Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1973)
Dec, 3 benrl cbcthn mgiineeir cites need for water improvement Sieve Anderson, city engi neer, spoke to Champer of Commerce me mbers Monday In an attempt to clarify questions regarding the Dec, S water bond election. "Five major steps have to be taken in order to upgrade the present water system," said Anderson. They are, relocation of one of the reservoirs, which will have to be relocated in conjunction with the proposed Willow Creek Dam project ; problems with the present distribution systems, as it does not meet State of Oregon standards; upgrading of some of the present water mains, and making the necessary cross ties, thereby allowing the city to expand for future growth: purchase of the Thorpe Well as a secondary source of water because one well is good for 24 hours and the remaining wells will not pump against the present head pressure; and to automate the present system to improve pressures and balance flows throughout the city system. "At present, the city has one of the best sources of w ater in the entire State of Oregon, and residents are receiving the water at the cheapest rates, as compared with six other cities." Anderson pointed out. Heppner is fortunate in rot having to add any chemicals to it present source of water as many cities do Four juveniles charged with burglary Four Morrow County youths ranging in age from 12 16 years of age were cited by the Oregon State Police for burg lary in the second degree. The four youths are charged with breaking and entering Wicklander's General Store in Boardman on two separate occasions. The first entry was 1n June, at which time the juveniles made off with a lantern, clock, rod and reel. .22 cal. rifle, and liquor. On Sept. 26 some of the youths involved in the first robbery decided to try their hand again and once again they w ere apprehended by the State Police. The case is being handled by juvenile authorities, and no hearing date has been set. However, they should appear in Juvenile Court within the next two weeks. Most of the stolen Hems have been recovered and returned to their owners. 3 rC. 7 Regarding the cost of w ater, residents in the area pay about $25 per year less than residents of the other six cities. The Dty of Heppner has the opportunity to gel the help of the Corps of Engineers in the upgrading of the present water system, as much of the cost, approximately $350,000, w ill be paid for by the Corps In conjunction with the Willow Creek Dam. The total cost of the projwt would cost resi dents over $791,000 if they had to upgrade the present system without the assistance of the Corps of Engineers; however, with the Corps paying $348, 750, the total cost to residents is $442,870. or slightly more THE Vol. W. No. 41 Corps upsefls Boardman seuer lagoon plans The Boardman city council was informed at their meeting last week that the U S Corps of Engineers does not want a sewer lagoon site located on federal land. Stan Wallulis. the city's consulting engineer, said that he had received word from the corps that it would not approve expansion of the present lagoon, which is on federal land, and also that an alternate site that is on the Umatilla Wildlife refuge land will not get approval. This decision will mean more delay for the Boardman project, and it could also cost more money, Wallulis told the council. Mayor Dewey West Jr. said the State Department of Environmental Quality and the Bureau of Human Re sources have stopped any expansion development until the utility service are ex panded. The city needs funds to study possible projects, and applications for these funds are in the process, according to the council. than half the estimated cost, the engineer said. "If the water bond issue is passed, will that reduce the present fire insurance rates?" was a question asked of Anderson. He replied, "Yes, I believe the rates would be decreased by 10 per cent, as that appears to be the amount the rates Increased when the City of Heppner went to a class 7-B rating." The upgrading of the entire system as planned would also take care of any population increase within the next 20 years, if Heppner continues to grow at the rate of one per cent per year. Anderson was asked, "What are the alternatives if resi GAZETTE-TUME Heppner, Housing and industrial de velopments in the city have been issued an ultimatum from state agencies that water and sewer facilities will have to be expanded before the city can take on any new services. The city council agreed to a zone change in Boardman that could eventually bring the population up from 430 to about 2.000. The council adopted zoning changes following a hearing on several tracts and through a resolution indicated it plans 10 rezone