0 7 "
THE
GAZ
TIME
Vol. 92, No. 39
Heppner, OR, Thursday, Nov. 13, 1975
15c
Corporate Farms
11,1,1111 ILf l""" J ' l-'Vf 1H " ii.iiL.aiw iiinLii-m;wi.iii.iii i i m . mjf,m
iVfc. ' ShK- fa.
tf ii i - "r-' 1 -A 4,
Autumn scene along Willow Creek
'he other
of the coin
side
"Five years ago I farmed 400 acres and the cost of raising
potatoes was $400 per acre; this year I farmed 8.000 acres
and the cost had increased to $1,200 per acre," said Dennis
Logan, president of Western Empire Builders, Boardman.
Logan made the statement speaking before the Chamber of
Commerce. Monday, speaking in favor of corporate
farming in Morrow County.
His primary objection to the proposed amendment to the
Stale Constitution, which if passes by the voters would
abolish corporate farming in Oregon, is he feels would ban
free enterprise. "Free enterprise was started by our
forefathers and should be allowed to continue," said Logan.
"We have one world supremacy left and that is in the field
of agriculture, last year we had an $11 billion credit in
agriculture, while we had a $15 billion deficit in industry.
With this in mind the government should not tell us how to
run our corporate farms," said Logan.
Corporate farms have developed over 100,000 acres in the
Columbia Basin area, on land the government said was
worthless and could not be developed.
If Boeing had not come into this area the land would not be
developed today, said Logan. If we had waited for the
government to develop the land, we would still be waiting."
Presently corporate farms are paying approximately 40 per
cent of the Morrow County tax roll. In the past three years
the tax roll has increased 200 per cent in the county and this is
being paid by the corporate farmers. Last year the corporate
farm paid out over $5 million in wages. Responding to the
quote that most workers do not spend their money within the
county, Logan estimated that 90 per cent of his budget is
spent within Morrow and Umatilla counties.
If the proposed farm area in the north end of the county
were divided into 640 acre plots and given to veterans as they
plan, what would be the cost of developing the land?" asked
Logan, and who would loan the money to develop the land on
speculation?" With the increase in farm machinery prices,
640 acres would not be enough land for a farmer to make a
living.
If the land were divided in 500 farms for family farming at
the end of 20 years there would probably be 20 farms left as
the successful farmer would continue to purchase the
property of the unsuccessful farmer.
, Other questions posed by Logan were: "Who will pay for
the necessary roads and power Will this be paid for by the
average taxpayer? Why should the land only be given to
veterans, why not to the children of non-veterans?
Logan said. "The fairest way would be to auction off the
land and give the money to the state."
"The idea behind the proposed amendment to the
constitution is to get more people on the land. This has been
tried in other slates and the result has been a total failure."
said Logan.
"What is the fear of large corporate farms in the area?"
asked logan We need free enterprise in this country and if
corporate farming is restricted, what happens .to free
enterprise?
Corporate farms are the only ones with enough money to
farm this area, A family farmer could not compete with
corporation farming. Presently the family farmers are
selling their produce to the corporations. Once the family
farmer has established the price of a commodity, corporate
farm will spend the necessary money to maintain the price.
Residents object to Boeing, C.W. Brewer. Simplot. and
other large corporation farmers in the county. If the
proposed amendment is passed it will not affect either P.J.
Taggeres or J R. Simplot. as both of these men are sole
owners of their respective companies.
Logan'concluded his talk saying, this amendment is going
to be dangerous if it is placed on the ballot. If the people of
this community do not support corporate farms, their loss
will have a tremendous impact on the community.
The people residing in the valley have the idea that
corporate farming is terrible, yet. if the issue is placed on the
ballot, they will decide the fate of large farms as they have
the population and will cast the majority of the votes.
Next week's guest speakers will be Alice Abrams. Janette
Piper and Cathy Palmer. These three girls will tell the
members of their recent visit to Japan.
ten - S
.
V"
h f.
I.
DENNIS LOGAN
31st annual
Co-op meeting draws
throng to Fossil
loo residents of Morrow . Wheeler and (lilliam Counties
attended the 31st annual meeting of Columbia Basin Klectric
CiMiperatur. Fossil. Thursd.iy
Following the luncheon served by the Methodist Ladies,
director Herb Wright welcomed the guests to the City of
Fossil Wright told of the various businesses within the city
and asked the mernliers to take (he lime lo visit (he antique
ciir displ.iv and the museum
Manager Dac Harrison, using color slides, told the
members of the progress made during (he past year
Between lone and Heppner the power poles were located
near the edge of the existing shoulder of the road, since last
er the power poles have been relocated Harrison also told
of limping the lines from the Condon substation to better
sene the community. He sKkr of the (Ilex line and of plans
In h.ie the circuit completed in the near future
Harrison told of the Increase in the load limit by saying
many new homes are all electric and some of the older homes
are converting to electric heat
The Wheeler High School choir, under the direction of
Arnold Melby entertained the visitors with their singing as
well as trumpet and saxophone numbers
Secretary treasurer Paul Tews read the proof of mailing
report and gave a short resume of last year's meeting In
Heppner
Our fiscal year ends June 30 and an audit was made at lhat
lime. We have a new audit firm this year and they submitted
an excellent report to the Board and Management
Income for the past fiscal year was over $13 million and
the margin of Income over expense was over one third
million It was by far our best year ever financially.
