NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
A5
Findley and Owens
request $1.5 million for
John Day sewer plant
State legislators had
$6 million total for
critical projects in
their districts
of the city and help us keep our
wastewater rates manageable
for our low-income residents.”
The $1.5 million in fund-
ing will help the city build
the new wastewater treatment
plant designed for the Innova-
tion Gateway site and replace
the 72-year-old treatment plant
currently in place.
“Their eff orts were critical
to ensuring this request was
compliant with the require-
ments and competitive in the
mix of all the capital improve-
ment projects requesting fund-
ing throughout the state and
in their districts,” Green said.
“It would not have happened
without their strong support.”
Green said, because of this
appropriation, the city will be
able to keep the sewer project
on schedule to begin construc-
tion this year.
“This is a massive invest-
ment for our community and
one that earned the League of
Oregon Cities 2019 Award for
Excellence for its bold vision,
inclusive design and multi-di-
mensional community bene-
fi ts,” Green said. “It’s a great
example of how rural commu-
nities can lead the state in inno-
vation and economic value
creation.”
Other projects Findley and
Owens requested funding for
include:
• Vale Wastewater Treat-
ment Facility: $1,000,000
• Madras Industrial Space
Grant: $750,000
• Harney County Fair-
grounds: $1,000,000
• Malheur County Fair-
grounds: $455,000
• City of Unity Water Tower
Replacement: $500,000
• Sumpter Valley Railroad:
$45,000
• Jeff erson County Hous-
ing-Disadvantaged Commu-
nity Shelter: $750,000
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
State legislators requested
$1.5 million from the Ameri-
can Rescue Plan Act for John
Day’s Wastewater Treatment
Plant.
State Sen. Lynn Find-
ley, R-Vale, and Rep. Mark
Owens, R-Crane, announced
May 12 they are requesting
funds for eight projects across
their jurisdictions that will fund
critical infrastructure projects.
Oregon is anticipated to
receive about $4 billion from
the American Rescue Plan.
Findley and Owens requested
a total of $6 million for the
eight projects. Each Oregon
House member was able to
direct $2 million and each sen-
ator $4 million in these federal
funds toward their communi-
ties’ needs.
“We worked closely
together and alongside local
leaders to research and learn
which projects are most needed
and that would provide the
greatest benefi t to our commu-
nities,” Findley said in a press
release. “These infrastructure
improvements are critical to
the future of our region.”
John Day City Manager
Nick Green said he appreci-
ates both Findley and Owens
for advocating for this critical
infrastructure project.
“This is a $13 million
investment by our commu-
nity, which has over 57% low-
to moderate-income house-
holds,” Green said. “Being
able to secure an appropriation
of this size will signifi cantly
improve the fi nancial position
Eagle fi le photo
The John Day City Council listens to Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley and John Day Police Department Chief Mike Durr during a
meeting on March 31.
Special meeting scheduled
about John Day police levy
New plan is to request
voter approval for
$50,000 per year in
fi ve-year tax levy
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
A public hearing regarding
a resolution to refer a ballot
measure for a tax to help fund
the John Day Police Depart-
ment will take place May 27.
The city of John Day is
holding the special meeting at
6 p.m. Thursday, May 27. The
council will review the reso-
lution for the emergency elec-
tion to go before John Day
voters.
This meeting will provide
the people with an opportunity
to comment.
John Day City Manager
Nick Green said this will
allow him to fi le the resolu-
tion on May 28 with the Grant
County clerk.
The question prepared for
the ballot reads: “Shall John
Day impose a tax of $50,000
per year for fi ve years to fund
law enforcement operations?”
While the rate needed to
collect $50,000 can vary each
year depending on the grow-
ing tax base in John Day,
it is estimated that the pro-
posed tax will result in a rate
of approximately $0.50 per
$1,000 assessed value in the
fi rst year. The levy will sunset
in fi ve years.
“Prior to the election, in the
town hall, we can explain this
is the amount we need to col-
lect and this is roughly how it
will aff ect you individually,”
Councilor Dave Holland said.
“This is in the 45 to 50 cent
range per thousand, but not to
exceed $50,000 per year.”
John Day City Councilor
Heather Rookstool said she
was concerned this would
make the request confusing
because it’s not a fi xed per-
centage and the rate will be
based on the ask of $50,000.
The city previously proposed
a rate of 50 cents per $1,000
of assessed value.
“At the fi xed rate of
$50,000 a year, the total cost
to the community would be
$250,000 with a sunset in fi ve
years,” Green said. “If it’s 50
cents per thousand, I would
have to estimate the total
because our tax base is grow-
ing, and it would be more than
the $250,000 we need.”
To pass, voter turnout for
the special election must be at
least 50%, and a majority must
approve the fi ve-year levy.
If it fails, Green said the
city would pursue closing the
department and transitioning
its offi cers to the Grant County
Sheriff ’s Offi ce.
