Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2016)
Wallowa County Chieftain News wallowa.com October 19, 2016 Joseph council continues work on housing issues A3 H AY SHED DOWN By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Housing and zoning ques- tions again were at the fore- front during the Joseph City Council’s Oct. 6 meeting. The council vote to approve a short-term vacation rental exception while nixing an ap- plication for a conditional-use permit for use of a recreational vehicle as a living space in a commercial zone. An audience addresses the Joseph City Council during the Oct. 6 meeting. RV request denied Craig and Kathleen Yaw, new owners of the laundromat and car wash at 204 S. Main St. had requested permission to live part-time in an RV at the location. Joseph ordinanc- es prohibit living in an RV in a commercial zone without a conditional-use permit. After Mayor Dennis Sands explained that proponents for the change had the right to speak irst, it was noted the Yaws did not attend the meeting to speak on their own behalf. Councilor Pearl Sturm said the laundromat had a multi-room apartment upstairs and wondered why the Yaws weren’t living there. Sands echoed the sentiment. Coun- cilors Rodd Clark and Tyler Evans said they had spoken with the couple, who said that property purchase snags had precipitated the family’s permit request, and they only wanted to temporarily use the RV as a living space. Councilor Teresa Sajonia asked city recorder Donna Warnock if the Yaws had in- dicated they intended to use the upstairs as an eventual va- cation rental (permitted in a commercial zone such as the laundromat). Warnock replied that the apartments were cur- rently being used as a vacation rental in which it is advertised as a four-bedroom apartment. Sands said the issue sound- ed similar to a previous busi- ness owner who rented out their home and petitioned the city for an RV conditional-use permit because they were now “homeless.” “They brought it on them- selves,” Sands said. “If it’s an overnight rental, they can cease having it be an over- night rental.” The council temporarily found itself stonewalled to pursue the matter without the Yaws’ being in attendance, al- though Sands read several let- ters from nearby residents who opposed the permit and several others publicly testiied their opposition. City attorney Wyatt Baum advised councilors that they could make a decision on the permit without the presence of the applicants as long as it used the permit criteria to make a determination. Sajonia made a motion to deny the permit based on both the written and oral public testimony. Council- or George Ballard seconded the motion. The council voted 6-1 to deny the petition, with Evans casting the dissenting vote. The council also considered the vacation rental application of Joseph resident Peter Barry. The application was a holdover from the previous meeting, in which concerns over parking, neighbor objections and prop- erty management led the coun- cil to postpone action. After Barry said packets he provided the council would contain proof he had met the requirements, Sands said that according to the records Barry provided, he had started run- ning his residence at 801 In- gleside St. as a vacation rental three months before applying for a permit. Barry said he had noticed a neighboring rental and re- ceived permission from city hall for his own rental. City Recorder Warnock denied that claim. Barry then said he had received permission from Janice Brust, Warnock’s ofice assistant. Brust, who did not attend the meeting, later denied Steve Tool/Chieftain Courtesy of Katherine Stickroth Barry’s claim. When asked for proof of property management in case of tenant issues, Barry said he would personally manage the property once he resumed renting the property out. In the meantime, he said, he had contacted Cindy Aschenbren- ner of Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals to make sure the com- pany could do it in his absence. Sands contradicted that claim, saying Aschenbrenner told him that her company does not manage residential vacation rental properties. Barry replied that he had talked to one of Aschenbrenner’s staff mem- bers, who told him they did. During the council’s previous meeting, Aschenbrenner re- futed similar statements Barry had made. Sands introduced ive let- ters of opposition from Bar- ry’s neighbors and letter from one neighbor and two of the Barry’s acquaintances who supported the permit. Barry argued that neighbor approval was not part of the application criteria. He also noted that an- other applicant’s request