COMMISSION CHAIR SHANE M. ALDERSON                  MAY 3, 2023                              

COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA WITHAM

COMMISSIONER BRUCE A. NICHOLS

BAKER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for the May 3, 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

3.       Citizen’s Participation

4.       Review/Approval of Minutes

a.       April 19, 2023, Commission Session Minutes

Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the April 19, 2023, Commission Session Minutes with changes. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

5.       Scheduled Business

a.       Facilities Update ~ Dan McQuisten, Facilities Director

              Dan McQuisten, Facilities Director, was present to give a department update. Mr. McQuisten reviewed his proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. His proposal includes some budget increases, accommodating increased employee and operation costs, but none are generated for new activity. 

              Highlights for the Courthouse building for the current 2022-23 budget year include completing the final phase of a three-phase process of restoring the stone masonry work all around the entryways to the building. Upcoming projects are remodeling the basement for the Technology Department expansion, renovation, and moving of the Planning Department. 

              Commissioner Alderson inquired about the Veterans Memorial. Mr. McQuisten explained that it is included in the budget line he refers to as his capital expenditures account, which includes long-term projects. It holds $5,000.00 as a contribution match of funds for available known grants. One, in particular, is through the State Parks and does require a small match. The line has been in place for about three years to provide the opportunity to apply for one of those grants.

b.      Contract Review Board

1.       NRCS: Western Landowners Alliance: 2023 Conservation Innovation Grant: Ms. Ellie Gage, Grant Administrator, was present to give an overview of Western Landowners Alliance and the 2023 CIG Grant. The Western Landowners Alliance is a non-profit organization that has partnered with NRCS to provide producers with funds to support non-lethal predator management activities. They will be applying for the 2023 Conservation Innovation Grant for $100,000.00. They are seeking four counties to commit to a $25,000.00 in-kind match. Once the match requirement is met, the county will be reimbursed up to 75% of additional purchases, producer hours, carcass management, etc. The grant period of performance has been extended to two years and will begin on 09/01/2023 and end on 08/31/2025. Oregon Department of Agriculture Wolf Grant funds that are not federal can be used as the $25,000.00 match. The ODA Wolf Grant Award for 2023 is $47,250.00 and includes $40,920.00 in prevention funds, of which $37,456.61 are state funds. Ms. Gage is requesting commitment from Baker County. The consensus is to sign the informal partner letter from Ms. Gage.

2.       Sheriff/EM: Emergency Operations Center Grant Agreement: Sheriff Ash was present to discuss the Oregon Department of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center Grant Program Grant No. 22-EOC1. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $2,666,667.00 grant to construct an Emergency Operations Center which will be a newly constructed addition to the current Sheriff’s Office building. The grant match is

$666,667.00 and will be funded from the first round of funding from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF). The Grant period is 10/01/2022 through 09/30/2024 with the possibility of an extension. Sheriff Ash will be working on the extension request to ensure the project can be completed within the grant period.

Commissioner Nichols moved to approve the Oregon Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center Grant Agreement Grant No. 22-EOC1 for $2,666,667.00 with a $666,667.00 match. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.

c.       Marijuana Funds Transfer: Commissioner Nichols discussed that there is $33,195.00 of marijuana funds received years ago that need to be transferred to New Directions Northwest (NDNW). The funds had been allocated to NDNW but were never transferred. The funds will go towards supporting their drug and alcohol treatment programs.

*Commissioner Nichols disclosed that he is the Commissioner liaison to New Directions Northwest but is not a voting member*

Commissioner Witham moved to approve the Marijuana funds transfer of $33,195.00 to New Directions Northwest. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.

d.      Executive Session per ORS 192.660(2)(a): To consider the employment of a public officer employee, staff member, or individual agent. The Commissioners will return to Regular Session immediately following Executive Session to make a decision as needed.

The Commissioners returned to Regular Session and discussed the following:

Commissioner Witham moved to open and advertise the Treasurer’s Position to the public for one week. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.

6.       Documents to be Signed

a.       Order No. 2023-123 Re-Appointing Ron Rowan and Mike Sullivan to the Baker County Fair Board for a term set to expire May 1, 2026.

Commissioner Witham moved to approve Order No. 2023-123. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.

b.      Order No. 2023-124 Appointing Dan Garrick to the Baker County Natural Resource Advisory Committee for a term set to expire March 1, 2026.

Consensus to table Order No. 2023-124 until the next Commission Session as confirmation of advertising the vacancy is needed.

c.       Order No. 2023-125 Appointing Stephanie Sanders, Joe Hayes, Meghan Chancey for a term set to expire May 1, 2026, Sheri Selander, Fidel Soliz, Barry Nemec for a term set to expire May 1, 2025, Dean Guyer, Tamara Keller, and Justin Emmons for a term set to expire May 1, 2024, to the Baker County Transportation Advisory Committee.

Commissioner Witham moved to approve Order No. 2023-125. Commissioner Nichols seconded the motion. Motion carried.

d.      Order No. 2023-126 Re-Appointing Bruce Hummel to the Baker County Weed District Board for a term set to expire April 1, 2026.

Commissioner Nichols moved to approve Order No. 2023-126. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.

7.       Ratification of Documents

a.          Oregon Department of Agriculture 2023 Wolf Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Agreement Grant No. ODA-4423-GR.

Commissioner Nichols moved to ratify Commissioner Witham’s signature for the Oregon Department of Agriculture 2023 Wolf Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Agreement Grant No. ODA-4423-GR. Commissioner Alderson seconded the motion. Motion carried.

b.         Amendment #2 to State of Oregon Intergovernmental Agreement for the Financing of Community Developmental Disabilities Program Services Agreement No. 169155.

Commissioner Witham moved to ratify Commissioner Nichols signature for Amendment #2 to State of Oregon Intergovernmental Agreement for the Financing of Community Developmental Disabilities Program Services Agreement No. 169155. Commissioner Alderson seconded the motion. Motion carried.

c.          Financial Reports: C94, C95, C97, C98, C77, C04, the February Revenue/Expenditure Report, and the March Revenue/Expenditure 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 preparing for budget season. Budget meetings are scheduled for May 23rd and 24th.

·         Commissioner Witham reported attending the Weed District meeting and Northern Blues Forest Collaborative's open monthly meeting, the Ways and Means Roadshow, and the East-Side Screens Hearing. The East-Side Screens Hearing decision should be made in July and is important to Baker County as it will affect the Watershed Project. She plans on attending the AOC Legislative Committee Meeting via Zoom and the OTEC Wildfire Plan Meeting. 

·         Commissioner Nichols reported attending a New Directions Northwest meeting, a Community Connections meeting, the Ways and Means Roadshow, the Powder Basin Watershed Council meeting, and the Museum Board meeting. The Powder Basin Watershed Council is working on a five-year strategic plan, as the last plan was from 2018-2022. The Museum Board is also working on a strategic plan and recruiting board members. He will be on vacation next week, visiting Yosemite National Park. He plans to attend the AOC Membership Committee meeting and the AOC Legislative Committee meeting via Zoom while he is gone.

b.         Comparison of Calendar: The Commissioners plan to attend the National Day of Prayer and Breakfast event at Harvest Christian Church at 7:00 a.m. on May 4, 2023.

9.       Adjournment

Commissioner Nichols moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Witham seconded the motion. Motion carried.

The May 3, 2023, Commission Session adjourned at 11:25 A.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Erin Linan

Management Assistant