Opinion
A4
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
OUR VIEW
City, county
need to fi nd
solution
t is time for Union County and the city of La
Grande to fi sh or cut bait regarding a pro-
posal to build a major water and sewer line to
connect the fairgrounds to the city system.
At stake, of course, is the future viability of
what should be a pretty important venue, but city
offi cials have recently raised questions about,
essentially, who will pay for the long-term sus-
tainability of the project. The project will include
not only the line but a lift station. Both the line
and the lift station will need to be built and main-
tained for many years.
The project — at least for now — carries
about a $2.1 million price tag. The venture will
be divided into two phases. The fi rst phase —
at about a cost of $1.52 million — is possible
through state funding and local fundraising
eff orts. The second phase of the project includes
construction of new restroom facilities at the
fairgrounds.
City leaders are quite right to list future costs
of maintenance and ownership of a lift station as
challenges. Taxpayers expect their city manager,
public works director and elected members of the
council to ask tough questions and seek answers.
If they were not asking questions about items
such as who will own the lift station and maintain
it and the water/sewer line they wouldn’t be doing
their jobs.
The county, to its credit, earmarked funds —
$250,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act —
to construct the sewer line as the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation completes work on the
Second Street bridge.
The county and the city appear to be working
forward to make the plan a reality, but far more
needs to be done. City offi cials and the fairground
board need to iron out the details about future
responsibilities of the line and the lift station as
soon as possible. The county should explore ways
to get more money for the project because there
are other avenues.
For one, county offi cials need to be in active
discussions with our state representatives to fi nd
more cash. Simply asking for help and taking no
for an answer isn’t going to fl y on this project.
The state Legislature’s Emergency Board is slated
to meet early this summer and there is no reason
why county leaders, through their elected repre-
sentatives, couldn’t ask for some help.
The bottom line is a simple one: The county
needs a fully functioning fairgrounds, and that
means sewer and water. It’s time for our elected
and appointed leaders to solve this problem.
I
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the
opinion of The Observer editorial
board. Other columns, letters and
cartoons on this page express the
opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of The Observer.
LETTERS
• The Observer welcomes letters
to the editor. We edit letters for
brevity, grammar, taste and legal
reasons. We will not publish con-
sumer complaints against busi-
nesses, personal attacks against
private individuals or comments
that can incite violence. We also
discourage thank-you letters.
• Letters should be no longer than
350 words and must be signed and
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number (for verifi -
cation only). We will not publish
anonymous letters.
• Letter writers are limited to one
letter every two weeks.
• Longer community comment
columns, such as Other Views,
must be no more than 700 words.
Writers must provide a recent
headshot and a one-sentence
biography. Like letters to the
editor, columns must refrain from
complaints against businesses or
personal attacks against private
individuals. Submissions must
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number.
• Submission does not guarantee
publication, which is at the discre-
tion of the editor.
SEND LETTERS TO:
letters@lagrandeobserver.com
or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson
Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
OTHER VIEWS
Spending more taxpayer
money is not the answer
I side with Mr. Phil Myer on the
La Grande School Bond Measure
31-105. I am voting No on this school
bond issue.
The Annex building’s age has
nothing to do with the fact that the
building can continued to be of
value and used. It could be painted
and repaired for further use. We
taxpayers have funded school dis-
trict money for a new and beautiful
Central Elementary building, new
tennis courts, a new track, removal
of the previous Central, and the list
goes on. If the bond issue passes it is
going to cost La Grande tax payers
as Mr. Myer pointed out.
The La Grande School District
spent a sizeable amount of money for
yard posters and sending mail infor-
mation to pass this bond issue. We
taxpayers paid for that cost.
The district has done this before.
A few years ago they had a drive to
remove and replace Willow School.
Willow is a beautiful older school
building and has a gym that the dis-
trict could not replace in quality.
Making some needed changes to a
building is not money lost and those
changes are always made at a cost
less than building a new structure.
The La Grande School District
has spent $32 million since 2014.
Another $4.845 million, plus a state
grant of $4 million, making it a total
of $8.845 million is not the answer.
Gary L. Feasel
La Grande
Nothing but positive
words for Anderes
Fair, inclusive, thoughtful,
responsive, trustworthy, leader.
These are only six of the posi-
tive words that defi ne Union County
Commissioner Paul Anderes. Paul
has been strong and active commis-
sioner from day one. He has advo-
cated for Union County locally,
regionally and statewide, always
being mindful of his constituents
and their needs.
Paul is approachable to all and
truly listens to the voices of the
people he represents. Commissioner
Anderes has proven to be a strong
and decisive leader. He successfully
helped to guide the county through
the challenges of a pandemic, as he
maximized as many state and fed-
eral resources as were available.
Our agricultural community can
count on Paul to forge relationships
and build trust as he works tirelessly
to relieve farmers and ranchers of
the devastating eff ects of elk depre-
dation, as he works to increase non-
lethal wolf compensation, and as he
understands the need for additional
local and regional meat processing.
He truly understands the fi nan-
cial impacts of agriculture in Union
County.
