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Majority Of Sidewalk Utility Fee To Go To Public For Repairs
By Eden Taylor
Baker City Council passed a motion to allow most of the sidewalk utility fee to be used as grant money for citizens to repair or replace existing sidewalks.
During their regular meeting Tuesday they also praised the Baker education system. And, Mayor Jeff Petry accepted an award touting Baker City and History Baker City Inc. for its organization, design and promotion of the Main Street area.
Sidewalks
The City Council discussed how to allocate the money collected from the sidewalk utility fee. Councilor Dennis Dorrah said he wanted to use 100 percent of the money for public grants to repair and replace existing sidewalks. He recommended that this first year money would best be used for individuals. Councilor Terry Schumacher agreed, however, he proposed 75 percent of the money go to the grants. He said most of the money needs to go to help people fix the “trip and fall” places in the sidewalks. He was against the money going to the “D” Street sidewalks.
Local Candidates Vie For Positions During Forum
By Debby Schoeningh
Baker County Commissioner candidates Tim Kerns, incumbent, and Randy Joseph, and Sheriff candidate Mitch Southwick, who is running unopposed in the November election, participated in the public forum sponsored by American Association of University Women and the Baker City Herald last Thursday evening at Baker High School.
Each candidate had an opportunity to speak for three minutes before the floor was opened to questions from the audience. Nancy Peyron was moderator for the event, which also included seven of the nine candidates who are running for Baker City Council.
Randy Joseph
In his opening comments Randy Joseph said the county dodged a bullet last week with the passage of the county payments program four-year extension, which was included in the recent government bailout.
“It would have been very hard if we had to make budget cuts — if we lost the ability to plow snow, take care of roads — I don’t want that to happen again,” he said. “I want the county to be prepared.”
Joseph, who is chairman of the Baker County Renewable Energy Task Force said his focus is on how to increase the revenue stream to the community. He said a change in energy sources from imported energy and fossil fuels to regional energy based on natural resources has created the opportunity for Mason Dam to move forward profitably as a hydro electric facility.
“I identified it (the Mason Dam project) in 2001 and they are in the licensing process now,” he said. “Construction and putting it into operation will occur within the next four years.”
He said the Mason Dam project would add $250,000 annually to the County’s budget. “I believe there are other opportunities for development similar to Mason Dam — wind, water and wood — our natural resources,” he said. “I would work for us to utilize those for ourselves to get the best possible return that we could have.”
Tim Kerns
Tim Kerns, who is running for re-election, said he is pleased to have served on the county commission for the last seven years.
Looking back on what has been accomplished, Kerns said, “the county has been very well managed and I’m awful proud of the departments.” Kerns commended the progress the Parole and Probation Department has made, which was recently ranked above the state average in prisoners securing employment and enrolling in treatment programs.
Kerns said his priorities are to “try to get the Forest Service to open up and allow some timber harvest, and allow some watershed enhancement. Every watershed should be looked at just like the Baker City watershed. It should be cleaned up and managed so there won’t be the potential for catastrophic fires.” Along those lines he said, this could also provide biomass for projects that Randy Joseph is working on.
Kerns said he would like to “keep public lines open for recreation as much as we possibly can – keep as many roads open as possible for 4-wheelers.”
He said he would also like to continue working to find ways to increase county revenues including timber harvest.
“We are going to see some tax funds from the Idaho Power line,” he said. “Natural gas wants to put in a line too.” He said there will also be some additional revenue in some areas that are appropriate for wind generation.
“It’s good that we have four years for these things to come on line,” he said.
Mitch Southwick
Southwick said he has thoroughly enjoyed the last four years as Baker County Sheriff. He said, “I try to work with other agencies, however, I do work for the people.”
He said his goal is to have a work release center outside of the Baker County Jail. A work release center, he said would be for people who have jobs, but still need some kind of structure.
He said he is working on getting grants to fund the center and to continue to make improvements in the Sheriff’s Department. This year the department was able to add one full time position, which is being paid for by grants.
He said even though beds have been added at the jail, they are close to being overcrowded at times.
“We are continually bumping up against capacity in the jail,” he said. “We’ve added nine beds in the last three years and a couple weeks ago we were up to 44-45 which is our capacity.”
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