Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 09/20/2006 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR FRED WARNER, JR
COUNTY COMMISSIONER TIM L. KERNS COUNTY COMMISSIONER DR. CARL STIFF The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the September 20, 2006
Commission Session. Present were Commission Chair Fred Warner, Jr.,
Commissioner Tim L. Kerns and Commissioner Carl E. Stiff, M.D.
Citizens' Participation: Ms. Hiatt questioned how Measure 37 applications were
working through the County. Commissioner Warner responded that the County was
moving along, however he had heard that the State was rejecting many of Baker
County’s, particularly with those in resource zones.
Review/Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Stiff moved to approve the September
6, 2006 Commission Session minutes as presented. Commissioner Kerns seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to the Agenda:
*Resolution 2006-1053: Interfund Loan to County Fire Authority
*Halfway Pine Creek Issue
*Project Manager and Executive Assistant Search
*Update on Connor Creek RS2477
Documents to be Signed:
Order No. 2006-167: Appointing Interim City Manager to 911 Consolidated
Dispatch Oversight Board: Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Order No.
2006-167, appointing Mr. David Fine, Interim City Manager for Baker City, to
the 911 Consolidated Dispatch Oversight Board. Commissioner Stiff seconded the
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order. No. 2006-168: Appointing Interim City Manager to Economic Development
Council: Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Order No. 2006-148, appointing Mr.
David Fine, Interim City Manager of Baker City, to the Economic Development
Council. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order No. 2006-169: Appointing a Member to the Museum Commission: Commissioner
Warner stated that one vacancy existed due to the term expiration of Ronald
Hogg. Mr. Hogg had responded that he would be interested in being reappointed.
Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Order No. 2006-169, reappointing Mr. Hogg.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order No. 2006-170 and 171: Appointing Members to Cultural Trust Committee:
Commissioner Warner stated that the two vacancies were due to the term
expirations of Bob Evans and Sarah LeCompte. Both members had indicated that
they would be interested in being reappointed. Commissioner Stiff moved to
approve Order No. 2006-170 and 171, appointing Mr. Evans and Ms. LeCompte,
respectively. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
Ratification of Documents:
MOU with Forest Service: This item was tabled as a new MOU with an appropriate
amount was being created.
Additions to the Agenda:
Resolution 2006-1053: Interfund Loan to County Fire Authority Fund: The
resolution granted up to $16,000 in an interfund loan from the General Fund to
the County Fire Authority Fund until funding could be received from partners.
Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Resolution 2006-1053. Commissioner Kerns
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Halfway Pine Creek Issue: Commissioner Warner had requested the Road Department
to come up with a cost to fix the Pine Creek area previously discussed by Mayor
Kaesemeyer at the September 6th Commission Session. The Road Department
presented the Commissioners with a cost estimate of $4,270.68. Commissioner
Warner suggested that the County reimburse the City of Halfway this amount and
to send a strong message that the County would not be paying for things out of
their jurisdiction unless approved for in advance. Commissioner Kerns moved to
expend $4,270.68 in funds to reimburse the City of Halfway for work done on
Pine Creek during the emergency flooding situation this past spring.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Scheduled Business:
Update from Baker County Fair Board: Ms. Andi Sexton was present before the
Board and provided a recap of the past year. Ms. Sexton’s presentation
continued by stating that the Fair Board had made a decision at their last
meeting, to hire an outside grant writer and to move the Fair Manager’s
position from a Range 15 to a 10 and from 30 hours a week to 20. Ms. Sexton
stated that her resignation would be effective November 1st and would be
applying to become the grant writer.
Addition to the Agenda:
Update on Connor Creek RS 2477: Commissioner Warner reported that the case was
in the Oregon Court of Appeals and now characterized as “at issue”. The Court
had seen the briefs and was ready to hear oral arguments. It could take up to
a year or more before a decision was made. Commissioner Warner added that the
County had expended in excess of $40,000 and would explore all avenues for
reimbursement.
Project Manager Position: Commissioner Warner reported that interviews were
completed and had offered the job to one of the candidates. The County had not
received word back if the individual had accepted.
Executive Assistant Search: Commissioner Warner reported that the position had
closed the previous Wednesday. A preliminary screening had been done and the
top five were to meet with Ms. Nudd first and then with the County
Commissioners during an executive session.
Scheduled Business:
Update from Mt. Valley Mental Health: The Chair of the Mt. Valley Mental Health
Board, Dr. Larry Levinger, was present before the Board and presented a
statement. In short, Dr. Levinger reported that Mt. Valley Mental Health was a
non-profit, private organization, records were not public and the organization
was audited frequently by the State and GOBHI. Dr. Levinger stated that there
was a committee within the community that was spreading around half-truths,
including information around a 16-bed facility. Dr. Levinger also discussed
term limits of the board members and how it had changed since new bylaws were
passed in 2003. State funding had decreased for mental health, however the
Board had the foresight to invest wisely and therefore no programs were being
cut.
Ms. Vicki Long, Executive Director of Mt. Valley Mental Health, continued by
discussing the services being offered at Mt. Valley Mental Health. Services
included assessment, evaluation, treatment planning-lifelong, family
counseling, anxiety, depression and trauma treatment, support and skills
groups, and weekly problem solving groups.
Mt. Valley also provided evaluations and support systems for child welfare and
vocational rehabilitation for DHS. Other agencies they worked with were the
Juvenile Department, New Directions NW, the schools, and Veterans’ Services.
Ms. Long proceeded by discussing staff available and their qualifications. Ms.
Long added that the staff was very dedicated and she was honored to work with
them.
