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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2019)
REGION Saturday, October 12, 2019 East Oregonian A3 Council to consider tax abatement for Amazon By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Boxes of the infl uenza vaccine sit in storage on Friday at Saint Anthony Hospital in Pendleton awaiting Monday’s free drive-thru fl u shot clinic at the Pendleton Convention Center. Local health organizations advocate for fl u shots By BEN LONERGAN East Oregonian PENDLETON — Flu shots offer residents a way to protect themselves during the fast approaching fl u sea- son, according to local health organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recom- mend that individuals should aim to get the vaccination before the end of October in an effort to build up an immunity before the start of fl u season. Tracy Wart, an infec- tion prevention nurse at Saint Anthony Hospital in Pendle- ton, advises that those who are able to get a fl u shot should try to get one sooner rather than later because it typically takes at least two or three weeks after the vaccination for the body to build up an immunity. “We didn’t start to see the fl u pop up until mid-Decem- ber last year, but Washington is starting to see a few cases already,” said Wart. “There are some predictions that we’ll have a really bad year this year.” Wart says that predictions for the fl u season are generally developed by monitoring cases in Australia where the fl u sea- son is typically July through September. Umatilla County Pub- lic Health Director Joe Fiu- mara said while the Umatilla County fl u season typically peaks around January or Feb- ruary, it is still a great time to get the vaccine. “It helps you and it helps your community,” said Fiu- mara of the vaccine. “We’re putting these out there because we believe in them and the good they can do.” While some people fear the vaccine will make them sick with the fl u, Wart said the infl uenza vaccine no longer carries the live virus and one cannot get the fl u from the vac- cine. Despite this, Wart said that people may experience some soreness or feel feverish as a result of the vaccine build- ing immunity in the body. According to the CDC, the fl u vaccine signifi cantly reduces a child’s possibility of dying from infl uenza. In addi- tion to vaccinations, the CDC recommends taking addi- tional steps to combat infl u- enza through frequent hand washing and properly covering one’s mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough. In an effort to get the vac- cine to more people, Saint Anthony Hospital will be host- ing a free drive-thru immuni- zation clinic for those 18 and older on Monday, Oct. 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pendle- ton Convention Center. The drive-thru clinic allows vis- itors to stay in the comfort of their car and receive a vacci- nation quickly and easily. Wart Algae toxins identifi ed in the Willow Creek Reservoir MORROW COUNTY — Harmful algae blooms and tox- ins have been found in the Willow Creek Reservoir, according to a recreational advisory issued Friday by the Oregon Health Authority. The health authority said that cyanobacteria blooms and cya- notoxins were found to be present in the reservoir in an amount that is above guideline values for human exposure. Symptoms from exposure to cyanotoxins include stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The OHA said that more serious symptoms like numbness, dizziness and shortness of breath may require medical attention. People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activi- ties in the lake where blooms were identifi ed. According to the OHA, the toxins cannot be removed by fi l- tering, boiling or treating the water, so drinking the water is not advised. Those who might draw in-home water from the area should use an alternative source. People are discouraged from allowing children and pets like dogs in the water. Dogs may consume the toxins by licking their fur or nearby rocks and plants. Fish from the area should have all fat, skin and organs removed and be rinsed with clean water before freezing or preparation. The OHA said that boating is safe as long as boat- ers maintain slower speeds to reduce water spray, which could be inhaled. Willow Creek Reservoir is about 48 miles south of Hermiston. Hermiston business woman enters Umatilla County commissioner race HERMISTON — Business owner Patricia Maier of Herm- iston has joined the race for the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners. Maier is the fi rst woman to enter the contest for the Position 3 seat on the county board and fi led her candidacy paperwork Thursday. She joins Dan Dorran, Mark Gomolski and Jona- than Lopez, all of Hermiston, in the race to succeed Commis- sioner Bill Elfering. Maier is the owner and operator of the limited liability company 1-A Construction & Fire. According to her fi ling, she