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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2019)
NEWS BlueMountainEagle.com Wednesday, March 6, 2019 A5 John Day urban renewal district could expand Agency considers adding Weaver Building, Main Street property By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Two properties outside the cur- rent boundary of John Day’s urban renewal district could be added to the city’s housing incentive pro- gram: the downtown Weaver Building and a residential property on East Main Street owned by Jim and Sandy Bay. Under the incentive program, the city will provide a cash rebate equal to 7 percent of the increase in assessed value and pay for sys- tem development charges for new home construction. Incentives will also be provided for substantial remodeling. The Weaver Building, at the northwest corner of Main Street and Canyon Boulevard, was acquired by the city in 2017 using a $100,000 Main Street Revitaliza- tion state grant. Asbestos and lead paint abatement work was paid for using a state Department of Envi- ronmental Quality brownfield grant. The city hopes to sell the build- ing and see it remodeled into a mixed-use property with commer- Eagle file photo The John Day Urban Renewal Agency is considering adding the Weaver Building on Main Street, which was purchased by the city of John Day, and a residential property on East Main Street to the housing incentive district. cial businesses on the ground floor and up to eight new residential units on the second floor. As discussed by the John Day Urban Renewal Agency board Feb. 26, the program would need to be amended to allow Downtown and Residential-Commercial zoning districts to be included in the pro- gram. The East Main Street area already went through the needed rezoning process. The newly formed board, which is the same as the city council, also reviewed its draft bylaws, which brought up several financial ques- tions. Until property tax revenue from the program’s tax-increment financing system sufficiently accu- mulates, the city will need to pay for the program’s incentives on a loan basis. How the city will pay sys- tem development costs, which are intended for capital improve- ments for the water and sewer sys- tems, also needs to be worked out. There was also a question of what to do with any money left over when the incentive program ends in 2039. John Day City Manager Nick Green also noted that property owners will see a new line on their tax bills required under state law that reflects the program’s tax-in- crement financing system. Assessed values can increase up to 3 percent per year, but revenue from that increase for properties inside the urban renewal district will be used by the housing incen- tive program and will not go to the city, county, schools and other tax- ing jurisdictions for 20 years. The new line could confuse tax- payers, Green said. If their taxes increase, it would result from an increase in assessed value, sub- stantial remodeling or new con- struction, not from the urban renewal program. Green said a public information effort would be made to explain this matter to property owners. COPS AND COURTS Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law enforcement agencies. Every effort is made to report the court disposition of arrest cases. Grant County Circuit Court Stanley Dehiya, 73, John Day, pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to driving under the influ- ence of intoxicants com- mitted on Jan. 2. He was sentenced to 15 days jail, 24 months probation and $1,855 in fines and fees. His driver’s license was sus- pended for one year. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sher- iff’s Office reported the fol- lowing for the week of Feb. 27: Concealed handgun licenses: 9 Average inmates: 16 Bookings: 6 Releases: 11 Arrests: 1 Citations: 1 "Fingerprints: 3 Civil papers: 11 Warrants processed: 0 Asst./welfare check: 1 Search and rescue: 2 Feb. 25: Marcia Kim- ball, 73, Bend, was cited for driving without a license or insurance. Justice Court • Violation of basic rule: Hawk Lee, 57, John Day, Feb. 21, 71/55 zone, fined $165; Robert G. Brinkley Jr., 45, Colton, Jan. 5, 75/55 zone, fined $165. • Exceeding speed limit: Jennifer L. Ung, 31, Salem, Feb. 4, 52/30 zone, fined $265; Siler T. Head, 26, Florence, Alabama, Jan. 21, 56/30 zone, fined $265; Kyle R. Erickson, 23, Mt. Vernon, Feb. 14, 35/25 zone, fined $115; Eric McClure, 34, Meridian, Idaho, Feb. 4, 70/65 zone, fined $165; Troy W. Han- son, 44, Baker City, Feb. 13, 74/65 zone, fined $165. • Violation speed limit: Gary R. Rapp, 56, Prairie City, Feb. 4, 38/25 zone, fined $165. • Driving uninsured: Colton J. David, 23, Day- ville, Dec. 20, fined $220; Jimm E. Roba, 44, John Day, Jan. 21, fined $265; Heather M. Railey, 27, Long Creek, Jan. 19, fined $135. • Driving while sus- pended: Jimm E. Roba, 44, John Day, Jan. 21, fined $440. • Operating with a non- standard light: Colton J. David, 23, Dayville, Dec. 20, fined $140. • Failure to register vehi- cle: Robert L. Shigley Jr., 50, Winston, Sept. 22, fined $115. • Registration sticker expired: Heather M. Railey, 27, Long Creek, Jan. 19, fined $65. • No operator’s license: Heather M. Railey, 27, Long Creek, Jan. 19, fined $135. • Billy R. Reeves II, 47, Troy, Idaho, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to possession of game with a falsely applied tag. His hunting privileges were suspended for 36 months, and he was ordered to pay $1,690 in fines, fees and restitution. A second count of unlawfully taking wildlife was dismissed. Oregon State Police Feb. 21: Investigated a single-vehicle noninjury crash on Highway 26 just past Dixie Summit. Linda M. Cochran was cited for failure to drive in the lane. Feb. 21: Investigated a single-vehicle injury crash with a deer on Highway 26 near Indian Creek Road. Feb. 24: Investigated a single-vehicle noninjury crash on Highway 26 west of Dayville. The driver was unable to avoid a rock that fell on the highway. Feb. 27: Investigated a single-vehicle nonin- jury crash on Highway 395 south of Seneca. A north- bound fully loaded log truck pulling a trailer swerved to avoid a southbound vehi- cle during a snowstorm. The trailer drifted into deep snow and then slid off the roadway and fell on its side. The truck remained upright. