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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2018)
REGION Friday, October 5, 2018 East Oregonian Port gets statewide business benefit By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian As the Port of Morrow grows, it will recoup some of the money it has spent to ready its property for new business. Business Oregon, the state’s economic devel- opment agency, recently named the Port’s East Beach Industrial Site as a “Region- ally Significant Industrial Site.” The designation is given to entities that are developing sites for indus- trial use, and offers them tax reimbursement for money they spend on preparing a site. To qualify for the pro- gram, the port had to des- ignate a site and identify reasons the site was not yet “shovel-ready.” Those issues became the port’s development plan. They include providing fresh and potable water, nat- ural gas, rail and sewer improvements. Once the port has imple- mented its capital improve- ment plan and has tenants on the property, half the taxes tenants pay on their employ- ees will be reimbursed to the port, who can then use that money to pay for up to 100 percent of the cost to ready Staff photo by E.J. Harris that site. That cost does not include vertical construc- tion, or any work on build- ings — only on the lot. “It could be anything from grade issues, dealing with access, providing utili- ties,” said Daniel Holbrook, an industrial lands specialist for Business Oregon. “Once the issues are addressed, that site will be regionally significant for industry.” Port Director Ryan Neal said the port had to identify a site that met some require- ments before they could apply for the program. The site had to be vacant, slated for industrial use, and had to provide a minimum of 25 jobs. The East Beach Indus- trial Site, which the port has identified for develop- ment, is about 982 acres, and could provide about 800 jobs, Neal said. He said the site improvements have to be completed by 2023. According to the program, rural sites must also pay employees wages higher than the county or state average, whichever is lower. The Port of Morrow was the second site in the state to receive the RSIS designa- tion, after the Port of Port- land’s Troutdale-Reynolds Industrial Park. The Port of Morrow is the first to qual- ify for the program since Business Oregon changed the application process last year. Oregon vineyards face losses amid concerns about taint from smoke By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM — Some Ore- gon lawmakers and winery owners scrambled Thurs- day to help a dozen vineyard owners who face the pros- pect of tons of grapes with- ering on the vine after a Cal- ifornia company abruptly canceled contracts to buy the grapes worth millions of dollars over fears they are tainted by wildfire smoke. Copper Cane, based in the Napa Valley, canceled con- tracts to buy 2,000 tons of grapes just as the annual har- vest was getting underway in Oregon. The value of the grapes totals $4 million. If they go unsold, harvesting crews will be out of work, and earnings and profits won’t be pumped into the local economy. The cancellation of the contracts “is perhaps the most devastating issue fac- ing the Oregon wine industry in our history,” said Chris- tine Collier Clair, winery director of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Lab tests carried out so far show wildfire smoke hasn’t had an adverse effect on the grapes, Clair said. The vine- yard in northwest Oregon is buying some of the crop for its brand that’s made from grapes grown in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley wine country, paying the full mar- ket price. Jim Blumling, Cop- per Cane’s vice president of operations, said both lab and sensory tests showed a high level of smoke taint. The most effective time to test is as close as possible to har- vest, he added. He said the California company is seeking grapes HERMISTON Mobile vending licenses still available By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian A shipping container is off-loaded from a railcar at one of the railroad spurs in May 2015 at the Port of Morrow. AP file photo/Don Ryan In this Feb. 23, 2004, file photo, winemaker David Lett savors the bouquet from a glass of pinot noir at his Eyrie Vinyards home in Dundee. Some Oregon law- makers and winery owners are scrambling to help a dozen vineyards owners who face having 2,000 tons of grapes wither on the vine, unsold, after a California winemaker abruptly canceled contracts to buy them, claiming they were tainted from the summer’s wild- fires. from elsewhere in Oregon, praising its “reputation for quality and excellence.” “We would not recklessly damage our reputation, erode the image of our brands or that of Oregon’s wine grow- ers and vintners by produc- ing a product that does not meet those high standards,” Blumling said. Wildfires cloaked the U.S. West in smoke this summer. It comes as climate change extends the wildfire season and makes blazes bigger and more destructive, worsening air quality and posing prob- lems for businesses. Ed King, founder of King Estate Winery in Eugene in west-central Oregon, also is buying grapes from the southern Oregon growers and wants other wineries or custom crush facilities with extra capacity to take them in to sell on the bulk wine market. King Estate, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Silvan