NEWS
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.
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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.
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