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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2015)
REGION Thursday, January 8, 2015 East Oregonian Commissioners, farmers to meet over proposed transmission line PILOT ROCK Search begins for new police chief By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian The city of Pilot Rock is putting together a contract for Darren Richman to continue his replacement. City staff will also prepare a contract for Gary David, former Milton-Freewater police chief, to act as a consultant in that search. Richman has been Pilot Rock’s top cop since May 2008. He turned in his resignation Dec. 29 and his last day on the job is Jan. 30. He said he wants to retire and start a garage door installation business. David was the consultant the city con- tracted during its last search for a police chief, which resulted in the city hiring Rich- man. The city paid David $4,300 for his ef- forts and expenses. Pilot Rock City Council met Tuesday night and accepted Richman’s resignation, then discussed the matter further in a closed- door executive session. Afterward, the coun- cil directed city recorder Teri Porter to pre- pare the contracts. The council also plans to meet in private Friday and again Wednesday, Jan. 14, for contract discussions. The Pilot Rock Police Department con- has been out on medical leave. Richman during the public meeting told the council to work two or three days a week starting next week. But because Stallings lives in Milton-Freewater, it could be spendy if he has to work on an on-call basis. Richman said the city would have to pay for the travel time in that case. The council also gave Richman the ap- candidates. And council also held off on making a decision on a $750,000 cash offer from the space around two cell phone towers for 50 years. The city receives $1,097 a month from U.S. Cellular for one tower on a 30-year lease and receives $3,389 a month on a 25-year lease from American Tower. Those deals well as additional revenue if the companies add attachments to the antennas. City public works director Steve Draper said the city did not need the fast injection of funds, and the Unison buyout would result in a net loss of about $380,000 over the 22 years remaining on the existing leases. Pilot Rock resident John Taylor urged Draper and the council to look hard at the numbers before making any decision and was concerned Unison was low-balling the city. The council decided the city needed to consult two bankers to go over the Unison proposal in order to get a better idea of what is in the city’s best interest. And Michael Baleztena resigned from the council. He was absent. Councilwoman Ka- cie Moss read his resignation, which stated he was too busy with youth sports to attend. Councilmembers and staff remarked he had missed multiple meetings and failed to noti- fy the mayor or council president before the absences per the city charter. The council ac- cepted Baleztena’s resignation. ——— Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastore- gonian.com or 541-966-0833. By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Umatilla County commissioners will meet with local farmers to discuss their concerns over a proposed 300-mile transmission line from Boardman to southwest Idaho. The Boardman to Hemingway project - ties — Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Baker and Malheur — en route to a substation just south- west of Boise. Growers worry the project could take millions of dollars worth of high-value ag- ricultural land out of production, depending on where exactly the line is located. Federal agencies, led by the Bureau of Land Management, recently unveiled a draft Envi- ronmental Impact Statement for Boardman to Hemingway, examining the impacts of their proposed route and a number of alternative alignments. Idaho Power Company has pro- - ibility and share electricity between the two regions. - al open houses Monday in Boardman, Tuesday in Pendleton and Wednesday in La Grande to provide more information about the proposal and environmental report. The public has until March 19 to comment. BLM representatives also attended Wednes- day’s meeting of the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners to answer questions about the permitting process moving forward. The com- missioners decided to organize a work session with farmers that will inform comments to be submitted on behalf of the county. The work session is planned for 6 p.m. Feb. 17. The location is still to be determined. Planning Director Tamra Mabbott said at least 50 landowners will be invited directly to the session, though others are welcome to at- tend. “My idea for this public meeting is to get all these folks in the same room to talk with their HERMISTON Cabin Fever heats up with three performances By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian When John Wambeke concert in 2007, he had no idea it would still be going strong seven years later. “We just had so much fun, we said let’s do it again ... and again and again,” Wambeke said with a laugh. In addition to Wambeke, the other mastermind behind the popular variety show is Pat Ward. Throughout the year, Wam- beke and Ward text each other ideas for skits and things to do during the show. “He’s very versatile as a co- median, he can assume a lot of different roles,” Wambeke said about Ward. “He gets deep into his characters and has fun with the parts.” The 2015 Cabin Fever Con- cert features three performanc- es, including a Dutch Oven Dinner Show Saturday, Jan. 17 and a Sunday, Jan. 18 matinee performance, both in Hermis- ton. And then a week later, the entourage will head to Ione for a Jan. 25 Dutch Oven Dessert Show at the American Legion Hall. Contributed by Lukes Photos has donned diapers and gotten into other antics that Wambeke and Ward come up with. This year’s installment in- cludes holy matrimony for Jepsen — in the form of one of Echo resident Jerri Fife’s man- nequins. Jepsen’s marital status across the clothesline during the show. “He’s just a great guy and very talented,” Wambeke said about Jepsen. Of course Thelma and Eu- nice, the church ladies of Dib- bley Parrish, will make an appearance. There’s quite the controversy, as the minister wants to make some changes in the hymnbook. Wambeke and Ward really play up the gossiping spinsters. Eunice is a bit brash and the au- dience should get a bang when she’s stricken by “taco tummy.” Among the familiar faces are the event’s house band, which features Jepsen, Frazer Wam- beke, Derek Munson and Luke Basile. Other special guests in- clude Stacey Cooley, Cory Cool- ey and Joe Lindsay. New to the Cabin Fever stage this year is Justin Gross. The crooner and trombone player is originally from Richland and has been performing on cruise ships. Also, Angela Ditchen Contributed by Lukes Photos Eric Jepsen, an Ione High School and Eastern Oregon Uni- versity graduate, has