COMMISSION CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR.
COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS
COMMISSIONER CARL E. STIFF, M.D.
BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the March 17, 2010 Commission
Session. Present were Commission Chair Fred Warner, Jr., Commissioner Carl E.
Stiff and Commissioner Tim L. Kerns.
2. Citizen’s Participation:
a. None
3. Review/Approval of Minutes:
Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve the March 3, 2010 Commission
Session minutes as presented. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
4. Additions to the Agenda:
a. Move Idaho Power Meeting: Commissioner Warner attended the Move Idaho Power
meeting last night. The group discussed the proposed routes that would go
through Baker Valley. One route traveled through the Virtue Flat area and the
other route was located along the tree line at the base of the Elkhorn
Mountains, however Idaho Power said that after further review of the line along
the Elkhorn’s, they are no longer considering that route. The Keating route
travels behind the Interpretive Center and then due to sage grouse leks, cuts
back towards Baker Valley just past the 203 exit. Commissioner Warner would
like to see the line remain along the hillside out of the Baker Valley viewshed
as much as possible. Commissioner Warner would like to ensure the landowners
are properly compensated for the use of their land should the powerline cross
their property.
5. Scheduled Business
a. Department Update: Juvenile Department ~ Staci Erickson and Matt Shirtcliff
Mr. Shirtcliff stated that overall their department is running smoothly. The
juvenile crime rate is down. They are working on getting out to the schools
including neighboring community schools more. They are interacting with the
teachers and students more and recently had the drug dog at the Huntington
school. They are currently focusing on the prevention coalition which is led
by Dan Johnson and consists of juvenile staff as well as members of the
community. They are still sending kids to drug court. Mr. Shirtcliff is
working on obtaining a 501(c)(3) status for the juvenile drug court that would
allow them to go after grant funding. Ms. Erickson explained that detention
costs are slightly up due to the increase in driving distance. Since the
Pendleton Detention Center has been shut down they’ve been forced to drive to
The Dalles. Since the Baker County Juvenile Department is a part of the
Central Eastern Oregon Juvenile Justice Consortium, they have an agreement that
allows them to help out and be helped by neighboring counties. For instance a
lot of times when traveling to the detention center, they will only have to go
as far as Pendleton or Boardman where another member of the Coalition will meet
them and transport the juveniles the remainder of the way. Other behavior
correction methods include an ankle monitor and community service work that
allows the juveniles to work to pay restitution to the victims involved in
their crime. Mr. Shirtcliff is pleased with his staff and added that they
recently hired John Sheperd as a new transport officer.
b. Contract Review Board
1. Professional Services Agreement for the Baker Heritage Museum Assistant/Gift
Shop Coordinator: The contract is for $10,000 to be paid to contractor for an
estimated 26 hours per week for the period of March 1, 2010 through October 31,
2010 and approximately 8 hours per week beginning November 1, 2010 through
February 28, 2011.
2. Professional Services Agreement for the Baker Heritage Museum
Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator: The contract is for $10,000 to be paid to
contractor for an estimated 26 hours per week for the period of March 1, 2010
through October 31, 2010 and approximately 8 hours per week beginning November
1, 2010 through February 28, 2011.
Commissioner Stiff made a motion to adopt both professional services agreements
for the Museum Assistant/Gift Shop Coordinator and the Museum
Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
3. Sheriff’s Dept. Vehicle Purchase: Sheriff Southwick was present to request
the approval of a Chrysler Liberty Jeep priced at $18,335.54 from the GSA
program. The Sheriff had looked at price quotes on three different pickups,
however the price was listed about $5,000 more than the Liberty. The Sheriff
will drive the new vehicle and will give the marine deputy his old vehicle.
Commissioner Warner thought this would be a good choice as a potential ‘hand-
me-down’ for other departments in the future. Commissioner Kerns made a motion
to approve the purchase of the Chrysler Liberty for a price of $18,335.54 from
GSA. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried. A discussion
about Sheriff services at the Halfway Crab Feed followed.