has a background that includes working as an administra- tor for Northwest Pipeline, former director of United Way of Umatilla and Morrow Counties and working in Butler County, Kansas, as an assistant to the superintendent of schools. Elfering, also of Hermiston, said he anticipates the fi eld of candidates will grow by the fi ling deadline of March 10, 2020. He also said he has no plans to endorse any candidates for the time being. Rather, he said, he and the public should have the opportunity to hear from all the candidates about what they want to do as commissioner. City set to contribute $65,000 to vets memorial PENDLETON — At a meeting Tuesday, the Pendleton City Council will spend much of its time discussing grants, on both the giving and receiving end. The council will be asked by its arts committee to approve a $65,000 grant to help establish the Pendleton Veterans Memo- says that there are roughly 750 doses available and advises that people not wait for the last minute if possible. “Last year, we ran out about 45 minutes before the end of the day,” Wart said. “I really want to make sure that people get there if they can.” In addition to Monday’s clinic in Pendleton, the Walla Walla VA Clinic, Good Shep- herd Health Care System and Umatilla County Public Health will be hosting similar events in the coming days. The Walla Walla VA Clinic will host a drive-thru fl u shot clinic for area veterans on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. Good Shepherd Health Care System will host two clinics, the fi rst as a part of its annual Community Meet- ing and Health Fair on Oct. 30 from 5-6 p.m. at Hermis- ton High School. The second clinic, which will have a higher number of vaccines available, will take place at Good Shep- herd Medical Center in Herm- iston on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the conference rooms No. 1 and No. 2. Umatilla County Public Health will host a drive-thru clinic open to all ages at Gib Olinger Elementary School in Milton-Freewater on Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. HERMISTON — The Hermiston City Council will consider a tax abate- ment agreement with Amazon on Monday. The city and Umatilla County are joint part- ners in a long-term Rural Enterprise Zone, which under state statute allows them to exempt certain types of businesses locat- ing or expanding in the zone from property taxes for seven to 15 years. Lamb Weston used the zone to get a 15-year exemption on its $250 million expansion, in exchange for $15 million in payments directly to the county and city. The resolution on the table Monday authorizes the city to enter into an agreement with Amazon if it is willing to invest $200 million into the zone, pay employees there at least 130% of the average wage in Umatilla County and pay “the required fees to the zone over the term of the agreement.” The council will also consider voting to vacate the Southeast 10th Street right-of-way between East Penney Avenue and East Feedville Road. Accord- ing to a memo from city planning director Clint Spencer, the street is an undeveloped right-of-way through a fi eld, not used for vehicle travel. He said a developer hopes to build a “large” project there but would need to build over the right-of-way to make it fi t. Also on the agenda is an update to the street por- tion of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, which was adopted a year before the water and sewer por- tions. The update sug- gested by the infrastruc- ture committee would plan for no capital projects for streets in the 2023- 24 fi scal year in order to accrue more money for larger projects in succeed- ing years. It would also expand a project in the unfunded list of projects in the appendices, extend- ing the length of Gettman Road proposed for paving. City staff will also present a report Monday on possible incentives the city could use to encour- age more housing growth. The report notes that tax credits and low-interest loans are “generally not available” for market-rate housing, but lists several state and federal incen- tives that could help attract more low-income housing. The city council meets Monday at 7 p.m. at city hall, 180 N.E. Second St. The full agenda packet can be found online at hermis- ton.or.us/meetings. New city manager takes the reins Ben Burgener replaces former city manager Blair Larsen, who resigned in May By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian STANFIELD — Stan- fi eld has a city manager once again. Ben Burgener started the job about three weeks ago, and said he was excited to be chosen to help the city in its next chapter. “This is the perfect spot, with a lot opportunity,” he said. “Stanfi eld is primed for growth.” Burgener has an under- graduate degree in recre- ational management and a master’s in public adminis- tration from Brigham Young University. He most recently ser ved as a city administra- tor in Ada, Burgener