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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2016)
REGION Saturday, August 13, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3A IRRIGON City compromises on water bill overage fees 6RPHFRPSODLQQHZ rate is outrageous By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian After years of taking out loans and neglecting build reserve funds, WKH FLW\ RI ,UULJRQ ¿QGV LWVHOI LQ D GLI¿FXOWSRVLWLRQ 2Q WKH RQH KDQG FLW\ RI¿FLDOV know they have a water budget that is VOLGLQJGDQJHURXVO\FORVHWRUHGLQN On the other hand, residents argue they need to maintain affordable services to make their community a EHWWHUSODFHWROLYH The issue came to a head Thursday over new water rates that went into effect July 1, which included a substantial increase in overage charges for homes that use PRUHWKDQJDOORQV6RPHUHVL- dents said they were alarmed to see their combined sewer and water bills DVKLJKDVIRUWKHPRQWK ,Q UHVSRQVH WKH ,UULJRQ &LW\ &RXQFLOKHOGDVSHFLDOPHHWLQJZKHUH members voted to slightly lower the RYHUDJH SD\PHQWV DQG UHTXHVWHG D IRUPDO UDWH VWXG\ PRYLQJ IRUZDUG &RXQFLORU 0LFKHOOH +DJHQ VDLG LW¶V D FRPSURPLVH WKDW ZLOO SURYLGH enough in the short term until the city FDQ¿QGDORQJWHUPEDODQFH ³:HFDQ¶WVFUDSHE\:HFDQ¶WJR EDFNZDUGV´ +DJHQ VDLG ³:H KDYH WRJHWDKHDGRIRXUVHOYHV´ &LW\ 0DQDJHU $DURQ 3DOPTXLVW who was hired in 2013, traced the root RIWKHSUREOHPEDFNRYHUDGHFDGH ZKHQKHVDLGLWEHFDPHDSSDUHQWWKH FLW\ZRXOGQHHGWRXSGDWHLWVZDWHU infrastructure but had no reserves to KHOSFRYHUWKHFRVW Instead, Irrigon took out loans IRU D QXPEHU RI SURMHFWV LQFOXGLQJ two new groundwater wells that ZHUHGULOOHGLQ+LJKOHYHOVRI nitrates were found in the city’s old ZHOO WKDW 3DOPTXLVW VDLG SRVHG D SXEOLFKHDOWKULVN7KDW¶VQRVXUSULVH Staff photo by E.J. Harris Long-time Irrigon resident Kieron Haney used 120,000 gallons of water last month keeping his yard green. An amount that cost him roughly $500 on his monthly bill. considering the city is located within the Lower Umatilla Basin Ground- ZDWHU 0DQDJHPHQW $UHD RU /8%*:0$ established in 1990 due to nitrate levels that exceeded federal safe drinking water VWDQGDUGV ,W¶V WKH FLW\ 3DOPTXLVW said, that has been left Haney WR SD\ WKH SLSHU 7RGD\ Irrigon is saddled with eight bonds RQ VHZHU DQG ZDWHU SURMHFWV ZLWK DSSUR[LPDWHO\ RQHWKLUG RI ELOO SD\PHQWVJRLQJWRZDUGSD\LQJEDFN WKRVHORDQV ³:H¶YH MXVW EHHQ ERUURZLQJ PRQH\´ 3DOPTXLVW VDLG ³,W¶V QRW EHHQHIIHFWLYHORQJUDQJH´ In February 2014, the city hired D FHUWL¿HG SXEOLF DFFRXQWDQW WR UHYLHZLWV¿QDQFLDOKHDOWK What the audit discovered was that the water budget ZRXOGUXQDGH¿FLWZLWKLQ ¿YH \HDUV XQOHVV VRPH DGMXVWPHQWVZHUHPDGH “If we don’t turn our VKLSDURXQGZH¶UHJHWWLQJ VXQN´3DOPTXLVWVDLG As of July, Irrigon resi- GHQWV ZHUH SD\LQJ D EDVH UDWH RI IRU ZDWHU DQG WRZDUG ZDWHU ERQGV 6HZHU UDWHV UDQ DQRWKHU DQG IRU ERQGV WRWDOLQJ D PLQLPXP SD\PHQW RI SHU PRQWK,QDGGLWLRQWKHFLW\FKDUJHV URXJKO\FHQWVIRUHYHU\FXELFIRRW RIZDWHUXVHGRYHUJDOORQV The overage is what caught .LHURQ +DQH\ E\ VXUSULVH ZKHQ KH RSHQHGKLVODWHVWELOOZKLFKUDQMXVW VK\RI “Does that sound reasonable to DQ\ERG\ KHUH"´ +DQH\ DVNHG DW 7KXUVGD\¶VFLW\FRXQFLOPHHWLQJ +DQH\ KDV OLYHG LQ ,UULJRQ VLQFH DQG EXLOW KLV KRPH RQ 1RUWKHDVW0DLQ$YHQXHLQ+H ZRUNHG\HDUVDW8QLRQ3DFL¿F¶V +LQNOH <DUG LQ +HUPLVWRQ EHIRUH LQMXULHVDQGKHDUWVXUJHU\IRUFHGKLP WRUHWLUH +DQH\ UHDGLO\ DGPLWV KH XVHV a lot of water — he used more than 120,000 gallons last month, according to his bill — but he said WKDW¶V ZKDW LW WDNHV WR NHHS KLV VTXDUHIRRW \DUG ORRNLQJ QLFH GXULQJ WKH KRW VXPPHUV +H¶V already removed a chunk of grass and extended his gravel driveway to FXWEDFNRQFRVWVEXWWKHELOONHHSV JRLQJXS $VIDUDVKH¶VFRQFHUQHG+DQH\ said it’s the industrial farms that created the issue with groundwater QLWUDWHV LQ WKH ¿UVW SODFH \HW UHVL- GHQWVDUHSD\LQJWKHSULFH ³,WMXVWVHHPVOLNHZH¶UHJHWWLQJ JRXJHG HYHU\ VWHS RI WKH ZD\´ KH VDLG Linanne Starke, who owns a GXSOH[ RQ 1RUWKHDVW )LIWK 6WUHHW said she also worries she won’t be able to afford her bills in the future ZKLOHNHHSLQJKHUSURSHUW\JUHHQ “We’re trying to beautify Irrigon, and green is beautiful to me,” Starke VDLG³,MXVWZRXOGOLNHWRKDYHWKH ZDWHUDYDLODEOHDWDUDWH,FDQDIIRUG´ 3DOPTXLVW VDLG KH IHHOV IRU UHVL- dents, but the city has to do some- WKLQJWRGLJLWVHOIRXWRIWKH¿QDQFLDO KROHLW¶VLQ ³7KH EHVW ZD\ IURP D ¿QDQFLDO VWDQGSRLQWLVWRSXWPRQH\LQUHVHUYH so you don’t have to borrow,” he VDLG The council ultimately voted WRORZHUWKHRYHUDJHIHHWR FHQWVSHUFXELFIRRW&RXQFLORUV.HQ 0DWODFN DQG 0DUW\ %URZQ ZHUH DEVHQWIURPWKHPHHWLQJ$QLQLWLDO UHFRPPHQGDWLRQFDOOHGIRUFHQWV SHU FXELF IRRW EXW +DJHQ RSSRVHG that motion, stating it would set WKHPEDFNWRRIDU The council also called for a rate VWXG\ WR EH FRPSOHWHG VRPHWLPH LQWKHQH[WWZR\HDUV7KDWZRUNLV estimated to cost $15,000, and the council admits it does not know yet ZKHUHWKDWPRQH\ZLOOFRPHIURP ³:H¶UH MXVW JRLQJ WR KDYH WR PDNHVRPHDGMXVWPHQWV´3DOPTXLVW VDLG 3DOPTXLVW DOVR HQFRXUDJHG UHVLGHQWV WR VLJQ XS IRU ÀDW ELOOLQJ WR KHOS EDODQFH XWLOLW\ SD\PHQWV WKURXJKRXW WKH \HDU )ODW ELOOLQJ LV available to customers with at least 12 months of continuous service and DJRRGSD\PHQWKLVWRU\ ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0825. PENDLETON Crews get Gibbon Fire %RXWLTXH$LUPDNHVELGWRUHSODFH6HD3RUW 40 percent contained By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian 7KH 3HQGOHWRQ &LW\ &RXQFLO FRXOG choose the city’s next commercial air service at a meeting Tuesday, but they ZRQ¶WKDYHDQRI¿FLDOUHFRPPHQGDWLRQ XQWLOPRPHQWVEHIRUHWKH\PHHW 7KH3HQGOHWRQ$LUSRUW&RPPLVVLRQ LV KROGLQJ D VSHFLDO PHHWLQJ DQ KRXU before the council’s start time with the LQWHQWRISURYLGLQJDUHFRPPHQGDWLRQ RQ ZKHWKHU WR VWLFN ZLWK 6HD3RUW $LUOLQHV RI 3RUWODQG RU VZLWFK WR %RXWLTXH$LURI6DQ)UDQFLVFR The commission heard bid SUHVHQWDWLRQV IURP ERWK FRPSDQLHV :HGQHVGD\ Afterwards, the commission GLUHFWHG DLUSRUW PDQDJHU 6WHYH &KULVPDQWRYHULI\%RXWLTXH¶VTXDOLW\ RI VHUYLFH ZLWK WKH RWKHU DLUSRUWV LW serves and return to the commission ZLWK D UHSRUW VR WKDW WKH