COMMISSION CHAIR WILLIAM HARVEY
COMMISSIONER MARK E. BENNETT
COMMISSIONER BRUCE A. NICHOLS
BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the November 9, 2022 Special Commission Session. Present were Commissioner Bill Harvey, Commissioner Mark E. Bennett, and Commissioner Bruce A. Nichols.
1. Call to Order/Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
Commissioner Harvey called the meeting to order and led the invocation and the pledge of allegiance.
2. Agenda Changes/Additions to the Agenda
a. Road Department: Fuel Purchase (See scheduled business)
b. Richland Water Project Update (See scheduled business)
c. Road District Discussion (See scheduled business)
Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the November 9, 2022 agenda with changes. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
3. Citizen’s Participation
a. None
4. Review/Approval of Minutes
a. None
5. Scheduled Business
a. Contract Review Board
1. Health Department: MOU with OHSU: Ms. Meghan Chancey, Health Director, was present to discuss the MOU with OHSU. She reported that Baker County Health Department (BCHD) attends the Oregon Rural-Based Research Network (ORPRN) ECHO Panel. ORPRN is conducting a Social Determinants of Health to Health Equity project, which will assist in identifying any gaps in the Health Department’s social needs screening and referrals to community resources.
The project includes participating in two webinars, receiving technical assistance in identifying gaps and improving the referral process, and completing a survey about the project.
The Director and Interim Nursing Supervisor will work with ORPRN throughout the next seven months to complete this project to enhance BCHD services and referrals in Baker County. She recommends approving the MOU to improve the screening and referral process at the Health Department.
Commissioner Harvey expressed concern that they are short-staffed and the additional work that would be falling on Ms. Chancey. He asked if she was going to be able to manage it. Ms. Chancey explained that she and the interim nursing supervisor have agreed to work on this.
Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the MOU with OHSU. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2. Health Department: Title X Mini Grant: Ms. Chancey reported that the Reproductive Health Program announced the availability of a Title X mini-grant. This grant aims to increase access to high-quality, culturally-responsive reproductive health services. This grant is intended to help agencies engage in projects that will equip their clinics with tools and resources to facilitate client access and assist with staff development in working with diverse clients.
Baker County Health Department (BCHD) is seeking to increase access to culturally-responsive reproductive health services for all individuals in Baker County. Currently, BCHD has four exam rooms, none of which include an ADA-compliant exam table. They also have outdated equipment for family planning. Additionally, many of their brochures (some dating back to 1993), pamphlets, and signage that BCHD has, need to be updated to provide inclusivity for all communities in Baker County.
BCHD proposes to purchase an ADA-compliant exam table with stirrups for one exam room and a wireless speculum light to ensure safety for staff and patients. In addition, BCHD proposes to purchase updated brochures, pamphlets, and signage for the lobby and clients that provide information regarding reproductive health education in English, Spanish, and other languages, if needed.
Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the application of the Title X mini grant for up to $10,000.00. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Discussion: Commissioner Harvey asked for an update on signage at the Health Department. Ms. Chancey explained that they have one sign on the corner of 4th and Church Street and a sign on the railings inside the building. Commissioner Harvey asked about the plans for the blank billboard. Ms. Chancey explained that they hoped to put the old sign on there, but it still needs to be done.
Commissioner Bennett added that they also need a sign for the Veterans, and he thinks arrows leading to the disabled entrances would also be good. Ms. Chancey explained they had signs on one of the doors that rang frequently, but she will have to double-check that they have put an arrow for Veteran's Services at the main entrance.
b. STIF: 2022 Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan Adoption: Ms. Doni Bruland, Natural Resource Coordinator, was present to discuss the STIF plan. She reported that the plan is finalized and is recommending approval and adoption of the plan. The plan is required by the Federal Transportation Administration and the Oregon Department of Transportation for STIF to apply for their grants. She commended the two contractors that wrote the plan for the wonderful job they did in writing it. Last time it was a tri-county plan including Wallowa, Union, and Baker County. This time it separated Baker County, so it only includes Baker County's information.
Ms. Bruland confirmed that the transit tax deducted through payroll taxes helped pay for this.
