IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF GRANT

Access the County Court Agenda and approved Minutes on the Commissioner’s page at www.gcoregonlive2.com

May 11, 2016

Pursuant to notice made to the newspaper of general circulation throughout Grant County, the radio station, county website, 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 Chris B. Labhart and Boyd Britton, Secretary Laurie Wright, Jim Spell, Susan Church, Jim Sproul, Judy Kerr, Logan Bagett, Dan Becker, and Pastor Flora Cheadle. A Pledge of Allegiance was given to the United States flag. The invocation was given by Pastor Cheadle.

CLAIMS. The court had reviewed and approved claims and Extension District Warrants #133-142. Commissioner Britton declared a conflict for a claim payable to Boyd Britton Welding in the amount of $35.00.

AGENDA. MSP: Myers/Britton — to accept the agenda as amended. Vega Nunez called yesterday at 1:38 pm and cancelled her court appearance for today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. Commissioner Britton is attending a Prairie City Council meeting tonight to discuss attempting to get the National Geographic Names Board to change some of the names they presented. Britton advised Baker and Malheur County are also in opposition to some proposed names and will be signing a joint letter with Grant County complaining that USGNB failed to follow their own policies. This letter will be sent to the Secretary of the Interior, the Inspector General of the Interior and our state representatives. Last Thursday he attended the Flood Study meeting with John Day/Canyon City and also participated in a telephone conference where they finished up Connect Oregon Six. In June he will be going to Portland to advocate for the Connect Oregon Six projects selected. Britton advised Alan Hickerson asked him to go to the fairgrounds to view the project and he suggested to Hickerson this would be the time to widen some portions of the pathway. The project is going very well and is a much needed improvement. Britton reported CCS provided the last quarterly report he requested last week.

9:08 am Kathy Smith entered.

Judge Myers attended the Flood Study meeting last Thursday at the Canyon City Community Hall and on Tuesday evening he went to the airport for interviews for the Airport Manager position. Yesterday he went to the county safety meeting, Myers will meet with Judge Cramer tomorrow morning and then if he has time he will attend an emergency training at the hospital Ted Williams is conducting. Myers will attend a Camp Lick project open house next Wednesday night. Myers said Kimberly Lindsay of CCS advised him she will be getting all of the quarterly reports to the county soon.

Commissioner Labhart attended a Grant County Community Advisory Council work session at the ESD on May 4th, a Flood Study meeting with John Day/Canyon City on May 5th and on Monday, May 9th, he was in Salem for the Association of Oregon Counties steering committee meetings – Public Lands and Natural Resources, Veterans and Legislative Committee. Labhart traveled to Monument on Tuesday, May 10th, to visit the Senior Center and attended their Board meeting. Labhart reported tomorrow he will be at the fairgrounds for the Oregon Food Bank Taskforce meeting and then at Keerins Hall for the Grant County Stock Growers meeting in the evening. Next Tuesday, May 17th, Labhart will attend an Air Service Development Taskforce meeting at the Grant County Regional Airport.

9:17 am Jason Kehrberg and Matt Wenick entered.

MINUTES. MSP: Labhart/Myers — to approve the May 4th minutes as amended.

9:23 am Susan Garner, Elaine Eisenbraun, Steve Beverlin and Ryan Nehl entered.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT FOR 2016-17. The court reviewed the 2016 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) detailed 12 month budget. This grant is a 50/50 grant to fund Emergency Management Coordinator Ted Williams position and services & supplies. . MSP: Myers/Labhart — to approve the EMPG Grant for fiscal year 2016-17 and authorize Judge Myers to sign the grant.