FRPPLVVLRQ could make a recommendation to the FRXQFLO %RXWLTXH DGYHUWLVHG LWVHOI DV DQ airline that could boost boardings by offering reliability, good customer service and faster, more comfortable SODQHV %RXWLTXHLVRIIHULQJDPLOOLRQ SDFNDJH IRU ZHHNO\ URXQGWULS ÀLJKWVIURP3HQGOHWRQWR3RUWODQGDQG D PLOOLRQ RSWLRQ IRU WKH VDPH QXPEHURIWULSVWR6HDWWOH 'HSHQGLQJRQWKHSDFNDJHWKHFLW\ FDQ H[FKDQJH RQH RI WKH ÀLJKWV IRU D URXQGWULSWR3RUWODQG6HDWWOHRU%RLVH ,GDKR 7KHHVWLPDWHGDYHUDJHIDUHLV $IWHU GHFODULQJ EDQNUXSWF\ HDUOLHU WKLV\HDU6HD3RUWWROGWKHFRPPLVVLRQ WKHFRPSDQ\ZDVKRQLQJLWVIRFXVRQ 3HQGOHWRQDQGWKH1RUWKZHVW 6HD3RUW VWDII VDLG WKHLU DLUOLQH ZRXOG RIIHU FKHDSHU ÀLJKWV PRUH FRQQHFWLYLW\ WKURXJK LWV SDUWQHUVKLS with Alaska Airlines and a larger DGYHUWLVLQJEXGJHW 7KH DLUOLQH DOVR SUHVHQWHG WZR SDFNDJHV²URXQGWULSVWR3RUWODQG IRU PLOOLRQ DQG DQRWKHU RSWLRQ WKDW LQFOXGHV WULSV WR 3RUWODQG DQG ¿YH WR 6HDWWOH 6HD3RUW HVWLPDWHV LW ZLOO FKDUJH SHU WLFNHW IRU 3RUWODQGÀLJKWV 3HQGOHWRQ SD\V IRU FRPPHUFLDO VHUYLFHVWKURXJKWKH86'HSDUWPHQW RI7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ(VVHQWLDO$LU6HUYLFH SURJUDPZKLFKSURYLGHVDVXEVLG\WR FRYHUWKHFRVW,WLVWKHRQO\FRPPXQLW\ LQWKH1RUWKZHVWZLWKDQ($6VXEVLG\ 7KH DLUSRUW FRPPLVVLRQ ZLOO PHHW 7XHVGD\DWSPDWWKH(DVWHUQ2UHJRQ 5HJLRQDO $LUSRUW $LUSRUW 5RDG and the council will meet Tuesday at SPDWWKHFRXQFLOFKDPEHUVLQFLW\ KDOO6:'RULRQ$YH ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@ eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. BRIEFLY seals, but only received one bid at cost they deemed H[RUELWDQW After asking around, 3(1'/(721²-DPHV &UDU\DFDQGLGDWHIRU86 FLW\HPSOR\HHVOHDUQHGWKDW UHSUHVHQWDWLYHIRU2UHJRQ¶V many slurry seal contractors QG&RQJUHVVLRQDO'LVWULFW were already booked for the VXPPHUZKLFKH[SODLQHG will meet community PHPEHUV0RQGD\DWDP WKHODFNRIELGV ,QDQLQWHUYLHZ3XEOLF DW%XFNLQ¶%HDQ&RIIHH 5RDVWHUV1:'HVSDLQ Works Director Bob 3DWWHUVRQVDLGDFUDFNVHDO $YH ¿OOVLQFUDFNVLQWKHURDG while a slurry seal is a thin Pendleton City OD\HURIDVSKDOWXVHGWR Council considers ³UHIUHVK´WKHTXDOLW\RIWKH VWUHHW crack seal bid &LW\VWDIIGURSSHGVOXUU\ 3(1'/(721²$IWHU VHDOZRUNIURPWKHLUUHTXHVW DOLWWOHELWRI¿GGOLQJWKH DQGVHQWWKHMREEDFNRXWWR 3HQGOHWRQ&LW\&RXQFLO bid, attracting three bidders is ready to consider a bid WKLVWLPH to seal cracks on about 64 Removing the slurry seal VWUHHWV work means the city can According to a staff address some of the crack UHSRUWWKHORZHVWELG seals staff had slated for for crack seal services QH[W\HDU came from Kerry Fuller 7KHUHSRUWVWDWHVWKDW (QWHUSULVHVRI%HQGDW most of the crack seals will EHDSSOLHGWRVWUHHWVLQJRRG 6WDIISXWRXWDUHTXHVW condition, which will stave for bids earlier in the off deterioration and more summer for crack and slurry H[SHQVLYHUHSDLUV Candidate slated for meet-and-greet Welcome Alder Family Dental is pleased to announce Dr. Nathan Bushman will be joining the practice. Dr. Bushman Specializes in general dentistry for patients of all ages. We will continue to provide the same great dental care. New patients and same day emergencies are always welcome! 