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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2019)
A4 East Oregonian Saturday, August 3, 2019 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Tip of the hat, kick in the pants A tip of the hat to the Uma- tilla Electric Co-op, Pacific Power and other utilities and state legislators for recognizing the challenges faced by rural mobile home owners and their effort to work on fixes like weatherization to help keep costs for residents low. “It really has been a concern of utilities throughout the Northwest and beyond for many years. There’s an overall goal to improve energy effi- ciency. This is one of the toughest problems to solve,” said UEC Mem- ber Services Administrator Steve Meyers. In the spring of 2017, UEC part- nered with county assessors from Umatilla and Morrow counties to find out how many mobile homes were built before 1976, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set minimum con- struction standards for manufactured dwellings. They estimated that more than 500 mobile homes in Morrow County, and more than 1,700 mobile homes in Umatilla County, fit the bill. According to Meyers, some of those homes were built with no insu- lation at all, and can cost hundreds of dollars to heat during the winter months. The fact these utilities are working to help local people should be — and is — good news for all. A tip of the hat to all those work- ing to prepare the Umatilla Chem- ical Depot for industrial develop- ment. The depot will return to local control soon and key players in eco- nomic development — such as Greg Smith, executive director of the Columbia Development Authority — are working hard to ensure a success- ful future for the now-defunct federal facility. Smith said last week that he is working with one potential employer that could bring more than 1,000 jobs to the area. That’s good news. A kick in the pants to state law- makers who walked away from a project to develop an early warning system for earthquakes and wildfires. Just a few days before the end of the last legislative session, $12 million to be used to expand the ShakeAlert and AlertWildfire early warning systems vanished. The money was pulled from Staff photo by Ben Lonergan There are an estimated 1,700 mobile homes in Umatilla County built before the U.S. Depart- ment of Housing and Urban Development established construction standards for manufac- tured homes in 1976. a larger funding package and ques- tions linger as to why. Preparing for a major disaster isn’t just good plan- ning, it is a necessity and should be a top priority for lawmakers. Why then did the money vanish? A kick in the pants to those who continue to try to limit the Ore- gon Public Records law. Recently a Clackamas County judge may have opened a Pandora’s Box regarding how public records are viewed by government agencies. Judge Henry C. Breithaupt’s oral ruling contends that records created by a local gov- ernment are not subject to public dis- closure unless they are owned, used or retained by an agency. The inter- pretation could throw a wrench into a disclosure system that is designed to allow the public access to the gov- ernment they support with their tax dollars. Continued attempts by gov- ernment to withhold and keep secret public documents is depressing and should be a wakeup call for voters. A kick … to everyone to get out and experience one of the best local venues around at the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo next week. Both are solid events that deliver plenty of fun for area resi- dents. Nothing says summer quite like the county fair, and we encourage everyone to take a little time out of your day to get out and enjoy the fair. OTHER VIEWS Riding the ups and downs of life ’ve never been one for carni- ground observing from a distance. If anything, the people I was val rides, especially the roller watching were learning a whole lot coasters. They look, smell, more about the ups and downs of and even feel like fear to me, and life firsthand than I ever was just as I watch them go up, down and standing there trying to be safe. around the tracks that keep the cars in motion, I still can’t help but Life and roller coasters seem to go hand in hand. One minute cringe. things are looking up and I remember the excite- ment of watching the car- going full-steam ahead, avan of Davis Amuse- and then before you can ment trucks arriving in turn around, your stom- ach feels like it has hit the our small, Central Ore- bottom of a deep, deep gon town growing up, lake, and you can’t seem but when I actually found to catch your breath, let myself in line for a ride alone know which way at the Jefferson County L indsay is up. Fair, the excitement was M urdock COMMENT We’re meant to live far from present. “The fully. And fully liv- Scrambler” was about as ing means being brave daring as I got. It didn’t spin, would ease its way to a some- enough to step out of the obser- vation deck, buy yourself a ticket what fast speed, and every fourth — or four — for all of those rides turn or so I could easily see my that life brings and hang on. You parents watching in amazement that I had actually gotten on a ride. may not know what to expect and your heart might feel like it’s One year I did venture out and going to pump right out of your ride the “Octopus” two times in a body, but before you know it, the row, but I also remember sitting ride has started and all you can do on a bench for 15 minutes after- wards, trying to regain my balance is hold on. Hold on, and trust that the track you’re on is going to lead and keep my cotton candy in my stomach where it belonged. Watch- you right where you belong. And ing others experience the thrill when your feet hit the ground and — or scare — of the variation of you look back at the ride — know rides that covered the grass on the that the ups and downs and every- thing in between was just one lit- edge of our county fairgrounds tle piece of this adventure you call was definitely more up my alley. life. Observing my friends, smiling One little piece of life that may, and waving at them as they sailed or may not, have not been the best and spun, and even flipped upside experience you’ve ever had, but a down above me, somehow gave me the feeling that I was safer and ride that gave you another oppor- more secure on solid, level ground tunity to trust in a God that knows right where your tracks will lead, than they ever were going to be and a God that promises to ride putting their trust in a ride. each and every roller coaster with Yes, watching from a safe dis- tance was my way of enjoying the you. carnival for most of my life. ——— Lindsay Murdock lives and As I grow older, I’m not sure if teaches in Echo. I was any safer or secure on solid I YOUR VIEWS An honest mistake, or something else? The Pendleton mayor and city council mem- bers were recently advised that communications between them in an official capacity were a matter of public record. Each member was subsequently given an “electronic device,” a tablet per se, to record those discussions, thus keeping a perma- nent record. Remember those days at a city council meeting when the clock struck 7, the gavel was struck, and the meeting came to order? All comments during the meeting, including those from the public, were entered into the minutes and became public record. That’s been changed. The meeting is still opened at 7, the public is given their 15 minutes, and after completion of that segment, the meeting is then called to order, and councilors discuss those items on the agenda, where the public is not allowed to speak unless a public hearing is required. Public comments made at the July 2 meeting were omitted from the official minutes presented to the council for their approval at the follow- Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. ing meeting, where they were approved without amendment, leaving out those comments. Legal? Maybe, but not very ethical. The East Oregonian doesn’t generally report public comments. Maybe they will in the future. So, why the change? The city manager develops the meeting agenda, and it’s then approved by the mayor. You can make your own conclusions. Was the omission an honest mistake? I’d like to think so. Our city officials seem genuinely con- cerned about transparency in conducting city busi- ness and welcoming public participation in the decision-making process, yet some are ill prepared to answer questions put forth at city council meet- ings. I don’t know —total silence, or an incorrect answer, can be embarrassing and happens far too often. This incident could also just be a ruse to get public attendance up at council meetings. So, if you’re truly interested in what’s really going on at City Hall, attending city council meetings is your first step. Rick Rohde Pendleton The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to the editor to editor@eastoregonian.com, or via mail to Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
