Minutes: COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR, BRIAN D. COLE
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, HOWARD C. BRITTON
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PAUL YORK
BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS October 24, 2000
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the October 4, 2000 Commission Session. Present were Commission Chair Brian D. Cole, Commissioner Howard Britton, Commissioner Paul York, and Administrative Officer Patrick Smith.
Citizens Participation:
None
Approval of Minutes: Minutes for the September 20, 2000 Session and the September 27, 2000 Session in Unity were available. Commissioner Britton moved to approve both Session minutes. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
- East Street Vacation
- Fairboard to get started on Pavilion
- Formation of Natural Resources Advisory Committee
- October 19, 2000 Session
- AOC
Documents to be signed: Order 2000-187: Appointment to the Region 13 Workforce Investment Board. Appointing Barbara Ackerman, Pamela Wilkinson, Nancy Waters, Fred Erickson, Cheryle Lawrence, and Lori Wolfe. Commissioner York movedto approve the Order. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order 2000-188 through 191. Appointing a Member to the Baker County Board of Property Tax Appeal. Re-appointments.
Order 2000-188: Howard Britton
Order 2000-189: Paul York
Order 2000-190: Bill Shumway
Order 2000-191: Dave Curtis Commissioner Britton moved to approve Order 2000-188 through 2000-191. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Order 2000-192: Authorizing Sale of Substandard Property. Sarah Johnston appeared before the Commissioners. Ms. Johnston stated there are two substandard properties to be sold. One parcel is located south of Baker City, and the other is in Haines. Real market value of the first parcel is $30.00, and the second is $510.00. Commissioner York moved to approve the Order with minimum prices set at $30.00 for parcel A and $510.00 for parcel B. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Amended Agreements for Carol Drake and Elizabeth Estabrooks: Sarah Johnston stated the dates, not the amounts are being amended. Commissioner Cole moved to approve the amendments. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Agreement: Between Baker County and Community Connections. Sarah Johnston stated the agreement is the same as in the past. It is for bus services. Commissioner Britton moved to approve the Agreement. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Agreement: Between Baker County and Mountain Valley Mental Health Programs, Inc. Mental Health jail services. Commissioner York moved to approve the Agreement. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Professional Services Agreement: Between Baker County and John Davis for Domestic Violence Mediation. Sarah Johnston stated this is an ongoing thing to establish a panel of mediators. Commissioner Britton moved to approve the Agreement. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Adopting the 5-year and Comprehensive Plan for CCF: Liz Estabrooks, Ruth Whitnah, and Judy Barzee appeared before the Commissioners. Liz Estabrooks stated that they were advised to keep the 5-year plan on the short side. They set out to make it a usable plan, ever changing. The Strategic Plan has taken two years to complete. It is under the direction of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Baker County is one of six pilot projects in the State, and 42 in the Nation.
Commissioner Cole stated he has read them cover to cover. CCF did a great job.
Ruth Whitnah stated $50,000 was awarded to each county for juvenile justice. $20,000 will be dedicated to the Baker County Board of Commissioners for use in a match for the Juvenile Justice Facility. $15,000 will be used for resource leveraging. $5,000 will be used for short-term clerical support. $10,000 will be used for staff support and public outreach.
Commissioner York moved to adopt both plans. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: Adopt Regional/Rural Investment and Action Plan. Commissioner Cole stated the public hearing was being continued from the last session. Lisa Lang and Nancy Gover appeared before the Commissioners.
Commissioner Cole stated that Baker and Morrow Counties have the most in common with what they are trying to achieve with this process.
Lisa Lang explained the document and the bench marks to the Commissioners. The bench marks will be reviewed in about another year and a half to see how programs are progressing, and the results.
Nancy Gover thanked the press for their effort in getting the word out.
Commissioner Cole stated that what is being done in Baker and Morrow Counties is different than anywhere in the State right now.
Commissioner Cole closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Cole moved to support the current draft of the plan. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Compare Calendars:
Oct 4 Armory Siting Committee Meeting
Weed Board Sub-Committee
Oct 9 Candle Light Vigil with MayDay
Oct 10 Regional Workforce Investment Board - La Grande
Oct 11 Work Session
Candidates Forum
Oct 12 NEOHA - La Grande
Oct 18 Idaho Power Collaborative Team Meeting
Oct 19 Commission Session
Oct 20 AOC District Meeting - John Day
County Position on Ballot Measures: The Commissioners have taken a stand on Measure 97, trap ban. Patrick Smith will have information on revenue related measures at the work session. AOC will be taking a position on some of them. Commissioner Cole stated the Elected Officials and Department Heads need to look at those Measures that could directly affect their departments.