809 SW Court Ave Pendleton • 541.276.3241 &RPELQHGZLWKRWKHU VWUHHWSURMHFWVWKHFLW\ LVSURMHFWHGWRVSHQG $806,000 on roads this year, coming in under the PD[LPXPEXGJHW ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@ eastoregonian.com East Oregonian )LUH¿JKWHUV FRQWLQXH WR PDNHSURJUHVVRQWKH*LEERQ )LUH HDVW RI 3HQGOHWRQ burning in remote terrain near 0HDFKDP &UHHN DQG 6WXP- ERXJK5LGJH 7KH OLJKWQLQJVSDUNHG EOD]H LV QRZ SHUFHQW FRQWDLQHG &UHZV EHJDQ demobilizing Friday, and PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH ¿UH ZLOO transition to a local team VWDIIHGE\WKH2UHJRQ'HSDUW- ment of Forestry and Umatilla 1DWLRQDO)RUHVW Though the size of the ¿UH KDV LQFUHDVHG WR DFUHV WKDW¶V GXH SULPDULO\ to controlled burns meant to EULQJ WKH ¿UH XS WR FRQWDLQ- PHQWOLQHV1RVWUXFWXUHVKDYH EHHQ WKUHDWHQHG$ SHUVRQ hand crew and one engine will remain on scene for the next VHYHUDOGD\V ,QRWKHU¿UHXSGDWHV 5DLO)LUH²/RFDWHG¿YH miles west of Unity in Baker &RXQW\ WKH 5DLO )LUH KDV JURZQ WR DFUHV ,W LV SHUFHQWFRQWDLQHG%XUQRXW RSHUDWLRQVEHJDQ7KXUVGD\LQ strategic areas on the northeast DQG VRXWKHDVW SRUWLRQV RI WKH ¿UHLQRUGHUWRGUDZWKHEOD]H WRHVWDEOLVKHG¿UHOLQHV7KHUH DUH SHRSOH FUHZV dozers, 21 engines, 19 water WHQGHUV DQG KHOLFRSWHUV DUH DVVLJQHGWRWKH¿UH -XQWXUD &RPSOH[ ² 0DGHXSRIWKUHH¿UHVEXUQLQJ EHWZHHQ 9DOH DQG %XUQV$OO together, they have scorched a total of 24,301 acres, and DUH QRZ ODUJHO\ FRQWDLQHG 0DQDJHPHQW ZLOO VKLIW EDFN to local teams manned by the %XUHDXRI/DQG0DQDJHPHQW¶V 9DOH'LVWULFWRQ6DWXUGD\ 7KH SXEOLF LV UHPLQGHG WKHUH DUH SXEOLF XVH restrictions in effect on the Umatilla National Forest, and regulated use closures on the ODF Northeast Oregon 'LVWULFW 7KHVH UHJXODWLRQV SODFH OLPLWV RQ WKLQJV OLNH chainsaws, smoking, off-road WUDYHO DQG FDPS¿UHV DQG DUH meant to lower the risk of KXPDQFDXVHG ZLOG¿UHV )RU more information, visit the %OXH 0RXQWDLQ ,QWHUDJHQF\ 'LVSDWFK &HQWHU ZHEVLWH DW ZZZEPLGFRUJ “Country Scenes & Children’s Dreams” August 17-21, 2016 FAIR: www.morrowcountyoregon.com/fair Wednesday, Aug. 17 th Dr. Solar Magic Show Kid Fun Zone The Junebugs RODEO: www.morrowcountyoregon.com/fair/rodeo Thursday, Aug. 18 th Friday, Aug. 19 th Dr. Solar Magic Show Dr. Solar Magic Show Kid Fun Zone Old Time Fiddlers Ice Cream Social Talent Show FFA Floral Design Murray's Wine Tasting Featuring: Joe Lindsay Nate Bosford 4-H Food Contest 4-H/FFA Small Animal Showmanship Watermelon Contest Pet Show for the Public 4-H Fashion Show RDO Tractor Pull OTPR NPRA SLACK THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS! Kid Fun Zone OMSI 4-H/FFA Showmanship Master Showmanship OTPR/NPRA Rodeo After Rodeo Band: Jessie Leigh Saturday, Aug. 20 th Dr. Solar Magic Show Kid Fun Zone Parade FFA Awards Buyers Luncheon Livestock Auction OTPR/NPRA Rodeo After Rodeo Band: Jessie Leigh Sunday, Aug. 21 st All Exhibits Released Morrow County Rodeo www.facebook.com/oregontrailprorodeo www.facebook.com/morrowcountyfairheppneroregon
