TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, June 21, 1979
r
Tht Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Editorials o Columns
UDHUJEPSDCG1!? Letters From Readers
Sifting
through
County, medical facility levies in voters hands
the
Morrow County voters go to the
polls again Tuesday, June 26 to
determine the fate of the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital-North Morrow
Medical Clinic and county budget
levy requests.
Both levies are being resub
mitted basically intact. The hospital
levy has been reduced by $45,000
EDITORIAL
COMMENT
since its defeat May 22; there has
been no change in the general county
levy request.
Why are the levies being sub
mitted for voter approval again
without any cuts after being de
feated at the polls once?
Two reasons stand out. First,
those citizens the budget com
mittee members and hospital board
who have spent countless hours
putting both budgets together feel
the tax monies asked for are the
minimum needed to operate and
maintain basic county services and
the medical facilities in Heppner
and Boardman.
Secondly, it was a mere 24
percent of the county's registered
voters who defeated the county levy
on May 22; about 27 percent
defeated the PMH levy.
Neither of the levy requests are
outlandish when one develops a
basic understanding of the proposed
budgets. Both provide for services
used by everyone in the county,
whether you're young or old, living
in Boardman or living in Heppner.
Those services include primary and
acute medical care, roads on which
we travel, law enforcement through
the sheriff's and district attorney's
offices, and those services we take
for granted but are necessary to run
county government.
Hospital budget is solid
The Gazette-Times endorses the
Pioneer Memorial-NMMC budget
and urges a "yes" vote on the levy.
The PMH board of trustees has
undertaken a firm and logical
planning process both short term
and long range in nature. Some
basics stand out front: the need for
improved facilities and updated
equipment; the need for doctors
(and in this day and age that means
guaranteeing a minimum salary,
even though the money will in all
probability never be spent because
doctors generally make more than
the guarantee asked for in the
PMH-NMMC budget); and the need
for citizen involvement in the
planning process.
Right out front the planning
consultant hired by the hospital
board set forth the need to establish
a 15-member citizens planning
committee to work hand-in-hand
with the board. In addition, three
other sub-committees would feed
information into the system.
It is through the board planning
committee that changes can and
should be effected at Pioneer
Memorial, but without the funds
necessary to upgrade the facility
and attract doctors, there will be no
need for the planning committee.
County services require levy
Morrow County residents aren't
accustomed to approving funds
outside the six percent increase
allowed by law to operate everyday
county services; the first time
outside the six percent limitation for
county government was last year.
There are a number of reasons
for this and foremost is a growing
population, inflation and the need for
increased services due to a number
of conditions.
County roads were hit with
extreme frost and flood damage last
winter; county employees received
a deserved raise; the criminal case
load and legal services required by
all county departments has created
the need for an enlarged district
attorney's staff; a substantial
amount of funds received from the
federal government in years past
have been cut; and more.
Providing $100,000 for road
repair and maintenance through a
few cents per $1,000 true cash value
of your property is smarter than
buying new shock absorbers, tires
and wheel alignments; increasing
the district attorney's staff at $35,000
is going to be less expensive than
sending various county departments
to attornies in private practice for
advice; paying our own way
maintains local control, rather than
feeding the federal bureaucracy and
getting back only a thin slice of
what's sent in.
The county is operating with an
unrealistic tax base to boot, thus re
quiring voter approval of operating
and maintenance funds.
Tax dollars collected and spent
by your county government are a
bargain in comparison with other
taxes you pay.
The Gazette-Times endorses the
county budget and recommends a
"yes" vote.
LETTERS... FROM OUR READERS
Family supports hospital levy;
Editor:
As a family, we Abrams would like to
voice our support of the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital levy to be voted upon
June 26.
Having been in this area for 26 years
and having used the hospital many times,
we have good reason to know that it is an
important part of this community's life.
We first used Pioneer Memorial in
January 1954 for the birth of our third
child; we lived in Fossil and were
grateful the hospital was available. (It
was a great improvement over the old
and crowded hospital facility in Eugene.)
The hospital has been a life-saving part
of our lives, and we think that its
continued operation is vitally important
to our community.
We would rather pay extra local
taxes than see all our tax monies go to
Salem and Washington. At least with the
hospital and with our county taxes we
can see where and how they are being
used and we can affect their use if we
make the effort to attend local meetings,
serve on local committees and partici
pate in the nomination and election of
local officials.
With the energy shortage, we think
that keeping Pioneer Memorial Hospital
open is, if anything, more important than
in the past. The clinic in the north end of
the county also takes on more import
ance. Having once lived in a remote area
without a hospital we feel the need of
keeping this area's hospital open and of
developing the clinic in Boardman. We
urge that everyone get out and vote for
the hospital levy.
