NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Concerns
Continued from Page A1
Ron Lundbom. “But it’s
turned into something
that he’s been successful
in. (The 1% fee is) well
within the scope of what is
customary out there in the
industry, and I don’t want
to begrudge him at all for
getting rewarded for being
successful in doing some-
thing that’s been really
beneficial to the city.”
Green also noted that,
despite the time he has to
spend on the applications,
not all the grants have been
awarded.
“1% of zero is zero,”
Green said.
Lundbom said the city
auditor confirmed the fee
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
IN OREGON, CITIES CANNOT RAISE THEIR
PERMANENT BASE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
was not inappropriate.
Parsons asked if Green
reports the income he
receives from the grants
and whether he pays taxes
on it. Green said the income
is included on his pay stub
as taxable wages.
Parsons then asked
about possible tax increases
related to the Innovation
Gateway project. An area
plan from a consultant that
was presented in Novem-
ber listed possible sources
of new revenue for the city
from fees and taxes, but the
city has not chosen to pur-
sue any of them except the
transient room tax assessed
on the occupants of tempo-
rary lodging.
“We knew the consul-
tants presented them to
us, but we chose not to do
any of them,” said Coun-
cilor Dave Holland of the
possible revenue options.
“We are not raising taxes.
We are creating value that
allow for taxes.”
In Oregon, cities cannot
raise their permanent base
property tax rate. Other
taxes — such as a local
sales tax — or short-term
revenue options — such
as bonds and local option
levies — require voter
approval.
Parsons then asked
about the city’s housing
incentive rebates and how
effective the program has
been.
“We want our lands
to be productive again,”
Green said. “We’ve got
this 50-acre ground fill
that’s not employing any-
one, it’s not bringing any
tax revenue, it’s an eye-
sore and it was abandoned.
If that’s the alternative —
that we stay in that stag-
nant environment — who
benefits?”
Lundbom said John
Day has seen more homes
built in the last year than
in the last 10, thanks to the
rebates.
Others have expressed
concerns that the pro-
gram — which provides
rebates to people who
build or complete major
remodels of homes within
the urban renewal dis-
trict boundary — benefits
a limited number of peo-
ple within the boundary
and that construction had
already begun on some of
the sites within the bound-
ary, defeating the purpose
A5
of providing incentives to
build.
Green, who received a
rebate from a home that
was already under con-
struction, said the dis-
trict boundaries could be
amended to allow any-
one who wanted to partic-
ipate in the program to be
included — making the
program as inclusive as
possible.
When
the
Urban
Renewal Agency, com-
prised of the city council
members, met following
the regular council meet-
ing, it approved a resolu-
tion amending the district
boundaries, removing one
property and adding four
to the district based on
applications submitted to
the agency.
The Ugly Truth faces possible liquor license suspension or fine
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Ugly Truth Bar & Grill
faces a stiff fine or a liquor
license suspension after allega-
tions the establishment served an
underaged patron and attempted
to cover it up.
The Oregon Liquor Control
Commission served notice of the
proposed suspension or civil pen-
alty Dec. 11 to Ali Lenz, presi-
dent/director/stockholder of The
Ugly Truth. The commission
proposed suspending the full
on-premises sales license for 57
days or assessing a civil penalty
of $9,405 for five violations.
Three violations stem from
April 20 and/or April 21, when
OLCC alleges The Ugly Truth
staff members failed to verify the
age of Mark Arreguin, a minor
who appeared less than 26, per-
mitted him to drink alcohol on
the premises and permitted him
to be in an area prohibited to
minors.
In another violation from April
23, OLCC alleges Lenz or her
employees “destroyed, damaged,
altered, removed or concealed”
video surveillance footage from
April 20-21 that was requested
by the Oregon State Police.
In a violation May 9, OLCC
alleges Lenz or her employees
again concealed potential evi-
dence of video surveillance foot-
age from May 8.
OLCC typically has progres-
sive penalties for violations
occurring within a two-year
period, but four of the violations
were discovered concurrently
and will only be charged at the
first level, according to OLCC.
Two of the violations, how-
ever, were allegedly commit-
ted by Lenz herself, which car-
ries additional penalties. Three of
the violations involved more than
one employee, which also carries
additional penalties. Based on the
circumstances, the OLCC recom-
mended the 57-day suspension or
the $9,405 fine.
Lenz has the option to request
a hearing to contest the charges.
