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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
A8 News wallowa.com STREETS: Mayor outlines new offer Continued from Page A1 In terms of feedback on why the measures failed, city council and audience mem- bers offered a number of opinions, including: unclear wording on the measures; in- ability to pay; unwillingness to allow for possible tempo- rary property tax increases; and misinformation through- out the community. After some discussion, Sands presented an offer from Community Bank in Joseph: a 20-year loan for the $1.3 mil- lion that the city would repay by implementing a $13-per- month transportation utility tax attached to sewer and wa- ter bills. For the purpose of getting the information out to the public that does not attend city council meetings, Sands sat down with the Chieftain to GLVFXVVWKH¿QHUGHWDLOVRIWKH bank loan. “Community Bank con- tacted me about this new pro- gram where they can do this W\SH RI ¿QDQFLQJ DW D YHU\ FRPSHWLWLYH UDWH EHFDXVH WKH interest they earn is tax-free,” Sands said. Community Bank told Sands it could loan Joseph the money at an initial rate of 2.75 percent with a rene- JRWLDWHGUDWHHYHU\¿YH\HDUV Sands and the bank took the possibility of higher rates in the future into consideration when discussing the loan. For example, the $13 per month would bring in about $101,000 per year. The debt Grande Ronde Model Watershed Board of Director's Meeting June 23, 2015 - 5:00 pm Wallowa Community Center 204 East Second Street Wallowa, OR If you have any questions, please call 541-663-0570 VHUYLFH WKH ¿UVW ¿YH \HDUV would total about $78,000 per year, and the town would put the extra $23,000 into D UHVHUYH IXQG WR VDIHJXDUG against possible rate hikes LQ WKH IXWXUH ³(YHQ LI WKH\ jumped the rate by two points, ZH¶GVWLOOKDYHH[WUD per year,” Sands said. 'HSHQGLQJRQWKHYRODWLO- ity of the loan market, Sands VDLG RQO\ WKH ODVW ILYH \HDUV of the loan might be uncer- tain, but said he felt confi- GHQW WKH UHVHUYH IXQG FRXOG FRYHU DQ\ ORDQ UDWH DEHUUD- tions. Sands said another ad- YDQWDJH RI WKH EDQN ORDQ LV WKDW WKH DGPLQLVWUDWLYH IHHV are much smaller than those of a bond. “I’m hopeful that we can WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI WKLV SUR- gram and be able to finance the street repair and get it all done in one year. There’d be no mention of a property tax, just a monthly transportation utility fee,” Sands said. Although it is not actu- ally necessary to bring the bank loan issue up for a SXEOLF YRWH 6DQGV LV UHOXF- tant to proceed without it. “We could just sit back and VD\ µ)LQH \RX¶YH VSRNHQ and we’re not going to do anything to the streets,’ but if we (the council) commu- nicate better, I think we can JHWDSSURYDO´6DQGVVDLG The bank is not asking Jo- seph for collateral, although the council is planning to pass an ordinance allowing for the shut-off of water for those who will not pay the transportation utility fee in addition to their sewer and water bill. “I think this loan KDVDORWRIDGYDQWDJHVDQG RI FRXUVH WKH GLVDGYDQWDJH LV UHILQDQFLQJ HYHU\ ILYH \HDUV EXW LI ZH WDNH HYHU\- thing into account but the worst-case scenario, we can FRYHU WKLV MXVW ILQH , IHHO confident,” Sands said. June 17, 2015 Wallowa County Chieftain 4-H MEMBERS SERVE COMMUNITY Steve Tool/Chieftain From left, Kaesie Williams, 10, Zoey Leith, 12, and Gracie Ellis, 11 — members of the Sew Me the Bacon 4-H Club — practice community service by sprinkling wildflower seeds outside Wallowa Valley Senior Living. Aleasha Melville is the club’s leader. Community Calendar: Blood drive; classes; Dawson reception Wednesday, June 17 American Red Cross %ORRG 'ULYH WR SP &ORYHUOHDI+DOO(QWHUSULVH To schedule an appoint- ment: Cindi Aschenbrenner, -XOLH 7RGG professional groomings, and RQRWKHUWRSLFVDQGSURYLGH hands-on demonstrations. Suggested donation: $5. 3DUW RI :& +XPDQH 6RF Public Education Series. Thursday, June 25 Second Annual Jose- Friday, June 19 phy Lecture, 7 p.m. at the First Aid/CPR/AED Josephy Center in Joseph. classes in Enterprise. Pre- Admission by donation ($5 VHQWHGE\3URMHFW+HDUWEHDW suggested). Lecturer Jai- Training for lay respond- me A. Pinkham will speak ers to assist those suffering on the Nez Perce Tribe and medical emergencies un- WKHHQYLURQPHQW0RUHLQIR WLO WKH DPEXODQFH DUULYHV 541-432-0505. Course good for 2-year cer- tification from the Ameri- Friday, June 26 can Red Cross. Cost of the 11th annual Watershed 7-hour class is $45. For )HVWLYDO DP WR SP more info and to register: Wallowa County Fair- grounds. Outdoor summer IXQ DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ SURYLG- Tuesday, June 23 HGE\RYHURUJDQL]DWLRQV Reception honoring )DPLO\DFWLYLWLHVLQFOXGHVRLO Lisa Dawson, Oregon State painting, birdhouse building, Parks Commissioner for DQGIORZHUGLVVHFWLQJ6FDY- Eastern Oregon, 5 to 8 p.m. enger hunt for kids. Music at Wallowology, 508 North SURYLGHGE\:DOORZD9DOOH\ Main Street, Joseph. Com- Music Alliance. More info: plimentary food, beer, wine, wallowaresources.org. spirits and fun. July 3-5 Wednesday, June 24 Lostine Flea Market, Educational presentation downtown Lostine. on dog grooming, 7 p.m. at :DOORZD &RXQW\ +XPDQH Saturday July 4 Society Information Cen- Old-Time 4th of July WHU15LYHU6W(QWHU- Celebration, Wallowa. prise. Cindy Neal, from The Downtown parade starts at Spiffy Dog in Lostine, will 11 a.m., followed by barbe- talk on how to keep your FXH DW )LUH +DOO ,QIR:DO- dog looking good between ORZD &LW\ +DOO 2422. Joseph Mountain Jubilee, all-day open air entertainment from bluegrass, country, Celt- ic bands. On Lake Street and 0DLQ6WUHHWLQ-RVHSKLQYDU- ious locations. ³6KDNH WKH /DNH´ ¿UH- ZRUNVGLVSOD\DIWHUGDUN p.m., north end of Wallowa /DNH,QIR Sunday, July 5 5th Annual Dulcimer Ex- WUDYDJDQ]D &RQFHUW p.m. at the Josephy Center. Admission $10 for adults; $5 for children 12 and un- der. Concert, the kickoff HYHQWIRUWKH-RVHSK0RXQ- tain Jubilee, features dulci- mer players Karen Mueller from Minneapolis, Minn., 6WHYH (XOEHUJ IURP WKH Bay Area, and local musi- FLDQV+HLGL0XOOHUDQG%RE Webb. More info: 541-432- ZDOORZDGXOFLPHU# gmail.com. The Community Calen- dar lists fundraisers, free local events and those with a nominal fee organized by nonprofit organiza- tions. Submit information to calendar@wallowa.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Fri- day. To promote for-profit events, contact sales rep- resentative Brooke Pace at bpace@wallowa.com.