c. Approval of Russian Knapweed to the “A” list of weeds. Mr. Arnie Grammon
was present to discuss the move of the Russian Knapweed from the “B” list to
the “A” list. The Weed Board is requesting the move based on current lack of
treatment by landowners and by adding the weed to the “A” list it would require
landowners to take action. Mr. Grammon said that by moving it to the “A” list,
grantors would be more inclined to grant funds to the County for the treatment
of the weed as part of a cost-share program with landowners. Commissioner
Warner thought that by making the change, it would allow Mr. Grammon to engage
the landowners a little more effectively. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to
change the status of the Russian Knapweed by moving it from the “B” list to the
“A” list. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
d. Approval of the Public Health Business Manager Position Description: The
position would be held at the Baker County Health Department and would be
listed at a Range 15, Step 1. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve the
Public Health Business Manager Position Description. Commissioner Stiff
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
e. WASH Update: Mr. Mac Kerns gave a brief history of the WASH committee
stating that the committee was established five years ago with the idea of
bringing all water management under the highest and best use. To address the
need for late season water they have narrowed down and identified a list of
dams that they see as a priority. Those dams include the Hardman Dam off of
the Burnt River, Thief Valley Reservoir, East Pine in Halfway and the North
Powder Complex.
1. Hardman Dam: Mr. Jerry Franke stated that the Dam is located along the
South Fork of the Burnt River and had no listed endangered species. There has
been some discussion about Redband Trout, but they’re not sure if it’s a true
Redband or a crossbreed. They have an already established reservation permit
to store 17,800 acre feet of water with a priority date that precedes instream
water rights in the Burnt River Subbasin. The only issue they face is possible
wetland mitigation downstream from the reservoir site. The Burnt River
Irrigation District owns the vast majority of the land, but there’s a small
section of Forest Service land at the upper end of the reservoir area that
would be flooded. It has the potential for hydropower with an existing
substation just a few miles away. They already have a lot of the study work
completed. It would be a huge boost to their economy and would help keep the
school going.
2. East Pine Dam: Mr. Marion Crow explained that in addition to flood
irrigation use, the East Pine Dam would be used for recreation, flood control
and possibly hydroelectric power generation. They plan on adding camp sites
around the reservoir and would retain 50 acre feet of water for recreation.
The reservoir will be 177 feet high and 800 feet long. It would be a huge
boost to the community.
3. North Powder Complex: Mr. Aaron Umpleby explained that the North Powder
Complex would add storage water to the already existing Pilcher Creek Reservoir
and Wolf Creek Reservoir by diverting water from the North Powder River using a
pipeline and canals. The design is in place, they just need to implement the
idea.
4. Thief Valley Reservoir: Mr. Clair Pickard stated that the reservoir has the
capability of storing 200,000 acre feet of water. They currently have storage
rights for 95,000 acre feet. They are faced with the option of adding to the
dam or building a new one. They see an opportunity to add to the dam by using
an abutment located just below the current dam that would hold the water. They
hope to pump some of the water back up onto a hill located on Caldwell’s
property and use gravity flow to reach areas that need the water. This project
is still in its early stages and does not currently have the scientific data to
support it. They hope to utilize recreational opportunities as well as
hydropower. One potential problem that would need to be mitigated would the
designation of the “scenic” status which starts just below the dam.
Commission Warner stated he was glad to see the process moving forward. He
supports the ideas and he would like to see the committee prioritize within
these four storage sites and figure out the next steps and how they plan on
financing these projects. Mr. Mac Kerns stated that some of the projects are
further along than others in terms of having studies completed. They hope to
have support from the State, County and Federal governments in financing the
projects. Commissioner Stiff added that knowing the positive effect the stored
water would have on increasing crop yield may help with their funding efforts.
Ms. Peggy Browne stated that at their June WASH meeting they will present
information that will show what to expect in the coming months.
6. Documents to be Signed:
a. None
7. Ratification of Documents:
a. 2011-13 Mental Health & Addiction Services County Biennial Implementation
Plan. The Plan was signed by Commissioner Warner on March 15, 2010.
Commissioner Stiff made a motion to ratify the 2011-13 Mental Health &
Addiction Services County Biennial Implementation Plan. Commissioner Kerns
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
8. Other Business
a. Comparison of Calendar:
03/18/10 Mayor’s Council meeting in Baker City
03/31/10 City/County Meeting
04/07/10 Commission Session
b. Budget: Commission Warner reported that the budget is coming along. They
hope to meet with the Budget Board on April 15, 2010 to begin refining the
numbers.
c. Commissioner Warner was scheduled to meet with Mr. Fred Kelly Grant, however
Mr. Grant missed his flight and they are still trying to re-schedule the
meeting.
9. Adjourn
a. The March 17, 2010 Commission Session was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Martin, Executive Assistant
Baker County Board of Commissioners