Forestry Class Plants Trees For River Enhancement Project
By Debby Schoeningh
Eight thousand tree starts, some no bigger than a twig, will in time grow into a dense canopy shading six miles of bare river bank along the Powder River. The Baker High School Forestry class helped with the planting of these trees last Friday on the Mackenzie Ranch property north of Baker City.
Participating students worked under the umbrella of the National Resources Conservation Service’s Earth Team program, which provided them with liability insurance.
As the group got under way, Justin Prevo wielded a small limb saw cutting several gashes into the ends of the tree starts. He said roots will grow from wherever the tree limbs are wounded, and “will take to the ground a whole lot better.”
City Manager And Budget Board Review Preliminary Budget Report
By Brian Addison
The Baker City Budget Board met Tuesday evening for the presentation of a preliminary budget report from City Manager Steve Brocato and Finance Director Jeanie Dexter.
While the numbers given on Tuesday evening may change by the time the budget is released, City Manager Brocato gave a “heads up” in several budget categories.
Health insurance premiums are expected to run about $748,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. This is an increase of $52,000 over the previous year.
Baker County Commissioners Approve 2008-09 Budget
by Brian Addison
Baker County Commissioners approved the county’s $22,233,232 budget for 2008-2009 during their meeting April 23. The county’s general fund is budgeted at $8.9 million.
In Commission Chair Fred Warner’s Budget Message, he addresses the funding for the county’s transportation system. Warner said that last year Congress funded PL 106-393 for an additional year. “Unfortunately, they have not done anything to extend federal payments as we begin our budget discussions,” stated Warner. Warner concludes in the Budget Message, “It is extremely unclear whether anything will be forthcoming from the federal budget this year.”
The state passed Senate Bill 994 providing counties with a one-time benefit for the county road departments and Baker County expects to receive $517,000 through this funding source. In addition, the county road department expects to receive between $50,000 and $100,000 from Forest Service receipts.
City Proposes Two-Cent Per Gallon Gas Tax, Council Votes To Table The Proposed Gas Tax Ordinance
By Brian Addison
The entire 10-pages of the proposed city fuel tax ordinance were read aloud during the Baker City Council meeting April 22. After the first reading of Ordinance No. 3286 Fuel Tax, proposing to levy a municipal 2-cents per gallon on fuel sold within city limits, city council tabled the issue to take time to better understand the proposed fuel tax ordinance language and to clarify economic impact caused by including PUC (commercial) diesel sales in the tax. The tabling of the proposed ordinance also gives the city’s attorney time to interpret the motion put forth by Councilor Terry Schumacher to include gas stations outside of city limits in the fuel tax licensing requirements.
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