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February 28, 2008 Opinion |
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Letters
Concerns With New Police Department BuildingTo The Record-Courier:I have many concerns about Baker City taking steps to purchase the former DHS building to house the police department.
To begin with, the building is too big. The police department has about 18 employees spread over three shifts and seven days per week. That makes only about six employees per shift. I am told that DHS had 40 employees and room for clients also. Why does the police department need a 7,000 square foot building? Are there additional uses planned for the building that we have not yet heard about?
With the police department leaving the public safety building, additional space would also be created for the fire department. Does the fire department need to expand? What additional expenses would be incurred in remodeling and operating two separate and larger facilities? (Didn't we just merge them?) With a stable or declining population, are these additional costs warranted? Are there other higher priorities?
I also question the removal of a building worth about $500,000 from our tax rolls. This is a building that could house a new business. In economically uncertain times, do we have such a great tax base that we can afford this loss of revenue?
I wonder about the interface between the Leo Adler Walkpath and the location under consideration. Pathway walkers and police traffic would share the same space. Are the uses compatible? Would the character of the pathway be enhanced?
Finally and most importantly, I am concerned about the rush to approve any purchase with insufficient disclosure to the public and without adequate time and opportunity for public input. In recent elections, Baker City has spoken. We want the way that our elected officials spend our tax money to make sense after all the facts are known. Two executive sessions of the city council and two hurry-up newspaper articles do not meet the public participation standard.
Relocating the police department property means expansion. Until the case for expansion has been made, I say no to making an offer on this property. Let's get the horse before the cart, not the other way around. Ed MosesBaker City
Mixed Bag Or Mixed EmotionsTo The Record-Courier:Well here we go again, with various issues, etc., coming out in full force now. Even our votes aren’t making much of a difference on some issues that I will not go into given the respect, etc.
Animal abuse and those trying to protect our meat supply, you name it. It’s out there now. I am hoping as I write this letter I can add a little humor to it to brighten one’s day so to speak.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a time machine that we can all step into and go back in time when issues weren’t as what they are now a days? Except if the machine had a malfunction in it we would have trouble getting back into the here and now. The only way we can do that is by shutting off our television sets and see what kind of protests come up. But now, one can even go to their computer and get all the updates they need to know. I ought to know, I have done that myself. Awk!
My last article had to do with the bag issue. I couldn’t help but call my article the way I did this time. No matter how far we go on anything our opinions, etc., it seems that the higher ups have the last here say no matter what and will do anything to get their way. I do believe we will possibly see some skirmishes out of this election before all is said and done.
We have never seen this kind of race before. I find it interesting to note when we see the old movies and all that in court hearings they wore wigs to look like they did back in the earlier times. Oh brother!
This is the first winter that I have been house bound from not having my morning coffee, so I get a nice supply to last me for a few days. Please drive careful and look out for the other guy, he might be going to get his morning coffee. Smile! Coffee anyone?Brenda DickisonBaker CityUnion County ListeningTo The Record-Courier:I am real curious about the approach taken by Wallowa County and Baker County regarding the Travel Management Plan of the WWNF.
The Baker Committee recommends to close about 50% of the total number of miles of road in the WWNF (in Baker County) and Fred Warner (Baker County Commissioner) says “I think we’ve come up with a really good plan.” Giving up half the roads before we ever get to the table is not a good plan. (I wonder what he thinks a bad plan would look like?)
Wallowa County Commissioner Mike Hayward says, “If they don’t do this travel management plan, come 2010 all roads on the National Forest will be closed: ML1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.” Sounds like Chicken Little “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.” They will not close 2, 3, 4 and 5 roads. There is no deadline for this TMP. Where in the world are our Commissioners getting their information or should I say misinformation? Maybe they both need to read the Federal Registry.
If we would have circulated a petition in Eastern Oregon that stated “I am for giving away half the ML1 roads in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest,” how many people do you think would have signed it?
We have a petition that states “I am against any further road, trail, or usage restrictions in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest” and have over 6,000 signatures. Looks to me like we should all remember come elections, which Commissioners actually listened to the people. Thank you, Union County, for listening.Tork BallardBaker City |
