Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 05/07/2008 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS COUNTY COMMISSIONER DR. CARL STIFF
May 7, 2008
Commission Session Page 1 of 1
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the May 7, 2008 Commission
Session. Present were Commissioner Fred Warner, Jr., Commissioner Tim L. Kerns,
and Commissioner Carl E. Stiff, MD.
Citizen Participation: None
Review/Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Stiff made the motion to approve the
April 16, 2008 minutes Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion.
Additions to the Agenda: The NEODD and Region 13 Workforce Investment Board are
going to mediation on a disputed invoice.
Debbie Hoopes talked about the Health Department immunization award.
Department Update:
Matt Shirtcliff: District Attorneys office and Juvenile Department.
There are a few personnel changes. Steven is going into private practice
hiring a new deputy DA in the fall. We are filling a secretarial position this
week. Rick Forrester is retiring. We are looking at a grant that Baker City is
applying for that would be good for Baker County DA’s office this could add a
position that would be a part of the sexual assault response team. Marianne
Stone and Becky Sanders have recently been s.a.n.e. (Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiner) trained by the state of Oregon and can do exams. Most exams are done
at the emergency room, but would like to move the room to the Health
Department. We are trying to bring adult rape and child abuse cases up to the
best practices that we can.
Senate Bill 111 deadly force plan. Public hearing on the 21st of May for
community input. Going before the Commissioners and the City Council for
approval.
Juvenile: The new building is nice. Personnel is where we want it. We are
focusing on casework. Focusing on prevention work. A project we are working on
is juvenile drug court. We have applied for a Community Foundation Grant
recently. We need revenue to get the juvenile drug court started. We do have
some potential resources. The amount we need is about $20,000. We would like to
take Lynn the drug coordinator to full time to help work on this. Currently
this is a state-funded position. The department works hard and loves kids. You
can see the commitment.
Wallowa Whitman National Forrest annual Report
Steve Ellis and Ken Anderson
(Power point presentation) Steve Ellis this is the second year that we have had
the presentation and we have received positive feedback on the presentations.
Blue Mountain Forest plan tri forest plan revision had a lawsuit on the
planning rule but we just recently got the go ahead and we will be doing a
environmental impact plan. Draft plan is in the Legislature. Will probably be 2
years. We have been sued again on our planning rule we will come up with a set
of alternatives and NEPA will be applied to each one. Want to stress public
involvement.
Noxious weeds we are about to come out with an environmental impact statement
on treating noxious weeds. 5,320 acres treated in 2007. We plan to meet with
Tri County and Arnie your weed specialist. We have increased funding for a new
position for the noxious weeds that will be shared between Whitman and LaGrande
Districts. Range management has had a budget increase. Filling new range
position in Enterprise. Focusing on Range NEPA.
Ken: Meeting all the planning requirements making good progress. Continue to
hear feedback. We are currently working on vacant allotments how to get them
all into play. Would like to trouble shoot with ranchers to get total
allotments. Stop vacant allotments. We have maybe 5-10 vacant allotments.
Steve: Fire preparedness system wide is 45% of the budget. We are currently
burning now and working on fire reduction. WUI (Wildland Urban Interface.)
Ken: We are up to speed with the fire preparedness.
Steve: Any fire suppression costs over 10 million dollars have to do an audit
review. Timber program funding is following budget.
Travel Management. We had a team review the public input and we are developing
alternatives. County alternative, Environmental alternative, 2 that Forrest
Service is doing from the input we have received. Looks like a total of 5. We
will have an environmental impact statement done on all the alternatives. Will
release the document this Dec.
Recreations declining budget is a challenge. Visitor use is up.
Order No. 2008-140, Order No. 2008-141 Appointing Larry D. Cole and Keith Long
to Justice of the Peace Pro-Tem for the Baker District.
Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve Order No. 2008-140 and Order No.
2008-141 Commissioner Kerns Seconded the Motion. Motion carried unanimously
County Clerk Tami Green swore Larry Cole and Keith Long into Justice of the
Peace Pro-Tem for the Baker District at 10:40 a.m.
Holcomb Comfort Station: Karen Spencer. We would like to go with original
recommendation and go with the Gyllenberg bid. Would like to have the
Commissioners make the final decision on what direction to head with the
contractors.
Commissioner Warner had visited with Dan Van Thiel before he left and will be
here on the 21st if we give the final bid to Gyllenberg. I have given Becker
the option to come to the commission session on the 21st.
Karen stated the process to award the bid.
Commissioner Warner moved that we award the Holcomb park project to Gyllenberg
Commissioner Stiff Seconded the motion all in favor Motion carried unanimously.
Christena Cook. We would like to move our Visa cards to Banner Bank from
Sterling Bank. We would also like to set the credit limit from $47,000 to
$55,000.
Commissioner Kerns made a motion to move the cards from Sterling Bank to Banner
Bank and raise the credit limit to $55,000 as indicated on the handout.
Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Documents To Be Signed:
a. Order No. 2008- 142: Appointing Scott Knox to the Baker County Commission on
Children and Families. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve Order No.
2008-142. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Order No. 2008- 143: Appointing Ann Kniesel to the Baker County Fair
Board. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve Order No. 2008-143.
Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Resolution No. 2008-1015 Fairboard operation fund appropriation transfers
Commissioner Kerns made the motion to approve Resolution 2008-1015.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Resolution No. 2008-1016 Technology fund recognition of unanticipated
revenue.
Commissioner Kerns made the motion to approve Resolution 2008-1016.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
e. 2008 Wildfire Awareness Week Baker County Proclamation. May 4-10
Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve 2008 Wildfire Awareness Week
Proclamation. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.