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 72 calls during the week of Jan. 27 to March 3, including: • John Day Police Department March 1: Following a traffic stop on East Main Street in John Day, Crys- tal M. Joslin, 39, John Day, was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license and no insurance. March 1: Received a fraud complaint from Northeast Charolais Heights in John Day. March 1: Following a traffic stop on West Main Street in John Day, Fritz M. Voigt, 37, Prairie City, was cited for driving with a sus- pended driver’s license and no insurance. March 1: Received a report about drug activities at a mobile home park on West Main Street in John Day. March 1: Following a traffic stop on Main Street in John Day, Timothy Keith, 35, Prairie City, was cited for driving with a sus- pended driver’s license and no insurance. March 2: Following a traffic stop on South Can- yon Boulevard at South- west Fourth Street, Diane L. Hartwick, 63, John Day, was cited for using a cell- phone while driving. March 3: Following a traffic stop on North Can- yon Boulevard, William J. Collier, 26, Mitchell, was cited for driving with a suspended license and no insurance. • Oregon State Police March 1: Responded with John Day ambulance, sheriff’s deputies and John Day police to Highway 26 near Golf Course Road for a vehicle crash with injuries. March 2: Received a report of an injured elk on Highway 395 near Battle Mountain. March 2: Advised of a large hay bale on Highway 26 near Fields Creek Road. • Grant County Sher- iff’s Office March 2: Search and res- cue personnel responded to Strawberry Creek Road. March 3: Advised of a suicidal person on Highway 26 west of Dayville. • John Day ambulance Feb. 27: Responded to Southwest First Street in John Day. Feb. 28: Dispatched to a senior home in John Day for a 90-year-old woman. Feb. 28: Responded with Prairie City ambulance to West Sixth Street in Prai- rie City for a man who had slipped and fallen. Feb. 28: Dispatched to Picnic Creek Road in Mt. Vernon for a medical alarm. Feb. 28: Transported a patient to the airport in John Day. March 1: Responded with Grant County search and rescue personnel to Ricco Ranch Road in Prairie City for a medical call. March 1: Transported a patient to the airport in John Day. March 1: Dispatched to an acute care facility on Ford Road in John Day for an unconscious 51-year-old man. March 3: Responded with Dayville fire to West Frank- lin Avenue in Dayville for a person with a breathing problem. • Oregon Department of Transportation March 2: Advised of a large amount of standing water on Highway 26 east of Dayville. Committee Volunteers Needed G r a n t S o i l & Wa t e r C o n s e r va t i o n D i s t r i c t ’ s 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l M e e t i ng T h u r s d ay, M a r ch 7 t h , 6 - 7 : 3 0 p. m . G r a n t C o u n t y A i r p o r t M e e t i ng R o o m i n J o h n D ay A q u i fe r S t o r age a n d R e c ove r y P r e s e n t a t i o n Aq Water is abundant within the stream systems of Grant County, but is seasonally consolidated to times when out-of-stream water demands are at their lowest. The result of receiving seventy percent of annual precipitation in the winter, these streams normally reach their peak flow in early spring fed by melting snow. Water discharge then declines rapidly to its lowest levels in late summer as precipitation diminishes and air temperatures rise. In contrast, agricultural irrigation increases to its highest level, creating a seasonal water deficiency that is suppressive to agricultural production, limits area development opportunities, and represents an ongoing concern to ecological conditions. Managed groundwater recharge is a practicable option to retain surface water at times of surplus to enhance stream flows and supplement irrigation withdrawals during shortage periods. These types of systems further avoid the significant costs and environment impacts of above ground storage projects, making their authorization and implementation much more feasible. Hydrogeologist Phil Brown will be presenting information and professional experiences in the design and implementation of groundwater recharge and recovery projects, along with his accomplishments to successfully address water supply imbalances throughout the Pacific Northwest. Please join Grant Soil and Water Conservation District for this informative event as part of its 2019 Annual Meeting. Complimentary refreshments will be served. Contact Jason Kehrberg at 541-575-0135 ext. 110 or mailto:jkehrberg@ortelco.net Grant County is now recruiting volunteers to serve on active boards and committees. Obtain an Application to Volunteer from County Court, 201 S. Humbolt, No. 280, Canyon City, OR 97820; (541-575-0059) wrightl@grantcounty-or.gov or online at www.grantcountyoregon.net. Applications are due by Friday, March 29th, 2019 Committees are formal public bodies required to comply with Oregon Public Meetings Law ORS 192.610. Extension & 4-H Service District Advisory Council. Eleven members serve three year terms and meet semi-annually to provide guidance and assistance to local OSU Extension staff in planning, developing, and evaluating balanced educational programs directed to high priority needs of county residents. Membership is limited to one re-appointment. Senior Citizens Advisory Council ORS 410.210. Five members serve three year terms and meet semi-annually to define the needs of older adults, promote special interests and local community involvement, and represent senior citizens as an advocate to the local, state and federal government and other organizations. Wolf Depredation Advisory Committee OAR 603-019-0015. Members include one County Commissioner, two members who own or manage livestock and two members who support wolf conservation or coexistence with wolves. These members agree upon two business representatives to serve as additional members. The committee oversees the procedure established by Grant County for its Wolf Depredation Compensation Program. The current vacancies are for one business representative and one member who supports wolf conservation or coexistence with wolves 108043
