Grant County Court minutes from May 24, 2017:

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.

10:15 am — Call to Order. Present were Judge Scott W. Myers, Commissioner Boyd Britton, Administrative Assistant Laurie Wright, Jim Spell, Katy Nelson, Reporter Rylan Boggs, Judy Kerr, Josh Wolf, Michelle Bartov, Julie Ellison and Pastor Al Altnow. A Pledge of Allegiance was given to the United States Flag. The invocation was given by Pastor Altnow. Commissioner Hamsher was absent due to a family emergency.

CLAIMS. The court had reviewed and approved claims and extension district warrants #311-323.

AGENDA. MSP: Britton/Myers — to accept the agenda as amended. The Hypnosis Company contract was removed after it was discovered this contract had already been signed and two Resolutions (17-08 and 17-09) for budget transfers were added.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. Commissioner Britton said he has been traveling around the State and attended a meeting in Salem with the Governor, Senate Leader, Senator Ferrioli and others regarding a bill sponsored by Ferrioli to change land use laws in the Eastern part of the State. This bill would allow for more local control over land use. He attended a Farm Bureau meeting and advised they are opposed to the proposed bill. Britton chaired a SEACT meeting in Burns on Monday and will be meeting with John Day City Manager Nick Green today to discuss sidewalk improvements. On June 6th the court will hold a meeting in Monument at the Senior Center.

Judge Myers reported on Monday the 15th he and the Treasurer attended road union negotiations. He assisted with interviews in the District Attorney’s office for a Legal Assistant on the 16th. Myers said a current county employee was hired for the position and so another position will be opening up in the Justice of the Peace office. On Monday Myers met with Karen from Senator Merkley’s office and also performed a wedding on the bridge in Canyon City. Tomorrow he will conduct a name change hearing and then will have another name change hearing on Thursday.

MINUTES. MSP: Britton/Myers — to approve the May 10th minutes as amended.

JAIL A/C UNIT AND WASHER & DRYER REPLACEMENT. Wolf presented quotes to the court for a replacement air conditioning unit for the jail. Wolf had contacted six companies for quotes and only two responded, the others declined. The quotes received were from Central Oregon Heating & Cooling ($16,450) and from Tri-County, Inc. (3 options ranging from $7,026 to $7,518). Myers explained when the jail was constructed a jail expansion reserve fund was created in case the jail needed to be added on to. The auditors and Myers both agreed using this expansion fund for the AC replacement and equipment replacement would be an appropriate use of the funds. MSP: Britton/Myers — to approve the quote from Tri-County, Inc. in the amount of $7,026 to be paid from the jail expansion fund.

Three quotes were received for a replacement washer and dryer for the jail. Western State Design ($12,566); Washington Automated Inc. ($16,689.90); and ABC Enterprises Inc. ($13,928). Western State Design sells the Dexter Brand which is an American company and Wolf said has a good reputation for customer service and is who Wolf recommended. Britton asked Wolf to research a gas dryer and see if it would be more cost effective. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve the purchase of the washer and dryer from Western State Design in the amount of $12,566 to be paid from the jail expansion fund contingent upon Wolf researching a gas dryer as an alternative.

JAIL PREA CONTRACT. Corrections Manager Josh Wolf requested court approval for an audit of the jail facility required for the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) contract. The audit would allow the jail to contract with the State of Oregon to house inmates and raise revenue. The cost of the audit is estimated to be between $4,200 and $4,500. Britton would like Undersheriff Mobley to explain to the court where in the PREA contract it precludes allowing ministry in the jail. Myers said the court members would be more than willing to walk through with the auditors if needed. Katy Nelson asked for clarification of what Britton asked. Britton said the Sheriff eliminated direct contact with the inmates and now makes the meetings be conducted through a glass partition. MSP: Myers/Britton – to approve the PREA audit and authorize Wolf to move forward.

BULLFIGHTING CONTRACT FOR FAIR. The court reviewed bids to provide stock for bullfighting entertainment at this year’s fair. Three bids were received. 12X Fighting Bulls ($14,000); Mo Betta Rodeo ($24,000); and 4 Star Rodeo (18,000). MSP: Myers/Britton — to award the bid to 12X Fighting Bulls and circulate the contract for signatures.