Minnesota. Burgener was born and raised in Utah, but said he was drawn to the Stanfi eld job because he had previ- ously spent some time liv- ing in Corvallis and was interested in returning to Oregon. His wife and three daughters moved to Stan- fi eld with him. He was busy Friday lives- treaming the grand open- ing of Mama Bear’s Quilt Shop on the city’s Face- book page. Burgener said he hopes to be able to help Stanfi eld attract new eco- nomic development, partic- ularly on the land just south of Interstate 84, which the city recently brought into its urban growth boundary. “It’s a great spot, and being able to develop that will be fun,” he said. He said an Oregon Department of Transporta- tion project to revamp Main Street should help revital- ize downtown, and he also hopes to see more housing projects come into Stan- fi eld. He plans to use his expertise in recreational management to develop new parks and recreation offerings in town. Burgener replaced for- mer city manager Blair Larsen, who resigned in May to take a job in Sweet Home. He said he hopes people will feel welcome to give their input as he gets settled into the new job. “I have an open door pol- icy,” he said. “I’d love to talk to people about their ideas.” BRIEFLY rial Park near the corner of Highway 11 and Southeast Court Avenue. The project is a collaboration between the city and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 922, which has already purchased some of the materials for the main attraction that will feature a medallion for each branch of the military and a to-be-determined center- piece art installation. With the total cost of the project set at $123,753, committee Chairman Charles Denight wrote in a report that the rest would be covered by a state grant and a VFW fundraising campaign. With the Pendleton Unmanned Aerial Systems Range in the midst of a seven-fi gure industrial expansion, and the city is looking to recoup some of the costs through a grant. Staff is recommending that the council allow Business Ore- gon to designate the range’s expansion a Regionally Specifi c Industrial Site. The designation will allow the city to apply for a 50% income tax reimbursement from the state for each job created on the site, up to $20 million. The expansion will be paid for in part by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The council will also vote to accept the grant at the meeting. The council meeting will be held Tuesday at the council chambers in city hall, 500 S.W. Dorion Ave. Convention Center, Oct. 21 at the Sherwood Heights Ele- mentary School gym, and Oct. 28 at the Washington Ele- mentary School gym. Eastern Oregon mayors, managers resume seats on boards SALEM — Two mayors and two city mangers from East- ern Oregon again take seats on statewide association boards. The Oregon Mayors Association and the Oregon City/ County Management Association selected offi cers and board members for 2020 during their annual business meet- ings at the League of Oregon Cities 94th Annual Confer- ence in Bend. Weston’s Jennifer Spurgeon and Elgin’s Allan Duffy resumed their roles as members of the board of directors for the Oregon Mayors Association. Likewise, Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett and Irrigon City Manager Aaron Palmquist take seats again on the board for the City/County Management Association. The two associations are affi liate organizations of the League of Oregon Cities. — East Oregonian staff City to hold public meetings on street funding PENDLETON — The city of Pendleton is still consid- ering its funding options for street repair and improve- ment and wants to hear from the public about what they should do. After spending the past few months presenting options to various community groups, the city will hold a series of public meetings across the city. The meetings will be held on Monday at the Pendleton FREE Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic 10/11-10/13 10/14 Cineplex Show Times Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie $5 Classic Movie Showing Wednesday @ 12p Showing Wednesday @ 12p 13 Ghosts 13 Ghosts Gemini Man (PG13) 1:20p* 4:10p 7:00p 9:40p The Addams Family (PG) 2D 2:20p* 4:30p 6:40p 12:10p* 8:50p Joker (R) 1:30p* 4:20p 7:10p 9:50p Abominable (PG) 12:20p* 2:30p* 4:40p 6:50p 9:00p Rambo: Last Blood (R) 12:30p* 2:40p* 4:50p 7:20p 9:30p Gemini Man (PG13) 4:10p 7:00p 9:40p The Addams Family (PG) 2D 4:30p 6:40p 8:50p Joker (R) 4:20p 7:10p 9:50p Abominable (PG) 4:40p 6:50p 9:00p Rambo: Last Blood (R) 4:50p 7:20p 9:30p * Matinee Pricing * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 October 14 2PM to 6PM Pendleton Convention Center Parking Lot Flu shot drive through clinic for people ages 18 and older We will have both low and high dose vaccine available, and we are limited to the first 750 people. For more info call 541-278-3262 2801 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, OR 97801 www.sahpendleton.org