REGION
Thursday, November 3, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3A
MILTON-FREEWATER
State considering tighter controls on local wells
Proposal includes ‘Serious Water Management Problem Area’
By GEORGE PLAVEN
East Oregonian
As groundwater levels continue
to decline in the Walla Walla
sub-basin, the Oregon Water
Resources Department is consid-
ering tighter controls on deep wells
near Milton-Freewater.
Specifically, regulators want to
restrict future wells for drinking
water only, and adopt what’s known
as a Serious Water Management
Problem Area, or SWMPA, that
would require users to install flow
meters and record monthly readings.
The agency outlined its proposal
for the sub-basin during a pair of
public meetings Oct. 24 and 25,
which drew nearly 170 people. A
local Rules Advisory Committee is
expected to form and meet sometime
before the end of the year to provide
input on how the changes will affect
the community.
According to state data, there are
239 total wells within the proposed
SWMPA, which is located entirely
within the sub-basin south of the
Oregon-Washington state line.
Those wells pump 64,200 acre-feet
of water annually, with more than 95
percent used for agriculture. Water
levels are dropping in the basalt
aquifers at a rate of 3-4 feet per year.
In order to curb those losses,
the Water Resources Department is
calling for a classification of waters
within the sub-basin boundary that
would only allow new wells for
drinking water or other “exempt”
uses, such as stock watering and
fire protection. The change would
not affect existing water rights, but
would in essence ban other large
farms and vineyards from moving
in and drilling for additional ground-
water.
“Our charge is to protect senior
(water) users,” said Justin Iverson,
groundwater section manager for the
Water Resources Department. “This
classification stops the problem
from getting worse.”
Under the SWMPA, users
with existing basalt wells would
be required to install flow meters
allowing the department to check
water levels at least once per year. A
PENDLETON
public hearing will be required first,
but the department hopes to have
the new rules adopted by May 2017,
and meters installed by 2018.
Iverson said the Rules Advisory
Committee will be composed of 8-15
people from the community with
different backgrounds, including
city officials, farmers, tribes and
the Walla Walla Basin Watershed
Council. They are expected to
convene and meet for the first time
later this fall.
———
Contact George Plaven at
gplaven@eastoregonian.com
or
541-966-0825.
PENDLETON
Municipal judge resigns, city seeks replacement Police nab two for
joined the public defender
consortium for Union and
Wallowa counties, meaning he
no longer had the time or energy
to continue carrying out his role
as judge.
Houk said he already
received interest in the job, and
proposed they hold interviews at
the Dec. 6 council meeting.
City attorney Nancy Kerns
said the council has previously
required the judge be an active
member of the Oregon Bar
Association and suggested the
council open the application to
retired lawyers as well.
East Oregonian
The city of Pendleton is in
the market for a municipal court
judge.
At a city council meeting
Tuesday, Mayor Phillip Houk
announced that Municipal
Court Judge Jeff Wallace will
resign his position Jan. 1.
In his resignation letter to
the mayor, Wallace wrote that
although he continues to work
in Pendleton at the Mautz &
O’Hanlon law firm, he has
recently moved to The Dalles.
Wallace has also recently
A retired Umatilla County
Circuit Court judge, Wallace was
appointed municipal court judge
in 2014. His most recent contract
paid him $27,900 per year.
In other council news,
councilors agreed to provide
a $242,566 deposit for a new
12-inch water line and 8-inch
sewer line as a part of the Eighth
Street Bridge project.
According to a city staff
report, the deposit only covers
the estimated costs of the project
and would be subject to change,
based on bids and change orders.
The sewer line is being built
to provide wastewater service to
Eighth Street residences north
of Umatilla River and the water
line is included to accommodate
future growth.
The council also unani-
mously agreed to a memo-
randum of understanding with
the Kiwanis Club of Pendleton
to take over maintenance and
liability responsibilities for the
playground at Kiwanis Park.
Pendleton Parks and Recre-
ation had closed the park over
safety concerns, but the club’s
takeover could allow it to
reopen faster.
GOVERNOR: State hasn’t elected Republican since 1982
Continued from 1A
while the courts threw out
most of the “grand bargain”
from the 2013 Legislature
to revise PERS, other parts
remain viable.
On Oregon’s high school
graduate rate — which at
74 percent is the third-worst
in the nation — Pierce said
schools must have a low
tolerance for absence and
the state should encourage
technical and labor tracks,
not just a track to college.
