IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF GRANT MAY 14, 2014

Pursuant to notice made to the newspaper of general circulation throughout Grant County, the radio station in Grant County and e-mail distribution list, a regular meeting of the County Court was held at the County Courthouse in Canyon City OR.

9:00 am — Call to Order. Present were Judge Scott W. Myers, Commissioners Boyd Britton and Chris B. Labhart, Secretary Mary Ferrioli, Jim Sproul and Hank Lissman. A Pledge of Allegiance was given to the United States flag. The invocation was given by Commissioner Britton.

HAND CHECK. Last week, Judge Myers signed a Hand Check for $3,869.66 to Bisnett Insurance for coverage of the airport’s underground / aboveground fuel tanks.

AGENDA. MSP: Myers/Britton — to accept the agenda as presented

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Labhart attended the Extension and 4H Service District Budget Committee last Wednesday and drove the VA van to Boise last Thursday. Friday he attended an interesting RAC meeting in La Grande and Monday he attended an AOC Veterans Committee meeting by phone and a SBHC meeting. Tomorrow evening Labhart will attend a hospital board meeting and will participate in an Eastern Oregon Counties Association teleconference next Monday at 2 pm.

Myers commented on his recent discussion with Union County about hosting a meeting with Roger Lord sometime between the EOCA conference call and the end of the public comment period. Myers would be meeting with DEQ representatives today at 1:30 pm and will ask about available funding to purchase a new baler. DEQ pulled funding for the county in 2009; however, a portion of tipping fees charged at Transfer Stations is supposed to fund the Solid Waste Grant Program. Myers reported on his conversation with Farrell Clark at Hendrix Transfer Station about the need to enforce the $4.00 surcharge for an uncovered load per the lease.

Britton attended a Stock Growers meeting and remarked on the second shift being added to Malheur Lumber Company. He said the Forest Service and Iron Triangle are in the process of negotiating the second task order. Britton has been talking with others about the project funding confusion that happened at the RAC meeting in La Grande on May 9. He hoped that the entire process would be allowed to start over in the future.

MINUTES. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve the May 5 minutes as amended.

PUBLIC COMMENT. An opportunity was given for the public to comment. None was offered.

9:30 am – Kathy Smith entered

EXTENSION RESOLUTION.OSU Extension Service County Leader Shanna Northway previously requested signature on Resolution 14-13 Making Budgeted Transfers, Grant County Extension & 4H Service District Reserve Fund, in the amount of $2,000.00 from District General to District Reserve. Due to past oversights this budgeted transfer resolution has not been completed since the 2006-2007 budget year, so the district would need to start adding this amount to the Reserve Fund each year. Treasurer Smith said the court would see those changes at the District’s budget hearing in June. MSP: Myers/Labhart – to circulate Resolution 14-13 for signature.

RESOLUTIONS. The court reviewed and signed budgeted Resolution 14-14 Making Budgeted Transfers / General Fund to Equipment Reserve ($100,000.00) and to Courthouse Reserve ($165,000.00) totaling $265,000.00; budgeted Resolution 14-15 Making Budgeted Transfers / Solid Waste Fund to Fair Reserve ($78,000.00) and to Courthouse Reserve ($95,000.00) totaling $173,000.00; and budget Resolution 14-16 Making Transfer from Contingency / General Fund Non-Departmental to Sheriff Capital Outlay Equipment ($ 12,000.00) to purchase a new computer system for the Sheriff’s office and jail. MSP: Myers/Labhart – to circulate for signature Resolution 14-14. MSP: Myers/Labhart — to circulate for signature Resolution 14-15. MSP: Myers/Labhart — to circulate for signature Resolution 14-16.

OHA MEDICAID CLAIMING. The court reviewed and discussed 2014 – 2019 Intergovernmental Agreement No. 145529 with the Oregon Health Authority for work to be performed that relates to Maternal & Child Health, Center for Prevention and Health Promotion. The IGA is needed because the Health Department has been approved to participate in Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC). Treasurer Smith explained her conversation with CCS Director Kimberly Lindsay about the process that will occur just after each quarter, when the state electronically sends an invoice for the County / CCS portion of the claim. The invoice would go to both Treasurer Kathy Smith and Community Counseling Solutions (Shannon Boor). Smith would then issue a check from county funds to the state, and within approximately 30 days the state will disburse a match payment (double) back to the county. When received, the county will retain the amount it paid the state and send the balance to CCS. MAC would start in the first quarter of FY 14-15 and the first MAC invoice will be expected this October. Smith noted that she was not happy with this new arrangement, but realized the necessity of this process and would adjust the budget. Britton pointed out it is a good thing this additional funding is now available. He thanked Smith for accommodating this funding process. Smith explained part of the reason MAC was discontinued before is because the Health Department couldn’t be sure it could fund the match without using any federal dollars – which isn’t allowed. She said this could be a possible liability for the county in this future process. Britton was comfortable with this joint County / CCS process. MSP: Britton/Labhart — to authorize Judge Myers to sign Intergovernmental Agreement No. 145529 with the Oregon Health Authority as presented.