COUNTY LIABILITY INSURANCE. The court reviewed the proposal summary from Bisnett Insurance for the County’s general liability, auto and property insurance premium for 2017/18. Myers said this is risk management insurance provided by CIS Insurance. Myers believes the cost is actually less this year than last year. In the last two months the County has had zero claims which is unusual. The total cost after credits came to $207,227.23. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve the proposal from Bisnett Insurance and authorize Judge Myers to sign.

10:54 am King Williams entered.

FAIRGROUNDS TRACTOR REPAIR. Fair Manager Mindy Winegar had sent two quotes to the court for repair of the fairgrounds tractor (1984 John Deere). Winegar attempted to get additional quotes, but one company declined to quote and the other said they did not have time to provide a quote. The two received were from Russell Equipment Repair ($3,214.50 with a 90 day warranty on parts & labor and completion date by the end of June) and Tri-County Equipment ($3,456.43 with a 6 month warranty on parts & labor with a completion date of one week after approval). Winegar would prefer the longer warranty. Britton said he spoke with the local bidder (Russell) and was advised he is so busy he can’t change the completion date. MSP: Britton/Myers — to award the quote to Tri-County Equipment in the amount of $3,456.43.

RESOLUTION 17-07. Treasurer Julie Ellison provided Resolution 17-07 to the court for approval. Myers read the Resolution to the audience. This resolution is to allow the County to accept the Biomass Grant in the amount of $811,000. The court had previously agreed to sign the grant as a pass-through government entity as required by the grant. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve Resolution 17-07 and circulate for signatures.

ASSESSOR/TAX COLLECTOR. The court received a request from Steve Rosling (ROW Ranch) requesting that an abandoned manufactured home on the property they purchased be removed from the tax rolls and delinquent taxes forgiven. Rosling advised the manufactured home was beyond salvage and had been destroyed. Rosling also included a letter from the County Assessor’s Office supporting his written request to have the manufactured home removed from the tax rolls and delinquent taxes removed. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve the removal of the destroyed manufactured home from the county tax rolls and remove the delinquent taxes.

JAIL CONTRACT-BURNS PAIUTE TRIBAL COUNCIL. The court reviewed an Intergovernmental Agreement between Grant County and the Burns Paiute Tribal Council for the rental of jail beds in the Grant County Jail. The agreement provides for payment of $50 for each inmate housed per day. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve the IGA and circulate for signatures contingent upon contract approval by county counsel.

AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFRIBRILLATORS. Administrative Assistant Laurie Wright presented three quotes to the court for the purchase of AED’s (one each) for the Courthouse, Library, Fairgrounds and Airport. Wright is a member of the Safety Committee and reported the Committee has recommended having at least one AED in County buildings. The quotes were for a HeartSine Samaritan AED ($1,225 each); Defibtech Lifeline AED ($1,245 each); and Philips HeartStart AED ($1,231). The cost of the AED’s would be paid from the courthouse reserve – 131100, capital outlay – 5400003 line item.

MSP: Britton/Myers — to approve the purchase of four HeartSine AED’s in the amount of $1,225 each to be paid from courthouse reserve – capital outlay.

RESOLUTION 17-08. The court reviewed Resolution 17-08 which moves funds from the airport contingency to capital outlay in the amount of $16,393.78. Myers read the Resolution to the audience. The fund transfer is to pay for the replacement regulator for the runway lights previously approved by the court. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve Resolution 17-08 and circulate for signatures.

RESOLUTION 17-09. The court reviewed Resolution 17-09 which creates line items for revenue and expenses for the Biomass Grant. Myers read the Resolution to the audience. MSP: Myers/Britton — to approve Resolution 17-09 and circulate for signatures.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Judy Kerr asked for clarification of why the Pauite Tribe would rent space in the jail and Myers explained the contract is for renting jail beds for inmates and not for space. Kerr asked what the court planned on doing if the other small communities in the County such as Granite wanted to have a meeting there. Myers stated it has been done before and this is an additional court meeting for the month of June and the regularly scheduled June court meetings will still take place in the Courthouse.

11:25 am MSP: Britton/Myers – to adjourn the meeting. Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Laurie Wright

Administrative Assistant

**** Please note the court minutes are a summary of the court proceedings. An audio recording of each court session is available, after approval of the minutes, by contacting Laurie Wright at 541-575-0059 or wrightl@grantcounty-or.gov ****