Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 04/06/2005 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS COUNTY COMMISSIONER DR. CARL STIFF
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the April 6, 2005 Commission Session. Present were Commission Chair Fred Warner, Commissioner Tim L. Kerns and Commissioner Carl E. Stiff.
Citizens' Participation: Mr. Steve Culley was present and suggested that the County look into a mobile sound system for the Commission Chambers. Mr. Culley also commented on the state of Idaho taking perch out of Phillips Reservoir. Mr. Culley stated that it was either time to bring Phillips Reservoir back to the way it was or to let it go. Commissioner Kerns questioned why Idaho wanted the perch. Mr. Culley stated that they had a perch fishery.
Review/Approval of Minutes:Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the March 16, 2005 commission session minutes as presented. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Scheduled Business: Land Purchase for Hewitt/Holcomb Park: Parks Director Lorrie Harvey was present before the Board. Ms. Harvey stated that she had met with the architects, Anderson & Perry and they had decided that there was not enough land with the current plans and septic. They had two options: 1) purchase more land or 2) tie into the Richland lagoon system. Ms. Harvey stated that the second option was really not feasible. Ms. Harvey reported that Ms. Holcomb had agreed to sell 5.3 acres at $3,600.00/acre. The five acres was more than what they needed but Ms. Holcomb had wanted to square off her land for farming purposes. Commissioner Kerns questioned what funds would be used for the purchase. Ms. Harvey stated that she would be asking for $10,000 from Idaho Power Company and the rest would come out of the Parks budget.
Documents to be Signed: Planning Commission Bylaws: Commissioner Warner stated that the bylaws had been reviewed again by the Planning Commission as requested at the March 16, 2005 session and only minor spelling corrections had been made. Commissioner Warner moved to approve the Planning Commission Bylaws. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution for Oregon Savings & Growth Plan: Debbie Hoopes, Personnel Director, was present before the Board. Ms. Hoopes stated that the Oregon Savings & Growth Plan was a separate plan from the two offered now at the County: PEPSCO and Nationwide. There was no cost to the County to sign up and workshops would be offered to employees that would explain the program. Commissioner Warner added that the retirement plan had only been offered to state employees and now they were including city and county. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the resolution to have the Oregon Savings & Growth Plan available for county employees. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Warner believed the fees to be lower when participating in this plan. Motion carried unanimously.
Scheduled Business: Staffing Proposal and Website Proposal from Powder Basin Watershed Council: Mac Kerns and Vicki Wares were present before the Board. Mr. Kerns updated the Commissioners on the status of the Water and Stream Health (WASH) Steering Committee. The Committee had held two meetings and was working well together. Mr. Kerns stated that the Powder Basin Watershed Council was willing to offer $3,400 to go towards staffing the WASH if the County would match it. Mr. Kerns presented the Commissioners with two proposals: hire a temporary staff person or enter into a personal services contract. Mr. Kerns’ preference was to enter into a personal services contract. Discussion was held on whether or not to hire the person full time for 90 days or halftime for 180 days.
Vicki Wares and Bill Lee were present before the Board and began to discuss the website proposal. Ms. Wares stated that the Powder Basin Watershed Council was having difficulty with outreach and visibility of their programs. The Council had identified that they needed a website. They could hire someone commercially, but would rather have the County host their site. Mr. Lee stated that he would begin small and create a couple of pages at a time.
Commissioner Kerns moved to enter into a professional services agreement for staffing of the WASH Steering Committee for $6,800, of which half would come from the Powder Basin Watershed Council. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Consensus was reached to have Mr. Lee would work on web pages for the Council.
Final Public Hearing on Measure 37 Ordinance:
Commissioner Warner opened the public hearing at 10:10 a.m.
Shawn Berry, Planner, went over changes that had been made after the March public hearing. A section was being added that the Board of Commissioners’ meeting agendas would serve as a public notice.
Mr. Steve Culley questioned if the 30-day time period for notices and requests for additional information would put the County past the 180 days to make a decision. Commissioner Warner assured him that the County would make their decisions within 180 days of receipt of the application.
Commissioner Kerns questioned how agendas were distributed. Ms. Nudd explained that they were posted at the Courthouse, on the website, at the Post Office and the Library. If there were people that did not have access to the website or could not get into town, Ms. Nudd would send them a notice in the mail.
Discussion on the ordinance continued and additional changes were made including using the word “regulation” instead of “ordinance” on page 7.
Mr. Wayne Troy was present and questioned if a Measure 37 application was approved if it would entitle you to an address. Commissioner Warner stated that Measure 37 applications did not deal with rural addressing. Mr. Berry suggested that Mr. Troy visit with the Planning Department to discuss his concerns on addressing.
Mr. Culley stated that there was no such thing a county land use law and the state was making counties the enforcement officers. Mr. Culley added that after 30 years, now was the time to get rid of LCDC and hoped to see it started at the county level.
Commissioner Warner closed the public hearing at 10:48 a.m.