ADA STRIPING. The court considered a bid from A+ Striping totaling $250.00 to paint / strip ADA spaces at the following county buildings: Courthouse, Jail, Community Corrections, Library, and Road Department. Work would include painting 8 blue & white ADA squares and two 8 foot ADA access (van accessible) lanes. Myers said A+ Striping owner Nate Hughes is both a county employee and a sole-source service provider in Grant County. He had priced this ADA space stencil with our Road Department and it would cost $166.75 a piece. If the court feels another contractor quote is needed, he would contact Top Lock in Burns. MSF: Myers – to declare A+ Striping a sole-provider and accept the bid from A+ Striping to paint / stripe ADA spaces at the Courthouse, Jail, Community Corrections, Library, and Road Department for a total of $250.00. Britton felt that Nate’s bid was too low. Labhart believed a second bid was needed from Top Loc who would be in Grant County this summer. There was a question about whether or not there is an ADA space at the fairgrounds Pavilion.

The court took a short break. Nancy Moffit entered at 10:00 am.

HENDRIX TRANSFER STATION. Transfer Station operator Nancy Moffit, of Clark’s Disposal, reported that she’s relocating the roll-off recycling operation next to their shop off Hwy 26 on Patterson Bridge Road. That building is being expanded to include 3 phase power for a horizontal box baler. She’s been working with OTEC to have a 3 phase power line extended across the road to their shop once she obtains an easement from Grant Western. Clark’s would be expected to pay OTEC close to $5,000.00 for the line, and must dig the trench and pay for the electrician themselves. There continues to be a need to replace the old cardboard baler since it is inadequate for the amount of cardboard recycled in the county. Moffit has already purchased a Bobcat that can be used to load a horizontal closed-end cardboard baler that makes large 30’ x 60’ bales. She said a new (used) baler can obtained for about $25,000. The large bales could be picked up on site so that would help reduce her transportation costs. Moffitt reported that 37 Tons of cardboard was recycled in 2008 and it increased to 77 Tons in 2013. Moffit provided additional information about the roll-off mixed recycling of plastic containers and tin cans, and the large amount of cardboard recycling being handled. It was noted that the public would continue to use the recycling facilities at Hendrix Transfer Station.

In 2009 Grant County was selected to receive Solid Waste Grant funds to purchase a new (used) baler, but due to DEQ budget constraints the county’s project could not be funded. Myers reported on conversations he had with DEQ representative Susan Christensen about the county’s serious need for a baler. He will be meeting with DEQ representatives at 1:30 pm today and intends to ask the state if it could share or provide match funds to purchase the new baler.

10:15 am – News Reporter Scotta Callister and Sue Horn entered

ROCK SALES POLICY. Road Master Sue Horn requested approval of Grant County Rock Sales Policy that she has re-written to provide more clarification and detail. Exhibit A.

She explained that a new sentence was added about monitoring the process. Horn has had some requests recently for small amounts of rock from the Monument and Ritter areas, and recently received a request for rock from Byron Haberly. Britton asked for and received additional information regarding the process for notifying the landowner, signage, and permits. Horn thought landowner notification was a good point of concern and intends to send a copy of the Rock Sales Policy and the rock permits to the landowner. Some discussion followed about use and return of the gate key, signage posted at the county’s leased pits, issuing permits, etc. Horn expected to handle access like the previous Road Master had been handling it. Labhart felt that Horn’s new policy would help prevent thefts. MSP: Labhart/Myers — to approve the Road Master’s Grant County Rock Sales Policy dated May 14, 2014 as presented.

10:45 am — Roni Hickerson entered

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. Roni Hickerson, on behalf of Community Corrections Director Dean Hoodenpyl, requested approval of Amendment No. 2 to Intergovernmental Agreement No. 4541 for the financing of community corrections program services. Amendment No. 2 extends the current agreement term until June 30, 2015 and establishes a quarterly schedule for disbursement of state funds. The total amount of funds budgeted in FY 14-15 for administration, sex offender treatment, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence treatment, parole & probation services, and transition services is $212,588.00. Hickerson noted that the amount of money generally available to community corrections this year is higher than in the past.

MSP: Labhart/Myers — to authorize Judge Myers to sign Amendment No. 2 to Intergovernmental Agreement No. 4541 for the financing of community corrections program services.

10:55 am — Willis Kimball entered

PROPOSED ORDINANCE. Grant County Stock Growers representative Willis Kimball was present to talk about the need for a county Ordinance to address “Bovine Trichomoniasis” (an infectious venereal disease in cattle). An Oregon Cattlemen’s Trich Advisory Committee members list, Oregon Administrative Rules on Trichomoniasis, and a copy of a Malheur County’s Ordinance No. 154 (April 5, 2006) were provided.

He presented information on the transmission and financial impact of this disease and reported on the number of Oregon herds that have been diagnosed with Trich. Two cases in Oregon are in Grant County. A number of exposed herds are also located in California and Nevada. Kimball said the Oregon association hasn’t made a decision yet, but would like to pursue an Ordinance to either require that all bulls be Trich-tested, or at least require more responsibility for producers bringing cattle into the county. Once a meeting of the stock producers association is held to determine the direction to take, Kimball would like to have an Ordinance in place next fall. Britton pointed out that legal counsel Ron Yockim (a cattle producer in Grant County) would be a good resource for the association to use to draft an appropriate Ordinance. Kimball noted that Ron Yockim (and his business associate) has already expressed interest in being involved with this process.

Due to the potential risk to local industry, Myers felt this action was in the best interest of the citizens. Labhart made the following motion concerning the use of county funds to assist the stock growers with the proposed ordinance. MSP: Labhart/Britton — to allow Judge Myers to confirm with legal counsel Ron Yockim that he is authorized to assist Grant County with this proposed Ordinance.

11:20 am — Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary R. Ferrioli

County Court Secretary

To access the Court Minutes from 2009 to present go to the County Commissioners page at www.gcoregonlive2.com.