If the full suspension is imposed,
it would begin March 9 and end
May 5.
Arreguin, born in 1999 from
Caruthers, California, has been
charged with third-degree assault
and driving under the influence
of intoxicants. According to
information submitted in Grant
County Circuit Court by District
Attorney Jim Carpenter Oct. 7,
Arreguin recklessly caused seri-
ous injury to Eliodoro Guzman
Arreguin April 21 while operat-
ing a vehicle under the influence
of intoxicants.
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests and citations in
the Blue Mountain Eagle
are taken from the logs
of law enforcement agen-
cies. Every effort is made
to report the court disposi-
tion of arrest cases.
GRANT COUNTY
SHERIFF
The Grant County Sher-
iff’s Office reported the
following for the week of
Dec. 25:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 2
Average inmates: 13
Bookings: 5
Releases: 8
Arrests: 0
Citations: 1
Fingerprints: 1
Civil papers: 6
Warrants processed: 2
A s s i s t a n c e / We l f a r e
check: 1
Search and Rescue: 0
Dec. 9: Jerry Rioux, 60,
Baker City, was cited for
driving uninsured.
JUSTICE COURT
Violation of speed limit:
Brian W. Hinsley, 56,
Pasco, Washington, Nov.
16, 79/55 zone, fined $265.
Driving while sus-
pended: James W. Moss,
41, John Day, Dec. 8, fined
$440.
Failed to register vehi-
cle: Jason M. McCling,
33, Tulare, California,
Aug. 4, fined $115; Jay
M. Rasmussen, 58, La
Grande, Dec. 3, fined
$115.
OREGON STATE
POLICE
Dec.
18:
Arrested
Thomas E. Pfeifer, 50,
Prairie City, on a felony
arrest warrant at his res-
idence. During the con-
tact, the subject displayed
numerous indicators of
being under the influence
of controlled substances.
While searching the sub-
ject, a small plastic bag-
gie containing metham-
phetamine was found. He
was transported to the
Grant County Jail and
lodged on an arrest war-
rant. He was also charged
with unlawful possession of
methamphetamine.
Dec. 18: Responded
from a residence to a crash
on Highway 26 at milepost
171. A vehicle was traveling
eastbound at an estimated
45 mph when it started to
slide on snow and slush on
the road. The car began to
rotate counter-clockwise,
crossing the center line
into the westbound lane of
travel and struck another
vehicle, which was head-
ing westbound at an esti-
mated 25 mph. The driver
of the vehicle that was hit
tried to avoid the collision
by nearly driving off the
shoulder, but was unable
to do so. The vehicle that
was hit sustained substan-
tial driver side damage in
the collision and was towed
by Frontier Equipment and
Towing. The driver of the
Our
Christmas Club
began
60 YEARS
ago!
vehicle that slid was issued
a citation for failure to drive
within lane.
Dec. 19: Came upon
a single vehicle, nonin-
jury crash on Highway 26,
near milepost 157 east-
bound. There was no dam-
age done to the vehicle or
property. The 61-year-old
female driver slid off the
road due to icy roads. Ore-
gon Department of Trans-
portation arrived on scene
and graveled the roadway.
Driver called Frontier Tow-
ing before officers’ arrival
on the scene. Driver was
able to drive vehicle away,
when tow arrived.
Dec. 20: Driver was
traveling north on Highway
395B, near milepost 108,
when he struck black ice,
losing control of the vehi-
cle. The vehicle spun 180
degrees, going off of a steep
embankment and rolled
onto its top off of the east
side of the highway. The
driver crawled out the back
window and was picked up
by a passing motorist. He
arranged for his own tow
and refused medical.
Dec. 20: Stopped James
W. Cook Jr., 29, John Day,
for speeding, 40/30 zone.
On contact, Cook had
glassy and bloodshot eyes.
There was a moderate odor
of an alcoholic beverage
coming from his breath.
Cook admitted to drinking
alcohol prior to the stop.
Cook consented to field
sobriety tests and showed
indicators of impairment.
Arrested Cook and trans-
ported him to the Grant
County Jail where he pro-
vided a breath sample with a
blood alcohol concentration
of 0.08%. According to the
DMV, Cook’s driving status
is misdemeanor suspended
for a BAC fail, dated for
Sept. 28 to Dec. 27. Addi-
tionally, learned from Grant
County Jail staff that Cook
was in violation of his con-
ditional release agreement
on an arrest from Dec. 17.
