Grant County Court minutes from Dec. 27, 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.

9:00 am — Call to Order. Present were Judge Scott W. Myers, Commissioner Jim Hamsher, Administrative Assistant Laurie Wright, Reporter Logan Bagett, Reporter Rick Hanners, Irene Jerome, Jim Sproul, Ron Rue, Sandy Rue, Judy Kerr, Tanner Elliott, Nancy Nickel, Vicki Thompson and Pastor Dave Hoeffner. A Pledge of Allegiance was given to the United States Flag. The invocation was given by Pastor Hoeffner.

CLAIMS. The court had reviewed and approved claims and extension district warrants #83-85 on December 20th.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS. Judge Myers announced Commissioner Britton is absent today because he is taking his daughter to the airport to return home. On December 14th Myers attended the Mental Health Advisory Committee meeting and on the 18th he conducted two employee evaluations.

9:02 am Steve Beverlin entered.

Myers conducted two additional employee evaluations on the 19th and then on the 20th performed a wedding and another employee evaluation. Myers advised on January 4th at the Airport a meeting will be held to select a replacement for Senator Ferrioli. The meeting is put on by the Secretary of State’s office and will by chaired by Tammy Baney from Deschutes County.

Commissioner Hamsher attended a Citizens for Public Access meeting in Prairie City and then also met with a couple of John Day citizens about the broadband agreement. Hamsher said he also attended some Christmas party’s including one at the Road Department.

9:05 am Mindy Winegar entered.

MINUTES. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve the December 13th minutes as amended.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION OF NE OREGON AGREEMENT. The court reviewed a Subgrantee Agreement between Grant County and Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc. This agreement is to operate and expand a revolving loan fund for a wide range of activities including providing housing rehabilitation loans to low and moderate income homeowners. The regional housing rehabilitation revolving loan fund is for Grant, Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties. Myers said he is on the NEOHA (Northeast Oregon Housing Association) committee representing Grant County. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve the agreement with CCNEO and authorize Judge Myers to sign.

AUDITOR’S REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-17. The court reviewed the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Auditor’s Report prepared by Oster Professional Group. MSP: Myers/Hamsher – accept the Auditor’s report from Oster Professional.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE FACILITY LED LIGHT UPGRADE. Corrections Manager Josh Wolf has supplied the court with a narrative describing the substantial lighting repair needed for the criminal justice facility. Wolf reported it would be more cost effective to update the existing lights with LED lighting rather than replace them. Wolf received proposals from North River Electric and Red’s Electric for the LED update. He requested a proposal from S&C Electric, but never received one. The proposals were sent to Susie Snyder from Oregon Trail Electric to review and to provide available rebate information. North River’s bid was $15,105 less the OTEC rebate of $10,574 for a total cost after rebates of $4,532. Red’s Electric bid was $14,330 less the OTEC rebate of $5,596 for a total cost after rebates of $8,634. Wolf recommended the North River Electric proposal and said it provides the most efficient options and a much larger rebate. The cost for this upgrade would be paid from the jail expansion fund. MSP: Hamsher/Myers — to approve the LED upgrade and proposal from North River Electric to be paid from the jail expansion fund.

RESOLUTION 17-32. Treasurer Julie Ellison had prepared Resolution 17-32 to transfer funds within existing budgets. The transfers were from the general fund to bookmobile reserve ($5,000), emergency management ($39,700), and senior citizens ($65,256). Myers read a portion of the resolution to those in attendance. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve Resolution 17-32 and circulate for signatures.

COMMUNICATION SITE LEASE AGREEMENTS. The court reviewed two communication lease site agreements between the county and Iron Triangle. The agreements are for Iron Triangle to rent communication site space for radio equipment at Fall Mountain and Dixie Mountain. The agreements commence on January 1, 2018 and expire on December 31, 2020 and provide that Iron Triangle pay the county $600 annually for each site. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve the lease agreements and circulate for signatures.

AIRPORT. The court reviewed an Intergovernmental Agreement between the State of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Grant County administering the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Unified Certification Function. This is an agreement the County has historically participated in and is a requirement to receive federal funding. MSP: Myers/Hamsher –to approve the IGA and circulate for signatures.

FAIRGROUNDS. Fair Manager Mindy Winegar requested court approval to hire entertainers for the 2018 County Fair (August 15-18, 2018). Winegar proposed contracting with Gabriel Holmes Hypnotist ($3200), Coventry & Kaluza Variety Act ($4000), Nate Botsford Band ($2500), Britnee Kellogg Band ($2000), and Cascade Amusement for the carnival ($3500). Cascade Amusement is a new carnival company that will guarantee a certain number of rides, food and games and the Fair will receive 15% of the presale tickets back. The funds to pay for the entertainment will be paid from the fair budget line. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve hiring of the listed entertainers and Cascade Amusement for the 2018 Fair to be paid from the 2018-19 Fairgrounds fair budget line.

