NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
A5
Lawmakers considering
Confusion surrounds John Day
ordinance amending development code requiring law enforcement
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
A proposed ordinance amend-
ing the development code in John
Day is on hold as concerns and con-
fusion dominated a recent 90-minute
discussion.
At the John Day City Council
meeting Feb. 23, the council reviewed
Ordinance 20-187-08, which would
amend the city’s development code
to strengthen and clarify enforcement
provisions within the code.
Associate City Planner Daisy
Goebel said the intention is to sup-
port the enforcement of the develop-
ment code and promote the abatement
of code evaluations in a way that will
evenly apply to each citizen.
“The way it is structured is that
we’re linking the municipal code to
the nuisance ordinance in order to
allow those existing procedures that
are already in place, rather than recre-
ating the wheel,” Goebel said. “There
clarified during the council meeting
that the amendment proposed to the
development code is only connected
to the nuisance ordinance as far as
enforcement procedures go and that
the nuisance ordinance is a separate
problem to take care of at a different
time.
“All we’re asked to look at is, are
the procedures for abatement listed
in the nuisance code — because
that’s the only place we have pro-
cedures for abatements listed any-
where — (and) are they acceptable
to use for development code proce-
dures and violations?” Holland said.
“Those same abatement procedures,
not the nuisance code itself, just the
procedures for abatement, that’s the
question and that’s what we’re here
to decide on this particular develop-
ment code ordinance.”
The council agreed to continue
the hearing and revisit the ordinance
on March 23, while allowing for pub-
lic comment through March 12.
is a provision that allows the city to
grant permits to properties that are
in violation if they agree to an abate-
ment agreement.”
The abatement process language
is included in a nuisance ordinance
the city already passed, and many
concerns raised at the meeting were
about the nuisance ordinance, rather
than adding the abatement process to
the city’s development code.
“People thought that we were
there to discuss that existing legis-
lation (nuisance code), and that was
not the legislation that was being pro-
posed,” Green said after the meeting.
“A lot of the problem that people had
was related to an ordinance that the
city council adopted in 2015.”
The reason the nuisance ordi-
nance was included in the agenda
packet was to reference the specific
section of the nuisance ordinance
that relates to the enforcement proce-
dures, according to Green.
City Councilor Dave Holland
officers have college degrees
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
A bill requiring all law enforcement
officials to earn college degrees regardless
of experience is making its way through
the Oregon Legislature.
Senate Bill 612 would require a law
enforcement unit that employs more
than 50 police, corrections and proba-
tion officers to require at least a four-year
degree. Entities under 50 would need to
require at least a two-year degree.
An existing officer would have four
years to earn a degree.
Grant County Sheriff Todd McKin-
ley said the bill is bad for rural areas.
“It will put the rural regions of Ore-
gon in an incredible bind for law enforce-
ment officers,” McKinley said.
He said fiscally, as an “unfunded
mandate,” meaning there is no funding
attached to the proposed legislation, it
would not help existing officers attain an
education.
Another prob-
lem McKinley said
he had with the bill
is that the legislation
does not distinguish
Grant County what the degree
should be in.
Sheriff Todd
“Somebody that
McKinley
has life experience
would actually be more qualified than
somebody with a degree in art,” he
said. “I think what they are after is they
think it will change law enforcement as
a whole, with the educational require-
ments, and I would really challenge that
that’s actually accurate.”
McKinley said it’s a very “flawed
bill” and one of many this session that are
anti-law enforcement.
He said this bill and the others will
ultimately make it so difficult there
will not be as many candidates for law
enforcement positions.
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforce-
ment agencies. Every effort is
made to report the court dispo-
sition of arrest cases.
