Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 10/17/2007 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS COUNTY COMMISSIONER DR. CARL STIFF COMMISSION CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR.
COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS
COMMISSIONER CARL E. STIFF, MD.
BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the October 17, 2007 Commission
Session. Present were Commissioner Fred Warner, Jr., Commissioner Tim L.
Kerns, and Commissioner Carl E. Stiff, M.D.
Citizen Participation: None
Review/Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve the
October 3, 2007 Commission Session minutes. Commissioner Stiff seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Scheduled Business
Department Update: Parole & Probation
Mr. Will Benson took over as Parole & Probation Manager in January and sees
opportunity for improvement within his department. With the help of a
supervised work crew, the Parole & Probation department recently relocated to
the fair building located on Grove Street. Mr. Benson reported the felony
population to be down 5% compared to the previous biennium. This is partially
due to restructuring their case loads and focusing on high-risk offenders. Mr.
Benson reported their department has continued to connect with the community
and improve communication with other intergovernmental departments. Long-term
goals for the department include a work-release facility. The facility would
be located near the Sheriff’s office and would provide programs and staffing
for offenders.
Rural Policy Pre-Meeting:
Ms. Laura Cleland and Mr. Eric Schmidt of the Association of Oregon Counties
were present before the Board to discuss the upcoming meeting with members of
the House Committee on Rural Policy. The members of the committee will be
touring five Eastern Oregon counties including, Umatilla, Union, Baker, Grant,
and Harney counties. Ms. Cleland and Mr. Schmidt reported on various issues
that might be of interest to the committee including transportation and forest
management issues, the use of Title II and Title III funds, and job loss within
the County.
Additions to the Agenda:
School-based Health Clinic: Commissioner Warner reported that an MOU with.
Richard McKim is currently under construction. The goal is to move
responsibilities and supervision over to Mr. McKim. Commissioner Stiff agreed
with this decision and thought their staff would be able to provide services
that the County was unable to provide.
Historic Cemetery Grant: The grant provides $2,335 to Baker County Parks to
landscape and clean approximately 100 markers and repair those in need.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to approve the document. Commissioner Stiff
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Stewardship Contract: Commissioner Warner met with Jim Gilsdorf and Ken
Anderson to talk about stewardship contracts and putting the Natural Resource
Action Committee (NRAC) back into action. Commissioner Kerns agreed that the
committee hasn’t been very active and would like to involve small woodlands and
biomass.
Parks Director: The Commissioners briefly discussed the applicants for the
Parks Director position.
Transportation System Plan (TSP): The Commissioners discussed the current TSP
regulations. Commissioner Warner stated that the Commissioners would follow
the TSP regulations and leave it to the planning department in determining how
the roads will meet those standards.
Conner Creek: An agreement is in the process of being drafted and will be added
to the agenda for the next commission session.
Anthony Lakes Road Project: Mr. Ken Helgerson reported that the project was
progressing and that right of way work may begin around the end of October.
Whitney Road: Mr. Helgerson reported that work had begun on graveling the
Whitney road. Mr. Helgerson also reported that the Road Department has been
working on getting the snowplows ready for winter and finishing up projects.
Phillips Lake Fishery Improvement Committee: This committee will work closely
with ODF&W in improving the fishery at Phillips Lake. Commissioner Warner made
a motion to appoint Carl Kostol, Commissioner Stiff, Randy Joseph, Steve
Culley, Ron Bell, and Dennis Lang. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Scheduled Business
CCF Bylaws: The revised bylaws include a change to member requirements.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to adopt the changes as presented.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
RS2477 Roads: Mr. Ken Helgerson was present before the Board to discuss the
RS2477 road petition that would designate a portion of the Elk Creek Road from
Wilson Creek to Ragged Gulch as an RS2477 road. Mr. Helgerson reported the
road to be currently open and would not take priority over those that were
listed as closed. Commissioner Warner made a motion to direct the Road
Department to take this petition under review as it is prioritized.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Contract Review Board
Mason Dam Contracts: Mr. Jason Yencopal was present before the Board to discuss
the contracts for various Mason Dam work.
1. Study Plan 3: Threatened and Endangered Species Assessment for the Mason Dam
Hydroelectric Project. Leslie Gecy of Ecowest Consulting, Inc provided the
lowest bid at $5,940 for services provided from May 1, 2007 through March 1,
2008. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve the bid submitted by Ecowest
Consulting for $5,940. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
2. Study Plan 7: Assess Archaeological and Historic Era Properties for the
Mason Dam Hydroelectric Project. Four bids were submitted. Kathryn Boula of
Cultural & Natural Resources through Anderson Perry submitted the lowest bid of
$3,343. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to accept the lowest bid from
Cultural & Natural Resources. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
3. Study Plan 6: Assess Traditional Cultural Properties for the Mason Dam
Hydroelectric Project. The confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation (CTUIR) submitted the only bid of $9,482. Commissioner Warner made
a motion to accept the bid submitted by CTUIR. Commissioner Kerns seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Fair Board Project Superintendent: Commissioner Warner reported that by hiring
a project superintendent, the County would save approximately $52,000. By
statute, the findings need to be adopted and a hearing will take place at the
next commission session. Commissioner Warner made a motion to adopt the
findings in ORS 279.005 with substantial savings to the county. Commissioner
Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Documents to be Signed:
1. Order No. 2007-318: Appointing Kent Justus to the Baker County Weed Board
Committee. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve order No. 2007-318.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Ratification of Documents:
1. Tax Refund Resolution No. 98-01: The refund is a total of $8,549.83 that
will go to Irwin Commercial Finance and Inland Development Corp. Commissioner
Kerns made a motion to ratify the Tax Refund Resolution No. 98-01.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2. Amendment #1 to IGA #3539 for Parole & Probation. Commissioner Kerns made a
motion to ratify Amendment #1 to IGA #3539. Commissioner Stiff seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
3. Local government Grant program Agreement through the Oregon Parks &
Recreation Department. The agreement is to provide funding for the John
Holcomb Park comfort Station. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to ratify the
agreement. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
4. ATV Grant Program Agreement through the Sheriff’s office. Commissioner
Kerns made a motion to ratify the ATV agreement. Commissioner Stiff seconded
the motion. Motion carried.
5. Parole & Probation Lease Agreement: Parole & Probation will lease the
building they recently relocated to on Grove Street for $1,000/month payable to
the Baker County Fair Board. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve the
agreement. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Other Business
Comparison of Calendar:
10/17/07 MH&DDAC Meeting
10/17/07 Lime Wind Power Meeting
10/23/07 AOC Meeting
10/24/07 Behlen Event
10/25/07 House Committee of Rural Policy Meeting
11/01/07 NEACT in La Grande
11/01/07 OCCF Meeting in Salem
The October 17, 2007 Commission Session was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Martin
Executive Assistant
Baker County Board of Commissioners