A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Public records
are public
T
he county and the
sheriff’s office were both
at fault in recent lawsuits,
and county taxpayers will
ultimately pay the $42,000 bill.
We hope both entities have
learned from their errors, and
we hope all public entities
have learned the importance of
complying with public records
requests.
What began with a simple,
albeit thorough, public records
request by The Oregonian
newspaper to the sheriff’s
office has cost the county a
significant sum, not to mention
the time spent on the lawsuits.
The sheriff should have
produced the public records
when requested, and the
county should have provided
legal defense to respond to the
records request and the lawsuit
that was filed when the records
were not produced.
Because The Oregonian had
to file a lawsuit to compel the
disclosure of the public records,
a judge awarded the newspaper
$28,000 in attorney fees.
Responding adequately to the
request would have prevented
this debacle.
Because the county did not
provide legal counsel for the
sheriff’s office, the county
court opted to settle the lawsuit
brought against the county
by the sheriff’s office for an
additional $14,000. Providing
legal counsel for county
employees could have avoided
this additional cost, but once
The Oregonian’s lawsuit was
filed, it is likely that nothing the
county could have done would
have avoided the $28,000 fee.
Politics appears to have
prevented the prudent course of
action in both instances.
Placing the entire blame on
the county for its actions or on
the newspaper for its request,
however, misses an important
point.
Public records are public.
They belong to everyone.
Every person has a right
to inspect or receive copies
of them, and it is the duty of
public officials to accommodate
such requests — even if it is
inconvenient.
News organizations have the
same rights as individuals when
it comes to public records, but
responding to a request from
a newspaper that publishes
the information for the masses
is far more efficient than
responding to requests from the
masses individually.
And most records requests
do not require litigation or
attorneys or fees. All that is
generally required is providing
the public access to the records
— their records.
Without this access,
government scandals, like the
one that led to former Gov.
Kitzhaber’s resignation, would
rarely come to light.
The public needs this access
to hold officials accountable.
Newspapers use this access to
do just that.
We hope this case illustrates
how important it is for public
entities to make public records
available to the public.
W HERE TO W RITE
GRANT COUNTY
• Grant County Courthouse — 201 S.
Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820.
Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541-575-2248.
• Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon
City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax: 541-
575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centurylink.net.
• Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825.
Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-987-2187.
Email:dville@ortelco.net
• John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day,
97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541-575-
1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek
97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-
3075. Email: info@cityoflongcreek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument
97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email:
cityofmonument@centurytel.net.
• Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon
97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-
4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net.
• Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City
97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-
3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net.
• Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873.
Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: sene-
caoregon@gmail.com.
SALEM
• Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capi-
tol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378-3111. Fax:
503-378-6827. Website: www.governor.state.
or.us/governor.html.
• Oregon Legislature — State Capitol,
Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Web-
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
site: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon
Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes).
• Oregon Legislative Information — (For
updates on bills, services, capitol or messag-
es for legislators) — 800-332-2313.
• Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900
Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone:
503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonleg-
islature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@
oregonlegislature.gov.
• Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court
St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-
986-1460. Website: www.oregonlegislature.
gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@
oregonlegislature.gov.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
• The White House, 1600 Pennsylva-
nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500;
Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch-
board: 202-456-1414.
• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart
Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_
kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website: http://
wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717.
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart
Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email:
senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-
228-3997. Oregon offices include One World
Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite
1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E.
Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801.
Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278-1129. Fax:
503-326-2990.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
The best part
of the forest plan
To the Editor:
After 27 years, the United States
Forest Service is approaching com-
pletion of its new-and-improved Blue
Mountains Forest Plan. Wooh-hooh!
Pour the champagne and pass out the
cigars, because now we (almost) have
a new forest plan!
I know what you’re thinking.
How’d they get it done so quickly?
How’d they get it done in only 27
years? All I can say is that the Forest
Service is naturally quick like that.
The incredible efficiency with which
the Forest Service operates allows it
to complete many of its projects in as
little as three decades.
Once in place, the new plan will
magically correct adverse effects pro-
duced by decades of neglect, by the
agency created with the sole purpose
of managing our forests: the U.S. For-
est Service. You see, while the Forest
Service was busy diligently drafting
this new plan, large areas of our forests
were dying as the result of bug kill and
forest fires and other types of “natural”
phenomena. But, rest assured, the new
plan will fix everything.
What can we look forward to with
this new plan? Massive road closures
top the list. These road closures won’t
only prevent Grant County citizens
from accessing some of their favorite
places on the Malheur forest, they’ll
also discourage hunters from visit-
ing Grant County and patronizing
many local businesses, which as we
all know, already have more business
than they can handle.
The new plan will also restore tim-
ber harvest on the Malheur forest to a
fraction of the level it was when Grant
County was prosperous. So around the
year 2040 or so, when this increased
timber harvest becomes a reality, trees
will be cut on the Malheur forest and
sent to mills in other towns, still func-
tioning after the decades-long timber
harvesting freeze, compliments of the
U.S. Forest Service. The best part of
the plan, however, lies in its concern
for nonhuman entities like wolves,
goshawks, pileated woodpeckers and
fish never once mentioned in the U.S.
Constitution. If no one else benefits
from this plan, we can all feel good
knowing that they, at least, will.
Gregg Boethin
Canyon City
‘I (conditionally) offer
to withdraw my legal
challenges’
To the Editor:
In a letter last week, Mr. Powell
accuses me of attacking Grant Coun-
ty and our “property rights, via disin-
formation and underhanded manipu-
lation of citizenry” that is “criminal
itself.” I agree there are individuals
in the county who regularly peddle
misinformation to manipulate county
residents and local government that
verges on criminal. I’m not one of
these individuals, however.
