COMMISSION CHAIR SHANE M. ALDERSON APRIL 19, 2023
COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA WITHAM
COMMISSIONER BRUCE A. NICHOLS
BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the April 19, 2023, Commission Session. Present were Commissioner Shane M. Alderson, Commissioner Christina Witham, and Commissioner Bruce A. Nichols.
1. Call to Order/Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
Commissioner Alderson called the meeting to order and led the invocation and the pledge of allegiance.
2. Agenda Changes/Additions to the Agenda
a. Remove: Fair: Professional Services Agreement for a Project Executive Director
b. Classification & Compensation Study & Analysis (See Scheduled Business)
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the agenda with changes. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
3. Citizen’s Participation
a. Ms. Alice Durflinger, Baker County Treasurer, submitted her letter of resignation. Ms. Durflinger is retiring after 27 years of serving Baker County. Her last day will be June 30, 2023.
4. Review/Approval of Minutes
a. April 5, 2023, Commission Session Minutes
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the April 5, 2023, Commission Session Minutes. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
5. Scheduled Business
a. Assessor Update ~ Kerry Savage, Assessor & Shawn Berry, Assistant Assessor
Kerry Savage, Assessor, and Shawn Berry, Assistant Assessor, were present to give an update. Mr. Savage briefly overviewed the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Program (CAFFA Grant) that began in 1989 and the grant application forms prepared for submission upon approval. The forms include information on staff FTEs, staffing issues, valuation and appraisal resources, work activity, expense summaries, and other yearly data/summaries.
Currently, Baker is one of the only counties in Oregon with a Farm and Agriculture Board which once was a requirement but is no longer. Mr. Berry explained that this adds validity to the County's appraised values.
Commissioner Nichols asked if they had seen any decline in property sales. Mr. Savage and Mr. Berry explained that although the volume is down, sales have not significantly declined. One of the biggest challenges they face is the housing supply.
Mr. Berry discussed the digitization project that they have been working on. Their office has digitized over 55,000 documents. The next step in the process will be to take the map-type documents and begin geo-referencing, which will provide an inventory system. Once a large portion is geo-referenced, they will become available to the public. The project will also include digitizing surveys, historical documents, and other documents. The goal is to make them available to the public to view as archived files under different interfaces.
b. Classification & Compensation Study & Analysis: As a part of SEIU negotiations in 2022, Baker County agreed to conduct an employee compensation study to be completed prior to the end of the contract, which expires June 30, 2024. In addition to the compensation study for the SEIU group, the County will also review salaries for non-represented employees and approximately fifteen job descriptions to ensure they are aligned correctly within the pay structure.
Commissioner Witham moved to approve the RFP for the Classification and Compensation Study and Analysis. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
c. Contract Review Board
1. Assessor: CAFFA Grant Approval for Assessment and Taxation: Approval of the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Grant (CAFFA) is an annual process for funding from the recording fees and delinquent interest (statewide). CAFFA funding is approximately $150,000.00 to $200,000.00 per year to Baker County for A&T, depending on the projected recording fees and delinquent interest. Mr. Savage is requesting approval of the 2023-2024 CAFFA Grant. Submission is due to the DOR by May 1, 2023.
