City Sets Goals
By Mark Bogart
The Baker City Council had what Councilor Aletha Bonebrake described as a “stunning discussion” in its second goal setting meeting on Monday, but has not been able to adopt official goals.

Six councilors met with City Manager Steve Bogart and Assistant City Manager Jennifer Watkins in a three-hour session Monday morning, discussing a wide range of current and potential city issues. Councilor Milo Pope was absent because of health issues, but will receive information and an opportunity for input.

While the meeting included one reference to “ancient history” in an exchange between Dorrah and Bryan, there was frequent agreement and occasional laughter as the group worked through its list of issues.

In the first meeting, held March 8, Councilors developed a broad list of issues to be considered. Watkins then grouped items under headings for the second meeting, according to Bogart.  On Monday, the group worked to prioritize the headings, then agreed to set priorities for the detailed items as well.

A Vision For Baker City
By Mark Bogart
Baker City is a nice, small town and should not try to become modern by attracting big box stores, strip malls and more traffic.

Baker City is stagnant and deteriorating because many residents resist growth and progress.

These two conflicting points of view are evident in reviewing the results of the Baker City Community Vision Project.  Baker City Planning Director Don Chance has taken on the task of analyzing the input of 14 focus groups to find the threads that will make up a common vision of what Baker City should strive to become in the years ahead.  The question, as Chance puts it in the summary “Inventing the Future,” is “Can we be a healthy and authentic small town reflecting largely a former era, but do it in today’s America?”

Chance believes it can be done.  And he cites several “strong, uniting themes,” and a “surprisingly strong consensus in the community surrounding basic principles and goals.”

Each club chose a project in their community, Soroptimist International of Baker County chose to furnish a small family visitation room at DHS on 10th St. in Baker City.

The group met with DHS officials, asked what they needed and then went shopping. Eleven Baker Soroptimist members went to work cleaning and refurnishing, making safety additions and changes. With the addition of a rocker and a playpen with a diaper changing area, a new rug, shelf, blankets, coat rack, wall decor and window treatments, (this visitation room is one that is supervised through a one way mirror by DHS staff) the group helped create a comfortable meeting place for families who are experiencing a stressful situation.