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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2015)
News B lu e Moun t a in E ag l e W edn e sd ay , S ep t emb e r 23 , 2015 A11 B r own r e su r r e c t s t r an sp o r t a t i on p an e l Some wo r ry g roups a re wo rk ing a t c ross pu rposes w i th fund ing p lan By H i l la ry Bo r rud C ap i t a l Bu r e au SALEM — Gov . K a t e B rown h a s r e a c t iv a t ed a p an e l o r ig in a l ly c r e a t ed by fo rm e r Gov . John K i t zh ab e r to d ev e l - op a long - t e rm p l an to p ay fo r t r an spo r t a t ion p ro j e c t s f rom h ighw ay and b r idg e con s t ru c - t ion , to imp rov em en t s fo r p e - d e s t r i an s and b i cy c l i s t s . A t l e a s t on e o f th e p an e l ’ s s ix subg roup s m e t l a s t w e ek and ano th e r g roup m e t Tu e s - d ay . M e e t ing s a r e op en to th e pub l i c . K i t zh ab e r appo in t ed th e pan e l in D e c emb e r 2014 , and i t w a s suppo s ed to d e l iv - e r a r epo r t th i s y e a r w i th i t s v i s ion fo r th e fu tu r e o f O r e - gon t r an spo r t a t ion . K i t zh ab e r a sk ed th e p an e l to a s s e s s cu r r en t ch a l l eng e s , bu t a l so com e up w i th a p l an to p ay fo r th e t r an spo r t a t ion sy s t em i t wou ld l ik e th e s t a t e to h av e in 30 y e a r s . How ev e r , th e pan e l s topp ed m e e t ing a f t e r K i t zh ab e r r e s ign ed in F eb ru - a ry . A b r idg e cond i t ion r epo r t r e l e a s ed by th e O r egon D e - pa r tm en t o f T r an spo r t a t ion on Thu r sd ay h igh l igh t ed th e ch a l l eng e th e p an e l f a c e s in gu r ing ou t how to p ay fo r j u s t on e a sp e c t o f th e p rob - l em . B r idg e s shou ld r e c e iv e m a in t en an c e ev e ry 30 to 50 y e a r s , bu t th e cu r r en t s t a t e budg e t on ly a l low s fo r m a in - t en an c e ev e ry 100 y e a r s , a c - co rd ing to ODOT . A t th e cu r - r en t b r idg e r ep l a c em en t r a t e o f th r e e p e r y e a r , s t a t e h igh - w ay b r idg e s wou ld n e ed to l a s t an av e r ag e o f 900 y e a r s . I t ’ s un c l e a r how th e p an - e l ’ s wo rk t s in w i th th e d e - s i r e by l awm ak e r s and B rown to r a i s e mon ey fo r th e s t a t e ’ s cu r r en t t r an spo r t a t ion n e ed s . K i t zh ab e r h ad t a sk ed th e g roup w i th d ev e lop ing a long - t e rm v i s ion to m e e t th e s t a t e ’ s t r an spo r t a t ion n e ed s , s ep a r a t e f rom e f fo r t s to r a i s e mon ey to p ay fo r imm ed i a t e n e ed s . B rown and a g roup o f e igh t l awm ak e r s n ego t i a t - ed a d e a l du r ing th e l eg i s l a - t iv e s e s s ion th a t wou ld h av e r a i s ed th e s t a t e g a s t ax and v eh i c l e r eg i s t r a t ion f e e s to g en e r a t e a to t a l o f $202 m i l - l ion annu a l ly fo r s t a t e and lo c a l ro ad s and r ep ay $400 m i l l ion in bond s fo r sp e c ic h ighw ay p ro j e c t s l i s t ed in th e bi l l . How ev e r , th e p ropo s a l found e r ed w i th in 24 hou r s o f i t s r e l e a s e a f t e r O r egon D ep a r tm en t o f T r an spo r t a - t ion d i r e c to r M a t t G a r r e t t s a id du r ing a h e a r ing th a t th e pl an wou ld r e su l t in a sm a l l - e r r edu c t ion in g r e enhou s e g a s em i s s ion s th an th e ag en - cy o r ig in a l ly e s t im a t ed : 20 pe r c en t o f th e amoun t o r ig i - n a l ly c a l cu l a t ed by th e s t a t e . Th e r ev e l a t ion doom ed th e d e a l , wh i ch w a s cond i t ion a l upon th e r ep e a l o f O r egon ’ s low - c a rbon fu e l s t and a rd , b e - c au s e i t app e a r ed th e c a rbon r edu c t ion f rom th e t r an spo r - t a t ion p a ck ag e wou ld b e l e s s th an O r egon i s suppo s ed to a ch i ev e th rough th e fu e l s t an - d a rd . S en . B e t sy John son , D -S c appoo s e , i s a m emb e r o f th e p an e l and s a id sh e w an t s to know how th e g roup ’ s wo rk w i l l t i e in w i th wo rk by B rown and th e b ip a r t i s an g roup o f l awm ak e r s f rom th e O r egon Hou s e and S en - a