9:17 am Julie Ellison entered.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY. District Attorney Jim Carpenter sent a written request to the court for approval to send Legal Assistant Jamie McKay to Prosecutor by Karpel (PbK) training in St. Louis, Missouri, May 1, 2018 to May 3, 2018. This training is for the computer program utilized in the DA’s office. Last year Legal Assistant Michele McManama attended the training and greatly benefited from it. Carpenter estimated the total cost for the training, travel, lodging and meals to be $1,631 and would be paid from the DA’s dues and travel line. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve McKay’s attendance at the PbK training to be paid from the DA’s dues and travel line.

AIRPORT MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION. The Airport Manager job description had previously been approved for revision and submittal to LGPI (Local Government Personnel Institute) for wage placement. Human Resources Manager Laurie Wright submitted the revised job description to LGPI for review and received the results on December 15th. The results of the evaluation place the position at a Grade 9 which is an exempt position. The salary will go up for this position and Myers believes this is a more appropriate placement for the position. The Airport budget contains enough money for the wage increase that will just need to be moved by resolution. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to adopt the revised job description and accept the wage placement at a Grade 9 to become effective in the January 2018 pay period.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT. The Planning Department requested a new wireless telephone headset for Planning Assistant Shannon Springer. Springer had a headset, but when the new telephones were installed she discovered it was not compatible. Springer must have the ability to move around her office while on the telephone assisting customers. Planning Director Hilary McNary requested this cost be paid for from the general fund and not the Planning Department budget since it was necessitated by the phone system replacement and not by her office. Three quotes were obtained: ESD ($199), Amazon ($199), and Global Teck ($237.93). McNary recommended purchasing from ESD. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve the purchase of the telephone headset from ESD in the amount of $199. The funding source for this purchase will be decided later today after meeting with the Treasurer.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT MOU. The court reviewed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and Grant County. The MOU memorialized the no cost working relationship between DLCD and Grant County for the Technical Grant funds received for the 2017-19 biennium to assist in updating the exclusive farm use and forest zone chapters of the zoning ordinances. MSP: Myers/Hamsher — to approve the MOU with DLCD and authorize Judge Myers to sign.

TITLE III & FIREWISE. Irene Jerome of Jerome Natural Resource Consulting presented an update to the court on the Firewise program. Jerome contracts with the County to provide Firewise services and said this program was originally funded from SRS funding, but over the course of years the program has evolved and additional restrictions have been placed on how funding can be utilized. Jerome gave a summary of what she has done over the course of the last year including giving presentations in different local communities and at local meetings. Jerome also provides promotional materials such as the map prepared prior to the Eclipse. Jerome and Sheriff Palmer worked together to educate landowners prior to the Eclipse about posting their property with no trespassing signs and also about watching for and reporting fire starts. Grant County is the only county in Eastern Oregon with formally recognized Firewise communities. Jerome said this program is a community driven program and she assists those interested in becoming a recognized Firewise community. Funding is available to assist homeowners in recognized Firewise communities with reducing fuels within a 200 foot radius of their homes. Jerome works with local fire departments, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the US Forest Service and others to locate potential fire hazards and find preventative solutions. Jerome explained additional funding sources and grants she has looked into along with some potential future projects. The red flag program was also a new program implemented this year. During extreme fire danger businesses are provided with red flags to put outside of their businesses to notify residents. Jerome said last year was challenging due to the Rainbow Gathering and Eclipse stretching resources thin. Jerome will be giving a presentation in February at the Oregon State Fire Prevention workshop. Jerome will continue to work on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and developing Firewise communities within the county.

10:00 am Kathy Gillam entered.

Judy Kerr expressed her concern about Canyon City’s lack of interest in the Firewise program, especially after how close the Canyon Creek fire was to town. Kerr suggested Jerome contact Corey Rider at City Hall to get on the agenda to present at a city council meeting. Jim Hamsher said she should also present at a Prairie City council meeting. Vicki Thompson lives up Laycock Creek and stated she has heard from neighbors that they have learned a lot from Jerome. Thompson suggested having brochures and information available in the Planning Department so when people apply for building permits they can be given the information. Jerome said she planned on preparing brochures, but just didn’t get it done this year. She plans on preparing these in the future. Jim Sproul believes more focus should be paid to fine fuels (such as grass) for fire prevention.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Jim Sproul asked if the court has made any decision on selecting a Natural Resource Consultant. Myers said they have not made a decision as of yet and it is still under consideration. Judy Kerr wanted to know if any further information was available regarding bringing commercial flights into the Airport. Hamsher asked Haley Walker this at the last court meeting and said he thinks she said the feasibility study would be back in June. Sproul asked if there were any other candidates for Senator Ferrioli’s position. Myers said there are three candidates.

10:15 am – 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 ****