Written by Katy Nesbitt, The Observer
A state funding request for $11,730 in livestock compensation and an additional $10,000 for wolf-deterring measures was approved in time to meet a Feb. 15 deadline.
The Wallowa County Commissioners accepted the livestock compensation board’s recommendations Feb. 6.
The compensation board also requested $500 to cover administrative costs incurred to manage the program. The county is required to cover 10 percent of administrative duties, which, at most, will cost $50 a year.
The state livestock compensation fund has $35,000 this year to cover all Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-confirmed livestock kills to wolves and $15,000 to fund non-lethal wolf-deterring work that includes equipment like fladry and radio-activated guard boxes as well as staff time for range riders.
Warnock said more than 400 volunteer hours have been clocked. Since Gov. John Kitzhaber signed bill in August, 10 kills were confirmed by Fish and Wildlife and turned in for compensation.
Commissioner Susan Roberts said the hope is the money will be available in March. When it is released, a check will be received by the county, which in turn will write a check to the compensation board. The compensation board will then distribute the money to each of the producers.
Though the same amount of $50,000 will be available for approval next February, losses above historic records may be included, Warnock and Roberts said. Grant money will be sought by the compensation board to supplement state funding.
Federal money will soon be available as well through the re-authorization of the “Tester Bill” that funds both compensation for livestock losses to wolves as well as nonlethal deterrents.
In other business the Board of Commissioners approved $200 to be given to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion to purchase flags for military graves in the county from state video lottery money.
The City of Enterprise’s request for $1,500 in video lottery funds was also granted to defray costs of research and clerical work necessary to get the Enterprise City Library on the National Historic Registry. Commissioners Chairman Mike Hayward said he believed the total cost to do the paperwork would be $3,000 to $4,000.