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etertnme sewer issue
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Drama and laughs
Alice Abrams (1), in the role of Abbie, and Linda Bier, as Martha, set the table in anticipation of
another unsuspecting gentleman caller during a scene from Heppner High Schcol's upcoming produc
tion of "Arsenic and Old Lace" to be presented Friday and Monday evenings at the High School. Cur
tain time is 8 p.m.
Morrow County's award winning newspaper...
THE
VOL. 35 NO. 45 HEPPNER, OREGON Thursday, Nov. JTJ 1977
12 PAGES " ' "
I5c
Voters of lexington will go to
the polls Tuesday, Nov, 29, to
decide what could be the most
important issue ever faced by
a small rural community of
under 300 population, whether
to replace resident owned
septic tanks with a new city
operated sewer system.
,L The Nov. 29 ballot seeks
'voter opinion on the issuing of
$225,000 in sewer bonds. If
apassed, the bonds would go
. towards a complete sewer line
system and lagoon-type treat
ment facility with a total
price tag of $549,295. Senti
ment has run high on the issue
with most of the exchange
boiling down to concern over
user costs and growth impli
cations. Interest in a new sewer
system has been present in the
city for quite some time with a
feasibility study actually
started more than a decade
ago. It wasn't until last fall
that a Pendleton engineering
firm, J. Val Toronto and
Associates began a facility
plan on the system. The
facility plan was 75 percent
1 funded by an Environmental
Protection Agency grant that
represents one of several
funding programs available to
the city.
A letter form Mayor Lee
Padber and the City Council
explaining the bond election to
city residents lists possible
grant programs to include: a
total expected EPA grant of
$254,998; and an expected
Farmers Home Administra-
l i. in grant of $120,000. Accord
ing to Toronto, the city has a
firm committment of some
$325,000 in grants with the
other funds remaining un
committed until after the bond
election.
"If the city is willing to
make extra efforts in gaining
additional data, it could poss
ibly increase the grant
money," Toronto said. "I
expect FHA to reevaluate the
situation in favor of more
funds for Lexington."
Depending on final outcome
of the grant applications, city
residents stand to pay be
tween 25 and 30 percent of the
system cost. The money would
come from a user fee not to
exceed $12.50 per month half
of which would be in the form
of a direct charge and half
would be added to the resi
dents' property taxes. If the
fee went to the full amount,
the result would tack $3.40 per
$1,000 valuation onto Lexing
ton's current tax rate of 52
cents per $1,000. The ad
valorem taxes used to pay for
the sewer system would be
eligible under the homeown
ers and renters rebate system
now in effect.
The city letter, mailed to
residents this week, states,
"FHA, to whom the bonds will
likely be sold, will not approve
more than $12.50 as a user fee.
Therefore, the Council feels
that this is the maximum
amount that could be charged.
If the project could not be
constructed with the assur
ance that this would be the
maximum, the Council will
not continue with the sewer
project."
Regardless of the final grant
amounts, residents will have
to bear the cost of hooking the
Special poll book
being developed
Because the Lexington precinct covers a large area
outside the city limits, a special poll book is being prepared
by the County Clerk's office.
City Recorder Lois Allyn said that beginning with a list of
residences in the city from the Assessor's Office, she had
checked this list against the list of water users of the town,
and also with Mildred Davidson, who has served as clerk of
the election board at several past elections. She also
checked with several landowners to obtain the names of their
renters.
"I believe we have the names of all heads of households,
although the Clerks office may have some names of other
persons in the household that I do not have," Mrs. Allyn said.
Persons over 18 who have not yet registered to vote may
do so up to and including the day of the election on Nov. 29. .,
Absentee ballots may be obtained by calling Mrs. Allyn,
989-8419. I
Meeting next Monday. ..
sewer line from their property
line to the present building
outlet. Also, since all res
idences and businesses will be
required to hook up to the
system, if passed, an addition
al $200 initial hook up fee will
be charged.
According to the Pendleton
FHA office, low interest
loans one to three percent for
households with annual in
come and loaned at an eight
percent for households with
incomes over $10,000.
The same section of the
program supplies grants to
eligible senior citizens for the
connection expenses.
Although the grant funds
are now a'vailable on a limited
basis, the FHA expects the
funds to increase before any
applications from Lexington
would need to be processed.
