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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2017)
65/51 BANNON REMOVED FROM NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL PENDLETON HOSTS LEAGUE OPENER Umatilla to choose new mayor soon NATION/7A TENNIS/1B REGION/3A THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 141st Year, No. 123 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD As deadline looms, no clear PERS plan By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — With a legislative deadline less than two weeks away, it’s not yet clear what legislators may propose this session to reduce the costs of the state’s public pension system. The chair of the senate committee vetting proposals that would affect the Public Employees Retirement System said Wednesday that there is no specifi c policy proposal edging out others. “Right now, I would say that all of them are up for discussion at this point,” Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, said. “That’s the climate that we’re in, we’re still talking about all of the different proposals.” Committees vetting policy, such as the Senate Workforce Committee, have to schedule work sessions on bills by Friday. April 18 is the last day bills can move out of committee in the chamber where they are proposed. As of Wednesday evening, some proposals that have taken center stage in the public process in the fi rst two months of the legislative session — such as capping the salary amount used in calculating benefi ts to $100,000, or calculating an employee’s fi nal average salary over fi ve rather than three years — were not scheduled for a work session, according to the state’s legislative information system. Workforce Committee Vice Chair Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said Monday that those two ideas — contained in bills he has sponsored — seemed to have momentum. But he also said that other proposals are still “on the table.” See PERS/8A HERMISTON Dispatch will start allowing 9-1-1 texts By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Umatilla County residents will be able to start texting emergency dispatchers later this year after the county commission approved purchase of software to allow text messages to be sent to 9-1-1. Dispatch commander Kathy Lieuallen told the commission that residents will still be encouraged to call instead of text when they can, as infor- mation can be relayed more quickly that way. But texting 9-1-1 will be an additional More inside tool for people Committee gets who are hearing fi rst look at impaired, experi- county budget encing a medical Page 3A emergency that prevents them from speaking or in a situation where they would be in danger if they were heard calling for police. “I think this is a great service for the hearing impaired or deaf community,” she said. Lieuallen said the state is working on a statewide system, but until then has agreed to pay the full cost of interim measures, including the software the commission approved. The invoice for installation will go directly to the state. Lieuallen said when the launch is ready, her offi ce will work to educate the public on its use. “The message is always call if you can, text if you can’t,” she said. On Wednesday the commission also gave the fi nal approval for leases between the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center and the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo. Under the terms of the 50-year leases, the fair will pay $10,000 per year for use of the fairgrounds for a month each summer, while the rodeo will pay $10,000 per year for use of the rodeo arena during fair week plus access at other times for maintenance and preparation. The rodeo board will also pay $500 per year for year-round use of See COMMISSION/8A Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston Chamber of Commerce director Debbie Pedro, right, and Kelly Schwirse take phone calls Tuesday in the offi ce at the Hermiston Conference Center. Chamber to relocate City will take over Hermiston Conference Center in 2018 By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris The City of Hermiston is currently in the process of remodeling the basement of the old Carnegie Library and has offered the chamber that space rent free. Rainbow owner loved racing cars, reading Irish verse By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian Not many were more Irish than Steve McGee. The gregarious owner of the Rainbow Café, who died last Wednesday at age 76, loved all things Ireland. He donned a Kelly green top hat on St. Patrick’s Day and opened the annual daylong celebration at the bar by reciting some Irish verse. “Then he would say, ‘Let’s drink,’” said Betty Adair, who has worked at the Rainbow going on 36 years. McGee spent each St. Paddy’s Day presiding over the happy scene, which included a short-lived but See MCGEE/8A The Greater Hermiston Area Chamber of Commerce is looking to move downtown after being notifi ed that the city does not plan to renew the chamber’s contract for running the Hermiston Conference Center in 2018. Assistant city manager Mark Morgan said a detailed plan for having the city’s parks and recreation department take over operation of the confer- ence center will be presented to the city council at a future meeting for their approval. He said the plan would continue the building’s use as a conference center, but would see it run directly by city staff instead of through a contract with the chamber. In a news release, chamber leadership asked members to keep in mind that “the chamber is a separate business from the conference center, and there will always be a Greater Hermiston Chamber See HERMISTON/8A Photo by Ryan Krusee Steve McGee drives along the freeway just south of Sacramento three years ago in his 1953 Chevy. McGee, who had a passion for restoring cars, didn’t quite complete the Chevy. A group of car friends dubbed the Dirty Dozen will fi nish the job and take it to car shows on McGee’s behalf.
