April 1, 2009 Commission Session Page 1 of 4
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 April 1, 2009 Commission
Session. Present were Commission Chair Fred Warner, Jr., Commissioner Carl
Stiff, and Commissioner Tim L. Kerns.
2. Executive Session: The Board of Commissioners entered into Executive
Session per ORS 192.660 (2)(e) to discuss a real estate transaction.
3. Citizen’s Participation: Mr. Guy Michael was present to find out the status
of the Auburn Gulch Road and the Dooley Toll Road that have been under review
as RS2477 roads by the County Road Department. The Commissioners will be
taking a tour of the roads once the snow has melted and the roads are passable.
4. Review/Approval of Minutes:
Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve the March 18, 2009 Commission
Session minutes as presented. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
5. Additions to the Agenda:
· Land Sale Deed in the City of Greenhorn: The parcel consists of 4.99 acres
with a minimum bidding price of $17,220. The County General Fund would receive
the proceeds from the sale. Commissioner Stiff made a motion to approve the
sale of the property located in Greenhorn. Commissioner Kerns seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
· Oregon Public Utility Commission: Petition to Intervene regarding matters of
the Idaho Power Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line. By filing the
petition, Baker County will be able to monitor and challenge, if needed,
decisions made by Idaho Power regarding the B2H transmission line.
Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve filing the Petition to Intervene.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
· Representative Walden will be at the Sunridge at 12:00 p.m. on April 7, 2009
· Fred Kelly Grant Coordination Seminar—The Commissioners discussed sending a
member of the NRAC committee to the seminar to be held in Nampa, Id.
6. Scheduled Business
a. Department Update: Assessor’s Department-Kerry Savage
The Assessor’s office has hired Troy Leply as a new assessor and “Hoppy”
Hopkins is expected to retire sometime this year. They are currently finishing
Area Three, which is the Haines area. They will be re-appraising Area Four,
the Sumpter area, starting the end of April. Since 1999 their department has
found approximately $21 million in new construction that was not done through
planning permits. They have picked up nearly $26 million through permits. The
roll value has increased by $148 million since 1999.
b. Holcomb Park Update: Change Order #2: Contract Extension of 30 days to be
extended to April 30, 2009 due to weather. Ms. Spencer reported that the
contractor needs an additional week or two to power everything up and charge
the lines prior to their opening. However, they do expect to be open to the
public within the next couple of weeks. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to
approve Change Order #2 granting a contract extension to April 30, 2009.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Oregon State Marine Board Grant: The Grant is for $90,000 to complete a ramp
extension and concrete cap at Holcomb Park. The Parks Department had
previously been approved for the same grant at an earlier time, however due to
high water levels, they could not complete the project and lost their funding.
The project would be completed some time between July 1, 2009 and October 31,
2009 when water levels are low. If needed, they can apply for an in-stream
work extension to be approved by the ODFW. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to
approve the grant application for $90,000 to the OSMB. Commissioner Stiff
seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ms. Spencer later returned to notify the
Commissioners that she had received notice that her grant has been
pre-approved.
Resolution No. 2009-1013: Authorization for Baker County Parks & Recreation to
apply for a grant for Holcomb Park.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Grant: The grant request of $245,000,
which is 56.24% of total costs, will cover the next phase of development at
Holcomb Park. This phase includes the development of 26 RV sites with one of
those sites having water, sewer, and electrical hookups. 19 RV sites will have
water and electrical and 6 tent sites will have water service only.
Commissioner Kerns made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2009-1013 and also
to approve the application to the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department Grant
for the amount of $245,000. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
c. Mr. Mark Ferns of the Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries Update: Due to State budget constraints, the Baker City office is
being considered for shutting down and moving their services to the main
headquarters office located in Portland, Oregon. Baker City is one of two
regional DOGAMI offices. The other office is located in Grants Pass. With a
10% funding cut, one of the two offices would be shut down. With a 15% cut,
both offices would be shut down. The Baker City office employs 2.5 people.
Their office has recently received a grant worth approximately $223,000 from
the State Cooperative Mapping Program to complete mapping projects around the
State. The grant requires matching funds that have been provided using general
fund positions. If those positions are lost, they will no longer be able to
match the grant funds and will lose the grant. There has been discussion of
other agencies absorbing various branches of services provided by DOGAMI if one
of the field offices is shut down. Mr. Ferns reported that he is seeking funds
from the Water and Stream Health Committee. Commissioner Warner stated that he
would draft a letter to Ms. Vicki McConnell, Director of the Portland DOGAMI
office, in support of keeping the Baker City office operating.
d. Contract Review Board:
1. Amendment #3 to OCCF 07-09 IGA 0709BAKE. The amendment provides a total
funding reduction of $9,646 to various CCF programs. Commissioner Kerns made a
motion to approve Amendment #3 to OCCF IGA 0709BAKE. Commissioner Stiff
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2. Public Notice to authorize the Sheriff’s Department to apply for grant funds
through the Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice programs, and the Bureau of
Justice Assistance. The Baker County Sheriff’s Department along with the Baker
City Police Department will be working together to apply for $21,021 in grant
funds to be divided between the two departments. The grant funds will be used
to buy protective equipment, investigative equipment, and communication
equipment. Commissioner Warner made a motion to authorize the Baker County
Sheriff’s Department to work with the Baker City Police to apply for the Edward
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. Commissioner Stiff seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
e. CCF Budget Update: Ms. Judy Barzee stated that their department is looking
at a budget reduction of 30%. With a shortage of State funds, a salary
shortage of nearly $72,000 exists that will need to be funded through other
means. Ms. Barzee reviewed in depth a biennial funding comparison and
discussed the various programs that CCF provided and how the programs were
funded.
7. Documents to be signed:
a. Resolution No. 98-01: Tax Refund. A total refund of $9,385.87 will be
refunded to tax payers who have overpaid their property taxes. Commissioner
Kerns made a motion to approve Resolution No. 98-01. Commissioner Stiff
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
8. Documents to be Ratified:
a. Amendment #34 to the Department of Human Services 2007-2009 IGA for the
Financing of Mental Health, Developmental Disability and Addiction Services
Agreement #119921. Commissioner Kerns made a motion to ratify Amendment #34 to
the Department of Human Services 2007-2009 IGA for the Financing of Mental
Health, Developmental Disability and Addiction Services Agreement #119921.
Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried.
9. Other Business
a. Comparison of Calendar
04/08/09 Work Session—CANCELLED
04/15//09 Commission Session
10. Adjourn
The April 1, 2009 Commission Session was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Martin, Executive Assistant
Baker County Board of Commissioners