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

JULY 15, 2015

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 Mary Ferrioli, Jim Sproul, Curt Shelley and Terry Aasness. A Pledge of Allegiance was given to the United States flag. The invocation was given by Terry Aasness.

AGENDA. Britton suggested that the court think about taking the lead on addressing fish mitigation issues. He felt the court could be in a better position to advocate for Soil & Water Conservation Districts with the BPA. MSP: Labhart/Myers — to accept the agenda as presented. Curt Shelley presented the court with this year’s budget document for School District No. 3.

9:10 am – Doug Ferguson, Sharon Livingston, and News Reporter Dave Fisher entered

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Labhart taught a Hunter’s Safety class at the Credit Union last Wednesday. Thursday he drove the VA van to Boise and attended a Stock Growers meeting at Keerins Hall. Yesterday he participated in a TEC board teleconference and attended a Blue Mountain Forest Plan Grazing Workshop in Burns. Tomorrow Labhart will attend a Blue Mountain Hospital board meeting.

Britton attended the Stock Growers meeting Thursday at Keerins Hall. He mentioned they’re working out details for the beer booth at the fair next month.

Myers reported on last Wednesday’s final elevator inspection and approval by the state. A walk through and Punch List with the architect and contractor will occur today at 4 pm. Last Thursday he attended a fire suppression meeting at the federal building. Friday he met with DEQ, Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of John Day to discuss mitigation of the vapor situation on South Canyon Blvd. He attended an Airport Commission meeting Monday evening and went on a road tour with local, state and federal highway officials, and the Forest Service, to look at Federal Highway to Forest funding for CR 18 and CR 73 chip seal projects. Monday the Mc Rae Scholarship Committee meets at 9 am in the County Courtroom to review applications and decide on awards for 2015-2016. In response to Labhart’s inquiry, Myers reported on the Airport Commission’s decision to not purchase 30 tablecloths for use in the large conference room. A podium drape with GCRA logo is now being considered instead.

ELEVATOR PROJECT. Myers talked about an email he received today from Architect Peter Baer suggesting that part of the liquidated damages penalty for delay of the elevator project be excused. Baer said damages are actually about $10,000, but JP Prinz is asking for $20,000. Court members agreed some of the delay was is no way due to the contractor. This would be discussed with Baer today during the walk through and Punch List at 4 pm.

MINUTES. MSP: Myers/Labhart — to approve the July 8 minutes with one change.

9:25 am – Alan Hickerson and Greg Bremner, Werner Arntz and Shannon Springer entered

SHERIFF’S DISPATCH. The court reviewed an Agreement with the City of John Day to provide 24 hour emergency dispatch for a total sum of $68,869.00 in 2015-2016. Myers reported on his meeting with Peggy Gray and Valerie Luttrell (City of John Day) about the cost of this contract. He said the city is no longer charging for administration and the Sheriff uses about 40% of the calls going through dispatch. Myers recommended that we sign the contract. MSP: Myers/Labhart — to sign the Agreement with the City of John Day for Sheriff’s Office Dispatch. Myers noted there has been some concern about the services received. Safety & Risk Manager Greg Bremner said meetings with the city about dispatch services are held on Tuesdays and the court is welcome to attend.

JUSTICE COURT. As recommended by Justice of the Peace Kathy Stinnett, the court reviewed and signed a Client-Creditor Agency Agreement with Credits, Inc. to provide collection services related to delinquent accounts. The fee would be 25% added to principal amounts received up to a maximum of $250.00 per ORS 137.118; interest accrues at a rate of 9% per ORS 82.010.

MSP: Britton/Labhart — to allow Judge Myers to sign the agreement with Credits Inc., with thanks to Judge Stinnett for her work on this agreement.

9:30 am – Judy Kerr entered

ROAD DEPARTMENT. Road Master Alan Hickerson recommended making necessary repairs to Fox Creek Bridge, Wall Creek Bridge and Widow’s Creek Bridge to bring them up to standard. Safety & Risk Manager Greg Bremner, and Doug Ferguson and Werner Arntz were present. These bridges were found to have low sufficiency ratings so the department is working with Ferguson Surveying & Engineering to engineer repairs that will improve the rating status. The engineer’s total estimate to repair these bridges is $62,740.00 including temporary features & appurtenances (mobilization, protection, traffic direction, and erosion & sediment control). Discussion followed about work schedules and details about installing impact aprons and the surface work that would be conducted. In response to Labhart’s inquiry about the Long Creek Bridge, Bremner said it was on the list in 2010 for a hydraulic issue and received an emergency repair to bring it up to standard. He provided information on repair work to be accomplished on the Wall Creek Bridge on CR 3 and CR 4. It was noted the deck and rail still need to be done, but that can be completed by the department, along with the rail structure on the Wall Creek Bridge. MSP: Labhart/Myers — to allow the Road Department to bid repairs to the Fox Creek Bridge, Wall Creek Bridge and Widow’s Creek Bridge according to the Engineer’s estimates.

Hickerson recommended purchasing a replacement swamp cooler for the Mechanics Shop. The current cooler was salvaged from the old shop in Canyon City and now only circulates the hot air inside. A new efficient unit would cool up to 2,500 sq ft and purge air in the shop every 9 minutes to provide a productive atmosphere for shop operations. It has a 32 gallon water reservoir and can be moved around easily. Quotes were provided from John Day NAPA @ $2,399 (no shipping), Global Industries @ $2,439 (+ $150 shipping), and Northern Tool & Equipment @ $2,499 (+ $150 shipping). The low quote from NAPA was recommended, to be paid from the Capital Outlay Road & Shop Equipment line.