had been approved despite the dis- approval of one neighbor. He also produced several other let- ters from neighbors in support of the permit. Evans motioned to approve Barry’s permit, and Clark sec- onded. The motion carried on 4-3 vote with Evans, Clark, Sturm and Sajonia in favor and Sands, Ballard and Sharon Newell opposed. Before leaving, Barry told the council he had worked hard to meet all the permit require- ments and felt discriminated against by some members of the council, which had rattled his faith in the city. Strong wind gusts on Thursday night brought down a hay shed on Steve Zollman’s property outside of Joseph. Fire season ends on ODF land East Oregonian As of Thursday morn- ing, ire season has come to an end on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northeast Oregon District. The district includes roughly 2 million acres of private, state, county, mu- nicipal and tribal forest- land in Umatilla, Union, Baker, and Wallowa coun- ties, as well as small por- tions of Grant, Morrow and Malhuer counties. ODF declared ire sea- son June 28 in the district, which saw a total of 38 ires that burned 871 acres — well below the district’s 10-year average of 7,500 acres. Fourteen ires were started by lightning, which is the lowest number since 1960. Cooler, wetter weath- er is now in the forecast, though Mitch Williams, wildland ire supervisor in La Grande, cautioned that conditions can change quickly. Williams urged landowners to remain vigi- lant, especially when burn- ing slash piles. “If we have periods of warming and drying lat- er in the fall, it’s essential for landowners to go out and check slash piles for remaining heat that could cause a problem,” he said. “It’s not uncommon for us to be ighting escaped slash inciweb.nwcg.gov via AP ires in late October and No- vember.” Slash burns must be reg- istered with the local ODF ofice at least seven days pri- W Student of the Breanna Phelps WALLOWAN HIGH SCHOOL In this Aug. 24 file photo a plane drops fire retardant near the northwest side of Owyhee Canyon south of Vale. or to burning. Landowners should also check with their rural, city or tribal ire depart- ments for further burning re- strictions. eek Breanna Phelps is the daughter of Jodie Weaver and step-daughter of Eric Weaver. Breanna has been involved in natural helpers, yearbook, basketball, cheerleading and Rotary Interact. After high school, Breanna plans to go to college and study early childhood education. Breanna is mature and a level- headed thinker. She decides what she wants, makes a plan and then carries it out. She puts in 110% effort into everything she does. She is polite and helpful. She is able to advocate for herself in every aspect of her life. She currently has straight A’s. She is great with kids and she will have a great future in early childhood education. Proudly sponsored by Joseph 432-9050 Enterprise 426-4511 Wallowa 886-9151 RED RIBBON WEEK IS OCT The Student of the Week is chosen for academic achievement and community involvement. Students are selected by the administrators of their respective schools. RED RIBBON RIBBON WEEK WEEK IS 2016 RED IS OCTOBER OCTOBER 24-30, 24-30, 2016 RED RIBBON WEEK IS OCTOBER 24-30, 2016 Improve Your Quality of Life with Therapy Wear Red Day is Wednesday, October 26th! Wear red and show your support! What is Red Ribbon Week? A way for people and whole communities to unite and take a visible stand drugs. Wear Red against Day is Wednesday, Oc · Reduce arthritis pain with Aquatic Therapy · Improve daily living skills with Occupational Therapy show your su Free Red Ribbon car What is Red Ribb magnets at Building Healthy Families! · Control pain and even avoid surgery with Physical Therapy Ask your physician today if you can improve your quality of life with aquatic, physical or occupation- al therapy & start feeling better now! We treat you like family Fr at Wear Red Red Day Day is is Wednesday, Wednesday, October 26th! Wear red red and and Wear October 26th! Wear Wallowa County Safe Communities Coalition show your support! show your support! 601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider. & Wallowa County Prevention Program What is Red What Red Ribbon Ribbon Week? Week? Ɵ Ɵ of BARGAINS the MONTH ® While supplies last. 5 97 Ɵ Ɵ 35-Ct. Disinfecting Wipes and 12.5-Oz. Spray Combo Lemon and lime blossom pop-up wipes and crisp linen spray. W 211 879 B6 Sale ends 10/31/2016 ©2016 True Value ® Company. All rights reserved. M-F 8AM-6PM • SAT 8AM-5PM • SUN 9AM-3PM Hurricane Creek Road Enterprise, Oregon 541-426-3116 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Ɵ Ɵ Ɵ Ɵ