As for the sewer system
itself, Toronto explained it as
a two-cell contact stabilization
pond to be placed on a 12.5
acre plant site. Padberg said a
location for the plant has not
yet been picked and would not
be determined until the results
of the election indicate which
way the city will proceed.
All sewer lines about 14,000
feet of eight-inch main line
plus additional secondary line
would be located on city
property. The cost of repair
ing the damage to streets for
installation were included in
the price estimate.
Toronto said the system, as
proposed could accomodate a
50 percent increase in pop
ulation and the treatment
facility would be built with
provisions for future expan
sion if necessary.
o
ecisioii on
.Rode
o CO
The Morrow County Fair
Board Monday night, decided
to reconsider dropping Rodeo
Cowboys Association sanc
tioning from next year's rod
eo. A final decision will be
announced at a special meet
ing next Monday night
Rodeo Committee members
and others interested in keep
ing the Morrow County Rodeo
an RCA event appeared be
fore the Fair Board last
' Monday with new proposals
for cutting expenses and
increasing revenues.
The Fair Board announced
last month that RCA sanction
ing of the rodeo would be
dropped in favor of a jackpot
event because the RCA rodeo
was a money-losing proposi
tion. Dennis Doherty, rodeo sec
retary, read from two letters
in presenting the rodeo com
mittee's position. The first
letter dealt with use of State
Racing Commission funds for
promotion of a rodeo; the
second asking the Fair Board
for permission to operate an
RCA rodeo and five-member
Queen and Court in 1978.
Among the suggestions for
making the production more
profitable were a reduction in
purses, addition of spectator
pleasing events such as races
and perhaps a clown, and a
change in the dance format.
Also suggested was a com
bined effort in advertising and
promotion between the fair
and rodeo to attract specta
tors to the dual weekend
event.
In regards to the use of
Racing Commission funds for
rodeo activity, Doherty offer
ed his interpretation of the
state statute in a three-page
letter. Doherty stressed his
opinion was not being made
from his office of District
Attorney.
Doherty said the law does
not specifically exempt rodeos
as beneficiaries of Racing
Commission funds, and in fact,
the Racing Commission dis
tributes $7,500 to the Pendle
ton Round-Up and $4,000 to
the Klamath Basin Roundup
Association.
"Consequently, it seems to
me that the Fair Board is not
restricted from using Racing
Commission moneys to spon
sor a rodeo. The decisions as
to whether they should be
used, in what amounts, and in
what formats are, of course,
the ultimate responsibility of
the Fair Board," Doherty
concluded.
While the Fair Board did
not indicate there would be a
change from their original
decision, it concurred that
new information had been
provided and the matter
would be given reconsidera
tion. The outcome of that consid
eration will be told next
Monday at a special meeting
in the Fair office at 7:30 p.m.
Day Care Chamber, MCEDA
OpenHouse disapprove plan
i
An Open House, planned to give the
community a chance to look over the new
facilities of the Heppner Development
Center at the 4-H Annex building at the
fairgrounds, is scheduled to take place on
Wednesday, Nov. 23, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Coffee and cookies will be served and
mothers are invited to bring their
children for free care while they visit the
Center during open house.
Kathy Hazen, temporary director of the
Center, said that the new facility is far
superior to the Seventh Day Adventist
Church gymnasium, which housed the
day care center for three years. "The
floor plan makes it easier to take care of
the children and the kids really relate
well to it," Mrs. Hazen commented.
Potential problems with acoustics and
the heating system failed to materialize
and there have been no usage conflicts.
"The question is, 'where are all the
people'?" Mrs. Hazen said, voicing
disappointment over a low turnout since
the Center reopened on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The Center has been averaging about 10
children a day compared to 15 to 20 or
more before the facility was forced to
close on Oct. 1.
Some mothers have so far stayed with
childcare arrangements made while the
Center was not operating.
"After all the work that was done to
move the center temporarily to the
fairground, we are disappointed, but
expecting more mothers to bring their
children, especially when they see how
nice our new facility is," Mrs. Hazen
commented.
With unanimous consent of
its membership Monday noon,
the Heppner-Morrow Cham
ber of Commerce forwarded a
letter to the Oregon Depar
tment of Transportation urg
ing reconsideration of the
Department's preliminary six
year road plan as it pertains
to Morrow County.