MSP: Britton/Myers — to go forward with purchasing the swamp cooler from John Day NAPA as recommended.

It was recommended that Grant County Road Maintenance Policy “Functional Classification of the Road System” (1972) be revised so it conforms to the current road system on the ground. Ferguson Surveying & Engineering has been meeting with Road Department Managers to go over work accomplished to this point. He provided background on the county’s road classification standards and an overview of the proposed classification project that includes working with the current state Transportation System Plan (TSP) and county Land Development Code (LDC). He talked about the importance of identifying uniform and realistic functional classifications for all the roads in the county. He felt this may influence future funding opportunities. Ferguson said he’s found a good deal of disparity when comparing Road Maintenance Policy, Roads Surface Descriptions and Oregon Transportation Maps which include federal classifications. He proposed pulling in the existing TSP and LDC under an expanded Functional Classification Road System. Planning Secretary Shannon Springer and Ferguson talked about how certain aspects of the functional classification system and usage standards might relate to driveways, private accesses and private roads. Springer said the Planning Department does not have expertise to maintain what he’s talking about within the LDC. Jim Sproul offered his view about maintaining standards for existing RS 2477 roads within the county. Myers suggested that the reclassification process and RS 2477 issue be addressed with legal counsel. Ferguson said he’d be glad to contact Ron Yockim directly. It was noted that we need to determine if public hearings are required during this process. Labhart asked to delay further discussion until we know more about the legal process and the need for a public meeting.

10:00 am — Patrick Bentz and Jason Kehrberg entered

AIRPORT SECURITY. Airport Manager Patrick Bentz said the Airport Commission recommends purchasing a wireless indoor/outdoor camera security system for the area around the hangars. Bentz described break-ins that occurred last fall when fuel was removed from an aircraft and a fuel cap was removed from another aircraft’s wing tank. He added that it’s suspected at least one more hangar may have had a break-in. Research shows the distance is too far to send a video signal to the terminal. Monitoring from the terminal would not be possible with the equipment we have now. But what will work is a wireless system that runs from the cameras to a base unit placed in a secure storage cabinet in the county’s hangar. Quotes for a 4 camera system with monitor and hard drive large enough to store 2 weeks of video were obtained as follows: Securitall.com @ $637.49, Lorex Technology @ $629.99 (not wireless), and Defender USA @ $599.99 (currently out of stock). The preferred choice is the security system by Securitall.com since it is being used by Commission Chair Ron Lundbom who reports it is easy to set up and has excellent support. Two cabinet options were found: a Suncast plastic cabinet from Wayfair.com @ $117.80 / free shipping and a Rubbermaid plastic cabinet from Wal-Mart @ $116.18 / free shipping. Bentz had budgeted $150 for power cords to run between the cameras and the base unit. Installation could be done by Airport personnel and Commission members. He reported that a quote was received from ESD to boost the signal, but $1,300 is more than what he wanted to pay. Bentz also said it was uncertain whether the signal would reach to terminal. Labhart suggested bringing this discussion back next week so Kathy Smith can recommend a payment method and Bentz would have more time to see if there’s any way cameras can be monitored within the terminal.

10:10 am — King Williams and Dave Traylor entered

WEED CONTROL. Local citizen Dave Traylor talked with the court about weed control enforcement in Grant County. In July 1953 a Weed Control District was established in Grant County, Memorandums of Understandings with Grant Soil & Water Conservation District and the county were signed in 1987 and 1996, and a number of resolutions have been passed concerning weed control. A copy of weed control statutes ORS 569.175 – 990 was provided for the discussion. Traylor wanted to know where the County Court stands on the issue of landowners taking care of their noxious weeds. Grant Soil & Water Conservation District Director Jason Kehrberg was present to explain how landowners are engaged in educational conversations when they are opposed to spraying noxious weeds. Landowner Sharon Livingston explained how much money and time she spends to eradicate Scotch Thistle, especially this year due to the weather. Britton talked about the struggle we all have working with our neighbors, including the Forest Service, about the ongoing noxious weed problem. He explained how the county (rather than having an Ordinance) prefers to support the GSWCD with funding to promote the widespread treatment of noxious weeds, rather than adopting and enforcing an Ordinance. Other discussion followed about individual property rights, how that influences the county’s noxious weed problem, and difficulties with trying to prove damages caused by noxious weed encroachment. King Williams suggested that legal counsel be asked to look at ORS Chapter 569 that talks about county responsibility and consequences for violating the duties spelled out in the state law. Judy Kerr notified the court about noxious weeds that have been neglected on the county’s property adjacent to her residential property in Canyon City. Myers reminded Kerr that the entire location was sprayed two years ago.

AOC SUMMER SUMMIT. Court members talked about attendance at the AOC Summer Summit in Bend August 9 – 11. County Court is budgeted to attend these conferences and it was the consensus of the court to approve Labhart and Britton’s attendance.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Jim Sproul talked about discussions held at the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Grazing Workshop held last night in Burns. It was noted that the Cramer Fish Sciences Study was mentioned at this meeting associated with decisions made by the Forest Service about the protection of fish. Labhart provided additional information about last night’s meeting in Burns and encouraged citizens’ attendance at the locally held meetings. The next meeting is on Pace and Scale and will be held at the airport on August 17.

Sharon Livingston stressed the importance of being informed about work being done by Waters of the United States (WOTUS). She encouraged Myers to be an advocate for Grant County and make contact with the Governor’s office about our citizens’ have to preserve their individual water rights. She would like to know why Oregon is not one of the states involved in this issue.

11:25 am — Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary R. Ferrioli

County Court Secretary