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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 A3 Search and Rescue requests additional funding County plans to let voters decide on pool By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County Search and Res- cue coordinator Dave Dobler requested the court allocate an additional $5,000 to the organiza- tion for a total of $10,000 to reim- burse volunteers for ongoing train- ing, materials and travel costs at the Grant County Court meeting Feb. 12. Dobler said the missions SAR has conducted require specialized training and equipment that his volunteers pay for out of pocket. Dobler, who was flanked by SAR president Cindy Lemcke, sec- retary Kim Kell and software and communications specialist Steve Fletcher, said each of them have spent upwards of $10,000 out of their own pockets for training, travel, lodging and resources this year. Lemcke, who owns two search and rescue dogs, pays expensive trainers, all of whom are located out of the area. Kell also has a SAR dog in training and pays out of pocket for training and travel. Dobler said Fletcher paid out of his pocket to update SAR’s com- munication infrastructure to extend the range of communication for the team’s missions. Additionally, Fletcher paid to refurbish an old ambulance bus that works as a com- mand post for the team on missions. Dobler walked the county through the team’s progress and 40 missions over the past 16 months since he took the helm. He said after each mission comes a debriefing, and for the tough mis- sions that result in a fatality, trauma counselors are available to them as SAR teams are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with post-trau- matic stress. Dobler said he has raised stan- dards on both existing and incom- ing volunteers. The organization now requires a minimum of 60 vol- unteer hours a year in order to be an active member. Incoming volunteers are required to go through 40-hour SAR Training Academy, which begins next month, and pass a writ- ten exam in order to join the team. “I need to know what somebody can do before they go out on a res- cue,” Dobler said. He said potential volunteers must go through a background check as well. Commissioner Sam Palmer said he takes the requests of SAR seri- ously and the work they do is indis- pensable to the community. “This is the difference between life or death,” Palmer said. “Time matters, training matters.” Palmer said the training on maps, correspondence and the related technology are much needed in rural areas like Grant County. Commissioner Jim Hamsher said Dobler should reach out to incoming county Title III coordi- nator Beth Simonson. Dobler said he has been looking for other funding sources, includ- ing Title III. He said he met with Simonson earlier in then week. Dobler said a grant through Title III could bring roughly $20,000. The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Mindy Winegar, Grant County Fairgrounds manager, updated the court on the timeline of the construction project at Trow- bridge Pavilion on Feb. 12. Trowbridge Pavilion construction project pushed out until after fair By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Dave Dobler, the county’s Search and Rescue coordinator, walks the court through the team’s 40 missions during his tenure. Dobler requested additional funding to reimburse his volunteers. lion in repairs and said the commu- nity should focus on school needs rather than a pool. She also pointed out that enrollment is down at the schools and that the population overall in Grant County is pro- jected to decrease over the next couple of decades. Myers said the county needs to make it attractive for people to come to the area. “In my opinion things like a new pool, potentially a new park and better school buildings will make the community attractive for people to come here,” Myers said. Brooks said people from other areas will not be able to afford to travel from the surrounding areas to use the pool but at the same time The Eagle/Steven Mitchell will be on the hook to pay for it. Bob Pereira addresses the county court regarding his concerns surround- “The county line does not end at ing the new aquatics taxing district that may be put before voters in No- John Day,” Brooks said. vember. Francis Preston asked how the county even got involved. The court approved SAR’s have not had a voice in the process. County Commissioner Sam request to use the Road Depart- “No hearings have taken place Palmer explained that the county is ment’s yard lot during Cycle Ore- in outlying communities that I am the body that would put the mea- gon in September. SAR will sell aware of,” Pereira said. sure on the ballot. parking lot spaces as a fundraiser “The only way to get public Myers said the county plans to that could bring nearly $1,000, send the proposal to the voters. opinion is to put this out on the bal- said Lemcke. Pereira said the city should take lot to the voters,” Myers said. In other county court news: the measure to John Day voters and Court addresses