
takes effect July 1, 2023, could affect
the city’s ability to restrict camping on
public property.
The law mandates that any city or
county law must be reasonable if it regu-
lates “sitting, lying, sleeping or keep-
ing warm and dry outdoors on public
property.”
dissolved solids, and E. coli
bacteria. The permit requires
each of those parameters to be
measured twice weekly, accord-
ing to DEQ.
Biochemical oxygen demand
is a measurement of how the
wastewater could affect the
amount of dissolved oxygen
in the river. Fish and other
aquatic life need a certain
amount of dissolved oxygen
to survive, and bacteria and
other microorganisms that can
exist in wastewater can reduce
the concentration of dissolved
oxygen because they consume
oxygen as they decompose.
• That the city failed to
monitor wastewater entering
the treatment plan for bio-
chemical oxygen demand and
total dissolved solids during
the week ending April 4, 2020.
The permit requires those two
parameters to be measured
twice weekly, according to
DEQ.
Owen said she doesn’t
dispute that the city’s effl uent
exceeded limits in four cases, as
those are based on lab results.
The specifi c violations listed
in the order:
• That during October 2019
the city’s effl uent was 3% over
the monthly average permit-
ted limit for the amount of
biochemical oxygen demand.
• That during October 2020,
the city’s effl uent exceeded the
monthly average amount of
biochemical oxygen demand
by 55%.
• That on Oct. 21, 2020, the
city’s effl uent exceeded the
daily maximum amount of
biochemical oxygen demand
by 19%.
• That during the week of
Oct. 18, 2020, the city’s effl uent
exceeded the weekly average
limit of biochemical oxygen
demand by 63%.
its members — in Baker,
Union, Grant and Harney
Continued from Page A1
counties — prepare for
Joe Hathaway, com-
potential outages.
munications manager for
“Our whole point is just
OTEC, said power trans-
to say be as prepared as
mission and distribution
possible,” Hathaway said.
lines would be de-ener-
“And be prepared because,
gized only if the fi re threat you know it’s a last resort,
and other risk factors, such and these outages could
as strong winds, posed an last a day or more. We just
abnormally severe threat. want people to be ready.”
“The thing we really
OTEC’s tips
want to reiterate is we’re
• Update your contact
not saying the sky is fall-
ing or anything like that,” information with OTEC
Hathaway said. “This is a via your online account or
last resort option. We know by calling 541-523-3616.
• Have a personal safety
losing power is a big deal
and it’s the last thing we’d plan in place for every
ever want to do. But in the member of your household,
including a plan for your
interest of protecting our
communities, it could be a pets and/or livestock.
• Sign up for your
possibility.
county’s emergency notifi -
“There’s a lot of factors
cation system. You can fi nd
that go into that — the
that by calling your county
red fl ag warnings, wind
or you can fi nd a list of
speed, conditions on the
OTEC-served counties at
ground, the fi re threat to
otec.coop/safety-fi rst.
our infrastructure that
• Plan for any medical
would defi nitely be one of
the ones that would make needs like medications
that need to be refrigerat-
us decide which lines to
ed or devices that require
initiate,” Hathaway said.
“And then, on-the-ground power, such as oxygen
tanks.
observations from some
• Create or restock
community partners, from
your emergency supply
the Forest Service and
kit including food, water,
other agencies.”
fl ashlights, a radio, fresh
OTEC offi cials pointed
batteries, fi rst aid supplies,
out in a press release
and cash.
that other power provid-
• Identify backup charg-
ers have used intentional
ing methods for phones
outages over the past
few years including some and medical equipment.
• Know how to open
during the Labor Day fi res
your garage door manu-
that devastated parts of
ally.
western and southern
• Ensure any backup
Oregon.
generators are ready to
If OTEC decides an
operate safely.
intentional outage is
• Identify the unique
necessary, the cooperative
will try to notify its mem- needs of your family and
loved ones in the area for
bers as soon as possible
through a variety of chan- your emergency plan.
• Designate an emer-
nels, including automated
phone calls, press releases gency meeting location.