OHA AMENDMENT #7 TO AGREEMENT 148010-7. This 7th amendment to OHA Agreement 148010-7 modifies program element description #09 on Exhibit B of the agreement and replaces Section 1 of Exhibit C. The amendment does not change the amount of the grant award. MSP: Britton/Labhart — to approve the 7th Amendment to OHA Agreement 148010-7 and authorize Judge Myers to sign.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER. The Administrative Assistant – Human Resource Manager job description approved for submittal at last week’s court meeting was sent to the Local Government Personnel Institute (LGPI) for grade placement. LGPI returned its review placement for the new position at a Grade 8. The current court secretary position is a Grade 6 non-exempt position. Myers advised for the last couple of years it has been a struggle to get a Human Resources position in the county. Laurie Wright will be taking on this role, but Judge Myers will continue to manage hiring, firing and discipline issues. Jim Spell asked if HR is supposed to attend all interviews and Myers said this is county policy and in the past some departments have not had HR attend, but we are working on this issue. MSP: Britton/Myers — to adopt the Administrative Assistant – Human Resource Manager job description and accept LGPI placement as Non-Exempt Grade I-8 effective for the May pay period.

MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST TITLE II PROPOSALS FY17. Susan Garner reported on the preferred order of the proposed projects.

• Summer Youth Conservation Crew: To provide employment & educational opportunities to Grant County Youth ages 14-24 by engaging them in restoration and natural resource management projects. Elaine Eisenbraun from the North Fork John Day Watershed District reported they administer this program and last year employed 10% of the youth in the county. This year the youth will be heavily involved in restoration on the Canyon Creek Fire. This request is for $21,200.

9:34 am King Williams and Zach Williams entered.

• 50% Noxious Weed Treatment Cost Share Program: To provide strategic noxious weed control and management operations within Grant County to limit the introduction and expansion of invasive plant species on private rangelands. Matt Wenick, Weed Program Coordinator for Grant Soil & Water Conservation District explained this is a 50% cost share that will require landowners to pay for half of the weed treatment and after treatment the landowner will be able to purchase equipment and weed killer at the 50% cost share as well. Bio-control will be utilized in this project along with herbicides. This request is for $107,979.

• Old Tree Conservation Monitoring & Tool Development to Support Accelerated Restoration: To identify the age of older trees; determine the historical range of variability of different sizes and ages of different tree species; set site-specific objectives for conservation of old and large trees in each planning area; monitor conservation of old and large trees to inform adaptive management; and engage local students. Steve Beverlin reported having site studies will be extremely helpful for future projects on the ground. This request is for $113,909.

• Collaborative Capacity to Support Landscape Level Planning & Implementation for Accelerated Restoration: To support accelerated restoration planning and implementation on the Malheur National Forest with collaboratively developed projects. Zach Williams said this will allow Blue Mountain Forest Partners to continue to monitor and have scientific advisors assist with projects. Williams reported this will help BMFP move forward on fire salvage and zone agreements as well. This request is for $136,805.

• Upper John Day Restoration Adaptive Management Program: To seek cost-share funding to address fish passage issues at 15 irrigation diversion structures in the Upper John Day River Basin. Jason Kehrberg, District Manager GSWCD stated this will allow Grant Soil & Water to improve fish passage on projects they completed years ago. Kehrberg said over the last few years they have been reviewing numerous sites and planning and performing maintenance and repair. Kehrberg explained the different issues and how GSWCD is addressing those. This request is for $92,010.

9:59 am Ian Reid entered.

• Malheur NF Restoration Crew – NYC: Susan Garner said the Forest Service decided to table this proposal for now because they were concerned the proposal would not ensure only local youth were hired for the project.

For 2017 Garner reports the allocated amount of money is around $620,000 and the proposals the Malheur National Forest has presented proposals amounting to $488,000. The RAC meeting is going to be held in John Day this year and probably in July. Discussion followed about the RAC membership.

UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST TITLE II PROPOSALS FY17. District Ranger Ian Reid presented proposals to the court for the Umatilla National Forest. Reid said there is around $180,000 in funding and there is approximately $360,000 in proposals and asked the court to rank the proposals in order of priority for the RAC. Elaine Eisenbraun, Director of the North Fork John Day Watershed Council presented the watersheds project priorities.

• NFJDWS Monitoring Project: To provide independent monitoring services and data to landowners/managers/stakeholders in order to increase the bank of information available to the pursuit of the most effective restoration actions. This request is for $79,500.