Commissioner Witham moved to approve the CAFFA Grant for Assessment and Taxation. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2. Weed: OWEB Grant Agreement-Medical Springs Noxious and IAG Control Project 2022: Jeffrey Pettingill, Weed Director, is requesting approval of the Medical Springs Noxious and IAG Control Project 2022 Grant No. 222-8206-22242. The project total is approximately $178,000.00, and the grant award is $105,133.00. The grant brings in $15,000.00 for the Weed Department, which is used for staff compensation. The project includes a combined effort with Union County and land-owners to control white top and noxious weeds in the Medical Springs area. Medical Springs down to Lime and everything east of I-84 is a part of the Sage-Grouse Local Implementation Team (LIT). This project was proposed in December of 2021 and was approved by the LIT, the Technical Review Team (TRT), and OWEB. Technical review team TRT
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the Grant request for Medical Springs Noxious and IAG Control Project 2022 Grant No. 222-8206-22242 for a project completion date of 11/30/2024 with the first progress date of 11/30/2023 and Post-Implementation Status Reporting Period of 5 years. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
3. Weed: OWEB Grant Agreement-Haines Hoary Alyssum Project Phase III: Jeffrey Pettingill, Weed Director, is requesting approval of the Haines Hoary Alyssum Project Phase III Grant No. 2023-36-001c-22709. This is an Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Grant. The project total is $47,306.00, and the grant award is $25,575.00. The grant benefit to the Weed Department is $4000.00 for a seasonal weed technician. Phase III of this Project specifically targets Hoary Alyssum, a mustard plant that is rapidly spreading and toxic to livestock. Mr. Pettingill first discovered it while doing surveys west of Haines. It was thought to be affecting 5-10 acres, but now it is affecting over 600. The hope is to use most of the funds to get a helicopter to spray some of the larger areas. This also supports a 25% cost share for private landowners.
Commissioner Witham moved to approve the Oregon State Weed Board ODA Grant Agreement Haines Hoary Alyssum Project Phase III Grant No. 2023-36-001c-22709 for a total of $25,575.00 award date 03/02/2023 with grant completion 04/30/2024 and interim report date of 09/30/2023. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
6. Documents to be Signed
a. Order No. 2023-122 Appointing Robert Black to the Baker Valley Vector Control Board for a term set to expire December 31, 2023.
Commissioner Witham moved to approve Order No. 2023-122. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
7. Ratification of Documents
a. OWEB Grant Agreement for Monitoring Grant No. 222-8206-22643: Baker County received a grant in the amount of $18,725.00 from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to purchase equipment to monitor and track sage grouse activity that will help locate sage grouse hens, monitor their habitat, and hopefully improve numbers. The Contract Review Board approved the purchase of 11 GPS units for $13, 744.50 at their 3/8/23 session and 11 VHF collars for $3,141.00 at their 3/15/23 session. The OWEB grant agreement needs to be ratified.
Commissioner Witham moved to ratify Commissioner Alderson’s signature for the OWEB Grant Agreement No. 222-8206-22643. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.
b. Amendment #6 to the OHA 2022 IGA for the Financing of Community Mental Health, Addiction Treatment, Recovery & Prevention and Problem Gambling Services Agreement #173127.
Commissioner Witham moved to ratify Commissioner Nichols’ signature on Amendment #6 to the IGA#173127 for the Financing of Community Mental Health, Addiction Treatment, Recovery & Prevention, and Problem Gambling Services. Commissioner Alderson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
c. Financial Reports: C90, C93, V12, C76, C96 and the March, 2023 Financial Report.
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the aforementioned financial reports. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
8. Other Business:
a. Commissioner Update:
· Commissioner Alderson reported attending the Extension Advisory Meeting on Monday, where they worked on the committee bylaws and initial goals.
He also discussed Oregon passing rules on homelessness about a year ago. When he was a Baker City Councilor, they adopted an ordinance on homelessness. County Counsel has advised the County to adopt an ordinance for County property.
· Commissioner Witham plans to attend a Weed Board Meeting, Oregon Blues Forest Collaborative Meeting, and the Ways and Means Road Show next week. On May 1st, she will attend the East Side Screens Hearing in Pendleton.
· Commissioner Nichols reported working on setting up meetings with EONI and Davis Computers to discuss broadband. He has talked with the school district and wants to speak with the hospital and Intermountain ESD. His goal is to get businesses involved in the broadband discussion. He received an email from Kathleen Kathy regarding $20 million of grant money available for a study. He plans to attend the Friends of the Museum meeting today. Next week he will attend the Ways and Means Road Show, a New Directions Meeting, and a Community Connections Meeting.
Discussion: The Commissioners discussed the possibility of hiring a grant writer to do the grant writing for the County.
b. Comparison of Calendar: Commissioner Alderson and Commissioner Witham will attend County College in Salem April 20th – 22nd.
9. Adjournment
Commissioner Nichols moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
The April 19, 2023, Commission Session adjourned at 10:30 A.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Erin Linan
Management Assistant |