t e known a s th e “G ang o f E igh t ” e a r l i e r th i s y e a r . John son w a s a l so among th e l awm ak e r s who h am - m e r ed ou t th e d e a l in c lo s ed - doo r m e e t ing s w i th B rown and a coup l e o th e r l awm ak - e r s f rom th e g roup — S en . L e e B ey e r , D -Sp r ing e ld , R ep C l i f f B en t z , R -On t a r io and R ep . C addy M cK eown , D -Coo s B ay — a r e a l so on th e v i s ion ing p an e l . A l though th e d e a l f a i l ed to mov e in th e L eg i s l a tu r e , John son s a id th e g roup a c - comp l i sh ed a lo t and l aw - m ak e r s who p r ev iou s ly d i s - ag r e ed on con t en t iou s i s su e s ch ang ed th e i r m ind s . “ I c e r t a in ly don ’ t th ink th a t wo rk p rodu c t ough t to b e ab andon ed , ” John son s a id . “Th e r e w a s a s en s e o f po s s i - b i l i ty . ” B rown s a id in a s t a t em en t in Jun e th a t sh e w an t s th a t wo rk to fo rm th e b a s i s fo r fu tu r e l eg i s l a t ion to p ay fo r h ighw ay , b r idg e and o th e r t r an spo r t a t ion wo rk . “Th e b i c am e r a l , b ip a r t i s an wo rk ing g roup I a s s emb l ed e a r l i e r th i s s e s s ion h a s p ro - v id ed ex c e l l en t g roundwo rk th a t w i l l in fo rm ou r fu tu r e e f - fo r t s , ” B rown s a id in a p r e s s r e l e a s e . “ I w i l l wo rk w i th R e - pub l i c an s and D emo c r a t s to m ak e i t h app en . ” B rown h a s no t s a id wh e th e r th e t r an spo r t a t ion v i s ion p an e l ’ s wo rk , wh i ch i sh ed in i s suppo s ed to b e n M a r ch , w i l l a l so in fo rm n e a r - t e rm t r an spo r t a t ion fund ing e f fo r t s . Th e sho r t , in t e r im l eg i s l a t iv e s e s s ion i s s ch ed - u l ed to end th e r s t w e ek o f M a r ch . Th e gov e rno r d id add a coup l e o f n ew ch a rg e s to th e p an e l : nd ou t how mu ch th e s t a t e wou ld h av e to sp end to p r ep a r e i t s t r an spo r t a t ion to b e “ r e s i l i en t ” du r ing a C a s - c ad i a subdu c t ion zon e e a r th - qu ak e , r e comm end w ay s to p romo t e a l t e rn a t iv e t r an spo r - - t a t ion to add r e s s t r a fc con g e s t ion , r e comm end sp end - O regon .go v Gov . Ka te B rown has reac t iva ted a pane l to deve lop a long - te rm p lan to pay fo r t ranspo r ta t ion p ro jec ts f rom h ighway and b r idge cons t ruc t ion to imp rovemen ts fo r pedes t r ians and b icyc l is ts . ing l ev e l s and op t ion s to r a i s e mon ey fo r cu r r en t and fu tu r e t r an spo r t a t ion n e ed s , and r e c - omm end how th e s t a t e c an “ en cou r ag e and ad equ a t e ly p r ep a r e fo r k ey t e chno log i c a l innov a t ion s th a t c an fund a - m en t a l ly imp rov e th e s t a t e t r an spo r t a t ion sy s t em in th e n ex t 30 y e a r s . ” John son s a id on e ex am - p l e o f th i s wo rk w a s th e “G ang o f E igh t ’ s ” p ropo s a l to “ r e -pu rpo s e ” som e mon ey in th e O r egon D ep a r tm en t o f T r an spo r t a t ion budg e t and r e - Peggy , Peppe r and Ka r in Wh i te wou ld l ike to exp re s s s in ce re thank s to a l l invo lved a t the t ime o f Jep O . Wh i te ’ s dea th , e spe c ia l ly the s ta f f a t the B lue Moun ta in Ho sp i ta l and Ho sp i ce , D r . Ha l l and many o the r s who we re the re in ou r t ime o f need . S in ce re ly , P e g g y , P e p p e r a n d K a r i n 02714 100 t r ip s ov e r a d e c ad e , th e w e ek ly n ew sp ap e r r epo r t ed ; con f e r en c e spon so r s p i ck ed up th e r e s t o f th e t ab . John son s a id ODOT o f - c i a l s d id no t l ik e p ropo s a l by l awm ak e r s and B rown to pu t th e ag en cy und e r a m i c ro - s cop e and ch ang e i t s fund ing , Fam i l y pha rma c i e s s e r v ing Ea s t e rn O r egon o v e r 50 y ea r s . Heppne r and Condon , O regon L e t ou r f am i l y o f ph a rm a c i s t s s e r v e y ou ! W e a r e happy to t ran s f e r and ma i l p r e s c r ip t ion s and wou ld w e l com e th e oppo r tun i ty to v i s i t w i th you abou t ou r s e rv i c e s ! 