Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 02/07/2001 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR BRIAN D. COLE
COUNTY COMMISSIONER HOWARD C. BRITTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for their February 7, 2001 Commission Session. Present were Commission Chair Brian D. Cole, Commissioner Howard Britton, Commissioner Paul York, Administrative Officer Patrick Smith and Financial Manager Christena Cook.
Citizens Participation: None
Approval of Minutes: Minutes for the January 17, 2001 Commissioner Session and the January 31, 2001 Special Session were available. Commissioner York asked that an addition be made on the January 17, 2001 minutes. Under Audit Response, add "and to accept the audit". Commissioner Cole moved to approve the January 17, 2001 minutes with the addition. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Britton asked for clarification on the January 31, 2001 minutes regarding Courthouse Security. Judy Dunn and Commissioner Cole confirmed that the minutes are correct. Commissioner Britton moved to approve the January 31, 2001 minutes. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to the agenda: - Re-opener on Idaho Power license
- Juvenile Detention Facility
- March 5 meeting in Weiser.
- Write Fairboard a letter relating to the use of the existing Armory
Additions to the agenda: March 5 meeting in Weiser: Commissioner Cole stated the meeting is to talk about the Idaho Power re-licensing. Washington and Adams counties would like us to attend. They are coming up to speed. The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. mountain time.
Courthouse Security: Sheriff Troy Hale appeared before the Commissioners to discuss Courthouse Security. He believes there is a need to enhance the security of the facility. Panic buttons (for the judges) will be installed with direct contact to a dispatch console. Sheriff Hale stated they are looking into identification badges for all county employees in the courthouse. Possible swipe card or proximity card also. The proximity cards would open the doors when the wearer is within 16 to 18 inches of the door. These would be excellent for the deputies escorting prisoners. Sheriff Hale stated they are also looking into closing the Courthouse during the lunch hour. Need to conduct a study on how much foot traffic comes through during lunch. Could possibly install video cameras. There is a drop box located on the 4th Street side of the building for ballot and tax drop off during the lunch hour. Special arrangements could be made during election times.
1
Patrick Smith stated he will check with the offices in the building to find out how many have people here during the lunch hour. Details need to be worked out.
Commissioner Britton asked for more information on the proximity cards. He wanted to know if they are strictly for accessing the outside doors.
Sheriff Hale stated the card would access some of the outside doors. The proximity cards can be the name badge as well. The badges/cards are fairly inexpensive at approximately $1.50 each. The additional costs would be the systems and monitor. He should know the amounts by the end of the week.
Commissioner York confirmed that the funding would come out of the Courthouse Security Fund.
Sheriff Hale stated the proximity cards would also provide a good audit trail.
The Commissioners gave Sheriff Hale the green light to proceed.
Adoption of Position Description: Debbie Hoopes appeared before the Commissioners along with Sheriff Troy Hale. Debbie explained that the Sheriff is wanting to move the existing position Patti Schales holds to a level 16 mid-management position. The cost would be covered through open positions. She would be a nonunion employee.
Commissioner Britton asked if this position is close to the function of the position held by Mark Bennett.
Sheriff Hale stated that Patti would be supervising the dispatchers, writing schedules, and is the working tech for their equipment.
Commissioner Britton asked if the Sheriff is planning on filling Mark's position in regards to the future budget.
Sheriff Hale stated the FEMA grant only requires a 1/2 time position be employed. Patti helps with the paperwork involved. Sheriff Hale has talked with the people at OEM, and he has been told that is fine.
Commissioner Britton stated we need to look beyond the individual. Would someone else be able to step in to the position as written?
Sheriff Hale stated the position will have more emphasis on 911 and less on Emergency Management. He stated that Patti will keep up the paperwork flow for Emergency Management, but she is not the Emergency Management Assistant. Patti is familiar with the process to get the work done.
Commissioner Cole asked if the Sheriff is acting as Emergency Manager.
Sheriff Hale stated that he is the Emergency Manager. There are a lot of counties where the Sheriff is the Emergency Manager. Search and rescue is the Sheriff's responsibility.
Sheriff Hale stated the position document before the Commissioners is a draft. The title should be Lieutenant. Commissioner York moved to adopt the position description. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mike Ferguson asked what the salary increase would be.
Debbie Hoopes stated that Patti Schales would advance from $14.51 per hour to $18.46 per hour.
2
Alpine Estates Subdivision, final plat: Sarah Hilderbrand and Rusty Briggs appeared before the Commissioners. Sarah stated the process started in 1998, and approval is needed by the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Briggs has received signatures for easements over the property he needs. He also received the signatures dedicating the road to public use. The property is located near the water reservoir. Phase two has four lots at 4 1/2 acres each. Commissioner York moved to accept the final plat of phase two for Alpine Estates Subdivision. Commissioner Cole seconded the motion.
Commissioner Britton stated he had basic concerns. The tentative plat had a different construction of the road. He doesn't have a problem with the subdivision, and he believes it is good for Baker County, but he will vote against it due to the variances in the road description. Motion carried 2 to 1. Commissioner Britton was opposed.