• Make sure to discon-
and posts on social media
and the cooperative’s web- nect from OTEC’s system
using an approved discon-
site — otec.coop.
If an outage is necessary, nect switch before using
OTEC workers will inspect a generator to prevent
lines and other equipment, backfeed, which could be
once the extreme weather deadly to utility workers
attempting to turn power
has passed, to ensure
back on.
there is no damage.
• Do not overload the
If so, repairs would be
generator, use it to only
made before the power
power essential appliances
was restored. Outages
or equipment.
could last for hours or up
• Only operate the gen-
to several days.
erator outside, not indoors.
OTEC recommends
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
Rowena Royal: 89, of Baker
City, died June 24, 2021, at her
home. Arrangements are under
the direction of Coles Tribute
Center.To leave an online condo-
lence for her family, go to www.
colestributecenter.com.
FUNERALS PENDING
Mildred A. Wall: Memorial
Mass Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m.
at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral,
2235 First St. Friends of Millie
are welcome. If you wish, Mil-
lie would always appreciate a
donation to the Oregon Humane
Society or the ASPCA.
Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Riseley:
Graveside service Saturday, July
3 at 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cem-
etery. For those who would like
to make a memorial donation in
honor of Liz, the family suggests
either St. Jude’s Children’s Hos-
pital or Heart ’N Home Hospice
(Opal Foundation) through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home
& Cremation Services, P.O. Box
543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online
condolences can be made at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
James Oliver (J.O.) Max-
well: Graveside memorial
service with Air Force military
honors, Monday, July 5 at 10
a.m. at the Haines Cemetery. In
lieu of fl owers, please consider
donating to the Haines Elemen-
tary School or a charity of your
choice through Gray’s West &
Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey
Ave., Baker City, OR 97814. Pam
Maxwell is compiling a memory
book for the family. If you have
a fond memory or copy of a
photo, please send them to Pam
Maxwell, 15177 Muddy Creek
Lane, Haines, OR 97833.
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker
County warrant), OUT-OF-COUN-
TY WARRANT: Pearl Naomi
Adair, 40, Baker City, 4:11 p.m.
Thursday, June 24 in the High-
way 7 underpass; jailed.
PROBATION VIOLATION:
Jason Lee Troyer, 45, Baker City,
12:06 p.m. Thursday, June 24
Providing quality and compassion to all his patients.
Dr Sanders specializes in all aspects
of the foot and ankle. Anything from
foot & ankle pain to diabetic foot care &
limb salvage, injuries, surgery, skin or
toe nail conditions, sports medicine, he
covers it all!
in the 1200 block of Campbell
Street; jailed.
SECOND-DEGREE CHILD
NEGLECT (Baker County Circuit
Court warrant): Amelia Jose-
phine Idalski, 29, 11:51 p.m.
Wednesday, June 23 in the 2900
block of East Street; cited and
released.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
PROBATION VIOLATION
(Wallowa County Circuit Court
warrant): Stephan Lee Austin,
19, Joseph, 1:56 p.m. Thursday,
June 24 in Haines; jailed.
CONTEMPT OF COURT
(Baker County warrant), DRIV-
ING WHILE SUSPENDED: Frank
Nathan McNair, 41, Baker City,
3:31 p.m. Wednesday, June 23
on Dewey Avenue; cited and
released.
EASTERN OREGON
2021
PHOTO CONTEST
Voting for ‘People’s Choice’
NOW OPEN
Vote online for People’s Choice from 12:01 am Monday,
June 21 through 11:59 pm Wednesday, June 30.
The winners will appear in the July 8th edition of Go Magazine;
the top 25 will appear online.
Gift cards to a restaurant of your choice will be awarded for fi rst, second and third place.
2830 10th St Baker City, Oregon
%DNHU&LW\RI¿FHKRXUV
Mon-Thurs 8am-5am
Brian Sanders, DPM
&OLQLFKRXUV Tuesday 8am-5pm
Accepting most insurances
Thursday 8am-12pm
&OLQLFRI¿FHV in Ontario (every other monday)
John Day (every other monday)
La Grande (every Wednesday)
541-524-0122
All photos online at:
bakercityherald.com/photocontest