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December 6, 2007 Front Page |
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Wheatland May Legally Provide Insurance Consulting Through City’s Exemption
By Brian Addison
Oregon Insurance Division Manager James Thompson put forth the opinion that Baker City’s new insurance consultant, “Wheatland Insurance Center is in violation of ORS 744.605 by representing themselves to be an insurance consultant without a license,” and that Wheatland is “not allowed to portray themselves as insurance consultants without the appropriate license.”
After making these statements, Thompson provided clarification that Wheatland Insurance may legally provide insurance consulting services to City of Baker City without holding the insurance consulting license through exemptions to the Insurance Code provided to municipalities (ORS 731.036).
“Baker City and City County Insurance Service are specifically exempt from the provisions of the Insurance Code so the stipulation cited regarding Wheatland’s need for an insurance consulting license to do business with the city does not apply,” concluded Thompson.
Residents Report Success With Feral Cat Project
By Brian Addison
If you still question the effectiveness of the feral cat trap, spay/neuter and release project in Baker City, just do a little simple math now that the initial stage of the project is over. During the five-month project 187 feral cats were trapped and taken to local veterinarians to be spayed/neutered.
Out of the 187 feral cats trapped, 76 males and 89 females were spayed/neutered, 11 had already been spayed or neutered, and 11 were euthanized due to illness. Take those 89 females that were spayed and times that number by a litter of between three and four kittens expected from each female, and you get 300 feral cats that won’t be born this spring. Figure then the litters of kittens that will never be produced from those 300 and so on, and the effectiveness of the feral cat trap, treat and release project becomes apparent.
Last spring, Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner was searching for a way to deal with the city’s feral cat problem. The Chief was getting calls from the public complaining about feral cats so he began searching for a proactive and humane approach to the problem. Lohner didn’t want to approach the problem as a police action, but rather wanted to see a community effort put forth. He did some research and came across the Mollie Atwater and Friends Trap/Spay-Neuter/ Release Feral Cat Project and contacted Suzanne Fouty from the local chapter.
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