2A — THE OBSERVER
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2020
LOCAL
DAILY La Grande’s proposed budget increases more than 3.6%
PLANNER Police, fire take
TODAY
Today is Saturday, May 2,
the 123rd day of 2020. There
are 243 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On May 2, 1994, Nelson
Mandela claimed victory in
the wake of South Africa’s
fi rst democratic elections;
President F.W. de Klerk
acknowledged defeat.
LOTTERY
Megabucks: $3.8 million
13-15-18-28-44-46
Mega Millions: $200 million
13-19-53-54-63-17 x3
Powerball: $51 million
2-20-49-61-67—PB-20 x2
Win for Life: April 29
15-24-36-55
Pick 4: April 30
• 1 p.m.: 8-5-8-8; • 4 p.m.: 9-9-7-2
• 7 p.m.: 7-1-0-7; • 10 p.m.: 2-9-7-8
Pick 4: April 29
• 1 p.m.: 9-4-6-9; • 4 p.m.: 5-0-8-1
• 7 p.m.: 3-3-6-6; • 10 p.m.: 0-0-8-5
DELIVERY ISSUES?
If you have any problems
receiving your Observer, call
the offi ce at 541-963-3161.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“What experience and
history teach is this: that
people and governments
have never learned anything
from history.”
— Georg Wilhelm Fried-
rich Hegel, German philoso-
pher (1770-1831)
small dips, public
works gets boost
By Ronald Bond
The Observer
LA GRANDE — The
La Grande Budge Com-
mittee approved a bud-
geting topping $51 million
for the 2020-21 fi scal year.
The proposed budget is
$1.81 million more than the
2019-20 budget, an increase
of about 3.7%
The city also enters
the upcoming fi scal year
debt free, having repaid
all “borrowed money for
improvements to buildings,
water and sewer systems,
streets or large equipment,”
according to the budget
proposal.
City Manager Robert
Strope said the city could
absorb some lost revenue —
which there likely could be
this year as a result of the
coronavirus — and not see
its expenditures take a hit.
He also said there will be
an impact on what the city
receives in gas tax funds,
but indicated the city still is
waiting on a forecast from
NEWS BRIEFS
OSP asks for help
in hit-and-run crash
LA GRANDE —
Oregon State Police is
seeking the public’s help in
identifying a semi driver
who caused a crash and
kept rolling.
Troopers on Wednesday
at 5:47 p.m. responded to a
hit-and-run crash on Inter-
state 84 near milepost 277,
about 14 miles southeast of
La Grande. Troopers found
a Mazda 626 in the median.
The driver, Robert Floyd,
56, of North Powder, had
minor injuries.
Floyd told troopers he
was passing a semitrailer
when it changed lanes,
striking his car and causing
him to lose control. The
Mazda rolled several times
before coming to a stop.
Another semi driver had
a dash camera going and
recorded the wreck: https://
youtu.be/yFCVzm_ux_g
The semi in the crash
had Ontario, Canada,
license plates. Oregon State
Police is asking anyone
who may have information
regarding the semi or its
driver to call the OSP dis-
patch at 800-442-2068 or
*OSP and reference case
SP-20-112219.
Fire hydrant testing
continues
LA GRANDE — The
city of La Grande is con-
tinuing its semi-annual fi re
hydrant testing and main-
tenance program to check
water availability for fi re-
fi ghting and rid the city’s
water distribution system of
sedimentation deposits.
The city in a press
release reported it has a
higher than normal amount
of sedimentation deposits,
thus resulting in periodic
water clarity problems. In a
normal year, most residents
would be at work during the
tests, according to the city,
but due to the COVID-19
quarantine, more people are
using water when the tests
stir up the sediment.
“Be aware, although the
water may be discolored
or have a slight odor,” the
city reported, “it has still
been treated and meets the
requirements for potable
water. We are working our
way through the system as
effi ciently as possible, but
expect periods in which
discolored water will be
encountered.”
Residents who have
unusual water clarity prob-
lems during the hydrant
fl ushing should turn on a
cold-water faucet outside
(if possible) and let it run
for 10-15 minutes. This will
normally clear up the agi-
tated water from the service
the governor’s offi ce before
he will know what the rev-
enue loss could be.
Most of the city’s
departments or funds are
within 10% — increased
or decreased — of the
total from the prior year,
according to the budget pro-
posal, which is on the city’s
website.