The Counties Vision of Oregon in 2010: Commissioner Cole stated there is work being done at the AOC to look at the future of the counties. A Hood River consultant is asking what the counties think.
Commissioner Britton stated the counties need to make sure their voice is heard.
Commissioner Cole moved to support the Vision of Oregon. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Proclamation Making October Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Commissioner York moved to proclaim October as Domestic Violence awareness Month. The proclamation will be signed out of court and presented at the vigil on October 9. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
East Street Vacation: Commissioner Britton stated that the Fairboard needs a recommendation from the Commission for them to proceed. Commissioner Britton moved to recommend the Fairboard proceed with the vacation of East Street from the north boundary of the current National Guard property to D Street. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Fairgrounds Pavilion: Commissioner Britton stated the spending of the building funds rests with the Fairboard. Sarah Johnston will help keep the process legal.
AOC: Commissioner Cole stated the meeting is in November. He asked if Commissioner Britton and Commissioner York will attend. Commissioners Britton and York will try to attend.
October 19 Commission Session: Commissioner Cole asked if the time of the session could be changed. Commissioner York will not be able to attend. Commissioner Britton stated he is flexible.
National Leadership Award: Commissioner Cole stated he has received the $1,000 check. Still need to decide how to spend it. Must be an economic development related issue.
Natural Resources Advisory Committee: Need to have John Williams come to a session and talk about what is working in Wallowa County specific to watersheds and the environment. Commissioner Britton will try to get him scheduled.
County Clerk Selection: Commissioner Cole stated it is time to make a decision. He stated there was not a formalized process to make the selection. The Commissioners chose to make it a public process. They solicited input from the community. All three Commissioners have received input from the community. The final decision is that of the Commissioners.
Seven interviews were conducted. The Commissioners were familiar with all seven applicants. The applicants were asked about customer service, internal partnerships in county government, resources available to the Clerk's Office, and a specific question related to technology. The applicants were also asked, if they were selected, would they serve? And would they run in 2002?
Commissioner Britton stated he thought the process was good. He learned a lot talking to the candidates. He was impressed with the quality of the candidates, and the County couldn't go wrong with any of them.
Commissioner York agreed that all candidates would make a good County Clerk. It was a good process. Commissioner York narrowed his choices down to Charlotte and Tami. He recommended Charlotte Beck because she has the most recent experience in the Clerk's Office.
Commissioner Cole stated they can't go wrong with the pool of interested people. Ginger, Dottie, Becky, Suzan, Patti, and Charlotte all have good qualities. His recommendation is for Tami Green. He believes the County would be well served for the next two years and beyond.
Commissioner Britton agreed with Commissioner Cole.
Commissioner Britton moved to accept Tami Green as the County Clerk. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion.
Commissioner Cole asked for further discussion.
Charlotte Beck stood to address the Commissioners. She asked about Commissioner Britton's previous statements regarding the hiring of Patrick Smith. He had stated that Patrick was hired because he was the most qualified. She then stated that Commissioner Cole had told her (during the Courthouse Vacation) she would be on the 20 yard line if Julia Woods retired. Ms. Beck stated that apparently she has fumbled. She stated the only thing that has occurred since the statements were made and now, was Julia's recommendation. Charlotte Beck stated she believes the Commissioners have discriminated against her. Ms. Beck then left the Courtroom.
Commissioner Cole stated his position stands and he feels more confident than ever. He asked for further discussion.
Commissioner Britton stated that discrimination did not come into play at all. They had an open process. The decision is the Commissioners to make. He stated his motion still stands.
Commissioner York stated that Charlotte just lost his vote.
Motion to select Tami Green carried unanimously.
Julia Woods asked that the Order be written at this time, and also to please keep all information regarding the process on file for any future need. She stated that the Commissioners have set a precedent. Mrs. Woods stated the Commissioners did an excellent job. She will help Tami Green as much as possible prior to her retirement.
Consider an Ordinance to Vacate some Partition Lines: Sarah Johnston explained the Kerns' request. There are two options: Do a re-plat, or, using the provision in statute in 92-234 for vacation of sub-divisions. The sub-division statue can be used for partitions. Ms. Johnston stated she would like it on the November 1 agenda. The Commissioners agreed that November 1 is fine.
Planning Director: Patrick Smith stated they have four applicants at this time. Are continuing to encourage people to apply.
Commissioner Cole stated the first meeting of the new Planning Commission was the previous Thursday. The Planning Commissioners stated they enjoyed it. Terry Drever Gee is the Chairman, and Kent Bailey is the Vice-Chair.
Adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Dunn
Executive Assistant to the Board of Commissioners