Minutes: Board of Commission Meeting, 02/01/2006 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 February 1, 2006 Commission Session. Present were Commission Chair Fred Warner, Jr., Commissioner Tim L. Kerns and Commissioner Carl E. Stiff, M.D.
Citizens’ Participation:
Mr. Steve Culley spoke of land use issues in Oregon and requested once again that Baker County take the lead and opt out of the State’s land use laws. Commissioner Warner responded that he was not interested in fighting with the State, but was interested in changing Baker County’s current comprehensive plan.
Review/Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Warner moved to approve the January 18, 2006 Commission Session minutes. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Additions to the Agenda:
*Expanding No Wake Zone at Hewitt/Holcomb Park
*Small Woodlands/Biomass
Documents to be Signed: Resolution 2006-1001: Unanticipated Revenue within County Fire Authority Fund: Commissioner Warner stated that $600 had been received from the Medical Springs Rural Fire District for training. Mr. Gary Timm, Hazard Mitigation Coordinator, had performed the training. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Resolution 2006-1001. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2006-1002: Unanticipated Revenue within the Sheriff’s Department: Commissioner Warner stated that $17,000 had been awarded in Title III funds to Search and Rescue for a vehicle. Only $15,950 was needed for the vehicle and the remainder, $1,050, would be recognized in the Emergency Management Department. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Resolution 2006-1002. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2006-1003: Unanticipated Revenue within the Emergency Management Department: The resolution recognized $1,050 in additional Title III funds to be expended in the supply line. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Resolution 2006-1003. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2006-1006: Appropriation Transfer within Consolidated Dispatch: Commissioner Warner stated that $2,500 was being transferred from the software upgrade line to the supply line. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Resolution 2006-1006. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order No. 2006-111: Directing Baker County Sheriff to Make Sale of County Property: The Commissioners reviewed the order to sale personal property located in Unity. The property consisted only of buildings previously owned by Burnt River Forest Products and sat on land owned by John Hays. Commissioner Warner stated that he would visit with Mr. Hays about granting access to the property to have the buildings removed. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Order No. 2006-111, setting the minimum price for Items 1,2, 3 and 6 at $500 and Items 4,5, and 7 at $10 and to establish a 60-day timeline for removal of the buildings after the day of the sale, March 16, 2006. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2006-1004 & 1005: Appropriation Transfer within General Fund and Unanticipated Revenue within the Health Department: Ms. Debbie Hoopes was present before the Board. Ms. Hoopes stated that in order to correct compliance issues with the state, additional staffing and training dollars had been spent and therefore, she was requesting that $35,000 be transferred to the Health Department. Ms. Christena Cook was present and added that technically these funds should have been recognized during the previous budgets beginning fund balance. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Resolutions 2006-1004 and 1005. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Warner believed that in the future, with the enhanced programs, the Health Department would be able to create the revenue needed to sustain their programs. Ms. Hoopes stated that she would update the Commissioners again before the end of the fiscal year. Motion carried unanimously.
Order No. 2006-113: Appointing Member to Baker Morrow Regional Partnership: Two vacancies existed on the Board due to the resignation of Bev Duby and the term expiration of Randy Dodson. Mr. Dodson had responded that he would be interested in being reappointed. The County had not received any other responses. Commissioner Kerns moved to approve Order No. 2006-113, reappointing Mr. Dodson. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Order No. 2006-114: Cancellation of Wholly Uncollectable Personal Property: The Order had been submitted by Treasurer/Tax Collector Alice Durflinger and was to cancel the remainder of Touch America, Inc.’s personal property taxes. Touch America had filed bankruptcy and Baker County had agreed to a settlement the previous year. Commissioner Warner moved to approve Order No. 2006-114, canceling personal property taxes in the amount of $696.95. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Scheduled Business: Clerks Office Update: Update was cancelled due to illness.
Contract Review Board:
Commissioner Warner moved into Contract Review Board.