Bob and Marion Abrams and Family
When needed...
hospital is there
Editor:
I remember attending the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital dedication some 30
years ago. Before 1949, medical services
in the community were minimal. During
this 30 years our family has seldom
needed to use the hospital.
Last Friday night we found out first
hand how wonderful it is to have a
hospital. My husband suffered a heart
attack and needed immediate medical
attention. He probably could not have
made it to Hcrmiston or Pendleton.
The prompt efficient treatment he
received at the hospital Friday night and
the caring attention during this week
cannot be underestimated.
We have taken the hospital for
granted all these years, but no more. We
urge you to support the hospital and pray
you won't learn the hard way as we
have how much we need this institution
in our community.
Lucille Peck
Writer claims
'budget used9
Editor:
Yesterday, in a question and answer
period conducted by this County Com
missioner, it became apparent the
hospital budget is being used as a device
to pressure resignations from hospital
board members and the hospital admin
istrator. The movement is to vote "no",
thinking the action will bring the desired
result.
Before you enter into this scheme, I
hope and pray you will examine your
conscience very closely. Are you
reacting to actual fact or hearsay? Have
your opinions been shaped and molded by
"Letters to the Editor" or by conversa
tion or involvement with the people
involved?
I have asked for specific reasons why
these people should step down. The
reasons given to me have not yet been
made sufficient in my mind to warrant
any changes.
Do you really want to participate in a
plan such as this with such far reaching
consequences? Before you vote "no",
make sure your reasons justify your
actions.
Dorothy Krebs
lone
Former Judge
endorses levy
Editor:
At no time have I felt that we should
be more supportive of our county budget
and that additional revenues over and
above the 6 percent limitation than now.
Costs are high in all departments.
This is particularly true in the road
department. We are more dependent on
good roads in our sparsely settle area
and in a county with its many resources.
We need to bolster our resources not
only for those living in town but in the
sparsely settled areas. Our potential is
great. Let's pass the county budget and
help make it still more livable right here
at home.
Oscar E. Peterson
lone
Former County Judge
Seperation of
powers lauded
Editor:
County Commissioner Dorothy
Krebs has been "accused" of being, and I
quote from a letter in last week's paper,
"so outspoken that she will not even
consider a church affiliated group
running the hospital."
Commissioner Krebs, if that is so
then hooray for you! One of the most
basic principles of the U.S. Constitution
is the separation of church and state.
That means no church or church
affiliate shall run a governmental
agency.
No man dare accuse me of being
anti-church or anti-hospital, but Pioneer
Memorial is a county hospital a
governmental agency. No church or
church affiliated group (including the
Lutheran Hospital Assn.) has any
business running a county hospital; not
until the Constitution is changed,
anyway.
John S. Maas, Pastor
Hope-Valby
Lutheran Parish
Writer feels 'there's another way9
ONPA
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GM. Reed, Publisher Dolores Reed, Co-publisher
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Eileen Saling, Office Manager Gayle Rush, AdvertisingComposition
Melissa Scott, Composition Gndj Qff,
Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
Editor:
Yes, there is a way to get another
vote on the hospital budget. If it is turned
down by the voters on June 26, on the
morning of the 27th the county court can
ask for an extension for filing their
budget with the county assessor for an
election dated 35 days from then. This
would be August 1.
The remainder of the procedure is
unknown at this time.
If the public passes the budget there
are a few things that must be
remembered.
For the last two years, ever since the
new administrator took over the hospital,
we have had a problem. And since July,
1977, it has cost the taxpayers a bundle of
money. When he took over, the former
administrator informs me that when she
left there was $45,000 in SCD (Savings "
Certificate Deposits) in the Bank of
Eastern Oregon. The first year the
information in the minutes of the meeting
of July 25, 1978, the net loss from hospital
activities was $83,000. These were
unaudited figures.
According to the May 15, 1979
minutes, as of April 30, 1979, the
operating loss because of the use of
facilities and expenses resulted in an
operating loss of $97,204 and the year has
not ended.
.The question is how long can the
taxpayers be expected to pick up the tab?
They say they have a product to sell.
The prior administrator had a waiting
list for nursing home beds. We now have
quite a few vacancies and the board has
submitted a letter to the state, their
intent to make more.
Whenever you overcharge the public
for something you have to sell, they don't
come back. In 1977, a bed for a private
individual cost only one cent for welfare
patients. The rates for our nursing home
were then the highest of five checked in
the surrounding communities. The nur
sing home can pay its way, but not with
empty beds. If you have a product to sell
and can't sell it, you better become
competitive.
True, we need a doctor. The north
end clinic is sitting empty with no hope at
the present time of getting one. The
hospital board is pitting the new addition
against the one doctor we have at the
present time. At the time the grant was
asked for, it was thought of as needed and
relieving crowded conditions, not to rid
us of one doctor.