And immigration is a federal
issue, he said, and the lack
of reform is a “complete and
federal failure.” The solution
is good law, he said, and
as governor he would lean
on Oregon’s congressional
delegation to that end.
While Oregon hasn’t
elected
a
Republican
governor since 1982, Pierce
mentioned recent polls show
a tight race with Democrat
Gov. Kate Brown. Survey
USA conducted a poll Oct.
10-12 for KATU News had
Brown leading Pierce 46
percent to 42 percent, with
8 percent undecided and 4
percent picking “other.”
“In terms of the election,
we’re excited,” Pierce said,
but then cautioned the crowd
not to put too much faith in
polls.
Pierce left Pendleton on
a tight schedule for stops in
Burns and Klamath Falls.
———
Contact Phil Wright at
pwright@eastoregonian.com
or 541-966-0833.
Staff photo by Phil Wright
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce answers ques-
tions from a local business owner Wednesday morning at a
restaurant in downtown Pendleton. Pierce afterward hit the
road for meetings with supporters in Burns and Klamath Falls.
BRIEFLY
Umatilla County above state rate
in early ballot returns
With less than a week to go before Election
Day, almost one-third of Umatilla County’s
eligible voters have already cast their ballot.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Oregon Secretary
of State Elections Division is reporting that 32.4
percent of Umatilla County’s 38,657 eligible voters
have submitted ballots, slightly above the state’s
31.5 percent voting rate.
Turnout among Democratic and Republican
voters has been similar so far, 39 percent to 41
percent, respectively, while unaffiliated voters are
returning ballots at just 19 percent.
While Umatilla County’s returns are slightly
above the state rate, its numbers are dead last when
compared to the rest of Eastern Oregon.
Neighboring Morrow County has a 37.4 percent
return rate while Wheeler County leads the entire
state with a 50.6 percent rate.
Ballot drop boxes will be open through 8
p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and are available at
the Umatilla County Courthouse in Pendleton,
Hermiston City Hall, Milton-Freewater City
Hall, Nixyaawii Governance Center in Mission,
Umatilla City Hall, Stanfield City Hall, Pilot Rock
City Hall and Athena City Hall.
Two teachers named civic scholars
PENDLETON — The Pendleton School District
announced Wednesday that McKay Creek Elemen-
tary School teachers Linzie Noble
and Cindy Schimel have been
named 2016-2017 civic scholars.
The title brings free admission
and travel assistance to the Civics
Conference for Teachers in Salem
Dec. 2, a conference that will
feature workshops led by master
teachers and representativeness
of each branch of Oregon
Noble
government.
Each Oregon legislator
nominates two teachers in their
district to attend the conference,
and state Sen. Bill Hansell,
R-Athena, tapped Noble, a fifth
grade teacher, and Schimel, who
teaches third grade.
“When you work with kids
you have the ability to help
them see their potential and their Schimel
capabilities for success in the
future,” Noble said. “I’m looking forward to attending
the conference and learning how my students can
benefit from what I learn.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
THURSDAY, NOV. 3
BOARDMAN KIWANIS, 6:45 a.m.,
Riverfront Lodge, 6 E. Marine Drive.
TUMBLEWEED
TOASTMAS-
TERS, 6:45 a.m., Eastern Oregon
Higher Education Center room 134,
975 S.E. Columbia Dr., Hermiston. Vis-
itors welcome. (541-567-3360).
PENDLETON DOWNTOWN AS-
SOCIATION, 7 a.m., Pendleton City
Hall community room, 501 S.W. Emi-
grant Ave.
PENDLETON LIONS CLUB, 7
a.m., Roosters Restaurant, 1515
Southgate, Pendleton.
ARTS AND CRAFTS FROM THE
DRY SIDE, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ,basement
of Assembly of God Church, 730 East
Hurlburt Ave., Hermiston. Use the Sev-
enth Street entrance. Monthly busi-
ness meeting at noon. (541-567-4446).
UMATILLA
DOG
WALKING
CLUB, 10 a.m., 630 Switzler St. at
the dog wash in front of Umatilla High
School.
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL OF
HERMISTON, 12 noon, ARC of Uma-
tilla County, 215 W. Orchard Ave.
HERMISTON
LINEBACKER
CLUB, 12 noon to 1 p.m., Desert
Lanes, 1545 N. First St., Hermiston.