54 1 -6 76 -9 158 We G lad ly A c cep t V i sa o r Ma s te rCa rd 02606 He lp u s k i ck o f f Dome s t i c V io len ce Awa rene s s Mon th Sa tu rda y , Oc tobe r 3 Reg i s t ra t ion 8am - S ta r t t ime 10am G ran t Coun ty A i rpo r t Indu s t r ia l Pa rk , John Day Adm i s s ion : $20 .00 /pe r son , $40 .00 / fam i ly Fo r mo re in fo rma t ion ca l l 541 -575 -4355 o r ema i l hea r tg c@o r te l co .ne t “Co lo r Me F ree ” Fun Run Hea r t o f G ran t Coun ty Se cond Annua l We a re w r i t ing to exp re s s ou r hea r t fe l t g ra t i tude fo r a l l tho se in ou r o un i t who s tepped up to he lp and suppo r t f i re it i s he re a re so many to thank : the s t range r who he lped me se t t le my ho r se s a t the fa i rg round s ; M ike and Jud i who eva cua ted ou r p i ckup and t rave l t ra i le r ; M indy and Ma ry a t the fa i rg round s o f f i ce ; L inda who took in ou r du ck ; a l l tho se who de l ive red hay to the fa i rg round s ; f r iend s who o f fe red u s the i r home s fo r u s to s tay in and Ca r l Reed who le t u s have h i s ; f r iend s who o f fe red re fuge fo r the ho r se s ; f r iend s and fam i ly who came to he lp rebu i ld ou r b r idge and ou r wa te r sy s tem ; ou r gene rou s lo ca l bu s ine s se s tha t dona ted supp l ie s and o f fe red d i s coun t s ; a l l tho se f rom nea r and fa r who dona ted i tem s to the re l ie f cen te r and Jenn i fe r and She r r ie and a l l the awe some vo lun tee r s who wo rked the re w i th su ch lov ing ca re ; and the Mennon i te s f rom Bu rn s and ou r Bea r Va l ley f r iend s who came to c lean up the ru in s u r s in ce re thank s go ou t to you a l l u r commun i ty ha s been h i t so ha rd bu t the goodne s s and gene ro s i ty o f ou r fo lk ha s so f tened the b low fo r u s We a l l know th i s ca ta s t roph i c f i re d id no t have to happen c co rd ing to o rdon raham a f reuen t mo t iva t iona l r i sk managemen t speake r to the S S p red i c tab le i s p reven tab le Be cau se i t wa sn t ou r beau t i fu l canyon and moun ta in s w i l l neve r be the same . R o b e r t R e e d a n d J u d i t h B e a u d e t R e e d qu e s t a p e r fo rm an c e aud i t o f th e ag en cy by th e S e c r e t a ry o f S t a t e ’ s O fc e . L awm ak e r s qu e s t ion ed som e o f th e ag en cy ’ s sp end - ing d e c i s ion s , su ch a s $65 ,000 sp en t s in c e 2003 to s end a s t a f f e r to W a sh - ing ton , D .C . , B ru s s e l s , B a r - c e lon a , S ing apo r e and th e Go ld Co a s t o f Au s t r a l i a to r e s e a r ch a l t e rn a t iv e s to th e g a s t ax , a s r epo r t ed in Ju ly by W i l l am e t t e W e ek . Th e s t a t e p a id fo r on ly p a r t o f th e co s t o f th e emp loy e e ’ s mo r e th an t so John son i s con c e rn ed th a ODOT i s now m an ag ing th e t r an spo r t a t ion “v i s ion ing ” p ro j e c t . “Th i s i s b e ing ch a r a c t e r - i z ed a s a con t inu a t ion o f th e K i t zh ab e r e f fo r t , on ly th e r e a r e b ig d i f f e r en c e s , ” John - son s a id . “Th i s on e i s b e ing ODOT d r iv en . . . I gu e s s th e qu e s t ion I ’d a sk i s , i f i t ’ s a l l ODOT d r iv en wh e r e do th e n ew id e a s h av e a ch an c e to bubb l e fo rw a rd ? ” T r av i s B rouw e r , a s s i s t ant d i r e c to r o f ODOT , s a id i t i s common fo r s t a t e ag en c i e s to p rov id e exp e r t i s e in th e fo rm o f p r e s en t a t ion s to adv i so ry comm i t t e e s . “W e ’v e b e en a sk ed by th e gov e rno r ’ s o fc e to p rov id e sub j e c t m a t t e r exp e r t s fo r a l l th e g roup s ” on th e v i s ion p an - e l , B rouw e r s a id . “Bu t e a ch g roup g e t s to d e t e rm in e i t s wo rk p l an and b r ing in p eop l e f rom any p e r sp e c t iv e . ” B rouw e r r e j e c t ed th e id e a th a t ODOT m igh t s t e e r th e p an e l aw ay f rom p ropo s a l s th a t th e ag en cy d i s l ik e s . t “ I t ’ s c e r t a in ly a g roup th a h a s som e h e avy h i t t e r s , so I th ink th ey ’ l l b e ab l e to d en e th e i r ag end a and wh a t th ey w an t to p ropo s e , ” B rouw er s a id o f th e p an e l . 02710