Grant County Circuit
Court
A charge of driving under
the influence of intoxicants
against Amy B. Bray, allegedly
committed on Aug. 16, was dis-
missed on Feb. 12 based on a
motion by Grant County Dis-
trict Attorney Jim Carpen-
ter because the breath test was
invalid because law enforce-
ment did not follow statutory
protocols in administering the
test.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of Feb. 24:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 5
Average inmates: 7
Bookings: 1
Releases: 9
Arrests: 1
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 0
Civil papers: 16
Warrants processed: 0
Assistance/Welfare check: 1
Search and Rescue: 0
Oregon State Police
Feb. 17: A state trooper
responded to a reported com-
mercial motor vehicle crash
near milepost 183 on Highway
26. The investigation revealed
a vehicle was eastbound when
it lost traction on icy roads and
slid across the westbound lane
of travel and came to rest in a
snowbank, blocking the west-
bound lane. About five minutes
later, another vehicle was east-
bound when it started to pass
the car in the snowbank. The
car stopped and lost its forward
momentum. When the driver
tried to resume travel, the car
slid back and across the west-
bound lane and struck the mir-
ror and trailer of car in the snow
bank, causing minor damage.
Both vehicles were pulled by
Oregon Department of Trans-
portation. While on scene,
ODOT changed the status of
Highway 26 to Condition B
(chains required for CMVs).
The state trooper facilitated an
information exchange between
drivers. Case closed, no further
action.
Feb. 17: A state trooper was
called out to respond to a single
motor vehicle noninjury crash
with a vehicle in Canyon Creek,
near milepost 9 on Highway
395C. The vehicle had been
removed from Canyon Creek
prior to the trooper’s arrival.
The vehicle was later removed
from the scene by a logging
company. The driver was later
issued a citation for a driving
while suspended violation.
Feb. 17: Philomena J.
Dutcher, 37, of Canyon City
was arrested for domestic
assault and harassment.
Feb. 19: Oregon State Police
responded to a single motor
vehicle rollover crash near mile-
post 174 on Highway 26. The
driver was westbound at about
65 mph, when he overcorrected.
The vehicle left the north side
of the highway, struck a steep
embankment and tripped roll-
ing once before coming to an
uncontrolled rest. The driver
was the sole occupant and was
uninjured. The vehicle was
totaled and was towed from the
scene by Doug’s Motor Vehicle
Repair at the owner’s request.
Feb. 19: OSP assisted a Grant
County Sheriff’s Office deputy
with a domestic assault in Prai-
rie City. After further investi-
gation, Kenneth J. Kincaid, 70,
was arrested for fourth-degree
assault and was transported to
Grant County Jail.
Feb. 20: OSP responded to a
motor vehicle crash near mile-
post 185 on Highway 26. A
pickup driven and occupied by
two juveniles was eastbound
when they slid into an ODOT
plow truck that was stalled out
in the eastbound lane. Both
vehicles sustained minor dam-
age. None of the occupants
were injured, and both vehicles
were driven from the scene.
Feb. 22: A state trooper
stopped a vehicle for speeding
westbound through Mt. Ver-
non, 55/35 zone. Upon con-
tact with the female driver, the
trooper saw illegal fireworks in
the back seat area. Upon further
investigation, more illegal fire-
works were found in the front
passenger side floorboard area.
The driver was cited in lieu of
custody.
Feb. 24: A state trooper
responded to an unknown sin-
gle motor vehicle crash on
Highway 395B near milepost
64. The trooper located the
noninjury crash at milepost 73
on Highway 395B. The driver
admitted to dozing off, at which
time the vehicle left the road-
way, traveling through a snow
berm, striking a barbwire fence
and then coming to a rest 15
yards off the roadway in a foot
and a half of snow. The driver’s
insurance company would not
pay for a tow as it was consid-
ered a motor vehicle crash with
property damage. The subject
was warned for careless driving
and provided an Oregon Police
Traffic Crash Report. The sub-
ject then began shoveling a
trail back onto the road for the
vehicle.
Feb. 26: A state trooper
responded to a reported single
vehicle crash at milepost 188 on
Highway 26. The investigation
revealed that the vehicle was
heading eastbound, negotiating
a curve, when it lost traction on
snow-packed roads. The vehi-
cle traveled onto a mound of
snow and struck the guard rail
and started to role. The vehicle
came to an uncontrolled rest in
the westbound lane of travel.
The driver was uninjured, and
the vehicle was towed from the
scene by Frontier Towing.
Feb. 27: A state trooper
observed a vehicle on the side
of the road with its hazard lights
flashing. After further inves-
tigation, criminal activity was
observed. A consent search
was obtained, revealing a large
amount of marijuana. Oscar A.