There were few significant Items Tews noted,
Rural residential member showed only a tper cent Increase
in billings for the year. Our town residential users made an
increase of 23 per cent for $57,M 00 Increase. Tne irrigation
umts were up over $75,nofl 00 for a 24 per cent gain and the
large commercial rlnss of user were up $ai,22l 00 for a 31
per cent gain Our total revenue Rain was 20 per rent while
our rxM'iise increased at II per cenl for the fiscal year. Of
(he total expense Increase, our cost of power increase
amniinlod to 6 4 per cenl or more than half of the total
expense increase.
We also show payment of capital credits made lo (he
maximum permlssahle under our mortgage agreement with
IlKA Our patronage credits to decedent estates and to active
member for the margin for IWIMM were paid al
$53,551 18 Thl compared lo $1J,7M 2J paid the prcvloua
The Coop has made 7 5 million in investments of line
facilities in our five county area to provide belter service.
We on the Board are pleased with the strong financial
progress of our local elivtric business It apears we are
ery (ordinate in comparison to other electric utilities of the
area who hae had to place large rate increases into effect
and plan others almost immediately Such is not the case
with Columbia Basin Klectric Coop in spite of (he large
increases from BI'A and most other things we buy. Good
management lcchni(tics have really helped control costs as
(Continued on Page 7)
r 1
U i I
J . I
III JL
W
-I' -1 I I.I.,' Hit . IT . . Ill
Revenue sharing discussed
City council holds
special meeting
VAN RIKTMANN
A special meeting of the
Heppner common council was
helu Monday night to consider
a building permit for Oscar
Crook During the last regular
meeting. Nov 3, a motion to
approve his building permit
had been tabled allowing the
city to receive written com
plaints concerning the placing
of a mobile home on his
property. Although the permit
had been accepted by the
planning commission. the
council had to wait the
required 15 days for any
letter of protest lo be filed
with the city recorder. As no
written complaints were filed
the council voted to approve
the p rmit.
The council discussed the
possibility of hiring a certified
building inspector as of Jan. I,
1976. for under the new
building code all buildings will
have to be inspected by a
certified inspector. No action
was taken on the matter until
further information is review
ed by the rouncil a lo the
specific qualifications of a
building inspector.
The council adopted a reso
lution stating the specific
duties of the planning com
mission, which include com
prehensive plan, land use
permits, variances, subdivi
sion and boundary change
roadway and rotating the
planning commission chair
man every six months by
alphabetical order.
Mayor Sweeney read a
letter taken from the League
of Oregon Cilie which stale
that Oregon cities may not
receive revenue sharing fund
for the next fiscal year.
The letter states, "Failure
of Congress lo act this ewion
means that re-enactment can
not occur until after May 15.
1976, because of new congres
sional budget procedures that
will go into effect starting
1976.
Smce the present revenue
sharing program expires Dec.
31. 1976 cities in Oregon will
probably need to prepare bud
gets next spring on the basis of
only a half year of federal
revenue sharing funds being
assured, with the availability
of the second half not known
until after July 1, 1976."
Mayor Sweeney speculated
that if the revenue sharing
funds received by the city are
cut in half, the budget will
probably have to be submitted
to the voter for their appro
val. If the voters refuse the
city 's budget, it could result in
the loss of some of the city
services.
The council voted
approve free parking
residents Nov. 29, and
following Saturdays In
cember, thereby allowing re
sidents to do their Christmas
shopping without receiving a
parking ticket. Free parking
w ill be allowed Dec. (, 13, and
20.
IVrsonnel problems were
discussed and an executive
meeting is scheduled Nov. 25,
t p.m.
to
for
the
De-
SCIIOOL BOARD
TO MEET .
Tne Morrow County School
Board will hold their regular
meeting Mon., Nov. 17, 7:30
p m at Riverside High School, ,
Boardman.
The State School Board
meeting will be held Nov.
19 21, Hilton Hotel. Portland.
BPA Outage
Electricity will be
turned off Sunday
A BPA scheduled outage at their
Boardman substation will affect
customers of Columbia Basin
Electric Coop, in the Sand Hollow,
North lone, town of lone, rural
areas south of lone, Hardman
area, Heppner, Little Butter Creek,
Gurdane and Ruggs areas.
The outage is scheduled for
Sunday, Nov. 16, 1975 from
approximately 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
The work is necessary to provide
larger capacity for rapidly grow
ing loads of Umatilla Electric
Coop.
Columbia Basin crews will take
advantage of the outage to perform
a limited amount of maintenance
in replacement of gun "shot"
suspension insulators.
It's that time again
Last year some of the
families of All Saints Episco
pal Church decided to cook
their Thanksgiving birds at
the parish hall and invite all
the lonely persons in the
community to have dinner
with them.
It was such an enjoyable
day that they are planning lo
do It again this year.
The affair is for those who
cannot be with their families
for the holiday because of
distance or other reasons.
"Just don't eat alone on
Thanksgiving Day." a spokes
man said.
The dinner will be served
Thursday, Nov. 27, 3 p m., at
the parish hall on Gale Street.
All that is required Is a call for
reservations to 676 9496. Food
trays will also be delivered to
shut ins lhat day.