Hear HHS football coach David Faae-
teete discuss last week’s game and
talk about the upcoming tilt. RSVP
by Wednesday at 3 p.m. to 541-567-
5215. Cost is $11 for members, $13 for
non-members.
HERMISTON ROTARY CLUB,
12 noon, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
Church Parish Hall, Fifth Street and
Locust Avenue.
PENDLETON KIWANIS CLUB,
12 noon, Roosters Restaurant, 1515
Southgate, Pendleton. Guests wel-
come. ((541-278-5785).
PENDLETON
LINEBACKER’S
CLUB, 12 noon, Pendleton Elks
Lodge; 14 S.E. Third St.; fee for lunch.
PAULINE REBEKAH LODGE NO.
13, 2 p.m., IOOF Hall, 19 S.W. Dorion
Ave., Pendleton. (Gladys 541-276-
4417 or Marguerite 541-276-2853).
HERMISTON
HORSESHOE
CLUB, 5 p.m., Weber Field, 600 S.
First St., Hermiston. (Rick Rebman
541-720-6402).
PENDLETON ROUND-UP LIONS
CLUB, 5:30-7 p.m., St. Anthony Hospi-
tal, 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton.
ARC UMATILLA COUNTY BIN-
GO, 6 p.m., doors open, bingo starts at
7 p.m., 215 W. Orchard Ave., Hermis-
ton. (541-567-7615).
KIWANIS OF ECHO, 6-7:30 p.m.,
Echo Masonic Hall, 200 S. DuPont St.,
Echo. Guests welcome. (echokiwan-
is@centurytel.net, 541-379-6992).
MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS
(MOPS), 6-7:30 p.m., Seventh-day Ad-
ventist Church, lower level, 1401 S.W.
Goodwin Place, Pendleton. (www.
mopspendleton.blogspot.com or mop-
spendleton@gmail.com).
PENDLETON EAGLES BURG-
ERS AND KARAOKE, 6 p.m., Pendle-
ton Eagles Lodge #28, 428 S. Main St.,
Pendleton. (541-278-2828).
PENDLETON ELKS LODGE NO.
288, 6 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. lodge
meeting, 14 S.E. 3rd St.
TOPS, 6 p.m. weigh-in; 7 p.m.
meeting, Peace Lutheran Church, 210
N.W. Ninth St., Pendleton. (Heather
Endersby 541-969-6997).
INLAND NORTHWEST ORCHES-
TRA, 6:30 p.m., Harris Jr. Academy,
3121 S.W. Hailey Ave., Pendleton.
(RaNiel Dunn 541-289-4696).
PFLAG (Parents, Families and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 6:30
p.m., 1535 N.E. Gladys Drive, Hermis-
ton. (541-571-1965).
AAUW, 7 p.m., Vert Club Room,
345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton. Melis-
sa Woodbury will present a slide show
from her trip to Iceland. Everyone wel-
come. (karenallen1965@gmail.com)
ATHENA-WESTON LIONS CLUB,
7 p.m., Weston Memorial Hall, 210 E.
Main St. (Betty Jane 541-566-3902).
GEORGE ST. DENIS POST NO.
140 AMERICAN LEGION, 7 p.m., Le-
gion Hall, Mission.
HERMISTON ELKS, 7 p.m., 480 E.
Main St.
PENDLETON MASONIC LODGE
NO. 52, 7 p.m., 1350 N.W. Carden
Ave.
UMATILLA SAGE RIDERS, 7
p.m., 81907 N. Highway 295, Hermis-
ton. (541-561-0695).
V.F.W. HERMISTON POST NO.
4750, 7 p.m., 1888 W. Cherry St.,
Hermiston.
armed robbery
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Pendleton police late Tuesday caught two
suspects following an armed robbery at a service
station.
An employee at the Indian Hill Chevron, 309
S.E. Nye Ave., Pendleton, called 9-1-1 at 11:47
p.m., according to police activity information, and
reported a suspect “pulled
a black rifle on him” and
robbed the place, then left
on Southgate in a black SUV
toward nearby Tutuilla Road.
The Umatilla County
District Attorney’s Office in
a written statement reported
Pendleton officers arrived a
minute later, got a description
of the suspects and their
Burgess
direction of travel.
