Letters to the Editor for Dec. 9, 2009

USFS deal not well understood

To the editor:

 “The Forest Service incorporates lands within the Counties.” Did you know that? It’s part of the agreement between Baker County and the United States Forest Service for the Travel Management Plan.

What does it mean and what’s the definition of the word “incorporates” as used in that sentence? I’ve been trying to figure that out for almost two years, and I’ve asked the 15 county commissioners and USFS officials who signed the agreement.

First, I went to Baker County Commissioner Fred Warner Jr., and sat down in his office with my copy of the five-page agreement he’d signed. I referred him to page two of the agreement. The Commissioner couldn’t find page two because he hadn’t copied the back sides of the original, and didn’t seem familiar enough with the document to know that he was missing two pages. The document only defines Baker County’s role during the USFS Travel Management Plan. Pretty important.

I handed Warner page two from my copy, and asked him about the sentence and the word “incorporates.” He read the sentence and said, “I don’t know what the sentence means.” Since Warner couldn’t define the sentence, I then took my question directly to the County Attorney.

“You are hitting me with this cold, I’ve never seen this document,” said the County Attorney after reading the sentence. So, County Commissioners not only signed the USFS document without understanding it, they didn’t bother taking it to legal council to clarify meaning.

 Next, I took my question to the USFS and was referred to their “Lands Person.” After a week of waiting for a response, I called back and was informed that defining the sentence was not that simple because, unlike the other sentences in the agreement, the sentence was not taken out of the USFS “document template,” and that the sentence was created specifically for this document.

Finally, I asked the USFS Supervisor to define the sentence. “To me it (incorporates) means ‘includes,’ ” he answered. Then he accused me of basing my questions on “conspiracy theories.”

I’m still wondering what that sentence means.

Brian Addison

Baker City

Bill could affect farmers markets

To the editor:

Erin Mills’ article Nov. 29, 2009, in the  East Oregonian concerning the Food Safety bill, S510, was appreciated. An added awareness is that Oregon farmers selling direct to farmers markets are well regulated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The premise of Senate Bill S510 is that the federal government needs to intercede at this direct market level and clearly for Oregon this is not the case.

The ODA’s requirements and licenses are extensive for direct sales marketers and processors, and in many respects the system is self-regulating in that the farmer is selling directly to the eater. Managing a farmers market, and as a consumer looking for local/fresh food, I’m concerned that those farmers willing to forge into the new economy of the local foods markets need no extra burden from federal regulations. Oregon Rural Action is a place where one can find out more about this important legislation —  www.oregonrural.org.

Janet Rose Marie

La Grande

What a great place to live

To the editor:

I would like to thank the Sutton Creek Ranch owners Julie and family for her friendly and courteous help recently when my truck overheated while returning from the landfill. She helped me get on the road again with water and antifreeze. People like you are the very reason Baker City is the most desired place to live in the country especially when this world is in need of more people like you.

Thank you so much for your help. And also the gentleman at the landfill for his kind help; he shared his last drop of water to help me.What a great city I live in.

Manny Gutierrez Sr.

Baker City