Ridge Winery of Eugene are going to jointly make a “Sol- idarity Vintage” with the grapes, Clair said. “The goal is to save these growers from catastrophe,” Clair said. Rep. David Gomberg was among several dozen people who went to the vineyards in southern Oregon to har- vest pinot noir grapes Thurs- day and draw attention to the crisis. Gomberg, accompa- nied by state Rep. Gary Leif and Sen. Alan DeBoer, was impressed that Oregon win- eries are stepping up to help. “They’re saying, ‘We’re all in this together. We’re going to help each other out,’” Gomberg said. Southern Oregon’s econ- omy already had taken a hit from wildfire smoke, which cost the famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival $2 mil- lion in revenue. It forced the festival in Ashland to cancel 26 outdoor performances. Not included in the Ore- gon Shakespeare Festival’s calculations is how much rev- enue was lost from would-be tourists who normally come from around the world but stayed away because of the smoke this year. Page 3A Mobile vending licenses have increased in Hermis- ton, but so far no one has snatched them up. In August, the Herm- iston City Council voted to increase the number of available licenses from three to six after hearing complaints that there were people who wanted to open food trucks in town but could not because all three licenses were cur- rently in use. The amended ordinance came into effect last week, 30 days after passage. City planner Clint Spen- cer said he has talked to people interested in open- ing a food truck in town, but as of Thursday after- noon all three new licenses are still up for grabs. “We’ve received a lot of inquiries and have been working to help people find sites that comply with the spacing requirements but no one has submitted an actual application,” he said in an email. The new ordinance opens up other business opportunities beyond the long-term licenses. Tem- porary 90-day licenses are available for uses, such as a summer ice cream stand. The city has also expressed intent to create a food pod on public property, pos- sibly the parking lot on Orchard Street across from the Hermiston Post Office. Trucks involved in the food pod would not be required to hold one of the six long- term licenses. Spencer said the city is working on the food pod idea, but it would not start until spring, when the weather would be better. For more information about mobile vending rules and licenses, contact city hall at 541-567-5521. BRIEFLY Oregon gets Real ID extension ger be able to be used for air travel. Oregon has received its extension for the Real ID Act. The act, passed in 2005, requires state driver’s licenses to meet certain requirements to be used for identification to get on a commercial flight or enter a secure federal installa- tion. Oregon’s licenses do not currently meet those requirements, but the Department of Homeland Security has been granting yearly extensions. Oregon’s extension was set to run out Oct. 10, but DHS granted another year- long extension this week. The state plans to begin offering Real ID-compli- ant cards as an option to drivers in July 2020 for an additional fee. After that time, regular driv- er’s licenses will no lon- Boardman announces council candidates Three of Boardman’s six city council positions are up for election this November. The city of Boardman said seven can- didates have filed for the election, and instead of running for specific posi- tions, those with the three highest vote counts will get the available seats. Two incumbents, Bran- don Hammond and Brenda Profitt, will seek re-elec- tion. The five other candi- dates are Jonathan Corne- lius, Roy Drago Jr., Logan Mayfield, Marc Rogelstad and Michelle Seeley. Cur- rent councilor Del Turn- er’s position is up for elec- tion, but he will not seek another term. SUBMIT COMMUNITY NEWS Submit information to: community@eastorego- nian.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. AIR QUALITY Air quality and burn day information: www. pendleton.or.us/public-works/environmental. Air Quality Index: www.deq.state.or.us/aqi. Burn Line: 541-966-0327. THE UMATILLA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS: HERITAGE LUNCHEON 2018 “Umatilla County Pioneers: The Audacity of Eastern Oregon Wheat Growers” FREE Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic 10/5 - 7 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie 10/10 • 12pm Ace in the Hole VENOM (PG13) 11:50* 4:50 7:20 2:20* 10:00 A STAR IS BORN (R) 12:40* 3:40* 6:40 9:40 SMALLFOOT (PG) 11:40* 1:50* 6:50 4:20 9:20 THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (PG) 11:40* 2:10* 4:40 7:10 9:50 A SIMPLE FAVOR (R) 11:30* 2:00* 4:30 7:00 9:30 * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 October 16 & 17 9AM to 2PM Pendleton Convention Center Parking Lot Flu shots are offered free of charge (no insurance necessary) and available to everyone ages 18 and older. For more info call 541-278-3262 2801 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, OR 97801 www.sahpendleton.org With keynote speaker, Paul Green Learn about the pivotal role Eastern Oregon wheat growers played in developing international markets a history laced with humor and entertaining stories. Heritage Luncheon 2018 tickets UCHS Members/ $50 General admission/ $55 Tickets much be purchased in advance at Heritage Station Museum October 6th, 2018 12PM — 2PM Pendleton Convention Center
