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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Bid approved for city greenhouse Court applauds veteran services office By Richard Hanners Council applies for grants for two street projects With the county already doing chip-sealing projects this year, Legg suggested holding off chip-sealing until 2020. By Richard Hanners The council also moved ahead with several long-range plans for city parks and trails. Green was directed to con- tinue negotiations with the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation for the sale of 3 acres of city land adjacent to the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. The state wants to use the land, which includes Gleason Pool, to build a new interpre- tive center. Chris Labhart, who works at the museum, said the state might pay $1 million for the city land. The council also authorized Green to sign a purchase and sales agreement for 10 acres of land on both sides of the John Day River near Canyon Creek owned by Colleen and Celeste Hill. The 4-acre property on the south side of the river would be used for a new city park. Green noted that addition- al property needed for a trail along Canyon Creek linking the new park to Kam Wah Chung would be provided through lot-line adjustments. Two neighbors, however, expressed security concerns if a public trail is built right along their backyards. They also noted that the city’s creekside property may be too narrow in places for a new trail. Lastly, the council ap- proved a $17,500 feasibility study agreement with con- sultant Counsilman-Hunsak- er for options for a possible new aquatic center to replace Gleason Pool. Green assured Mayor Ron Lundbom that the funding was available and said he hopes to leverage the $17,500 into a regional in- vestment to attract people to John Day. The city council’s next meeting is Aug. 14. Recreation plans Blue Mountain Eagle Blue Mountain Eagle Street projects In a busy meeting, the council also picked two street projects to apply for funding from Oregon Special City Al- lotment grants, which recent- ly increased from $50,000 per year to $200,000 for two separate projects. The dead- line for submitting the grant application was Aug. 1. The council agreed to ap- ply for the grant funding to extend Valley View Drive to Patterson Bridge Road near the Malheur National Forest building, which would pro- vide access to street networks within Phase 2 of Ironwood Estates. This street plan was ap- proved earlier by the city. Joe Hitz of Sisul Engineering said the road is about 80 percent built and estimated comple- tion costs at $282,000. The council also agreed to reconfigure and rebuild the in- tersection of Charolais Drive, The Eagle/Richard Hanners From left, Councilors Dave Holland and Paul Smith watch a presentation on the city’s strategy for growth during the city council’s July 24 meeting. The Eagle/Richard Hanners John Day City Manager Nick Green describes progress in the city’s strategy for growth during the city council’s July 24 meeting. John Day is considering purchasing a commercial greenhouse from EuroMex, a company that manufactures very large commercial greenhouses like the one shown in this contributed image. Valley View Drive, Bridge Street and two other streets. Valley View and Bridge Street would become a through- street. Green noted that park- ing for the future Davis Creek trail system and botanical gar- dens would be located near this intersection. Engineering for this proj- ect was completed, and John Day Public Works Director Monte Legg said the Grant County Road Department was still on board to assist. Hitz estimated the cost to complete the project at $244,000. The option to extend Sev- enth Street west from Bridge Street to Patterson Bridge Road was turned down be- cause it’s too early and too expensive. Extending Seventh Street would provide access to Innovation Gateway from the north side of the river and provide a second bridge con- nection for the city’s north side. The design, however, is not final because the city’s new sewer treatment plant has not been sited, and the city was not sure what will hap- pen to the existing percolation ponds, Green said. The street project is also very complex and expensive. Contributed photo According to preliminary plans, the middle segment calls for wider lanes, a land- scaped median, parallel park- ing, a 200-foot bus turnaround circle, four special parking spaces for buses and street lights. Fully developed, the estimated cost is $3.2 million. Another option turned down by the council called for various chip-sealing projects. Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Mendy Sharpe FNP You Never Know What You’ll Find At A Collectors West Gun & Knife Show! Apppointments available August 4 th & 5 th Pendleton Convention Center 71663 The city of John Day moved ahead last week with commercial greenhouse plans for the Innovation Gateway site at the city’s west entrance. The city council approved a notice of intent to award EuroMex, headquartered in Spain with offices in Los An- geles and Mexico, a $337,590 bid for a 6,240-square-foot greenhouse that will produce about 30 tons of produce per year, meeting the city’s de- mand. EuroMex, which typically builds large facilities, out- scored Clearspan, City Man- ager Nick Green said. The greenhouse’s three 16-foot high, 26-by-80-foot bays will have clear walls so visitors can view the facility without going inside and possibly contaminating the environ- ment. Green said EuroMex will send personnel to John Day to install electronics and oversee city crews who will assemble the greenhouse. If the proj- ect works out, the city could build additional greenhouses and start exporting produce, Green said. The city council will take up the EuroMex bid at its Aug. 14 meeting. The project will be reviewed by the Grant County Planning Commission later in August because the 2-acre site lies outside the city limits. The Grant County Court applauded the work of the Grant County Veteran Ser- vices Office under the di- rection of Katee Hoffman during their July 25 meeting. County Judge Scott My- ers said the court has heard great things about Hoffman’s work at the office since she Katee took over in Hoffman September 2017. Commissioner Jim Hamsher said he has spoken to many veterans in the coun- ty and never heard a negative comment about Hoffman, only positive things. Hoffman, a disabled Army veteran, updated the court on the office’s work, including meeting with nu- merous vets at the office’s new location in the county’s L Building on East Main Street in John Day or at their individual homes. About 550 veterans are registered with her office, but Hoffman estimates about 1,200 veterans live in Grant County. About 148 veterans came to her office in the previous 90 days, and she met with another 11 at their homes, she said. She travels to Monument the second Tuesday of each month to meet with veterans. Hoffman also assists with numerous wartime, disabili- ty and death benefit claims. The turnaround on claims has improved on average from 18 months to less than four months, she said. The office recently re- ceived a $4,700 grant for sui- cide prevention efforts. She cited one case where a veter- an’s suicidal problems were related to his insufficient re- tirement income, a problem that was helped by address- ing his veteran claims. Hoffman said she is seek- ing ideas for how to spend the grant money. Myers not- ed the grant was entirely dis- cretionary. In other county court news: • An agreement allowing the Grant County Sheriff’s Office to provide law en- forcement services to the city of John Day was amend- ed after Commissioner Rob Raschio noted the agreement did not have a fixed term and “would last forever” at the stated hourly rates for depu- ties, $35 per hour, and cost for gas. Raschio said he had talk- ed to John Day City Man- ager Nick Green and Green was agreeable to reviewing the agreement every two years. Raschio noted that this agreement could lead to more deputies working for the sheriff’s office, and County Judge Scott My- ers said the court would be watching the sheriff’s of- fice’s budget closely. • Pat Holliday was ap- pointed to the Grant County Planning Commission. • The court went into executive session to consult with the county’s attorney regarding current litigation or litigation that is likely to be filed. 7t4BUBQ 4VOBQt*OGPDPMMFDUPSTXFTUDPN I got screened for colorectal cancer. You should too. Jenelle Moulton, Canyon City, Oregon According to research, Colorectal Cancer is the second deadliest of its kind. Screening for colorectal cancer can help you detect and engage in early intervention and treatment. Most people accept screening because they are encouraged by someone they know and trust. 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