Issued Cook citations for
DUII-Alcohol, DWS-Mis-
demeanor and failure to
install ignition interlock
device. Lodged him at the
Grant County Jail.
Dec. 21: Responded to a
reported rollover noninjury
crash near milepost 12 on
Highway 395C. The vehicle
was heading northbound at
an estimated 45 mph (likely
faster) entering a curve.
The driver realized she was
in the curve at a high speed
and applied her brakes. The
vehicle slid on gravel that
had been applied in previ-
ous days due to snow and
ice (road was clear and dry
at the time of this incident).
The car started to slide side-
ways and crossed over the
center line and the south-
bound lane of travel, and
entered a small ditch, caus-
ing it to roll over. The vehi-
cle came to a rest on its top,
blocking the southbound
lane of travel. The driver was
not injured. Doug’s Motor
Vehicle Repair responded
and towed the vehicle from
the scene.
DISPATCH
John
Day
dispatch
worked 108 calls during
the week of Dec. 20-26,
including:
• John Day Police
Department
Dec. 20: Responded to a
report of an aggressive dog
chained close to the street
and frightening pedestrians.
Dec. 21: Responded to a
report of a dog attacking a
person walking their dog on
West Main Street.
Dec. 21: Responded
to a report of harassment
between a group of juve-
niles on West Main Street.
Dec. 22: Cited Levi
W. Albert Fine, 25, of La
Grande for driving while
suspended, driving unin-
sured and expired plates.
Dec. 22: Responded to a
report of an assault on Val-
ley View Drive.
Dec. 22: Cited Keat-
ley M. Wyant, 28, of John
Day for driving while sus-
pended and driving without
insurance.
Dec. 22: Cited Elssa B.
Mosso, 24, of Seneca for
open container.
• Oregon State Police
Dec. 20: Received a
report of a noninjury crash
on Highway 395, near mile-
post 108.
Dec. 21: Along with
GCSO and John Day ambu-
lance, responded to a roll-
over crash on Highway
395C.
Dec. 24: Received a
report of a black cow on
Highway 26.
• Grant County Sher-
iff’s Office
Dec. 20: Received a
report of a noninjury crash
near Beech Creek and High-
way 395.
• John Day ambulance
Dec. 20: Along with Sen-
eca ambulance, called for
a 74-year-old woman with
difficulty breathing.
Dec. 21: Responded to a
65-year-old man with diffi-
culty breathing.
Dec. 22: Called for an
86-year-old woman not feel-
ing well.
Dec. 24: Received a
report of a single-vehicle
rollover crash on Highway
395, near milepost 106.
Dec. 25: Responded
to a 60-year-old woman
with extreme nausea and
vomiting.
Dec. 25: Called for a
55-year-old man who fell.
• Prairie City fire
Dec. 26: Responded to
a chimney fire on Bridge
Street.
• Mt. Vernon fire
Dec. 22: Responded to a
grass fire on Roper Road.
•
Long
Creek
ambulance
Dec. 21: Advised dis-
patch of the planned burning
of a structure near the road-
way on Porter Road.
2020
Debbie Ausmus
245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
9 am - 5 pm
541-575-1113
24 hrs/7 days wk
debbie.ausmus@
countryfinancial.com
S162711-1
Inquire at
your local
2020 . branch.
Restrictions apply.
Now’s the perfect time to
Join the Club for
Start saving
for next year !
Basic Drawing Class: Begins Tuesday, January 14, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
The popular basic drawing class by Robert Rex is back! Learn to draw basic
shapes, apply shading, and much more in this 12-week course.
Intermediate Drawing Class: Begins Thursday, January 16, from 5:30 - 7:30
PM. Intermediate students will pursue new subject matter such as composition,
design elements, perspective, and figure proportions in this 12-week course.
Music Lessons: See paintedskycenter.com/music-lessons for more info or
to register. Music lesson punch cards available to purchase.
Arts After School & Friday Art Club: Ongoing; see more at
Paintedskycenter.com/Kids-Art. If you are interested, please join the waiting list.
With enough interest we will start additional classes.
Youth Arts Program: Ongoing, Monday 6:00 PM rehearsals through
December.
S162698-1
For more info or to register visit paintedskycenter.com
or email paintedskycenter@gmail.com.
Member FDIC
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