Commissioner Harvey added that they put an RFP out, got a contractor, wrote a plan, and now the Commissioners are approving the plan. Ms. Bruland agreed they are at the final step.
Commissioner Bennett added that working with the US Census Bureau and the University of Portland, both Haines's and Unity's populations are incorrect. He is asking that they be corrected because the funding pieces for those cities are wrong. The census bureau acknowledged that they went randomly, and when people did not do them online, they did not count them. Unity remains at seventy-one, and he still needs the final count for Haines. Before this goes out, it must accurately reflect the population since it does affect funding for both cities.
Commissioner Harvey requested that if they go to a motion on this, he can sign out of session.
Commissioner Nichols asked for clarification on the census being too high or too low, and Commissioner Bennett clarified that it was too low for both cities. He added that it was due to them basing everything online, and many people did not participate. Haines was down forty-three people, and Portland State University did redo it. He reiterated that it is essential based on funding.
Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the adoption of the STIF 2022 Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion Carried.
c. Greater Idaho Update ~ Mike McCarter
Mike McCarter, Greater Idaho Founder, was present on zoom to give an update on the Greater Idaho movement. He reported that as of yesterday's election, the movement is continuing. This is the fifth election with positive county votes, and Morrow and Wheeler County voters agreed to join the group and begin pushing the legislator to move forward. Wheeler County passed it around 58%, and Morrow County passed it around 60%. There were comments about red-wave pushback; it doesn't seem to have developed that way.
Senator Linthicum from Klamath Falls, Oregon has put some legislation together and is getting ready to introduce it into Oregon legislator in January. They have enough signatures in place to put it on the ballot in Wallowa County. After that, the next step would be to collect signatures to get it onto the ballot in Umatilla County again. They are not giving up; they are trying to convince the legislator to begin talking about it.
Commissioner Harvey thanked him for their efforts and asked if there has been any movement in Idaho. Mr. McCarter reported that there has been some. Representatives Judy Boyle and Barbara Ehardt had legislation written, but they felt it needed more support to get it on the ballot. Oregon is different because they are biannual legislators, even though it tends to be annual, and Idaho is an annual legislator. They are scheduling and budgeting for lobbyists in both legislators to keep them informed.
The connection with Mr. McCarter was lost. Commissioner Harvey let Mr. McCarter know that Ms. Erin Linan, Management Assistant, would contact him for information missed due to technical difficulties.
d. Road Department: Fuel Purchase: Mr. Nolan Perkins, Roadmaster, was present to discuss rumors of fuel shortages. He reported speaking with some friends from Seattle who are in the fuel industry and think the Northwest will be better off than many other parts of the country but still encourage some preparation. Due to the information Mr. Perkins has gathered, he spoke with the local fuel delivery people, who have said they have enough storage if the county wants to buy 35,000 gallons of diesel and use their storage tanks while still storing fuel at their shop. If there is a fuel shortage, they will still have fuel available this winter for them to plow snow and allow for emergency services to respond. He doesn’t have a price at this time. Commissioner Harvey supports the idea saying that it will be used eventually. Commissioner Nichols agreed.
Commissioner Bennett moved to approve the authorization of the Road Department's attempt to secure fuel supply and for it to be signed out of session. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Discussion: Mr. Perkins reported the entire state’s highway allocations are down less than 1% from the projections in April. This translates into approximately $18,000.00 less than what the Road Department was expecting to receive to date from the first of July. Projections may continue to fluctuate through the end of the fiscal year.
PILT Discussion: Ms. Christena Cook, County Accountant, was present to give handouts that contained updated PILT information. Commissioner Nichols reported that they are estimating approximately $500,000.00. He expressed that they may want to let each of the cities know that this is what the County is talking about as far as funds as it relates to the proposed road district.
Commissioner Bennett moved to add a Road District Revised Language Discussion to the agenda. Commissioner Harvey seconded the motion. Motion carried.
e. Road District Discussion: Ms. Kim Mosier, County Counsel, was present to give an update on the proposed additional language to the final formation order for the Road Service District. A couple of cities have been concerned that the Board of Commissioners would assess a tax in the future. Those cities are looking at putting some language in their resolutions to make it clear that their consent to be a part of the district relies on the county not imposing a tax, fee, or charge on the district.