Mr. Kevin Campbell, CEO of GOBHI, was present as well and stated that GOBHI’s
role was to have oversight over the federal dollars (Medicaid) and services
being provided to those clients. GOBHI was responsible for making sure that
the federal funds were spent on the correct people and that the services were
being provided by qualified medical providers. Currently, Baker County was
receiving around $500,000 (this number was driven by the number of people on
Medicaid in Baker County). Mr. Campbell stated that he had spoken to
Commissioner Warner regarding a site review. GOBHI had been doing site reviews
at the same time the state performed theirs. The State was rewriting
administrative rules and their site reviews had been pushed back six months.
Mr. Campbell distributed information on benchmarks and penetration rates.
Commissioner Warner questioned how Baker County compared to the other counties
covered by GOBHI. Mr. Campbell reported that Baker County was listed as 6th.
Mt. Valley was exceeding its benchmark with regards to children and services
and was number one in the area of providing services to child welfare.
Mt. Valley Mental Health Board Member, Mr. Kent Bailey, was present before the
Board. Mr. Bailey reported on the fact that Mt. Valley Mental Health had
received clean audits for the last three years. Revenue of $1,356,000 was
received from the state and $951,000 of that was pass through funds to other
contractors such as Step Forward, Inc. and New Directions NW. Mr. Bailey added
that the state had not approved Baker City for a 16 bed facility and that there
would be a lot of public input prior to anything being done.
Commissioner Warner questioned if there was a more quantitative measurement for
success—were clients and staff interviewed? Mr. Campbell stated that surveys
were sent out to past clients and would make the information available to the
directors, the state and quality improvement personnel. Mr. Campbell also
recommended that people consider the number of clients that were being turned
over to the state system to determine if Mt. Valley Mental Health was being
successful.
Discussion with Local Citizen Mental Health Committee: Ms. Vicki Valenzuela was
present and stated that individuals would be presenting information. Ms.
Valenzuela mentioned a few concerns the committee had, such as why so many
employees were leaving and why Mt. Valley was being so secretive. Ms.
Valenzuela then submitted a petition with 100 names. Ms. Susan Moses, former
employee of Mt. Valley, gave the employee group perspective and timeline of
events.
Ms. Marilyn Hiatt was present and stated that she had resigned from Mt. Valley
in 2000 and was concerned that appointments at Mt. Valley were being made based
on friendships.
Mr. Gary Dielman was present and discussed finances. Mr. Dielman presented a
spreadsheet on federal tax forms submitted by Mt. Valley. It appeared that
over 90% of their funding was coming from tax dollars. When he tried to discuss
matters with Mt. Valley Mental Health board members and to find information on
their policies, etc. he was told that he couldn’t see those things. Mr. Dielman
stated that although their operations were very extensive and important, he
recommended that they not “clam up” and improve their public relations.
.
Ms. Patricia Schlicter was present and discussed concerns that counselors were
not helping her son as they had been in the past.
Ms. Marilyn Deel, mother of a client, was present and shared her daughter’s
story. Ms. Deel believed that the system was failing her daughter and they
were not getting quality service.
Ms. Peggi Timm, citizen committee member, was present and believed that the Mt.
Valley Mental Health Board were blue ribbon, top drawer people. Ms. Timm was
still concerned that there were things going on and asked that the Board of
Commissioners call for a full accounting of funds and employment practices and
to have a report within 30 days.
Mr. Todd Siex, Dept. Human Services-Child Welfare Division, stated that he was
aware that problems surfaced when staff turnover took place, and that he would
have heard in his office if there were interruptions in services. Mr. Siex had
not heard of any interruptions in services being offered by Mt. Valley.
Discussion was held regarding Mt. Valley going through litigation and not being
able to share information that most people were requesting. Consensus was
reached to hold an evening public hearing within two-three weeks to discuss the
matter further.
Scheduled Business:
Requests for Reclassifications/Advertising Positions
Fair Board Manager: Ms. Andi Sexton was present and requested that the position
be moved from a Range 15 to a Range 10. Ms. Sexton stated that she would be
resigning as of November 1st. The Fair Board wanted to split grant writing and
fair board management duties. Commissioner Warner moved to adopt the new
Fairgrounds Manager job description at a Range 10, Step 1. Commissioner Kerns
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Reclassification of Juvenile Counselor: Ms. Debbie Hoopes was present before
the Board. Ms. Hoopes stated that the position was currently being held by Ms.
Staci Erickson. The District Attorney was requesting that the position be
reclassed to a Juvenile Counselor II, a lead position. The position would move
from a Range 13 to a 14. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the
reclassification, effective October 1, 2006. Commissioner Stiff seconded the
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Contract Review Board
Commissioner Warner moved into Contract Review Board.
Request for Proposal for Grant Writer at Fairgrounds: Ms. Andi Sexton and Mr.
Rob Ellingson were present before the Board. Ms. Sexton presented the Request
for Proposal. Discussion was held on the timeline. Ms. Sexton would submit
that information to Ms. Nudd and the Board of Commissioner’s Office would
handle distribution and collection of the proposals. Commissioner Stiff moved
to approve the Request for Proposal and begin advertising. Commissioner Kerns
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Intergovernmental Agreements for Collection of Transient Lodging Tax with City
of Huntington and City of Sumpter: Commissioner Kerns moved to approve both
intergovernmental agreements. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warner moved out of Contract Review Board.
Other Business:
Comparison of Calendars:
Sept. 20th: Friends of the Fair
Sept. 21st: Mayors Council in Greenhorn, Small Woodlands Meeting
Sept. 22nd: Mt. Valley Mental Health Board Meeting
Sept. 25th: 911 Board Meeting, TLTC Meeting
Sept. 26th TEC, State CCF Board Meeting
Sept. 27th: State CCF Board Meeting
Oct. 4th: Commission Session
Commission Session was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Nudd, Executive Session
Baker County Board of Commissioners