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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 2019)
A16 NEWS Blue Mountain Eagle Funding Continued from Page A1 its long-term goals. “I’m glad that we have someone on board who has the ability to find and apply for these grants,” he told the Eagle. “If not for these grants that we have received and hopefully will receive, we would not have had any resources to do anything.” Some important city proj- ects seem too big to fund, Lundbom said, but funding agencies and organizations appreciate what the city is doing and its vision for the future, including improving the wastewater treatment plant, housing stock and possibly the river. “I think you will see a trail system connecting four park areas together, a river design that will not only be pleasing to look at but will be helpful with flood mitiga- tion and provide some recre- ation opportunities, and an extension of Seventh Street that will open up the north side of the river for all kinds of possibilities,” he said. Development of city property on both sides of the river could include commer- cial and retail spaces, new housing and a new public swimming pool site, as well as relieving traffic on Bridge Street, Lundbom said. “One of our great- est assets is the John Day River,” Green told the Eagle. “We need to enhance it. We need to make it a cen- tral part of the fabric of our community. It’s going to take patience and a lot of creative financing. It will also be something this gen- eration can look back on as a significant accomplishment that will improve our qual- ity of life for generations to come.” The Eagle/Richard Hanners The planer shed at the former Oregon Pine mill site could be remodeled using grant money for use as an events center for the new Innovation Gateway project. city does not intend to oper- ate a new pool, the city plans to apply for an OPRD grant worth up to $750,000 for possible pool or integrated park system improvements. The city received a $1.8 million legislative appro- priation in 2017 to improve internet access. With the establishment of the Grant County Digital Network Coalition, that agency plans to leverage the fund- ing toward other grant opportunities. The coalition’s applica- tion for a $3 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Connect grant last year was unsuccessful. The coalition will now reap- ply for that $3 million, while also applying for a USDA ReConnect grant worth up to another $3 million to sup- port broadband. When Lundbom asked Green at the Feb. 12 meet- ing how he would handle so many grant applications in so short a time, Green said he would rely on city staff and information gathered for earlier grant applications. The largest and most crit- ical city project is a new sewer treatment plant. The council chose to go with a design that will produce reclaimed water. Green said in December that he hopes to fund the $12.5 million plant with 60 percent grants and 40 percent loans. The city was awarded a $196,500 federal Commu- nity Development Block Grant on Feb. 28 that will pay for engineering for the new sewer treatment plant. The application deadline for an additional $2.3 million in CDBG funding for construc- tion of the sewage treatment plant is Sept. 30. An Oregon Water Resources Department water project grant could be used to help pay for the treatment facility and dis- tribution of the reclaimed water. Up to $8.5 million in grant funding is available, Green said. The city will apply in March for a Ford Family Community Building Spaces grant to convert the planer shed at the former Oregon Pine mill site to a commu- nity pavilion for the planned Innovation Gateway. The city expects to receive about $1 million from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the sale of city park land around the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, but the lowest estimated price for a new swimming pool is about $4.5 million. Although the Options at the north fields of the sports complex would work. said. He suggested approach- ing the Grant County Court about calling for a county- wide bond election or creat- ing a new district that would encompass Mt. Vernon and Prairie City and possibly Sen- eca and Dayville. A specific request about a pool bond had not been made to the county court, he said. Green also noted Dayville will hold a school bond elec- tion this year and that some Grant County communities are too far away to make use of a pool in John Day. These more distant communities also lack a sizeable tax base to significantly support a bond election, he said. If the Parks & Recreation District is expanded, then its crews will have to take over City projects Continued from Page A1 could provide year-round rev- enue, and the Parks & Recre- ation District could also use the facility for its administra- tive offices. Consultants involved in planning for development of the John Day River area and the former Oregon Pine mill site into the John Day Innova- tion Gateway have indicated three possible locations for a new pool. The city councilors indi- cated their preference for locating the pool at the Sev- enth Street Complex rather than the closed mill site, and Thunell said locating the pool Financing options Green estimated the city will receive about $1 million from the state from the sale of city park land adjacent to Kam Wah Chung and could apply for about $1 million in grants to pay for a new pool. The remainder of the esti- mated cost for a $4.3 million outdoor pool facility could come from a bond presented to the voters in November. Some site-development and construction costs also could be reduced by in-kind labor and equipment contributions. The city of John Day and the Parks & Recreation Dis- trict are too small to support a bond of that size, Green Past funding Green said he’s grateful for the financial support the city has so far received. “We have investors from six different state agen- cies and the federal govern- ment, and we’re starting to attract private sector capi- Committee Volunteers Needed 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. Wednesday, March 13, 2019 tal to our area,” he told the Eagle. “That’s important to continue the climb. We have to keep a long-term perspec- tive, but I also think over the next two to three years we’re going to see some fairly sig- nificant improvements — particularly with the new treatment plant.” In 2017, the city received a $60,000 Department of Environmental Quality brownfield grant to assess the Oregon Pine mill site before purchasing the site using a Business Oregon loan and sewer funds. The city also received a $420,000 special appropri- ation from the legislature to help pay for 911 emergency communication services for the 2018-2019 biennium. This past year, the city and the John Day-Canyon City Parks and Recreation District were approved for $434,300 in grants for riv- erfront trails and a new city park, including a $191,300 OPRD Recreational Trails Program grant that got top ranking among that year’s applications. The city also received a $174,150 state Transporta- tion Growth Management grant that will be used to plan for the Innovation Gate- way and riverfront develop- ment projects. A $37,800 technical assistance grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Develop- ment was used to establish a Housing Development Dis- trict, and about $120,000 in overlapping state and fed- eral grants will be used to pay for economic develop- ment studies. With