NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
A5
County workers to see pay increase
Budget to be
adopted June 26
USDA Wildlife Services
has requested $69,317 from
the county for predator con-
trol services. Last year, the
county put $25,092 into the
program.
With the establishment
of the Grant County Emer-
gency
Communications
Agency this year to pro-
vide 911 dispatch service,
the county’s expected con-
tribution has increased from
$79,198 paid in fi scal year
2017 to $117,513 in the
coming fi scal year.
The county paid only
$10,000 annually in the last
two fi scal years because a
legislative
appropriation
supported local dispatch for
the past biennium. A bill
that passed in the Oregon
House would increase the
phone tax that supports 911
dispatch centers from 75
cents per month to $1 next
year and $1.25 the follow-
ing year, which could bring
down the county’s share of
local 911 costs if approved.
The county began con-
tracting with Commu-
nity Counseling Services
in 2013 to provide public
health services. Since then,
CCS has reported a shortfall
each year, and county pay-
ments to CCS have ranged
from $60,000 to $110,000
each year. CCS is asking
for $83,000 for fi scal year
2020, up from $65,000 last
year.
A full-time
human
resources position has been
created, and the adminis-
trative assistant position
is now part-time. The dis-
trict attorney took over
the duties of county coun-
sel, and the county agreed
to pay for a deputy district
attorney. The road depart-
ment added an equipment
operator for the Long Creek
area. The county clerk
anticipates replacing a bal-
lot counting machine some-
time in the future for about
$60,000.
The budget message
also cited a concern about
shortfalls in the senior cit-
izens budget over the past
four fi scal years as a result
of shrinking state and fed-
eral funding. Last year, the
county transferred $54,245
to the senior citizens budget.
The projected shortfall for
this fi scal year is $48,236.
In other county court
news:
• Kim Puckett is the new
part-time Grant County
administrative
assistant.
Laurie Wright will be work-
ing full time as the new
human resources manager.
• Commissioner Sam
Palmer said he was at a
meeting with Regional For-
ester Glenn Casamassa
and other offi cials when
it was announced that
Craig Trulock is the new
Malheur National Forest
supervisor.
Highway 26 in Dayville.
June 14: Responded to a
report of an infant with dif-
fi culty breathing on High-
way 26.
June 14: Responded to
several reports of criminal
mischief in Canyon City.
June 15: Responded to
a reported theft on North
Clark Street in Canyon
City.
• John Day ambulance
June 10: Transported a
patient from South Canyon
Boulevard in John Day.
June 11: Responded
with Prairie City ambu-
lance to a medical alarm on
Indian Creek Road.
June 10: Dispatched to a
woman with diabetic prob-
lems on Northwest Third
Street in John Day.
June 12: Responded for
a 64-year-old male on Main
Street in John Day.
June 14: Dispatched for
a man with chest pain on
Thomason Lane.
June 12: Responded for
a man who had fallen on
Northwest Boyce Place in
John Day.
June 13: Responded with
Oregon State Police to a
single-vehicle accident on
Highway 395 North.
June 14: Responded with
Long Creek ambulance for
a man with a history of car-
diac issues in Long Creek.
June 14: Responded for
an 84-year-old man who
was nonresponsive on Cha-
rolais Heights.
June 16: Responded with
Seneca ambulance for a
70-year-old man.
June 16: Responded for
a 95-year-old man who had
fallen on Valley View Drive.
June 16: Dispatched for
a 22-year-old man who was
having seizures on South-
west Brent Drive.
• Canyon City Public
Works
June 11: Received a
report of a tree down across
a bridge in Canyon City.
• Grant County Road
Department
June 14: Advised of
a downed tree blocking
County Road 62.
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
All
Grant
County
employees, from elected
offi cials to hourly workers,
will receive a 2.55% cost of
living increase, according
to the fi scal year 2020 bud-
get approved by the Grant
County Court on June 12.
The budget will be for-
mally adopted on June 26.
Excluding the unappropri-
ated ending fund balance
and reserve funds, the bud-
get comes to $31.7 million,
up from $25.3 million last
year.
That includes $2.7 mil-
lion for health services, up
from $1.5 million last year.
Estimated property taxes to
be received by the county
this year will be $1.6 mil-
lion, increased from $1.5
million last year.
With 23.94 full-time
equivalent employees, gen-
eral administration costs for
the FY 2020 budget come to
$5.2 million, up from 21.71
FTE employees and $3.8
million last year. Public
safety’s 31.85 FTE employ-
ees come to $4.4 million, up
from $3.8 million last year.
The county began bank-
ing money in a road reserve
fund around 2001 using fed-
eral Secure Rural Schools
money. The hope was to
build up a large enough
reserve that interest pay-
ments would help fund the
county road department,
but it’s never been enough,
Judge Scott Myers told the
Eagle.
The county might receive
$650,000 from the federal
government as payment in
lieu of taxes in the com-
ing fi scal year, according to
the budget message to the
county budget committee.