concerns • The court approved to pay the county should not be involved. regarding new taxing district “You think you speak for the death investigator Richard Tirico a A county citizen addressed the majority, (but) I don’t necessarily wage of $30 per hour on a case-by- court with wide-ranging concerns think you do,” Myers said. “You case basis. about the new aquatic taxing dis- look at the need for a pool and • The court appointed Beth trict that may be put before voters what the people say about the need Simonson as the county’s new in November. and want for a pool, and only a bal- Title III coordinator. Bob Perieira told the court the lot will bear that out.” • The court discussed updat- Hamsher said other communi- ing the county’s cyber security measure for the proposed aquatics district is not in line with the needs ties need to have all of the infor- and will reach out to the county’s of other communities outside of mation in front of them before they insurance provider for guidance. make a decision. • The court approved moving John Day. Mary Ellen Brooks, a citizen of forward with replacing its 25-year- Pereira said the proposed tax- ing district is another “eye-candy” Mt. Vernon, said the biggest tax- old alarm system. The cost will be project that is fiscally irresponsible payers in the district are from areas $4,000, and the company that will and aimed to line the pockets of the outside of John Day. install it is Alpine Alarm Systems. “I am not opposed to the swim- The system will include alarms for John Day City Council. “If you have opinions about ming pool,” Brooks said. “The both smoke and fire. John Day’s city council, than you thing that bothers me is that we • The memorandum of under- should take them directly to the have neglected to take care of standing between the county and council, not county court,” Judge the things that we have, from the Old West Bank for the possible swimming pool to the court house, purchase of the Strawberry Beef Scott Myers said. Pereira said the proposed taxing the schools. We don’t take care of building is being amended by Jim Carpenter, the county’s dis- district and aquatics center would those things as we go.” Brooks also pointed out the trict attorney, at the request of Old not benefit citizens outside of city limits and that other communities school district’s need for $20 mil- West. TOM CHRISTENSEN CHRISTENSEN TOM QUALITY AND PRECISION MACHINE SHOP • Milling • Lathework • Keyseating • Welding Andy’s Machine Shop, LLC - Andy Schutz 541-447-4446 • Pickup/Delivery Available 4820 SE Paulina Highway • Prineville, OR 97754 SENIOR LIVING ADVISOR REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS CONCRETE EXCAVATION • SHEET ROCK • SIDING ROOFING • FENCES • DECKS • TELESCOPING FORKLIFT SERVICES debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com BETTER TV FOR LESS! Promo Terms and con ditions Code: DIS apply. Call for GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR H100 details . Add High Speed Internet for 12 months 190 Channels America’s Top 120 CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card /mo. FROM $ 1,749 1,499 * $ 12 days, departs May - Sep, 2020 TM Subject to availability. Restrictions apply. Internet not provided by DISH and will be billed separately. 1-877-840-6119 Promo code N7017 1-866-373-9175 Se Habla Español Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST Offer ends 7/15/20. S174024-1 S170375-1 S167931-1 A Place for Mom has helped over a million families find senior living solutions that meet their unique needs. (888) 651-5669 CCB# 106077 24 hrs/7 days wk INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE There’s no cost to you! (541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192 541-575-1113 S174692-1 ! We’re paid by our partner communities CONSTRUCTION Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm Call today to connect with a Grant County Fair- grounds Manager Mindy Winegar told the Grant County Court Feb. 12 that the construction project on the Trowbridge Pavilion will not be completed until Sep- tember or October. She said the delay in completing the project will impact one event, but that event was unconfirmed and she would rather not share the name or give any other additional details. Winegar said the proj- ect was necessary because roots on the north side of the pavilion had lifted the concrete floor, causing it to crack and creating a safety hazard. The 10-week project was set to begin and end between March 9 and May 11. “We were hoping to get it done before fair, but it just was not in the cards,” Wine- gar said. Winegar also said the Malheur County Fair booked a carnival company and that she might be able to get the company to come to Grant County. She said she also plans to bring in two concert acts that could bring name recogni- tion to the fair. She said one of the acts was confirmed while the other is undecided. Winegar said the ticket prices, which in previous years have been between $70 and $35, have been changed to $45. 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