Heppner gazette-times., June 24, 1976, Page Page 3, Image 3

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Straub, county receptive
Gov. against Pebble Springs
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Tt ttellni wu generally mutual. Both Gov. Bob Straub
f 1 M his Eastern Oregon county audience were generally
:J f receptive toward each other Tuesday in Heppner.
11 f ' Straub, on a tour of Eastern Oregon counties and towns,
C 3 tpent half a day In Heppner Tuesday, meeting with county
it 1 officials, touring Kinzut'i timber plant, and meeting at a
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noon lunch with area citizens.
The tour of Kinzua, called by Straub "tremendously
impressive" and the "most modern and encouraging"
timber plant he's ever seen, was used as a means to break up
Straub's two discussion visits.
The first meeting, at the County Court House, brought
together about 45 county officials from Morrow and
neighboring counties. After his introduction at both
meetings, Straub turned the floor over to a question and
answer period.
Straub came out strongly in a few matters. Particularly of
interest to local officials and neighboring bodies was Straub's
G-T Photos & Story By Wil Phinney
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Gov. Bob Straub
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Straub meets Kinzua workers during
lunch break.
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determined and admitted stand against KS5 P
concerning the Pebble Springs plant.
Straub and his tuff would anahytt tt planti cee'3. ,
find it is essential," Straub told an Arilnfta '
Barnett, "then I will approve the permits. If w dool
I'm nn onina to lien it." Straub vowed aaafest delay e4 i
he would act promptly if he receives the cits cmCTxzlx
Local ofHrials ureed Straub to sign th certL'f't r 'i
some asked him to "coma look at & r&ZZ f ; ' 1
Barnett told Straub that the very eppoaeri WE '
people "that don't know what they are talking about la moat
C3SCS."
Straub also said, neither as a proponent or an opponent,
that Alumax would probably never see Umatilla County as a
home. t.'
Straub cited Bonneville Power Administration rulings that
say the BPA will not continue service to aluminum plants
after 1983. Straub said with the environmental impact
statement and years of construction, it is "very doubtful"
that the plant would be built.
Straub said there is a "cloud over the power picture' and
his "honest appraisal" on Alumax coming was "at best,
doubtful."
Straub met old friends, met new ones and visited with area
residents at Kinzua and following the tour in a town hall
meeting in the Heppner High School cafetorium.
More than 100 people packed into the room to discuss
problems with Straub.
Straub's discussion topics varied. Some are listed, with the
governor's answers:
Highways: "We were hoping you'd drive down," one man
asked, adding that he "understood why you flew." Discussion
grew on secondary highways in Morrow County and
surrounding counties and the poor road care.
Straub called the problem "very real" and said that
finances in the road department were "the worst in 20
years." Straub urged a yes vote on the one-cent gas tax in
November.
Pebble Springs, (in relation to employment benefits(:
"Construction costs are way up," Straub said. He said "we
should try to find other methods" and noted "breeder
reactors, fusion and solar power." As for employment
benefits, Straub said "whether the construction produces
more jobs is not concernable," that nuclear power was
"disappointing." m
"I can't be wildly positive when I don't feel that way, he
said. "Nuclear power is disappointing. 1 just can't justify it."
Water Standards: Water standards, set up by the state, are
too strict Straub said, "We need to reach a happy medium"
on health standards.
Department of Commerce Problems: Cliff Williams, a
Lexington councilman told Straub he had to purchase a
license from the commerce department to put a new roof on
his house or put in a window.
Straub was appalled and said he "built a hay barn without
a state permit" on his ranch in Spray. "I object to this," he
said, and noted that it was "a good idea, taken too far."
Straub vowed to find answers to questions concerning DEQ
and Commerce fees, septic tank licenses, the Tri-County
Health Department funds, and revenue monies.
Straub also viewed corporate farms and said he was
against any "conglomerate" farms taking over.
Straub said he would "oppose the initiate measure on
corporate farms" but would "support restrictions on
corporate farms and prevention of conglomerates."
On the Navy bombing range near Boardman, Straub said
he would do "every thing in my power to get the bombing
range out of there." He said the area should be used for
irrigated agricultural purposes.
Straub discussed water wells with people from Irrigon and
Buttercreek, talked about governmental loopholes and
increased income tax with lower property tax.
His answers were received well by most and criticized by a
few.
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Gov. and wife, Pat tour Kinzua with
... . i- i r flnv, tntir timhpr nlant on guided tour.
Ztrir-ir-irtr-ir-iciritiril AAA A ftAAAAAAAMAK HmTmmmmm
Planning Commission to
hear five zone chages
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The Morrow County Plan
ning Commission will hear
requests for five tone changes
and four conditional use
permits, including one from
Umatilla Ready Mix In Hep
pner. Because the commission
lacked a quorum, June 14,
some of the commission's
business will be held over to
the June 2S meeting. The
Monday meeting is slated for 8
p.m. at the Riverside High
School In Boardman.
, Loy Keene, Umatilla Ready
Mix, Inc. has filed an appli
cation for a conditional use
permit in an Industrial sone.
Tha Und U owned by Kinzua
Corp. and the cement com
pany is requesting a change in
uuuj from equipment storage
U concrete batch plant.
The purpose of the request is
U move the plant presently
operating In the Heppner city
timita, to a location outside the
Th company, because or
boIm and dust, falls Into the
dty's nuJsanca ordinance and
II currently located next to
rveidenUalty toned parcels.
OXher communications for
th Monday meeting follow:
application by Elmer Stub
blefleld, Boardman, for a tone
change from farm to farm
residential on 4 M acres lo
cated slxHit one mile soulh
rt of Boardman on Kunte
Road.
j application from Oscar
Siumske, Boardman, for a
zone change and cond. use
permit from farm to farm
residential for a multMamily
dwelling. The location for the
change is on Wilson Road,
about one-third mile from the
Boardman city limits.
application for a cond. use
permit In an Industrial zone
for a concrete batch plant.
Owner, John Prag and appli
cant Umatilla Ready Mix, Inc.
Hermlston plan to locate on
Port of Morrow land.
application by Monte
Crum for a zone change from
qualified farm to farm on 662
acres at the corner of Baseline
Road at state highway 207,
approximately six miles north
of Lexington.
application by Monte
Crum. Union Collier Co.,
Umatilla for a cond. use
permit In qualified farm
zone. Change requested Is to a
commercial activity In con
Junction with farm use. The
location is the comer of
Baseline Road and state
highway 207.
amendment to the Mor
row County Zoning Ordinance
concerning establishment of
minimum required lot size
and width In the recreation
residential zone.
application by Charles R.
Pennock, Irrigon for a tone
change from farm residential
to light Industrial on about two
acres, located near the Irrigon
city limits on the west side of
Irrigon.
application by Jon Thom
as Starke, Boardman, for a
zone change from qualified
farm to farm on 24.7 acres,
north of the West Extension
Canal and on the west side of
Paul Smith Road.
Power
safety
urged
With the irrigation season
already here, Oregon Public
Utility Commissioner Charles
Davis today warned agricul
tural workers of the danger
from contact with overhead
high voltage electric wires.
One of the greatest haz
ards to field workers moving
Irrigation pipe Is accidental
contact with high voltage
tverlMd per lio-," Dvi
said.
During the past eight years
14 fatal accidents attributable
to electrocution from contact
ing overhead wires with Irri
gation pipes have been report
ed to the PUC.
Accidents are typically ca
used by workers raising the
pip to shake out debris or
mall animals that may be
Inside. While the worker Is
watching the low end of the
pipe, the opposite end swings
high enough to cross or touch a
power line.
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