Soon after, Pendleton
police and Oregon State Police troopers arrested
Dennis Lee Burgess, 31, of Pendleton, and Peggy
Turk, 31, no address available, at the Denny’s
parking lot, 610 Tutuilla Road. They face the
following initial charges: first-degree robbery,
first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery,
unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use
of a firearm and two counts of pointing firearm
at another, plus one count each of second-degree
theft, second-degree conspiracy to commit theft,
and possession of methamphetamine.
Police recovered a gun, merchandise and cash
consistent with what witnesses reported, according
to the district attorney’s office.
Burgess has criminal cases in Umatilla County
going back to 2002, according to court records,
and convictions for burglary and theft. Records
show Turk lived in Adams and Pendleton and she
has no convictions.
Police booked Burgess into the Umatilla
County Jail, Pendleton, but did not put Turk in the
jail. The robbery investigation is ongoing.
BUS: Will start routes Jan 2.
Continued from 1A
the first adjustments they made was
to remove the stop at Southeast 10th
Street and Highland Avenue, which
adjacent property owners pointed
out was on a narrow county road
surrounded mostly by pasture.
“I don’t see anybody really using
it,” neighbor Dennis Barnett said.
J.D. Tovey, CTUIR planning
director, said that the stop was placed
there to fill in a long gap between
two other stops in an attempt to place
most Hermiston residents within
a quarter mile walk of a bus stop.
But he agreed that the location was
“probably the least-performing” of
the proposed stops and the committee
decided to remove it.
After some discussion, the
committee next moved a stop from
Southeast 10th Street and Main Street
over to the intersection of Ridgeway
Avenue and Main Street, and added a
stop at Highland Park to better serve
the Highland Summit area.
“It services a huge area there and
adds value to our park,” city councilor
Doug Primmer said.
Many of the stops that were
moved on Tuesday were shifted to an
area that committee members felt was
safer and less disruptive to traffic.
The Kayak bus will have flashing
lights that drivers are legally required
to stop behind, just like a school bus.
But Tovey said Kayak drivers have
found on their intra-city route that
people frequently ignore the lights.
Keeping that in mind, the
committee moved a stop next to
Hermiston High School at Highland
Avenue and First Place into the
parking lot at Hodge Park. Mark
Morgan, assistant city manager,
pointed out that the change also
meant riders waiting at the stop could
use the garbage cans and restrooms at
the park. For similar reasons, a stop
at the corner of Northwest Seventh
Street and Elm Avenue was moved
down Elm Avenue into the parking
lot next to the Hermiston Butte.
The group also decided to combine
two stops at Southeast Fourth Street
and Highland and Southeast Seventh
Street and Highland into one at
Southeast Fifth Street and Highland
because there was a better place for
the bus to pull off. Other stops were
shifted just slightly from where the
city placed fake “bus stops” earlier in
the week so as to avoid placing a bus
stop at someone’s front yard.
Tovey said the tribes could make
adjustments to the stops on a quar-
terly basis as riders gave feedback.
The committee agreed that stops
along Northwest 11th Street, for
example, would probably be shifted
once traffic signals and crosswalks
were installed at the street’s intersec-
tions with Orchard Avenue and Elm
Avenue next summer (the committee
did add a stop at 11th and Juanita on
Tuesday). They could also examine
ridership patterns, he said, and note
which stops the driver rarely stopped
at because no one was there waiting
as they drove past.
After finalizing a route to send to
the city council, the committee also
discussed a budget for the system,
which starting Jan. 2 will run from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
Morgan said it was hard to predict
ridership for both the bus system and
the city’s current taxi ticket program
for senior and disabled riders. But
projections he shared Tuesday for
the 2017-2018 fiscal year predicted
12,000 riders per year for the bus
and 12,000 riders per year on the taxi
program.
Under those circumstances the
transportation program could expect
to bring in $189,000 in revenue from
taxi tickets and state and county
grants for the bus system.
The taxi program would cost
$79,200 and the bus system would
cost $250,000 for a total of $329,200.
That would mean the city would need
to budget about $140,000 per year
from the general fund for transporta-
tion.
“We’ve been shooting for
$150,000 for a subsidy,” Morgan
said. “If these numbers hold out, we
would have almost $10,000 extra.”
The advisory committee also
discussed names for the bus system,
noting that only 47 people had voted
on the online survey so far. They
agreed that the city council could
hold off on a name until its Nov. 28
meeting, keeping the survey at www.
hemriston.or.us open until then.
———
Contact Jade McDowell at
jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com or
541-564-4536.