The general fund is for
2020-21 is at about $14.8
million, a drop of just less
than 2% from the roughly
$15.1 million in the general
fund a year ago. A notable
change that came out of the
committee meeting was the
decision to take one-third
of the city’s proposed con-
tingency fund — which
was a proposed total of
$750,000 for the upcoming
year — and move it into the
council manager’s budget
for 2020-21 to meet needs
that would be specifi cally
related to the coronavirus.
The budget for the city’s
police department also is
down from last year, sitting
at $3.56 million, a decrease
of about $71,000 from a
year ago. This is because
a software upgrade has its
fi rst year of maintenance in
the purchase cost.
The budget for the city’s
fi re and emergency services
department is just more
than 9% lower at about $2.7
costs after a toll of about
$660,000 last year. Water
and sewer reserves have an
increased proposal of about
20%.
Of the $51 million in the
budget, the city is carrying
over close to $23 million
in “beginning resources”
from 2019-20, and roughly
$20 million of the funding
comes from taxes, fees and
other charges.
The city’s Urban
Renewal Agency general
fund is close to 13% higher
at $1,734,546.
The city council will
vote on the budget before
July 1, when it has to go
into effect.
Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics proudly welcomes:
Ellen Barlow, FNP-C
To the GRH Regional Medical Clinic team as a Primary Care Provider (PCP)
Ellen Barlow, FNP-C, joins the GRH Regional Medical Clinic from Boise, Idaho, where she worked
as a registered nurse in a busy emergency department for the past several years. She completed
her Master's Degree at Gonzaga University, and her undergraduate degree at Boise State
University. Ellen has background as a Union Hotshots wildland firefighter and EMT, and looks
forward to utilizing her diverse set of skills to transition into her new
role as a primary care family nurse practitioner. She has a particular
interest in developing a long-term relationship with each of her
patients, while empowering them to attain their health goals.
Ellen was born and raised here in La Grande, and is eager to return to
her roots with her husband and two dogs. She looks forward to
enjoying all the outdoor activities that Eastern Oregon has to offer.
GRH Regional Medical Clinic
506 4th Street, La Grande • 541.663.3138 • grh.org/RMC/
Now accepting new patients!
Ellen Barlow, FNP-C
Learn more about Ellen in our online
Provider Directory at www.grh.org today!
RE-ELECT
Photo contributed by Oregon State
Police
Oregon State Police is
seeking the public’s help in
identifying this semitrailer
that caused a car to crash
Wednesday on Interstate
84 near milepost 277.
line.
For other problems,
call the La Grande Public
Works Department at
541-962-1325.
The city reported it
expects to conduct the tests
Monday through Thursday,
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., until it has
fl ushed every hydrant.
“We have currently
worked through approx-
imately half of the city,”
according to the press
release, “and will attempt
to keep locations of future
work areas updated on our
Facebook page.”
La Grande man faces
felonies from crash
LA GRANDE —
Michael Duane Lee of La
Grande is out of jail on
a security release agree-
ment while he faces felony
charges stemming from a
crash.
Oregon State Police
troopers responded Sunday
afternoon to a crash on
Highway 203 in North
Powder where the driver
fl ed after the wreck ejected
a 23-year-old woman.
According to state
police, a trooper found the
pickup at a home in North
Powder, where Lee was in
the backyard, passed out
in a lawn chair. Lee failed
a sobriety test and was
arrested on accusations of
driving under the infl u-
ence of intoxicants, failure
to perform the duties of a
driver to an injured person
and third-degree assault.
He later gave a breath
sample that tested his
blood-alcohol content at
0.16%, twice the .08% legal
limit.
Lee, 32, signed the
release deal Wednesday.
His next court appearance
is May 26.
BOYD
RASMUSSEN
for
SHERIFF
“I worked with Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen
when I was Union County
Commissioner and now as a local
educator. I have no doubt he is the best
candidate for Sheriff and he has my full
support in this election. Please join me
in voting for Boyd.”
John Lamoreau
Boyd understands our community and
how important it is to keep it safe as he
has a vested interest in maintaining the
rural lifestyle we enjoy in this valley. We
need his experience and management
skills for another four years! urge you to
vote for Boyd Rasmussen. Skip Pereira
We are voting for Boyd
Rasmussen for Union
County Sheriff because
of the job he has done
for our communities.
We do not know every
deputy, but the ones we
come into contact with are courteous and
helpful. We believe that is tribute to their
leader, Boyd Rasmussen. We feel safe living
in Union County. We appreciate the efforts of
our officers and encourage others to consider
electing Boyd Rasmussen in the May election.