an area near the school that has a total of 86 acres. The area had been zoned for farm use. The city planning commis sion had already approved the zone change requests of the Boardman Development Corp. at a former meeting. Mayor Dewey West Jr. cast FLAWING COMMISSION TO MEET DEC. 3 The Morrow County Plan ning Commission will meet Monday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., at the court house. dents fail to pass the bond issue; and would the state authorities allow any further building permits to be issued within the city limits?" Anderson replied: "If the residents fail to pass the bond issue, the city could . issue revenue sharing bonds, which in essence would mean an automatic increase in water rates; and, if city forces made the necessary corrections and tie-ins required without in creasing the size of the water lines, the state might allow the city to issue another 28 building permits. And after that, the city and the state would reach another stale mate until the necessary upgrading is completed." Oregon. Thursday, November 29. the only vote against the zone change requests. The six council men approved the change. West's concern is that by granting the zone change the city would be making a commitment to the Boardman Development Corp. that it would be in a position to provide water and sewer services. It was brought out that the zoning ordinances apply to land use and have no relation to utility service. After the first of the year the Eoardman - Development Corp. plans to begin construc tion of apartment units in the area of North Main Street. To city planning commis sion and school officials asked, and the council agreed to prohibit the use of mobil homes in a zone adjacent to the school, and in tis its place permit residential use. The general area considered in the zone change is in northeast Boardman, and is bound by North Main Street, Union Pacific Rail road, Olson Road, Boardman Cemetery and the Riverside School. It isa't far from the hills of Hrppnrr U the wild and rugged Pacific Coast. Here is a study ia black, white and gray, made by a GaeUe-TUnes photographer, of the urate coastline in winter. "Should the water bonds pass the state might allow the City of Heppner to issue some building permits this summer, or possibly sooner, as at present they are Interested in how the city plans to finance the required work," he added. (If the Dec. 3 bond issue fau. the city may Issue revene bonds to pay for the overhaul of the system. This would mean that the cost of the project would come from the sale of water and not from taxes. If revenue bonds are used to install the system, it is estimated that Heppner water users will pay an average of approximately $97 a year more for water than they now dor' 1973 . JMMMMM iindergarfon da?a souglrf Heppner Elementary Prin cipal Don Cole is attempting to establish an approximate en rollment figure and transpor tation costs for the 1974 fall kindergarten in view of pro posed legislation. The legislation will author ize kindergartens operated by the school district rather than by private funding. Parents of children who will be 5 years of age before the deadline of Nov. 15, 1974 are asked to call Cole at 676-9128. lie" will need- to, know.- the.. , Child's name and address. If he lives outside of Heppner, Cole would like to have the approximate location. Although questionnaires have been sent home with stu dents. Cole would prefer parents call in order to obtain the necessary information. It would be helopful if parents knew what bus route they live on or the name of the bus driver. He would like to have this information by Dec. 4. After the census has been compiled, it will be presented to the December meeting of the " - ''I It At this point it appears that the Dec. 3 election will decide whether the water improve ment cost will be paid front property taxes or from In creased water rates.) With the passage of the bonds, and some of the necessary cross-ties com pleted, Anderson believes the state would allow the city to grant building permits. The state is interested in the growth of Heppner and it has no wish lo freeze the city until the entire project is com pleted, according to Anderson. If the bonds are passed, only limited work could be done in 1974, as plans must be drawn and accepted by the state prior to the issuance of bids to 15 cents Morrow County school board. At present, kindergarten students ride the buses into Heppner on the morning bus run and parents are respon sible for transportation home. Out-of-town students attend the morning sessions and the afternoon sessions are for in-town children. With the approximate figures, the board will deter mine the feasibility of estab lishing a two-way bus run for these