Union County voters can count
on experienced proven leadership,
successful cohesive relationships
and intelligent, thoughtful advo-
cacy for everyone. I urge you to cast
your vote to reelect Paul Anderes for
Union County Commissioner.
Cheryl Martin
North Powder
Anderes failed to assist
I am a longtime neighbor of Paul
Anderes and I question his atten-
dance at his offi ce Monday through
Friday.
In The Observer, Paul “explained
that a number of projects he began
have not been completed because of
COVID 19.” What are these projects
and how did COVID prevent him
from completing them?
When Paul was elected, I went to
him with an airport billing issue that
I had been dealing with for several
years. The airport is one of Paul’s
“primary liaison” duties. It was a
simple situation to clear up. Paul
did nothing but refer the situation
to the public works director. Paul
never followed up with me regarding
the outcome. To resolve this issue,
I incurred legal fees as well as the
county taxpayer through the county
attorney’s offi ce. This is an example
of how Paul has failed to assist a cit-
izen of Union County.
Louie Lyman
La Grande
Impressed with
Anderes’ positive drive
and enthusiasm
I am endorsing Paul Anderes as
our best candidate for Union County
Commissioner for a second term. He
has served with 150% commitment
for the county during his fi rst term.
I have known about Paul for 15
years. My brother was his colleague
at Oregon State University during
Paul’s master program in agricul-
tural education. He is a well-known
leader in the high school agricultural
education venue. His FFA leadership
was a boon for his current leader-
ship role.
Mr. Anderes has been, and con-
tinues to be, a leader for multiple
Union County objectives:
• Promoter for emergency fuel
source at the Union County Airport.
• Active member of the Grande
Ronde Hospital Foundation Board,
advocating for the new hospital
renovation.
• Community liaison for public
health administration, county emer-
gency management and hospital
leadership initiative.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Subscription rates:
Monthly Autopay ...............................$10.75
13 weeks.................................................$37.00
26 weeks.................................................$71.00
52 weeks ..............................................$135.00
Photographs should be
judged at face value
The category of “signifi cantly
manipulated” applied to photography
in some exhibits today is confusing.
I philosophically disagree with that
premise. I believe photographs could
be divided by things like portrait,
scenery, abstract and so on. More is
not needed.
All photographs are “manipu-
lated.” A photographer chooses vari-
ables, camera body, distance, lens,
shutter speed, ISO, aperture, fi lters,
gels, strobes vs. ambient light, etc.
There is no precise defi nition of “sig-
nifi cantly manipulated.”
Cameras in cellphones change
photographs taken with them. Do
people applying “eff ects” consider
that “manipulation”?
Photography in and of itself is the
art or process of producing images
by the action of radiant energy and
especially the “manipulation” of
light on a sensitive surface such as
fi lm or an optical sensor. A photo-
graph is not necessarily “done” when
it comes out of a camera.
I think photographs should be
judged at face value. Tagging them
“manipulated” is confusing. When
you look at a picture you know what
you like and do not like, we all do.
Throughout history “The Arts”
have always alluded to free expres-
sion. That which had never been
imagined was created by free
thinkers. There was no criteria for
the “how” of the creation, simply an
awe of what was presented.
The category called “signifi cantly
manipulated” results in confusion
for everyone and serves no legiti-
mate purpose.
Michael A. Gove
La Grande
STAFF
SUBSCRIBEAND SAVE
NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50
You can save up to 55% off the single-copy
price with home delivery.
Call 800-781-3214 to subscribe.
• Active supporter for Union
County high school FFA activities. (I
recently saw him at the Imbler FFA
Annual Dinner where he was volun-
teering, serving up barbecue).
• Advocate for early opening
for Union County Schools during
COVID shutdowns.
• Prominent member of the com-
munity who is interested in constitu-
ents’ concerns.
All in all, Mr. Anderes loves
working for the members of our
county, from hospital employees to
ODOT snowplow drivers. I have
never seen a county commissioner
be more involved with positive drive
and enthusiasm.
I wholeheartedly support Mr.
Anderes’ run for his second term
as a Union County Commissioner.
Please join me in voting for Paul for
his second term.
Gerrie Gardner
Summerville
Anindependent newspaper foundedin1896
www.lagrandeobserver.com
Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
(except postal holidays) by EO Media Group,
911 Jefferson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
(USPS 299-260)
The Observer retains ownership and copyright
protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising
copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may
not be reproduced without explicit prior approval.
COPYRIGHT © 2022
Phone:
541-963-3161
Regional publisher ....................... Karrine Brogoitti
Home delivery adviser.......... Amanda Turkington
Interim editor ....................................Andrew Cutler
Advertising representative ..................... Kelli Craft
News clerk ........................................Lisa Lester Kelly
Advertising representative .................... Amy Horn
Reporter....................................................Dick Mason
National accounts coordinator ...... Devi Mathson
Reporter............................................Davis Carbaugh
Graphic design .................................. Dorothy Kautz
Toll free (Oregon):
1-800-781-3214
Email:
news@lagrandeobserver.com
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Observer,
911 Jefferson Ave.,
La Grande, OR 97850
A division of