As part of giving them assurances, there is one sentence Ms. Mosier drafted in the proposed final order. After two public hearings and they have gone through the entire process, where the commissioners are ready to form the district, this would be the proposed language for forming the district. The additional language included on page three is a sentence in the order that reads, "Baker County Road Service District will dissolve upon the date that the Board of Commissioners votes to implement any tax, fee, or charge on the district."
Commissioner Bennett added that this was their intent all along. Commissioner Bennett and Ms. Mosier explained to Mr. Jonathan Cannon, Baker City Manager, on a conference call that this Board of Commissioners never intended to impose a tax, fee, or charge and that it is purely a process tool to increase and secure SRS funding. Commissioner Bennett thinks that Mr. Cannon seemed comfortable with this and that Huntington is comfortable with it.
Commissioner Harvey added that the last remaining towns are Sumpter and Haines. He is planning to go to Haines next week. He asked Commissioner Bennett if he was going to Sumpter the following week. Commissioner Bennett explained that Huntington is putting it on their agenda for November 15th.
Commissioner Harvey asked if they needed to make a motion to approve the new language. Ms. Mosier explained that they do not need to make a motion to approve the new language and that this was just to inform and update the Commissioners. They will only need approval once they have had the public hearings.
Commissioner Harvey asked if they must wait for all resolutions before scheduling a public hearing. Ms. Mosier agreed that when they have all of the signed resolutions from the remaining cities, they can put it on the agenda to have the Commissioners consider initiating the process of forming the district. Then there will be two public hearings, and there will be a chance to approve the final order at the last public hearing.
Commissioner Bennett suggested that to raise the comfort level of the cities, the commissioners at least have a consensus that they concur with the language. They all agreed.
Ms. Mosier added that the statute requires a city's consent to be included in any district, so withdrawing their consent by logical extension would remove them from the district. With this district, in particular, the mechanism to create this district is a new piece of legislation that requires that it includes all of the county, so the effect would be that cities continue to have a say in whether or not they are a part of this district. There are many assurances they should take from that piece alone.
f. Richland Water Project Update: Commissioner Nichols explained that based on the engineer's report, he favors a three-inch pipeline as it will be sufficient for the water supply and more cost-effective overall as it is cheaper and easier to install. Additionally, the City of Richland has a limited water source and they are concerned about the amount of water the Park will need and their ability to meet that need. He stated that the fish cleaning stations may have to be excluded from the water project.
Commissioner Harvey explained he favors a four-inch pipeline based on the engineer's report as it allows more opportunity for growth or expansion in the future. He was unaware that the cost would be much higher than the three-inch pipeline. He added that he wants to maintain the opportunity for future expansion and does not believe the three-inch pipe will allow for that.
Commissioner Bennett thinks the County could agree to a flow restrictor based on whatever capacity of water they can provide. He thinks the County may be able to find an alternative solution for the fish cleaning stations if they have to be excluded, just so long as we have potable water for the rest of the Park. He would like to see the four-inch line installed now while the funding is available. It will allow for growth and the City could tap into the line to install fire hydrants along Sullivan Rd. if they want. The County could install a dry hydrant at the Park for fire protection.
Commissioner Nichols is opposed to spending $1.6 million on this project. Commissioner Bennett stated that County staff estimate the project to be around $700,000 if the County were able to work with the local phone company who is already working in that area. He would like to see the cost difference for both a three-inch line and a four-inch line.
Commissioner Nichols stated that the City is willing to provide water depending on how much water the Park needs and how much water they have available.
Commissioner Harvey agreed to meet with the phone company to get cost estimates on each pipeline size so they can make decisions at the next commission session. Commissioner Bennett believes that we can use a Road Department employee to oversee the project and that an engineer is not needed. They all agreed that $1.6 million was excessive but they are supportive of the project.
Commissioner Nichols agreed to get the information on water volume from the engineer by the next commission session.
The consensus is to decide at the December 7th Commission Session.
6. Documents to be Signed
a. None
7. Ratification of Documents
8. Other Business:
a. Commissioner Update:
b. Comparison of Calendar:
9. Adjournment
The November 9, 2022 Special Commission Session adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Erin Linan
Management Assistant |