As evidence, I offer to withdraw
my legal challenges provided the fol-
lowing conditions are met. First, the
county court starts enforcing Road
Ordinance 2013-01 by directing road
department staff (in writing) to open
all roads state or federal agencies
have closed in violation of the ordi-
nance — e.g., by removing physical
barriers that block motorized travel
onto these routes.
Second, the county sheriff starts
enforcing Ordinance 2013-01 by pre-
venting future closures and protect-
ing road department employees (and
others) from state or federal agencies
who will challenge the county court’s
authority and directive to open closed
roads.
Third, John George, Judy Kerr
and Jim Sproul participate as citizens
to open roads closed by state or feder-
al agencies in violation of Ordinance
2013-01. I add this condition because
these individuals — staunch support-
ers of the ordinance and unfettered
access to public lands across Grant
County — are known for acting on
their convictions.
Fourth, no secrecy: All roads
opened per Ordinance 2013-01 are
to be documented in the road depart-
ment’s daily work-tracking system
and shared with the Blue Mountain
Eagle for public disclosure. This info
must include road location and iden-
tify the individuals who opened it.
I’ll pay for the space to display this
information.
And fifth, there must be docu-
mented action opening closed roads,
per the conditions described above,
to share with the public by Oct. 3. It
goes without saying that these roads
must remain open in the future unless
closed per Ordinance 2013-01.
If Ordinance 2013-01 is legit, our
elected officials do their respective
jobs and John George, Judy Kerr and
Jim Sproul act on their convictions,
we can expect illegally closed roads
will soon be open for use again.
Mark Webb
Mt Vernon
ODOT commended
for quick action
To the Editor:
Residing on east Highway 26,
John Day, most specifically on the
outer edges of the city limits, has its
definite drawbacks. On a daily basis,
we observe drivers not only exceed-
ing the speed limit (35 mph), but also
passing other drivers — this, directly
in front of our homes. My neighbors
and I have been greatly concerned
that with the issue of safety for the
children and families who live and
play in this area.
I commend Shane Giffin of our lo-
cal ODOT for addressing this safety
issue in an expeditious manner; they
have painted the double lines once
again which was much needed.
Larry G. Burton
John Day
Corporate greed leads
to trade deficit
To the Editor:
So our trade deficit with China is
at an all time high. The reason seems
obvious but is ignored. U.S. corpora-
tions used to sell products manufac-
tured by U.S. companies in the USA.
Today “Made in China” is the rule,
not the exception. The culprit for the
deficit is greed by corporate America.
NPR gave a perfect example recently:
Apple manufactures a new I-Phone in
its China factories for less than $250.
It then sells it to the American con-
sumer for a $750 profit.
Fred Fitzgerald
Monument
Questions about
ordinance, initiative
challenges
To the Editor:
The voters of Grant County have
been dealt a slap in the face by “Cit-
izen” Mark Webb, who by financial
and political association is linked to
various state agencies, environmental
and conservancy groups, the Malheur
National Forest and the Blue Moun-
tains Forest Partners as executive
director (through which he receives
financial support).
He seeks to overturn two 2002
county measures (passed by county
voters) and one 2013 county ordi-
nance (declared enforceable by coun-
ty legal counsel), which he declares
as being invalid, unlawful, unenforce-
able and null and void. His complaint
refers to unspecified federal laws as
a basis for his challenge. You may
consider the federal marijuana law
after which Oregon decided their own
marijuana law, the counties decided
their own law and the cities decided
their own law. So, what omnipotent
federal law overturns Oregon Re-
vised Statues and the constitution that
support rights of local voters to have
a voice in their government when the
federal government can’t enforce ju-
risdiction over a pot plant?
Complaints that Webb filed last
year, as well as the current complaint,
erroneously use ordinance statutes
as a basis to define and attack initia-
tives. Measure 12-37 declaring Grant
County a “U.N.-free zone” is one of
the targets. One should ask why Mr.
Webb wants to allow the United Na-
tions to establish a foothold in Grant
County and with agendas designed
to dominate citizens and confiscate
our guns and land. Again, ask why
Mr. Webb seeks to overturn mea-
sures that have stood for 16 years
and a 5-year-old ordinance, all of
which were initiated according to
Oregon state statutes. Why did he not
use the option at the inception of the
initiatives to object? Who benefits
by the demise of measures passed
in 2002 and a 2013 road ordinance,
which dealt with county participation
in management of our public lands
within Grant County borders? Why
would he refer to “federally owned”
roads (these located on public land
and built with timber dollars) in his
complaint against the ordinance? So
who is Webb really serving? In this
situation, financial and political asso-
ciations point the way.
Judy Kerr
Canyon City
L
etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity
is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you
letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must
be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for
questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue
Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244.
Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper
P UBLISHER ............ ..................... C HRIS R USH , CRUSH @ EOMEDIAGROUP . COM
E DITOR & G ENERAL M ANAGER ... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM
R EPORTER ............................... R ICHARD H ANNERS , RICK @ BMEAGLE . COM
C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM
S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM
M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM
A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ M AKENNA A DAIR , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM
O FFICE A SSISTANT .................... A LIXANDRA H AND , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM
1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES
(including online access)
Grant County .....................................$40
Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51
Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60
Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery
MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710
Periodicals Postage Paid at John
Day and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER
send address changes to:
Blue Mountain Eagle
195 N. Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845-1187
USPS 226-340
Copyright © 2018 Blue Mountain Eagle
All rights reserved. No part of this
publication covered by the copyright
hereon may be reproduced or
copied in any form or by any means
— graphic, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, taping or
information storage and retrieval
systems — without written
permission of the publisher.
www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews
@MyEagleNews