Perez, 26, of Baker City was
cited and released in lieu of
custody.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
112 calls during the week of
Feb. 22-28, including:
• John Day Police
Department
Feb. 22: Responded to a
crash between a person and
vehicle at a business on West
Main Street.
Feb. 26: Along with Oregon
State Police, advised of a driv-
ing complaint. Daniel J. Gold-
stein, 28, of Boulder was cited
on Highway 26 near milepost
158.
Feb. 27: Responded for a
report of a hit and run on East
Main Street.
Feb. 27: Arrested Brian Kim-
ble, 42, of John Day for crim-
inal driving while suspended.
Also cited Debora Kimble, 37,
of John Day for possession of a
controlled substance.
• Oregon State Police
Feb. 26: Along with Grant
County Sheriff’s Office and
Prairie
City
ambulance,
responded for a rollover crash
on Highway 26.
Feb. 26: Received a report
of a semi slide-off on Highway
395 near milepost 99.5B.
Feb. 27: Advised of an 18
wheeler that spun out and was
blocking Highway 26 near
milepost 180.5.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
Feb. 24: Responded to a
theft on Screech Alley Lane.
Feb. 25: Warren Dunn, 30,
was cited for speeding and
driving while suspended.
Feb. 27: Responded to a
report of dogs chasing live-
stock on Highway 26 near
milepost 159.
• John Day ambulance
Feb. 24: Dispatched for an
elderly woman on Valley View
Drive to be transported to the
hospital.
Feb. 25: Along with Mon-
ument ambulance, dispatched
for a man who had a large hay
bale fall on him on Longview
Lane.
Feb. 26: Responded for a
child having seizures on High-
way 26.
Feb. 27: Along with Sen-
eca ambulance, responded for
a patient with chest pain on B
Avenue.
Feb. 27: Along with GCSO,
responded for an 87-year-
old man who had fallen in the
snow on Marysville Road.
Feb. 28: Responded for
a 65-year-old man who was
unable to speak or move on
South McCallum Avenue.
• Mt. Vernon fire
Feb. 25: Paged for a house
fire on Cottonwood Street.
Feb. 28: Responded for a
chimney fire on Aslin Avenue.
VEGETATION SPECIALIST
Grant Soil & Water Conservation District, based
in John Day, OR is seeking to fill a Vegetation
Specialist Position.
This position provides labor, technical and programmatic
services to support the successful implementation of
District Programs.
Qualified candidates require field and technical skills, have
the ability to work independently and as part of a team
as well as possess strong oral and written communication
abilities.
Salary: $35-$45K DOE, plus benefits.
22 ND ANNUAL
For a complete job description and application, please visit
www.grantswcd.net or contact Kyle Sullivan 541-575-0135
ext. 111, sullivank@ortelco.net Application Deadline is
3:00 PM (PST) March 8 th , 2021.
PRESENTED BY:
®
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S232496-1
March is about Honoring our
Ag Producers.
MARCH 11 - 14, 2021
First Interstate Bank Center and
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Redmond, Oregon
GRAB THAT
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YOU COULD WIN
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wall, garage or attic and
bring it to the Central Oregon
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Book scorers will measure it
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including the grand prize of a
brand new Fort Knox Maverick
Vault Model 6637.
WE’VE WORKED HARD TO BRING
THESE SHOWS TO YOU AND WE
ARE COMMITTED TO SAFETY.
PLEASE HELP US SUCCEED.
Valuable prizes are awarded and
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Saturday ...............10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday ..................10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Adults................................... $12
Juniors (16 & under) .............. $5
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TROPHY CATEGORIES:
Black Bear • Mule Deer (Typical &
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MULTIPLE HAND
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To each of our Ag Producers and for your
contribution to our Rural Communities.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION.
Bank of Eastern Oregon’s Mission has always been
to provide Financial Support for the Ag Industry.
YOUR AG LENDERS
are just down the road.
Bob Quinton, John Day / Laura Georges, Burns
/thesportshows
For more information about Head & Horns, call 541-530-2749.
For complete contest rules and prize packages, show info, tickets, directions, and daily seminar schedules,
visit:
THANK YOU!
MEMBER FDIC
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