grown up on the Cabin Fever stage. voice and the Ione pep band will play. Featuring nearly three dozen musicians, the pep band isn’t just school kids. Directed by BOARDMAN Council again approves waiver for water and sewer hook-ups East Oregonian Boardman City Council has once again passed a res- olution allowing property owners and developers to waive the fee for connecting to the city’s water and sew- er lines until the end of the year. The incentive is intended to make Boardman a more attractive option for building new homes by temporarily waiving what are known as system development charges within city limits, up to $10,000. Community Develop- ment Director Barry Beye- ler said additional housing way the county can put some comments togeth- er to further their plight, then that’s the purpose of this meeting.” Farmers are not opposed to the transmission project, Mabbott said, but want to make sure - terrupt their production of high-value crops. Once a transmission tower is built on or near an irrigated circle, the power company is grant- ed an easement through the land which can John Wambeke and Eric Jepsen perform during a past Cabin Fever Concert. Billed as Wambeke & Friends, many of the performers have taken the stage numerous times over the years. Among those who have grown up on the Cabin Fever stage is Eric Jepsen, an Ione High School and Eastern Oregon University graduate. is a major need in town, and waiving those charges makes it easier for developers to get their projects started. City council has passed a similar resolution every year since 2010, waiving the charges for all construc- tion within residential or commercial districts. In four years, 22 projects have qual- “It’s been utilized by sev- eral developers and contrac- tors to help get a develop- ment started,” Beyeler said. Two new subdivisions are already planned in Board- man: the Tuscany subdivi- sion will consist of up to 180 single-family houses just south of city hall along Main Street, while Chaparral Park will offer for-rent duplexes at the end of Kinkade Road. Project developer River- wood Homes, of Boise, said - ary. In other news from Tues- day’s meeting, Mayor Sandy Toms swore in council mem- bers Brandon Hammond, Turner, who were each elect- ed in November. Their terms will run through Dec. 31, 2018. The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. Page 3A a portion of the acreage. One 14-mile stretch of line is causing par- ticular stress in Morrow County. A variation of the route would build towers on the east side of Bombing Range Road, which runs along ir- rigated circles owned by Hale Companies and three other operations. Craig Reeder, with Hale Farms and the Northeast Oregon Water Association, said they want to see those towers built on the west side of the road in order to spare their farmland. Project manager Todd Adams, with Idaho Power, said that will take a compromise with the U.S. Navy, which owns the bombing range. County Commissioner George Murdock said the federal agencies are placing higher priority on protecting environmental resourc- es — such as habitat for endangered Washing- ton ground squirrels — over the well-being of farmers and ranchers. He said once that farm- land is lost, it can’t be replaced. “The position of the commission is this agri- cultural land is absolutely vital to the future of the county,” Murdock said. “We’ll take what- ever position we need to protect that resource.” Idaho Power hopes to have state and feder- al permitting completed by 2018, with the line up and running by 2020. Work is estimated to cost between $880-$940 million. Mabbott said the county’s role in collaborat- ing with farmers is at least an attempt to try and Cabin Fever Concert schedule Dutch Oven Dinner Show •Saturday, Jan. 17; 6 p.m. •Hermiston Conference Center •415 S. Highway 395, Hermiston $35, advance tickets required Matinee Show •Sunday, Jan. 18; 3 p.m. •Hermiston Conference Center •415 S. Highway 395, Hermiston $10 or $25/family of four, avail- able in advance or at the door Dutch Oven Dessert Show •Sunday, Jan. 25; 3 p.m. •American Legion Hall •325 W. Second St., Ione $15, advance tickets required NOTE: Tickets for the Hermiston performances are available at The Cottage, 1725 N. First St. Tickets for the Ione show can be pur- chased at the Ione and Heppner branches of the Bank of Eastern Oregon. Jordan Pembrose Rust, the band includes community members of all ages who play instru- ments. With only a handful of dinner show tickets left, Wambeke urg- es people to check on availabil- ity as soon as possible. Tickets for the Hermiston matinee show are abundant and can be pur- chased in advance or at the door. Due to the Dutch oven prepara- tions, the Ione tickets also must be purchased in advance. For more information, search Facebook for “Cabin Fever Concert.” ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesi- ni@eastoregonian.com or 541- 564-4539 “When the agencies site this project, it will have lots of long-term impact,” she said. “So we have to get this right.” In Morrow County, Planning Director Carla McLane said the local Military Airspace Ad- visory Committee continues to discuss Board- man to Hemingway at its regular meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thurs- day, Jan. 15 at the Port of Morrow Riverfront Center, 2 Marine Drive in Boardman. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eas- toregonian.com or 541-564-4547. BRIEFLY Class highlights childcare HERMISTON — An upcoming class at Good Shepherd Medical Center provides information on childcare techniques, children’s developmental CPR. Babysitting Basics 101 is available for babysitters ages 10-15. The session is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the GSMC conference room, 610 N.W. 11th St., Hermiston. Those planning to attend must pre- register and pay the $30 fee, which includes all class materials and lunch. For more information, contact 541- 667-3509 or healthinfo@gshealth.org. Presentation to provide info on local STEM programs PENDLETON — Information about local STEM programs — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities and projects — is featured during the upcoming meeting of the American Association of University Women. Josh Ego, the after school programs coordinator with the Umatilla School District, and Patricia Dawson, of the Oregon State University Extension Service and the 4-H STEM programs, are the featured presenters. The public is invited to the no-host luncheon meeting, which begins Saturday at 11 a.m. at The Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub, 230 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton. For more information, contact Marlene at 541-276-7596 or mkaykrout@yahoo. com. ——— Submit information to: community@ eastoregonian.com or drop off to the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541- 564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with questions.