assistance from the Oregon Department of Transportation, the city was approved for a $1.1 million Safe Routes to School grant that will make possible con- struction of a sidewalk along South Canyon Boulevard linking the Grant Union Junior-Senior High School to existing sidewalks and downtown John Day. maintenance of city parks in those cities, Williams said. While the pool bond would be about half the size of the current hospital bond, which will expire by 2021, the Parks & Recreation Dis- trict tax base is about half the size of the hospital bond’s tax base, Green said. As a result, the impact on district taxpay- ers could be about the same. The window for a bond election is narrowing, Green said. The city plans to submit an application for a $750,000 state grant by April 1, and the council could reach a decision on pool construction phasing, expanding the tax base and whether to hold bond elec- tion this year at its March 26 meeting. Williams said he couldn’t speak for the Parks & Rec- reation District board, but he thought the council’s direc- tion made sense. He said the board would begin working on a presentation to make to the county court. John Day residents have borne the cost of the pool, 911 and other countywide ser- vices and it was time for the rest of the county to step up, Green said. Residents need to invest in their community, and the bond election should be seen as a positive thing, he said. However, if voters turn down a bond for a new pool, then the city will move on to other projects, he said. Contributed photo Dayville residents and visitors gather in the Dayville Community Hall in December 2018 for the annual Shop Til You Drop Winter Festival. Dayville Continued from Page A1 ing that embodies the liv- ing nature of history that can continue to empower a community for almost 100 years after the construction of the building,” Ducote said. The first event held at the Dayville Community Hall was the 1920 Armi- stice Day Dance, which continued to be held for several decades. Silent movies accompanied by piano drew crowds, as did basketball games illumi- nated by kerosene lamps — spectators assisted by put- ting out fires when balls hit the lamps. Dayville high school students presented two plays on the hall’s stage each year, including a Christmas program where each child received a gift from Santa Claus. The hall served as a box factory during World War II, and “talkies” replaced silent movies in the postwar years. The Scotch Ameri- can Dance, held between Christmas and New Year’s, was a main event for the community right up into the 1960s. Since its construction, the Dayville Community Hall has provided space for a skating rink, voting cen- ter, Halloween carnivals, community dances, wed- ding receptions, memori- als, dance recitals, commu- nity potlucks, parties and meetings. “Speaking on behalf of the Dayville City Council, I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Dayville Commu- nity Hall Renovation Com- mittee and our residents and businesses who have contributed over and over again, event after event, year after year, all in the name of making money for this project,” Moore said. Restoration Because of its his- toric status, the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office has been involved in planning for the hall, coor- dinating with both the city and Pinnacle Architecture. The main building was considered to be in rela- tively good shape, but it needed new electrical wir- ing and a new heating, cool- ing and ventilation system. The stage is in good shape, but the balcony and stairs will need structural repairs. Interior wall and floor fin- ishes are in good shape and will be preserved. Major improvements to the hall will include remov- ing the existing roof sheath- ing and installing pre-man- ufactured trusses and new roofing. The exterior sid- ing also will be removed, allowing electrical work and insulating before new sheathing and siding is installed. The addition built in the 1950s is in poor condi- tion, which has made use of the kitchen and restrooms impossible in cold weather. The addition will be torn down and replaced with a new structure that will include a commercial-grade kitchen, ADA-compati- ble restrooms and a lobby space. As per preservation office advice, the new addi- tion will be designed to look differently than the rest of the building. Plaques describing the original hall will be hung, and the lobby area will house historical artifacts such as the antique wood cook stove and movie projector. Other awards A total of $4.11 mil- lion in CDBG funds was awarded to one county and four city projects in the sec- ond round of 2018 appli- cations. Projects in Grant County received $3.14 mil- lion, or 76 percent of the total. The Heart of Grant County, a nonprofit domes- tic trauma service center, was awarded $1.5 million for construction of Mer- edith House, a combined shelter and office facility to be built in John Day. The shelter will offer living quarters for vic- tims of domestic violence and abuse, including fami- lies with children. This will include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a living room and a secure private outside space with designated play and pet areas. The office facilities will include private offices for advocates, visiting attor- neys and counselors; com- puter workstations for vic- tims’ use; a playroom for children; and a com- bined conference room and kitchen area for group activities. A secure garage with hidden parking will be provided for victims. “The Heart of Grant County Domestic Trauma Facility is an example of outstanding team work,” board member Rick Minster said. “Grant County Eco- nomic Development did an exemplary job of putting the application together. A num- ber of county, state, and fed- eral departments assisted in the application, the environ- mental assessment and cul- tural review, which were also submitted with the application. The facility will be an important addi- tion to the community, and many organizations pulled together to make the project happen.” The city of John Day received $196,500 to help pay for design and engi- neering for a new wastewa- ter treatment plant that will produce reclaimed water. The existing treatment plant needs to be replaced for the city to remain com- pliant with environmental regulations. 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 Grant SWCD Weed Control Dept. Working for You in 2019 Thanks to the Grant County Court and Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee, Grant Weed Control is able to offer a 25% Cost share program for Noxious Weed Control on Private Grazing Lands, through a Title II funded Grant Project. This program will provide a maximum $5,000 of noxious weed control services with a $1,250 maximum landowner contribution to qualifying participants. To be eligible for participation, the treatment property must not be actively irrigated and must be primarily managed for livestock grazing, minimum of 20 acres in size, located within Grant County, and must contain priority noxious weed species. Applications for this limited weed control assistance opportunity will be ranked and funded according to a priority noxious weed list.. Contact the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District Office at (541) 575-1554 or visit 721 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845 for applications and additional information. The application deadline for this program is April 12th, 2019. 107997
