The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current, May 01, 2019, Image 3

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The Blue Mountain eagle., May 01, 2019, Page A3, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextNEWS BlueMountainEagle.com Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Court discusses Harney County difﬁ culties By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle A signiﬁ cant budget shortfall in Harney County and the sheriff’s announce- ment of his resignation by the end of the year drew the attention of the Grant County Court at its April 24 meeting. In March, Harney County Judge Pete Runnels told the Burns Times-Herald that the county had identiﬁ ed a soft- ware issue that had caused the county to begin each ﬁ scal year with an inaccurate gen- eral fund balance over the past few years. Runnels said steps were taken in October to begin reducing county expenses, but larger cuts and adjustments would need to be made in the next ﬁ scal year budget to address the shortcomings. “It took us several years to get to this point, and we won’t come out of it overnight,” he told the newspaper. Harney County Sher- iff Dave Ward announced his intent to resign by Dec. 31 in an op-ed in the April 17 Burns Times-Herald. He said insuf- ﬁ cient funding and stafﬁ ng as a result of the budget shortfall had negatively impacted law enforcement and search and rescue services. “As well, our severely out- dated county jail is not only underfunded but is out of compliance with the standards required by law and has been understaffed for years,” Ward said. Ward told the Eagle the county estimated the shortfall at $2.3 million. He said he was no longer willing to accept the civil liability resulting from the underfunding and was unwilling to cut services or continue operating a jail that did not meet standards. “In my assessment, the only way for the county to overcome the current bud- get crisis is by eliminating employee positions,” Ward said. “If a person needs to be eliminated from our sheriff’s ofﬁ ce, then I choose for that person to be me.” He recommended the citi- zens and county court appoint a deputy to take over as sher- iff and not backﬁ ll the deputy position. Grant County Commis- sioners Jim Hamsher and Sam Palmer expressed concern about Harney County’s ﬁ nan- cial position. Hamsher said residents and ofﬁ cials here should “count our blessings.” Both commissioners expressed complete conﬁ - dence in Grant County Trea- surer Julie Ellison and noted that Grant County’s ﬁ nances were sound. Palmer pointed out that Grant and Harney counties have mutual aid agreements, but he doubted Grant County deputies would go to Harney County unless requested. He also noted that inmates in Har- ney County could be trans- ferred to Grant County, if necessary. Runnels told the Eagle, while there was room for improvements at the Harney County jail, there were no vio- lations. He also said he knew of no plans to transfer inmates to Grant County, but he appre- ciated the concern and offers by Grant County ofﬁ cials and residents. In other Grant County Court news: • Judy Kerr read a state- ment to the court requesting that Hamsher be compensated for the extra hours he has spent ﬁ lling in for County Judge Scott Myers, who has been absent for medical reasons. She also wanted the ofﬁ - cial duties of the court mem- bers to be updated to address any problems related to court members being unable to work. She said the “position should not have been left dan- gling” the way it was. Palmer said he was 100 percent in support of com- pensating Hamsher, but he didn’t know how that could be accomplished. Hamsher pointed out, with only three court members and one absent, and with his need to recuse himself from any potential compensation discus- sion or vote, a quorum would not exist. Palmer noted that Rob Raschio had agreed to be appointed to the court, if nec- essary. Raschio served for the remainder of Boyd Britton’s term last year after Britton left. After noting that Myers was “on the mend” and expected back, Hamsher said county counsel could contact the appropriate state ofﬁ cials about any state laws governing absences by court members. • Hamsher reported the court had received support calls during the recent ﬂ ood emergency from staff at Rep. Greg Walden, Sen. Ron Wyden and state Rep. Lynn Findley’s ofﬁ ces. Grant County residents were asked to send damage reports to the court so they could be added to a funding request that will be sent to the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency. Hamsher noted the Army Corps of Engineers had taken a preliminary look at the Inland Street and Nugget Street bridges in Canyon City to assess damages. He also said he spoke with Canyon City Fire Chief Matt Turner about meeting with other emergency ofﬁ cials in the future to upgrade ﬂ ood plans for the area. • A job description for a new human resources position was approved that includes taking over payroll duties from the Grant County clerk, who is paid a stipend to