Commissioner Warner moved to read Ordinance 2005-01 by title only. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warner read Ordinance 2005-01: In the Matter of an Ordinance Adopting Procedures to Establish a Process to Consider Claims for Compensation or Adjustment of Land Use Regulations for Eligible Claimants; Declaring an Emergency. Commissioner Stiff moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-01. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Introduction of New Facilities Director and Update: Jason Yencopal, Facilities Director, was present before the Board. Mr. Yencopal stated that he would be meeting with each department to do an assessment. Prior to that, Mr. Yencopal would be remodeling his office area to make it more user friendly and accessible to everyone.
Contract Review Board:
Commissioner Warner moved into Contract Review Board:
Consolidated Dispatch 911 Agreement with the City of Baker City: Commissioner Warner stated that the agreement was for the 2005-06 fiscal year for $232,000. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the Agreement with the City of Baker City for 911 services. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Amendment #1 to Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Commission on Children and Families: Commissioner Warner stated that the amendment increased the original agreement by $25,000 and would be used for the Healthy Start Program. Commissioner Stiff moved to accept Amendment #1 to the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Commission on Children and Families for the Healthy Start Program. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
CCF Agreement with TEC and ChildCare Resource and Referral (CCRR): Commissioner Warner stated that the agreement was for $2,500 and would go towards after school adventures. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve the Agreement with TEC and CCRR. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Alarm System Overhaul: Sheriff Southwick and Undersheriff Thompson were present before the Board. Undersheriff Thompson stated that their current fire alarm system was no longer being supported. Alpine Communication Systems was the only local contact that could supply and support what they needed. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the contract with Alpine Communication for the installation of a fire alarm system at the Sheriff’s Office and Jail at an estimated cost of $8,405. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Commissioner Stiff abstained as his son-in-law was employed at Alpine Communications. Motion carried.
Purchase Agreement with Ms. Wadean Holcomb: Commissioner Warner stated that the agreement had been discussed earlier in the meeting, however the purchase price required them to take the matter up while in Contract Review Board. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the purchase of 5.3 acres from Ms. Wadean Holcomb. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warner moved to exit out of Contract Review Board.
Other Business: Consideration of AOC Invoice: Commissioner Warner stated that AOC was asking counties to contribute to Bill Hansell’s presidency and inauguration for the National Association of Counties. Commissioner Kerns moved to allow Commissioner Warner to make the decision. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Scheduled Business: New Status of "A" Listed Weed (Scotch Thistle) and New Designations (Dyers Woad, Mediterranean Sage and Musk Thistle):Arnie Grammon was present before the Board. Mr. Grammon stated that the Weed Control Committee had recommended that Scotch Thistle be moved from a “B” listed weed to an “A” listed weed, requiring mandatory control. Mr. Grammon stated that Scotch Thistle was fairly easy to control and would handle it in the same manner as when Whitetop was moved to the “A” list. Commissioner Warner stated his concern regarding public awareness. Mr. Grammon stated that he was dealing with a limited timeframe and recommended adopting the designation. Should a problem occur later, they could address it then. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve moving Scotch Thistle from “B” status to “A” status county-wide. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Grammon continued stating that the Weed Control Committee was also recommending that the Board of Commissioners designate a “watch list” that would include Dyers Woad, Mediterranean Sage and Musk Thistle. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the “watch list”. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2005-1025: Recognizing the Lower Burnt River Weed Management Area: Mr. Grammon stated that landowners in the lower Burnt River area had organized a local Weed Management Area (WMA) to address noxious weeds. Mr. Grammon stated that he would provide guidance to the WMA and requested that the Commissioners formally recognize them. Commissioner Stiff moved to accept Resolution 2005-1025, recognizing the Lower Burnt River Weed Management Area. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Other Business: Membership Request from the Transportation/Traffic Safety Commission: Commissioner Warner announced that the Transportation/Traffic Safety Commission members had requested that the Roadmaster be a voting member. Consensus was reached to have the Roadmaster continue to serve as staff support only.
Creation of a Local Contract Review Board: Commissioner Warner announced that the Burnt River Irrigation District had submitted notice that they had created a Local Contract Review Board and were accepting the state’s new guidelines.
Consideration of Proposal from LPSCC: A staff report submitted by Ms. Judy Barzee stated that LPSCC had met and wanted to have the Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Council as a subcommittee. Commissioner Kerns moved to accept the recommendation. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Comparison of Calendars:
Apr. 6th: WASH, Watershed Council, Fair Board
Apr. 7th: NEACT
Apr. 8th: Eastern Oregon Alliance Meeting, New Tribes Appreciation Dinner
Apr. 11th: AOC Legislative Meetings
Apr. 12th: EDC
Apr. 13th: EO/DH, Work Session
Apr. 14th: Armory Open House, NEOEDD, Blue Mtn. Forest Plan Revision
Apr. 15th: Armory Open House
Apr. 18th: BEGIN Board meeting
Apr. 19th: Budget Retreat
Apr. 20th: Commission Session, TRT, Nuisance Task Force
Commission Session was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Nudd, Executive Assistant
Baker County Board of Commissioners