Local Contract Review Board Order No. 2006-101: Designating Sole-Source for 911 Center:
Mr. Jerry Boyd, Director of the 911 Center and the 911 Consolidated Dispatch Oversight Board had recommended that Gem State Communications be designated as a sole source provider for radio maintenance. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve Local Contract Review Board Order No. 2006-100. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
ODFW Grant Agreement for Holcomb Park Development: The grant agreement was for $102,500, 40% of the total cost for a fish cleaning station and improvements to the floating docks. The remainder of the funds would be coming from Baker County and the State Marine Board. Completion of the project was scheduled for September 2007. Commissioner Stiff moved to approve the grant agreement with ODFW. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warner moved out of Contract Review Board.
Resolution 2006-1007: Establishing Criteria for Issuing Building Approvals and Partition and Subdivision Final Plats for Approved Measure 37 Claims: The Resolution discussed the pending decision by the Oregon Appeals Court on the validity of Measure 37 and criteria for issuing permits on Measure 37 claims. Criteria included the following: 1. Applicant must have approval of Measure 37 claim by both Baker County and State of Oregon, 2) Applicant must file appropriate paperwork, fees and receive approval with the Baker County Planning Department and 3) Applicant must sign “Notice of Pending Litigation”. Discussion followed regarding whether the criteria should include approval of the State as well as County. Commissioner Kerns questioned if there was an appeal process if the County had rule incorrect on a Measure 37 claim. Mr. Berry stated that an approved Order could be amended. Commissioner Warner moved to adopt Resolution 2006-1007 with the amendment that only Baker County approval was required and to sign the order out of session. Commissioner Kerns seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Other Business: Mason Dam Hydroelectric Project: Randy Joseph was present before the Board. Mr. Joseph stated that C.F. Malm had agreed to submit the application at no additional charge. Mr. Joseph recommended that the County still consider submitting the application themselves. Commissioner Warner stated that he had briefly visited with a representative from Idaho Power. It did not appear that they would be willing partners in the process as they did not have a need for high cost power that would be generated at the dam. Commissioner Warner added that Idaho Power would not be able to deal with Baker County directly as we were in OTEC’s service area. If the County was to put in a power line, we would have to do it in conjunction with OTEC. The representative also stated that if the analysis came back showing that the additional power generated would overload their Northeast Oregon loop, that the County would have to pay for most of the upgrades. Commissioner Warner moved to direct Mr. Joseph to work with Idaho Power and C.F. Malm to get an analysis of the power line and substation. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Addition to the Agenda: Small Woodlands/Biomass: Mr. Joseph reported on the meeting with the School District and Siemens on biomass. Siemens had discussed 0% interest bonds available to municipalities for power generation. As far as the small woodlands project, Mr. Joseph believed that an immediate market could be found for power generation and chip/pelletizing—the sawmill could be implemented at a later time. Commissioner Warner stated that he had met with the Forest Supervisor and staff and they were working on ways to narrow down potential timber supplies, and stewardship contracts. The Forest Service and BLM had received $10,000 and wanted to hear ideas from the County on ways to utilize the funds to help with biomass, etc. Consensus was reached to invite the Forest Service and the School District to the next Power Generation Task Force meeting.
Documents to be Signed: Letters of Support for the ODFW Cougar Management Plan and Pine Valley Vegetative Management Plan: Commissioner Kerns moved to approve the letters to ODFW and the Forest Service. Commissioner Stiff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Addition to the Agenda: Expanding the No Wake Zone at Hewitt/Holcomb Park: Commissioner Warner stated that there was a proposal being brought forward by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Sheriff’s Office to expand the slow no wake zone to 300 feet, the entire width of the channel. Consensus was reached to advertise the matter and hold a public hearing at the February 15th commission session.
Other Business: Comparison of Calendars:
Feb. 1st: WASH Committee, Goal Planning Session
Feb. 2nd: Oregon Parks and Recreation ATV Grant, NEACT Meeting
Feb. 3rd: TRT Task Force Meeting
Feb. 6th: BMRP Video Conference
Feb. 8th: EO/DH, Work Session, Goal Planning Session
Feb. 9th: blue Mt. Forest Plan
Feb. 10th: EORA in John Day
Feb. 15th: Commission Session
Commission Session was adjourned at 12:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Nudd, Executive Assistant
Baker County Board of Commissioners