Green
also
recom-
mended the city apply for a
law enforcement grant that
recently became available.
The grant would provide
100% of funding for an offi -
cer in year one and then tiers
down by 20% each subse-
quent year for fi ve years. The
grant would make a signifi -
cant, positive impact, but the
city would have to wait until
October to know if they were
awarded the funds.
milepost 163.
May 15: Cited Jordan K.
Cole, 28, of Renton, Washing-
ton, for speeding on Highway
26 near milepost 163.
May 15: Cited Lacey M.
Mortimore, 38, of John Day
for speeding on Highway 26
near milepost 163.
May 15: Cited Robert B.
Wolf, 63, of Boise, Idaho for
speeding on Highway 26 near
milepost 163.
• Oregon State Police
May 11: Advised of an
injured elk near Picture Gorge.
May 14: Received a report
of a driver swerving, nearly
hitting other vehicles on High-
way 26 near Pine Creek.
• Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce
May 10: Responded to a
report of possible elder abuse
in Long Creek.
May 10: Received a report
of a dispute in Dayville.
May 11: Received a report
of theft in Prairie City.
• John Day ambulance
May 10: Dispatched to an
elderly woman with back pain
on Northwest Canton Street.
May 12: Responded for
an 83-year-old woman with
shortness of breath on Brent
Lane.
May 12: Transport for a
woman who was dizzy, nau-
seated and confused on Valley
View Drive.
May 14: Responded for an
83-year-old woman not feel-
ing well on Brent Lane.
May 14: Responded for
a 71-year-old woman with
respiratory distress on South-
west Fourth Avenue.
May 14: Responded for
an 18-year-old man with an
amputated fi nger.
May 14: Responded for an
82-year-old woman vomiting.
• Seneca ambulance
May 11: Along with John
Day ambulance, paged for a
woman with an erratic heart
rate.
Eagle fi le photo
John Day Police Chief Mike
Durr participates in a study
session about the future of the
John Day Police Department.
COPS AND COURTS
uncooperative with the state
and the victim actively advo-
cates for the defendant.
Robert L. Crosby, 34,
pleaded guilty to a count of
harassment committed on
April 2. Crosby was sentenced
to 12 months of bench proba-
tion, 20 hours of community
service and ordered to pay
$200 in fi nes.
Arrests and citations in
the Blue Mountain Eagle are
taken from the logs of law
enforcement agencies. Every
eff ort is made to report the
court disposition of arrest
cases.
Grant County Circuit
Court
Two charges of sec-
ond-degree disorderly con-
duct against Josva T. Halse-
ide, allegedly committed on
Jan. 6 and Jan. 27, were dis-
missed on Jan. 28 based on a
motion by Grant County Dis-
trict Attorney Jim Carpenter
because the defendant is in a
facility for the mentally ill and
receiving services.
Two charges of fourth-de-
gree assault constituting
domestic violence against
Keith A. Mark, allegedly com-
mitted on March 12, were dis-
missed on May 12 based on a
motion by Carpenter because
the victim and eyewitness are
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce reported the following
for the week of May 12:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 9
Average inmates: 12
Bookings: 11
Releases: 12
Arrests: 3
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 2
Civil papers: 38
Warrants processed: 4
Assistance/Welfare check:
0
Search and Rescue: 2
Grant County Justice
Court
Careless driving: Christian
J. Wallace, 19, Anderson, Cal-
ifornia, April 10, fi ned $265.
Driving uninsured: Chris-
tian J. Wallace, 19, Ander-
son, California, April 10, fi ned
$265.
Mason R. Zipp pleaded
guilty to unlawful entry on
state wildlife and was ordered
to pay a $440 fi ned.
Marguerite C. Decourcelle
pleaded guilty to unlawful
entry on state wildlife and was
ordered to pay a $440 fi ned.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
192 calls during the week of
May 10-16, including:
• John Day Police
Department
May 11: Received a report
of a pet stolen from a res-
idence. Arrested Melenda
Dethman, 60, of John Day for
fi rst-degree burglary, criminal
trespass and theft.
May 11: Bradley Bolin, 34,
of Mt. Vernon was cited for
driving while suspended and
uninsured.
May 11: Received a report
of a horse running loose near
Canton Street and West Main
Street.
May 12: Mary K. Arm-
strong, 33, of John Day was
cited for speeding.
May 12: Ashlie R. Clark,
29, of John Day was cited for
driving while suspended and
driving uninsured.
May 14: Responded to
a report of a driver coming
into city limits who had been
swerving and nearly striking
other vehicles on Highway 26.
May 15: Travis J. Freniere,
34, of John Day was cited for
driving while suspended and
uninsured.
May 15: Cited Susan L.
Burton, 61, of John Day for
speeding on Highway 26 near
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