Doug & Patty Hislop (local educators)
WE SUPPORT SHERIFF BOYD RASMUSSEN
Joaquin Grant
Gregory Acres
Craig Nightingale
Gordon and Barbara Gribling
Fred Alexis
David R. Orcutt
Gary and Ginny Hager
Walt and Linda Anderson
Chris and Linda Panike
Risa Hallgarth
Katherine Austin
Michael and Tracy Partney
Andy and Cindy Hale
Martha J. Bailey
Ralph Patterson
Mr and Mrs Boyd Harmon
Greg Barreto
Tony Pedro
Mark and Linda Harris
Greg M. Baxter
Skip Pereira
Phil and Trudy Hassinger
Sharon Beck
Joseph and Cathy Petrusek
Jamie and Mike Hicks
Dan Bellmore
Howard and Suzanne Perry
Lanny Hildebrandt
Wes and Teri Berry
Tim and Jenny Phelps
Doug and Patty Hislop
Austin & Jeana Bingaman
Wes and Marie Rampton
Dixie
Hofmann
Ross and Carrie Bingaman
Mike and Nikki Robertson
Bart Hoffman
Russel and Patty Bingaman
Amy and Gunnar Rolf
Curt and Annette Howell
Wade and Angie Bingaman
Robb Rea
Tod and Angel Hull
Julie Bodfish
G and Val Royes
Brent
and
Donna
Huntsman
Jack and Jennifer Boyd
Brett Rudd
Matt and Melanie Insko
Kem Brainerd
Todd
and
Gidget Sannar
Sonny and Mary Jane Johnson
Jim Brainerd
Terry
and
Annie Secl
Don’s Lawn Service (Don Junker)
Keith and Helen Brindell
Ed Schmittle
All
Air
HVAC
Service
(Scott
Kaber)
Betty Bronson
Lance C. Shoemaker
Bruce and Karen Kevan
JD and Audrey Cant
Rick Simmonis
Ken Knott
Christine Carlson
Mark
Simmons
Jim Kopp
Shari Carpenter
Troy Simmons
Alicia Koller
John Cavin
Wayne and Ernestine Simonis
Dave and Zee Koza
Cathie Clark
Doyle and Connie Slater
Ken and Beccy Kramer
Wendy Clerget
Betty Sprenger
Barney Kuensting
Lynn and Jody Combe
Linda and Sheldon Strand
John Lamoreau
John C Cuthbert
Andy and Julie Tarvin
Denny and Colleen Langford
D.R.C.’s Property Management Inc
Billy Taylor
Eric Laurence
Aaron and Hilary Dahle
Bill Teeter
Marc Lee
Larry and Edna Davidson
Terry and Kathy Thimmes
Todd and Melanie Livingston
Loren and Michelle Davidson
Sean White
Lee and Edith Lowe
Joe and Erin Davidson
Tom and Karen Waldrip
Rich McConnell
William A and Sharon DeLashmutt
Don and Lila Waldrop
Dan and Nancy McDonald
Cresta DeLint
Bob and Kathy Walker
Mike McLean
Ves and Lois Doty
Kris and Bud Walker
Jim and Rita McMahan
Allan and Michelle Duffy
Hank Warg
Bill and Stacy Merrigan
Bonnie Dunn
Guy and Peggy Weishaar
Michelle McKinney
Kent Dutson
Theora Mickey
Mary West (Imbler)
Verl Miller and Kathryn Lusk
Brock Eckstein
Mary West (Elgin)
Glenn and Anita McIntosh
John and Melissa Fullerton
Bev White
Rick and Janice Muilenburg
Dr Gerrie Gardner
Mike Wisdom
Steve Neumann
Randy and Pam Glenn
Bill and Linda Whittemore
Maureen O’Connell
James and Tracey Gorham
Rich and Rachel Zinzer
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Boyd Rasmussen Sheriff, Rita McMahan, Treasurer, 62436 Mink, Summerville
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million. The drop is due
to lower funding for PERS
and medical, dental and
vision insurance to meet
the level for six entry-level
employees the department
added.
The costs of both depart-
ments match what they
requested from the city for
the upcoming year.
The highest increase in
proposed expenses is in the
Public Works Department,
which has almost $27.5 mil-
lion for the upcoming year,
a jump of nearly 10%. The
largest spike within public
works is in street mainte-
nance, which has just more
than $1 million in proposed
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