do that work. A job description for a half- time administrative assistant position was also approved. It’s expected that Laurie Wright will take over human resources and a new hire will take the administrative posi- tion. Meanwhile, the commis- sioners have set up an ofﬁ ce in the L Building on East Main Street in John Day. A3 From left, John Day City Manager Nick Green and Mayor Ron Lundbom listen to discussion about city projects during the council’s April 23 meeting. The Eagle/Richard Hanners Treatment plant funding complex By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Funding arrangements for John Day’s major projects will be complex — especially the new wastewater treatment plant. That was the message City Manager Nick Green delivered to the city council April 23. The city’s goal is 60 percent grants and 40 percent loans for the $10 million-plus project. While the city continues to ﬁ nalize a profes- sional services agreement with Anderson Perry to engineer the facility, the city has received a $196,500 federal Community Development Block Grant that can be used with a $200,000 city match for planning and design. Anderson Perry has recommended a three- stage design process, Green said. While the physical process goes from headworks and sol- ids handling to the membrane reactor and then to the reclaimed water plant, the engineers recom- mended design and pre-purchase of the mem- brane reactor ﬁ rst, he said. Once the design and pre-purchase of the membrane reactor is completed, then the other two major components can be addressed. Green said Sustainable Water, which has sent represen- tatives from Richmond, Virginia, to John Day, will likely bid on the hydroponic reactor portion of the facility. The construction timeline will depend on awarding the membrane reactor bid and permit- ting from the state Department of Environmental Quality. Green proposed additional funding ﬁ rst from state and local sources, then federal loans if needed and ﬁ nally USDA or CDBG grants. Funding and design will go on simultane- ously in this complex process. Green noted that state funding has fewer restrictions and interest rates more in line with the city’s needs. The coun- cil gave its consensus to proceed as proposed. The agreement documents will be brought back to the council for approval May 14. The council also gave its consensus to apply for a $40,000 planning grant from the state Department of Parks and Recreation that will help the public understand plans for funding the construction and future operation of a new pub- lic swimming pool. The grant would be used to determine the aquatic facility’s size, amenities, design and location; establishing a service district that might include residents within 15 miles of the new pool to provide revenue for the pool’s oper- ation; preparing a bond measure and the capital bond needed to pay for construction of the pool; and determining the organizational structure for the board that would oversee the service district and pool. Green noted that the city was “tip-toeing” toward a decision on whether to sell the Glea- son Pool to the state for development of a new interpretive center at the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. The council also gave its consensus to pro- ceed with two grant applications for develop- ment of the former Oregon Pine mill site — one to the Ford Family Foundation and the other to USDA Rural Development. The grants would be used to rehabilitate the planer and sorter shed for code compliance, con- vert the shed into an open-air pavilion, install restrooms, design the parking lot and street net- work, landscape and build trails between the shed and the greenhouses, and install utility con- nections as needed. The city’s $250,000 match would come from the city’s investment in the greenhouses and city shop, Green said. The Ford Foundation had encouraged the city in the past to apply for the grant, he said. Green noted that rehabilitating the pedestrian bridge near the yellow steel sawmill building would be done using other funding and donated materials sometime next year. The council also gave its consensus to pro- ceed with funding for the South Canyon Bou- levard sidewalk project. Green said the city’s remaining obligation for the project is about $20,000. Construction of the sidewalk from Sixth Street to the high school could take place in ﬁ scal year 2021, Green said. In other council news, Councilor Shannon Adair said Grant County Fair Manager Mindy Winegar had asked the city to set up an informa- tion booth at the county fair explaining its major projects. Green noted that posters and other presenta- tion materials from the upcoming regional eco- nomic development meeting could be used. City staff or councilors could staff the booth at times, and a cycling digital presentation could be used. Mayor Ron Lundbom said he had never seen the city do anything like that. The council approved the idea. Lake Creek Camp Would Like to Thank the Many Donors and Volunteers Who Made this Fundraiser Possible 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 50% 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 $2,500 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 weed species listed on the Grant County Noxious Weed List. Applications for this limited weed control assistance opportunity will be funded on a first come first serve basis. Applications due by June 5th. 