The Chamber is the second
major organization represent
ing the area's citizenry, busi
ness and industry to respond
negatively to the ODTs plan
since a public hearing the
Department held here last
Tuesday.
Late last week Tim Tullis,
president of the Morrow
County Economic Develop
ment Association (MCEDA)
said that group sent a letter to
ODT "concerning the lack of
state highway system im
provements planned for Mor
row County" in the immediate
future.
"We intend to supply the
Oregon Department of Trans
portation with additional ma
terials relating to the econom
ic impact a poor road system
is having and will continue to
have on Morrow County," said
Tullis.
The first road improvement
projects scheduled by the
state for Morrow County
come in 1981. On tap then is
overlay-widening projects for
the Heppner Highway from
Lexington through lone and
on to I-80N near Arlington
and a project for overlay
widening of the Heppner
Spray Highway from Rock
Creek to the Wheeler County
line.
A project of concern to
many South End residents is
Highway 207 from Lexington
to the Echo junction. How
ever, that project isn't on the
board until 1983. Also sched
uled for improvement in 1983
is widening of the road from
Ruggs to Dry Creek.
The Chamber letter asked
reconsideration of the High
way 207 and Lexington to
lone projects, questioning the
importance put on the pro
jects by the ODT because
they are set so far into the
future.
The Chamber's statement
read in part, "...the Heppner
Morrow Chamber of Com
merce feels the Department
of Transportation has erred in
determining the economic im
pact and needs of highways
and transportation facilities in
Morrow County."
Tullis voiced MCEDA's
even stronger feelings.
"Morrow County is deserv
ing of some major highway
projects immediately... not
only for the good of the local
area, but for the good of the
state economy," said Tullis.
He explained, "We current
ly have a coal-fired power
generating plant being con
structed, moves being made
to get the bombing range
released from the Navy and
put under irrigation, and by
1983 a second coal-fired plant
will be nearing completition."
"The industry and agricul
ture Morrow County is on the
verge of experiencing is awe
some in its demension and
roads are an integral part of
that development," said Tul
lis. "Six years from now will be
too late for Morrow County
and the people living here
especially the South End," he
concluded.
Tullis said MCEDA is urg
ing citizens to write their
views and opinions to the
Oregon Department of Trans
portation in care of W.E.
Schwartz, Region Engineer,
P.O. Box 850, La Grande,
Oregon.
"Public outrage with the
state road system in Morrow
County will be instrumental in
obtaining much needed road
improvements," said Tullis.
News briefs
Morgan St. Bridge
bids in January
The Heppner City Council is expected to open bids for
construction of a new bridge on Morgan Street sometime in
January, according to Mayor Jerry Sweeney.
An $18,000 one-year serial levy to finance the new
structure was approved by a 2 to 1 margin in last week's
special election. The city funds will be added to $103,000 in
federal and state grants and construction is tentatively
scheduled to begin in early summer.
The project is expected to take about 2'z months if all
goes well, Sweeney said.
Apartment hearing
'to be continued'
A public hearing on a conditional use permit to build
three four-plex apartment buildings on property adjacent to
Chase and Skyline Streets in Heppner will be continued on
Nov. 29 since the construction firm failed to furnish detailed
plans to the Planning Commission in advance of last week's
meeting.
The Simplex Construction Co. of Umatilla is seeking to
build the apartments but the builders ran into considerable
citizen opposition at the first public hearing. Residents
voiced objections to the plan mainly because of insufficient
water pressure to the area and the fact that the steep access
route is not designed to handle the added traffic the
apartments would bring.
Farm disaster funds
to help local farmers
Recent approval of a bill that immediately removes
limits on federal disaster compensation for farmers means
an additional $6.4 million is on its way to help bail out Oregon
agriculture with approximately $125,000 of that amount
intended for Morrow County.
President Carter signed the bill on Nov. 8 after it was
introduced in the Senate by Sen. Bob Packwood. Packwood
called the bill "the most significant drought legislation to
come out of the Congress this year".
Locally, the added funds will be handled through the ASCS
office with distribution expected to begin next week and be
completed sometime next month.
The bill changes previous legislation which stipulated
that no farmer was entitled to more than $20,000 in
compensation payments. In Morrow County the total amount
so far distributed amounted to $1,165,876. Distribution under
the previous system was not yet complete when the new
legislation took effect.
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