Documents to be signed: Resolution 2001-1010: Appropriation of Unanticipated Funds to be Expended in the Medical Department of the General Fund. Commissioner Cole moved to approve the Resolution. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order 2001-103 and 2001-104: Appointing a Member to the Baker County Weed Control Committee. Order 2001-103 is to appoint Jim Colton. Order 2001-104 is to appoint Bill Shumway. Commissioner Cole moved to approve both Orders. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Right-of-way-Easement: Sarah Hilderbrand stated the easement is part of the Armory/Conference Center street vacation. OTEC wants to preserve the right to continue to run its wires. The easement needs to be accomplished prior to the Planning Commission vacating the street.
Commissioner Cole stated that Mark Bennett can address this better. He asked if this item can be tabled until the next session.
Sarah stated there is not a rush. Item tabled until the Commission Session on February 21, 2001.
Order 2001-105: Appointing a Budget Officer for Baker County. The appointment is for Brian Cole. Commissioner Britton moved to appoint Brian Cole as Budget Officer for the year 2001-2002. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Predator Control: Commissioner Cole stated the demand predator control is exceeding the supply of funding in the County budget this year. He opened the discussion regarding Predator Control. Renece Forsea of Richland stated there is a considerable coyote problem. Calves have been lost already. She asked if there is a way to transfer funds from somewhere else. Renece stated there are not just a few coyotes, but packs of them.
3
Cal Foster stated they have caught 85 in the last two years. Perry Jacobs stated they have lost a number of adult sheep. There is a bonus in funding predator control, not only for the public, but the sportsman of small game and big game. The cougars are getting thicker also. There is a significant change in the numbers of deer and elk. George Keister of the Department of Fish and Wildlife stated they are seeing big numbers of coyotes. He explained ORS 610 and the procedures involved for state funding. Funding only goes to counties that participate in the program. Baker County would have to come up with $50,000 to participate in the state program. Ken Benson stated the money in the state program goes to administration and not to killing coyotes. Commissioner Cole stated he had proposed $5,000 for the budget. The Budget Committee cut that amount in half. We need to look at the long term. Fred Koontz, a member of the Hunters Association, stated the Association has historically contributed $500 toward ammunition for predator control. Tom Kerns stated he has flown every valley from Bridgeport to Richland. He has been in the helicopter for 40 hours. Coyotes hang out about a mile from where the cows are. In the Richland area, he took out 36 coyotes in over 2 hours. They're in big packs. George Keister stated that they need to kill at least 60% of the coyotes to cause an effect. Commissioner Cole stated we have an immediate problem if not a crisis. He suggested the funding be increased back to $5,000. He suggested convening a committee to look at the problem in the long term. Commissioner Britton agreed, and stated they could go up $4,000, to make a total of $6,500. Commissioner York stated he did not have a problem with that amount. Flying is still the most efficient way of dealing with the problem. Renece Forsea wanted to know when the money would be available. Patrick Smith stated the money would be available immediately. He also suggested that if anyone has ideas or suggestions to improve or change the predator control funding, to please give him a call and he will present the options to the Commissioners. Commissioner Cole moved to increase the Predator Control Fund from $2,500 to $6,500 with money from the Community Development Fund under Resolution 2000-1012 to be signed out of court. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing: Roadless Issue: Commissioner Cole stated he believes the Commissioners have been bold in preserving public access. They have passed some actions in the past. President Bush has taken action to cause a delay for two months. The Board of Commissioners are delighted that the President has take this action.
Commissioner Cole opened the Public Hearing. Commissioner Britton stated a letter has been drafted that the Board of Commissioners will be sending to the President and our legislators. He read the letter to the group. Lynn Shumway stated the roadless policy doesn't affect him personally. It is detrimental to the County. It affects fire protection, access to the forest, timber harvest, tax base, and schools. Ken Benson stated it is time to take back some local control. This is the best time to do it.
4
Commissioner Cole stated there are several Senators that have stated they will use a law created in 1996 to rescind the Order. Jasper Coombes stated that preserving a forest is like waiting till it molds. He was encouraged when President Bush said to wait and take a look at it.
Additional comments concerned the belief that the Forest Service is not managing the land as they are required to do. Private individuals are first on the fires. The fires will get bigger if people can't get there.
Commissioner Cole closed the Public Hearing, and thanked everyone for attending.
Commissioner Cole had to leave the session for another meeting.
Executive Session: Lease Proposal: Commissioner York moved to go into Executive Session, Pursuant ORS 192.660 (1) (e). Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Britton moved to exit the Executive Session. Commissioner York seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Britton entertained a motion to negotiate a lease with Bill and Jean Heizer for the office at Third and Court, to be used by Parole and Probation.
Commissioner York moved to negotiate a lease. Commissioner Britton seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Re-opener with Idaho Power: Commissioner York stated he talked with Sarah Hilderbrand regarding a re-opener of the Idaho Power license. They talked about hiring a firm that specializes in federal law.
Sarah Hilderbrand stated she will look for a firm and see what it entails. She stated she doesn't have that kind of expertise.
Commissioner Britton stated that the County should be ready to go through with it.
The Commissioners agreed that Sarah should research law firms.
Adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Dunn
Executive Assistant to the Board of Commissioners