• Boundary Creek Fish Passage: To increase steelhead distribution in Boundary Creek and Corral Creek, to improve hydraulic function and riparian habitats of Boundary and Corral Creeks, and to protect existing Forest Service road infrastructure from catastrophic flood events. This request is for $107,518.

• Umatilla Forest Collaborative Group: The goal of this project is for the Umatilla Forest Collaborative Group to provide the Umatilla National Forest with input to help inform management decisions which, are then, able to satisfy diverse public interests. This request is for $50,138.

Ian Reid presented the forest service proposals in the order of priority.

• Grant County Noxious Weed Eradication Project: To develop and maintain a strong integrated weed management program that will be effective in the prevention, detection, control and eradication of noxious weed species on the Heppner and North Fork John Day Ranger Districts. This request is for $31,800.

• Road Maintenance: To help stabilize and reduce maintenance needs for Forest Road 5225 which provides access into the North Fork John Day wilderness. This is the main connecting road between Ukiah and Granite and is heavily used during hunting season. Road 5225 is a mixed use road and ATV’s are allowed. This request is for $26,500.

• Olive Lake Trail Maintenance: To restore the function of drainage structures to protect trail tread, replace deteriorating bridges and provide youth employment opportunities. Local YCC youth from Long Creek would be used for this project if they are available. This request is for $42,400.

• Camp Host Septic Tank Installation: To attract and retain quality volunteer camp hosts by installing septic tanks at designated host sites at three of the most popular campgrounds on the NFJD and Heppner Ranger Districts. Reid said Olive Lake Campground and North Fork John Day Campground are in Grant County and it is difficult to get hosts for these sites. This request is for $35,616.

• Kahler Thinning: To restore and promote ponderosa pine dominated stands; maintain and promote old trees; reduce insect and disease risk; reestablish frequent fire regime characteristics; provide and enhance wildlife habitat; and reduce risk of loss from wildfire. This would be a timber stand thinning contract. This request is for $42,930.

• Oriental Campground Hardening & Accessibility Project: To complete accessibility updates within the campground and to reduce sediment input into the North Fork John Day River. Reid reported this is a very popular site for hunters and campers. This request is for $53,223.

Susan Garner asked the court when they will hold the work session to prioritize projects and Britton stated very soon. Jim Sproul asked if the county had any type of monitoring for accountability of the funds expended and results received. Steve Beverlin said it is the RAC’s responsibility to monitor and report on the projects funded.

10:59 am Kathy Stinnett entered.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Justice of the Peace Kathy Stinnett submitted a Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) questionnaire for placement review to LGPI. The review returned from LGPI placed this position at a Grade 11. This places Stinnett at the same level as the Clerk and Treasurer. The current placement for the Justice of the Peace position is Grade 10 exempt. Stinnett said most of the counties around us have their Justice of the Peace placed at the same level as their Clerk and Treasurer. MSP: Britton/Labhart — to accept LGPI placement as Exempt Grade E-11 effective for the May pay period.

AIRPORT MANAGER. Judge Myers reported the airport commission conducted interviews for the airport manager position on May 3rd and have recommended a first place and second place candidate. Myers said the new hire will start on May 26th which is the beginning of the June pay period. The airport commission recommended offering the job to the first place candidate. MSP: Myers/Labhart – to offer the position to the first place candidate and announce the selection after it is accepted. Myers voted yes, Labhart voted yes, Britton voted no and said he feels the person hired should be able to maintain the facility and he has concerns the candidate may not be able to.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Jim Spell asked if it was spelled out in county policy that the Human Resource Manager be involved in all interviews, what HR’s role in hiring is and what the liability is if HR is not included. Myers said yes it is county policy for HR to be involved in all interviews. He stated there have been a couple of departments that have historically not done this, but things are improving with time. Myers explained if a Department Head did not utilize HR they could find themselves representing themselves if sued because they did not follow county policy. Myers sends all questions and concerns to Sharon Harris at CIS for review along with HR questions that arise.

11:16 am — Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Laurie Wright

County Court Secretary