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. 117734 SPECIAL THANKS TO: ST. HELENS BEEF – DONATED BEEF LENNY & SHERRI DOWDY – COOKING MEAT BECKY JO GRIFFITH -- COOKING & FOOD PREP OLD WEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: HIS & HERS PISTOLS LIVE MUSIC BY: “WE’RE NOT BROTHERS” SPITFIRE COCKTAILS CASH DONATIONS: THE BANK OF EASTERN OREGON: MARJORIE R. PIERCE TRUST: $100.00 $1,000.00 (In Memory of Dennis Reynolds) DRISKILL MEMORIAL CHAPEL: $500.00 JEROME NATURAL RESOURCE CONSULTANTS: $100.00 IRON TRIANGLE L.L.C.: $250.00 LANCE & LOUANNE ZWEYGARDT: $100.00 RISE & RUN CONSTRUCTION: $200.00 FRONTIER RENTALS: $100.00 CORNER CUP BURNS DENTAL GROUP MIKE VOIGT CONSTRUCTION CAROLYN STOUT GANDER CATTLE RANCE: $200.00 THE STANBRO FAMILY TRUST: $100.00 SHANNON VOIGT CONSTRUCTION OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOP: $200.00 L & L EXCAVATING: $100.00 WESTERN DRILLING JIFFY ELECTRIC: $100.00 GARDENER ENTERPRISES SUBWAY OF JOHN DAY DONATED LIVE AUCTION ITEMS: April 24, 2019 It is that time of year when we are preparing for the ESD Grant County Spelling Contest. If you are interested in helping with the County Spelling Contest contact Grant ESD. I am sending out spelling word lists to be used at the local level, winners at the local level will have the opportunity to participate at the County level. Clair Kehrberg/ H&R Block Service Creek Outfitters Pioneer Pacific Flags Donna Carter Mobile Glass Better Blooms & Gardens Sharon Mitchell John Day Polaris Forest Access for All Winchesterbay Charters Land Title of Grant County Clay Cook & Julie Miller Snaffle Bit Dinner House Crown Cattle Co. Charity Ironworks: Schaeffers Lenny & Sherri Dowdy Pendleton Round Up Silvies Valley Ranch DONATED ITEMS AND VOLUNTEERS: Grant Co. Community 4-H Club North River Electric (Dayville) Andy’s Plumbing & Sports Grant Co. Fairgrounds North River Electric (Glide) Anthony Lakes Ski Resort Harriett & Pete Currier Nydams Ace Hardware Aimee Rude Jennifer Reimers OSU Extension Blue Mtn. Chiropractic John & Debbie Sanowshi Outpost Pizza Pub & Grill Bob & Judy Kerr John & Lindy Bastian Pioneer Feed & Farm Bryan & Katie Nelson John Day Golf Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation Carl & Vicki Heckman John Day True Value Rob Botefuhr Carol Waggoner John Day Video Rude Logging 1st Choice Auto Body RE: 2019 STATE SPELLING CONTEST The State Level Spelling Contest will be held Saturday August 31, 2019 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, Oregon. Only first place winners in Divisions I, II, and III of the County Level contest may participate at the State Level. There are three divisions in the State Level Spelling Contest: Division I elementary students 1-5 th grade Division II elementary students 6-8 th grade Division III elementary students 9-12 th grade HOWEVER The County Level will have FOUR divisions: Primary elementary students 1-3 rd grade Division I elementary students 4-5 th grade Division II elementary students 6-8 th grade Division III elementary students 9-12 th grade Each school may hold a local level contest and enter the top two students from each division to participate in the County Level contest. The local school may determine how those contestants are selected. The participating local schools will determine a date prior to the County Level Contest date for their local contest. The spelling contest results must be turned into the ESD by May 2, 2019. Carson McCay Jonna, Mahayla & Callie Moss Shawna Clark Chester’s Thriftway Jozie Rude Sorbenots Coffee Childrens Barn Kaidee Weaver Staci Kopke Hales Cooking Cousins 4-H Club Krista Gehley Susie Brown Crooked River Ranch Golf Lauren Wenger Tanni Wenger Photography Darla Carpenter Len’s Drug Teri Bowden Debi Heckman Les Schwab Tires Terry & Billy Jo George Debbie & Bill Prophet Lisa Peirera Tessa Coalwell Erica Richartz Logan Namitz The Cut Above Frances & Harold Preston Michelle McManama Theresa Weaver Tidewater The County Level contest will take place at 1:00 p.m. on May 8, 2019 at the John Day Elks Club. To participate at the County level you must have won at the local level and be named on the completed form sent in by your home school district. Home-school students should contact their local school district to participate at the local level. Full Sail Brewing Co. Mike & Shannon Springer Glenn & RoseAnn Palmer Mobil Gas Station Timber’s Bistro Grant Co. Bldg. Supply Mobile Glass Yao Hui Huang Palmer If you have any questions you may contact Savannah at Grant ESD 575-1349. Thank you to all those who made desserts and to those we may have overlooked. Thank you to Hutch’s Printing for the flyers, tickets, and invitation cards. 117873