The sheriff’s offi ce
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
Grant County Treasurer Julie Ellison describes budget changes during the county court’s June 12 meeting.
anticipates receiving about
$300,000 from the state
Department of Correc-
tions for jail bed rentals
and $50,000 from Prairie
City for patrol services. The
offi ce requested $90,000
to lease six new outfi tted
patrol vehicles, $64,000 for
a second civil deputy and
$10,000 for new ballistic
vests.
The
county
court
renewed a $6,000 contract
with the Forest Service
to patrol forest roads and
campgrounds.
The sheriff’s offi ce
will also provide spe-
cial enforcement during
unexpected large group
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
gatherings
and
fi re
From left, Commissioner Sam Palmer, County Judge Scott
emergencies.
Sheriff Glenn Palmer Myers and Commissioner Jim Hamsher listen to county court
agreed with the court that discussion on June 12.
the Forest Service should
pay more for the patrol ser- contract at least provides an to have a police presence on
vices and noted that the opportunity for the county the forest.
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
Debra L. Shawn, 64, Mt.
Vernon, was acquitted by a
jury June 7 of driving under
the infl uence of intoxicants
allegedly committed on
March 18, 2018.
A charge of unlaw-
ful possession of metham-
phetamine against Ivan T.
Rodriguez, 33, Boardman,
allegedly committed April
3, 2014, was dismissed
June 11 following a motion
to dismiss by the district
attorney citing the best
interests of justice. A pro-
bation violation charge was
dismissed and an arrest
warrant was recalled.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce reported the
following for the week of
June 12:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 5
Average inmates: 19
Bookings: 9
Releases: 6
Arrests: 0
Citations: 1
Fingerprints: 3
Civil papers: 8
Warrants processed: 1
Asst./welfare check: 1
Search and rescue: 1
June 10: Shea Pogue,
18, Kimberly, was cited
for violating the basic rule,
70/55 zone.
Oregon State Police
June 10: Anthony J.
Capaldo, 62, was taken
into custody and lodged at
the Grant County Jail on an
arrest warrant for contempt
of court.
June 13: A vehicle was
towed after a noninjury
crash on Highway 395 near
mile post 116. The opera-
tor was cited for failing to
maintain lane.
June 15: A Fish and
Wildlife trooper assisted
Grant County deputies
responding to a report of
domestic violence. Ian E.
Humbird, 23, Canyon City,
was arrested.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch
worked 164 calls during
the week of June 10-16,
including:
• John Day Police
Department
June 10: Responded to
a report of suspicious cir-
cumstances at a John Day
business.
June 10: Responded
with John Day fi re to a
report of a porch fi re.
June 12: Illegal fi re-
works were reported on
Third Street Extension.
June 13: Cited Edward
M. Thornton, 65, of Myrtle
Point for a speeding viola-
tion, 65/35 zone.
June 13: Cited Hope
Kindle, 50, of John Day for
speeding, 30/20 zone.
June 13: Received a call
about harassment on East
Main Street in John Day.
June 14: Cited Ashlie
Clark, 27, of John Day for
driving while suspended
and uninsured.
June 14: Responded to
a report of harassment on
Southwest Brent Street.
June 15: Cited Joseph
Tirico, 55, of Mt. Ver-
non for driving while sus-
pended and uninsured.
June 15: David Kreger,
26, of Prairie City was
arrested for a restraining
order violation.
• Grant County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce
June 10: Responded to a
report of a fi re on County
Road 18.
June 11: An injured ani-
mal was reported on High-
way 395 South.
June 12: A fi ght was
reported on Bumpy Road.
June 12: Responded
with John Day and Mon-
ument ambulances and
Monument fi re to a UTV
crash on Highway 402.
June 13: A suspicious
subject was reported on
gon!
For the first time in Eastern Ore
VETERAN BENEFIT
EXPO19
9 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
SATURDAY, JULY 27TH
PENDLETON CONVENTION CENTER
Learn about all of your Federal and State benefits
Under one roof!
NEW THIS YEAR:
Veterans town hall meeting
with odva director kelly fitzpatrick
6 p.m. july 26
same
location
WZ^Ed/EWZdEZ^,/Wz
100004
W W W. E X P O.O R E G O N D VA .C O M
SAUNDERS/FAMILY & FRIENDS REUNION
Dates: June 21, 22 and 23
Place(s): Holliday Park and Mt. Vernon Community Hall
Friday June21: Holliday Park
12:00 to Evening
Meals …Potluck
Saturday June 22: Mt Vernon Community Hall
Meals
Breakfast 8-10 am: Pancakes by Family
Noon:
Potluck
Evening:
Potluck
Sunday June 23: Mt Vernon Community Hall
Meal:
Breakfast 8-10 am: continental Potluck
Who: All related
Family’s: Johns/ Osbornes/Springers/Gibbs/Others
Silent Auction: All Participants Welcome
Contact #: (541) 620-2392
120040