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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2020)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Public records proposal fixes old flaws T he Oregon Legis- lature created the office of public records advocate in 2017, and Ginger McCall was appointed to the post in January 2018 by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. One year and nine months later, McCall was gone, having resigned in protest over interference from some on Brown’s staff. Now lawmakers, with the advantage of hindsight, are doing what they should have done in the begin- ning. They’re proposing changes in the current law that will give the public records advocate and Public Records Advisory Council the independence they need. Members of the state Senate’s Interim Committee on General Government and Emergency Preparedness will get a first formal look at the draft legislation when it meets Monday. All in all, what’s being proposed fixes most of the flaws that McCall’s depar- ture exposed. The public records advocate will be independent, appointed by the Public Records Advi- sory Council and subject to hiring and firing only by the council. Also, the council itself will have the right to sup- port or oppose legislation as well as to ask lawmakers to introduce legislation for it. That’s particularly important. In her resigna- tion letter to the governor, McCall said she had been pressured by members of the governor’s staff to rep- resent the governor’s inter- ests, even when they con- flicted with those of the advocate and the coun- cil. Worse, she was told not to tell anyone about the request. The proposed changes would make it clear to all that the advocate and the council are, in fact, inde- pendent, not answerable to the governor or any other elected official. One problem still remains in the law, how- ever, and lawmakers should address it in the proposed legislation. Of the 14 mem- bers of the Public Records Advisory Council, nine rep- resent government agencies or public employees’ labor unions, three are journal- ists and one is a member of the public. At the very least, the council should have as many members of the press and public as it does of government. FARMER’S FATE HAPPY NEW YEAR! By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle ecember flashed in like a lightening bolt, and it seems before anyone could count “one-one thousand, two-one thou- sand,” the thunder is booming with New Year’s fireworks. I had been looking forward to that slow time of year — that time when farm- ers sit around the fireplace, watch old movies and eat bon bons. OK, I know, a pace that slow never hap- pens — unless you break both legs and maybe an arm. But I was still looking forward to sitting around the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree in the evening, playing board games with the kids and making fudge a daily part of the menu. Our December didn’t happen that way, though. Oh sure, our intake ratio of fudge to salad defi- nitely increased, but otherwise our month was every bit as exhaust- ing as the middle of harvest. Each weekend found us hosting another Christmas party. My favorite was our annual tree decorating con- test. The shop was cleaned, the work benches lined with wrapping paper and a drop-ceiling of lights hung. Soon, the groups were bid- ding on random items they were going to use to create the “essence of a Christmas tree.” This year our auction included the Hoop Tree, the STEM tree, the Beauty Pag- eant tree, the DIY tree and the “Oh” Christmas Tree. Our brochure advertised them as such: The Hoop Tree: Sir Mix a Lot may have been rapping about a ’69 Buick, but only because he hadn’t met this adorable little HoopTree. The bumper isn’t the only thing shaking about this rusty, dilapi- dated little soul. But together with a little electrical tape and love, he is sure to be brought back to his stardom. D The winning group of this tree found themselves the proud owners of three cardboard tubes from the baler rolls of plastic wrap, wire from some old Brianna row cover and a roll Walker of electrical tape. The STEM tree: This tree allows for experimenta- tion, critical thinking and imagina- tion while working together to cre- ate an award-winning solution. But the most important thing to remem- ber is that while you may think you are familiar with STEM — tonight it’s more about “Stressing Together Entertains Many.” The winners of this auction tree received a box of giant tinker toys. The Beauty Pagent Tree: A for- mer Miss Christmas Tree 2015, this stunning little beauty may be beyond the first blush of youth, but she is still spry for her age. She may be past the swim suit contests, but with a lit- tle makeup and glitter, she is sure to come back to some aspect of her for- mer beauty. Dead is such a harsh word — so the winners of this auction received a “formerly alive” Christmas tree from four years ago. The DIY Tree: DIY activities are all the rage this year, often cost- ing much more than it would have taken to have just bought the prod- uct, but it’s all the about the experi- ence. Avoid the frustration of finding the perfect tree — and just build one that fits. These auction winners were given a smooth, 15-foot branch hang- ing from the ceiling, a box of pine boughs and a drill. And last there was the “Oh” Christmas Tree. A lovely little song of a fir tree makes you want to hum: Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, you scream to cats “Destroy me!” Your lights are wired improp- erly. You start on fire randomly. Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, next year you’ll be in a compost heap. These auction winners received the only real tree of the evening. The creativity and ingenuity this party brings out never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me. The evening passed with much laughter— espe- cially when a life-sized snowman Olaf passed through during the white elephant junk exchange. It was a good December, just busier than I would have preferred. My youngest son celebrated a birth- day, we hosted three Christmas par- ties, attended a Mannheim Steam- roller concert, along with Christmas plays and lights parades. We sold 500 Christmas trees, built wooden tobog- gans for all our nieces and nephews and wrote a Christmas letter that still hasn’t found it’s way to the mailbox. The letter, which started like this, pretty much summed up our year — including December: Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen Pour myself a cup of ambition Yawn and stretch, it’s time to hit the grind. Jump in the tractor and the oil starts pumpin’ Out in the field the baler starts thumpin’ With farmers like us in the field from 5 to 9. Workin’ 5 to 9, it’s the way we make our livin’ Barely gettin’ sleep, between wor- kin’ and some playin’ Keep that coffee pot full, just make sure it’s not unleaded It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it. So as the fireworks thunder in the New Year, our family wishes every- one a full coffee pot, lots of laugh- ter and more sleep than we got in the previous year! GUEST COMMENT WHERE TO WRITE 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: senecaoregon@gmail.com. SALEM • Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800- 332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: oregonlegislature.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: oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202- 456-1111; Switchboard: 202-456- 1414. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by Why create an employee handbook? By Greg Smith To the Blue Mountain Eagle mployers of any size will benefit from a straight- forward, well written employee handbook. This doc- ument clearly spells out com- pany policies and expectations as well as provides employees with a tool of reference should ques- tions arise. When drafting an employee handbook, it is essential that all federal and state employment laws are adhered to and be writ- ten in simple language, rather than legalese. It should always contain an employee and man- ager signature line and date doc- umenting the handbook has been carefully reviewed by the employee and any questions answered by a supervisor. While it will take time to cre- ate the handbook (and keep it updated), there are many benefits to both employer and employee. Examples include: • By creating uniform expec- tations, it can lessen workplace E Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Community News .................................editor@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................editor@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Administrative Assistant ..................Christy Smith, office@bmeagle.com Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Online: MyEagleNews.com strife and stream- line the hiring process. • The hand- book documents company proce- dures and spe- cific rules regard- Greg Smith ing dress code, any permitted use of personal electronic devices, non-discrimination, harassment (and how to file a complaint), compensation and benefits, com- pany holidays, sick leave informa- tion, scheduling, etc. • Discusses consequences, including termination, for violat- ing these expectations. • It may also offer a level of employer protection in the event of an employee lawsuit. Helpful content to include in an employee handbook may include: • Welcome to Our Team • About Us • Explanation of “at-will” employment • Office conduct • Probationary period • Specific cell phone and social 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery 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 Phone: 541-575-0710 media usage rules • Safety policies • Payroll schedule/time-card completion • Performance reviews • Company benefits and enrollment • Exit interviews in the event of resignation or termination Employers should review the handbook on a regular basis and make changes as needed. Addi- tions or revisions may be neces- sary, and it is also important to remove any policies that are not enforced. While it is tempting not to have an employee handbook in place when there is a small team, it is well worth the time to avoid aggravation and ensure standards for the business are being met. Greg Smith is the director of the Eastern Oregon University Small Business Development Cen- ter located at 1607 Gekeler Lane, No. 148, in La Grande. You may schedule a free, confidential busi- ness advising appointment by call- ing 541-962-1532 or emailing eousbdc@gmail.com. Copyright © 2020 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. facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