I have been one against many. I have
felt you the public need to know the facts
or I wouldn't have continued on.
You now have the facts, I feel, and
my case rests.
Vote no and I feel that someone
should then realize the public wants a
fair shake for their dollar and something
should be done about it.
Vote yes and your dollar will not give
you the things I feel you want and can
have.
We cannot continue pouring tax
dollars down the rat hole because the
administrator and the hospital board
have decided not to listen to the public
and hired a consulting firm that may
take up to 2 years to tell them what to do.
The employees, I feel, also need your
support, (those who are lft). Three were
fired and approximately 28 quit.
Let's go out and get the job done.
Absentee ballots are available at the
courthouse and anyone wanting more
information, please feel free to call or
catch me on the street, 676-5834.
Merle Cantin
TIMES
Fifty years ago, C.W. Smith, county
agent, returned home Sunday from
Corvallis to which place he accompanied
the Morrow County delegation of 4-H club
workers to the Oregon State College
convention. He said the boys are having
the time of their lives.
The Hudson automobile of Fred
Hoskins was completely ruined by fire
Sunday evening on Heppner Hill. Mr.
Hoskins had recently had the car
overhauled and thought it to be in good
condition. However he had noticed it was
shooting fire from the exhaust. He
reported a small amount of insurance
carried but not sufficient to replace his
loss.
Buster Keaton's The Cameraman,
was playing at the Star Theater.
L.V. Van Marter has received word
of his appointment to an historical
presentation to be presented in an
all-state Pioneer Parade in Eugene.
C.L. Sweek was elected director to
succeed S.E. Notson and Vawter
Crawford named clerk to succeed Mrs.
Claud Cox in the district school board
elections.
The Gazette-Times editorialized that
the farm relief bill had passed and noted,
"It looks indeed like better times are
ahead for agriculture but the ultimate
success of the venture still depends on
the cooperation, intelligence and indust
ry of the American farmer." Oregon's
own senator, Charles McNary, headed
the agricultural relief program since its
inception and the bill which finally
passed bears his name.
A large number of Heppner people
attended the water regatta above the
McKay Creek dam Sunday and many
. report it an enjoyable occasion.
What amounted to a near cloudburst
caused the water to run in streams down
Blackhorse and Sourdough canyons on
Saturday and considerable difficulty was
encountered in navigating the roads in
the vicinity.
Twenty-five years ago, Leslie E.
Grant, county school supt. for the past
three years, announced early this week
that he has asked the rural school board
to release him from the 1954-55 contract
and that he has purchased the Columbia
Basin Insurance agency at Arlington
which he will operate after July 1.
Grant took over from Henry Tetz in
1951.
Heppner's new basketball coach,
Larry Dowen and his wife, who visited
here the first of the week, has been
coaching at Sultan, Washington.
Al Lamb, manager of the Morrow
County Grain Growers, said the heavy
rains which fell on the wheat and barley
crop would assure a good crop.
Albert Ullmann, Democratic nomi
nee for Congress and president of the
national Hells Canyon association will be
the featured speaker at the Pomona
Grange Hall in Lexington June 26.
County Judge Garnet Barratt left
Monday for Salem following word that
his mother, Mrs. W.B. Barratt is ill at a
Salem Hospital.
Gene Rietmann's Orchestra will play
at the annual lone American Legion
dance, July 3.
Lexington Scouts spent an enjoyable
outing at Lehman Springs, collecting
merit badges and going swimming in a
snow storm. Scouts going were Larry and
Laddie Henderson, Bobby Davidson,
Vern Nolan, Gerry and Carroll Messen
ger, and Carl Marquardt, scoutmaster.
The wedding of Miss Betty Messen
ger to Carl Marquardt, both of Lexington
was held in the Christian Church at 8
p.m., Saturday evening June 12.
Five years ago, Morrow County's
Fair and Rodeo Queen Sherry Kemp and
her four princesses, Mickey Hoskins,
Cassy Chapel, Patricia Van Schoiack and
Michele Evans were guests at the noon
luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce;
Pioneer Hospital Administrator
Ilene Wyman trimmed $8,427 Wednesday
from the proposed $65,000 a year budget;
cut from the budget were funds for a
part-time janitor, State of Oregon
accident insurance, Blue Cross medical
benefits, now to be absorbed by
employees, state unemployment on gross
earnings of employees, free means for
employees who can leave the hospital.
Mrs. John Edmundson attended the
Oregon Small School Conference at
Willamette University. She was accom
panied by her children, Vicki, Kristi and
Jeff, who visited friends in Salem.
Tim Hedman of the Giants leaves the
ground before, crashing into Indian
catcher Dennis Stefani in Monday night's
Little League action at the Fairgrounds.
Stefani 's tag was good for the out and the
Indians won it, 7-6.
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