students, or alterna- , tives. The decision will likely be affected by the outcome of the census. It is there impera tive, Cole said, that parents provide the necessary infor mation so that a realistic .figure can be reached. Santa here Saturday Santa Claus will arrive in Heppner, Saturday, Dec. 1, and will officially open Hepp ner's Christmas season. At 2 p.m. on Main Street, Santa will greet youngsters with an armful of treats. Pictures with Santa will be taken at 2:30 p.m. at the ; Heppner Fire Hall. Members of Heppner Soroptimist club will be taking Polaroid pic tures for a small fee. With the arrival of Santa Claus, Heppner merchants are sponsoring guessing con tests with winners receiving $5 gift certificates. Each participating mer chant will have a guessing contest similiar to guessing the number of beans in a jar. The contest will begin at 9 a m. Saturday and will close at 4:30 p.m. Participants in the contest may enter at each individual store. Winners' names will be posted in each store at the end of the contest. In observance of the Christ mas opening, the Heppner merchants will cover the parking meters on Saturday. In addition, youngsters can call Santa Claus at the North Pole Wednesday Dec. 5, from 7 pm. to 9 pm. The phone number is 676 9163. contractors for tha work. Some work could be scheduled for July 1974. However, during July and August water be comes scarce and if the necessary ties are not made, residents will once again be faced with the problem of water rationing, he warned. ' ' (V. ; ' ' ( I'm- i ' 1 ' . I ' i .,--. , . . ' V. 0 ., If S &r ' ' ' . v , u t- x . ' VhVJ . . i i , ' 1 ? u Si f ) S tc o ' s ..tajr. f i' ., " k : V X I'-:- STEVE or row County Fair rating up "Morrow County Fair rose from 15th to third place this year for fairs with 15,000 attendance," said . Morrow County Fair Secretary Lenna Smith after she received the county fair ratings tabulated by the Oregon Fair Commis sion last week. Morrow County received 853 points out of a possible 1,000. Grant County topped the , 15,000 category with 953 points and Sherman County was second with 860 points. The Oregon Fair Commis sion also announced the rat ings for the county fairs in 15,000-100,000 attendance cat egory, over 100,000 attendance category, and youth fairs category. Lane County claimed the No. 1 position in the fairs with over 100,000 attendance with 956 points. Douglas County with a rating of 929 led the counties having an attendance between 15,000 and 100,000. In the youth fair category, Clat sop County was the high point leader with 715 points. The top rating fairs in each of the four categories will receive a plaque which will be presented during the Dec. 5-7 meeting of the Oregon Fairs Association in Portland. Free color portraits to be taken Dec. 1 Those free 8x10 color portraits for new and renewal sub scribers during last summer's circulation drive will be made on Dec. 1, the Los Angeles based company announced last week. The free portraits were promised long ago, but the photographer was unable to return to Heppner as scheduled. All readers who are entitled to the free portraits are asked to be at the Gazette-Times office on Dec. 1, only, between 10 a m. and 4 p.m., to have the photos taken. The entire family should come, and be dressed in colorful clothing. The company also announced that anyone who has failed to see their proofs, particularly the people at lone, will have another chance to see them on Dec. 1. The offer of a free 8x10 color portrait will also be honored from now until Dec. 1 for any person who take out a new subscription to the Gazettc-Timct or renews an existing subscription for ooe year. There are approximately 750 persons eligible to vole In the Dec. 3 water bond im provement election. Voting will take place at the Old Library Room, City Hall, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A simple majority Is required for passage. -''-'. rmsr1' swim'p I l! '.1 ANDERSON Ratings received by each of the fairs are used by the commission as a basis for allocation to the counties of their portion of the county fairs share of the state racing revenues. The points were based on the responsiveness of the fair to the needs of the community, citizens' involvement in fair activities and general opera tion procedures. Stockmen to meet Friday Morrow County Livestock Growers are invited to attend the 24th annual meeting Fri day, Nov. 30, at the Heppner Elks Lodge. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. Guests from the livestock industry ' will be speaking throughout the day. The Farm-City banquet will conclude the day's activities. The public is invited to attend the 7 p.m. dinner at the Heppner High School cafe torium. The price is $2.50 per person.
