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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2018)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 Drops of rain collect on pumpkins as a fall rain storm opens up over the pumpkin patch at Bellinger Farms on Monday in Hermiston. More rain is forecast for Tuesday before a drying out later in the week, according to the National Weather Service. Staff photo by E.J. Harris 142nd Year, No. 242 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD HERMISTON HERMISTON Larger users will pay most in new utility rate structure Retirement doesn’t slow down Hardin By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian The Hermiston City Council voted unanimously to raise water and sewer rates Monday. The rate restructure will take effect in March 2019 and is expected to raise about $2 million additional revenue per year that the city plans to put toward mainte- nance and upgrades. Instead of merely increasing current rates by a specific percent- age, the council approved a com- plete rate restructure. Rates will be the same for residential and com- mercial customers, based entirely on usage and flipping the script so that larger users will now pay more per 1,000 gallons instead of less. The new structure will charge $35 a month for sewer service plus $3 for each 1,000 gallons of use, based on wintertime usage. Water users will pay a base charge of $30 per month, plus 50 cents per 1,000 gallons up to 15,000 gallons and $3.50 per 1,000 gallons thereafter. Assistant city manager Mark Mor- gan said he calculated his own bill will go up about $14.39 a month for sewer and an average of $18.03 See RATES/8A Staff photo by E.J. Harris “We do have some failing infrastructure to address, especially as the city contin- ues to grow” — David Drotzmann, mayor Hermiston city councilor Rod Hardin listens to Hermiston library director Mark Rose during a Hermiston City Council work session Monday in Hermiston. By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian W hen Hermiston city councilor Rod Hardin says he’s busier now that he is retired, that’s no joke. On Sunday, Hardin and his wife Sheila attended an open house in celebration of their retirement from Hermiston Christian Center & School after 38 years of service. Finding time to sit down for an interview, however, was not easy. Har- din was performing a wedding, counseling with a former stu- dent planning marriage, attend- ing a funeral, preparing for a city council work session, host- ing visiting family and spending weekdays mowing 1,200 acres of wheat stubble for a friend who needed help. He has also signed up to substitute teach in a few local school districts. While Hardin retired this summer from being principal and teacher at Hermiston Chris- tian School, he has not retired from the city council, where he is currently the council’s lon- gest-serving member. He was elected in 1992 after deciding the private school needed to be more involved in the community at large. “That’s one of the reasons I See HARDIN/8A PENDLETON Steins and song at Oktoberfest Fourth annual event raises money for area nonprofits By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian File photo Competitors in the kids’ bier stein lifting contest battle it out during the 2017 Oktoberfest Pendleton. This year’s event is Sat- urday at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. Carrying on a tradition that began more than 200 years ago in Germany, Oktoberfest Pendleton offers beer, food and family-friendly fun. The event, which is in its fourth year, is Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds, 1205 S.W. Court Ave. Tickets are $12, which includes a glass beer mug and one beer token. The cost for nondrink- ers and for those under 21 is $5. The event includes games and activities for both adults and the younger crowd. Live music will be provided by the Oregon East Symphony Oom- pah Band, who will play polka favor- ites, and Imperial Twang. An alt-coun- try band based in Pendleton, Imperial Twang features Jef Farley, Shaner Applegate, Jim White and Brian Baird. The group may go months or more between making live appearances, so join the “The Merry Twangsters” and catch the excitement as they take the stage during Oktoberfest Pendleton. The food and refreshments will be equally as exciting, including fare from Hill Meat Company, Barhyte Specialty Foods and The Prodigal Son See OKTOBERFEST/8A
