Baker City Council appoints final two members, suspends safety fee; Police department faces staffing shortage
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – The Baker City council is once again full, as the two final open seats have been filled.
Councilors appointed Nic Carman and Helen Loennig to the council, filling the seven-member council for the first time since early August.
In other business, the council voted 3-2 to temporarily suspend the public safety fee that took effect Oct. 1. The fee charges $15 per month for residential water-sewer customers, and $50 for commercial customers. Mayor Randy Daugherty, along with councilors Doni Bruland and Roger Coles, supported the motion to temporarily suspend the fee. This fee was meant to cover an expected shortage of around $900,000 in the city’s general fund, which supports essential services like the police and fire departments. Councilors Loran Joseph and Larry Pearson opposed the motion.
Also at the meeting, Police Chief Ty Duby says because of staffing issues, in which he expects to lose two and possibly up to four more officers, the police department may have to cut hours and also stop responding to low priority calls overnight. Duby says there has been a high turnover rate at the department and a very low number of applicants for open positions. Elkhorn Media Group will provide more details on this change to the police department once we receive further information from Chief Duby.
