Heppner gazette-times., July 26, 1979, Page EIGHT, Image 8

EIGHT The Gazette-Times. Heppner, Oregon. Thursday, July 26, 1979
Water Resources Department find little support for new proposals
The state Water Resources Department found little support
Thursday night for a new set of proposals that would safeguard
the groundwater in the Butter Creek area without restricting
present users.
Jim Sexson, director ef the department, had come to
Hermiston for the purpose of hearing what farmers had to say
about his "new approaches" which were developed after the
Court of Appeals reversed, for the second time, the department's
critical groundwater order for a 270-square mile area in Umatilla
and Morrow counties.
What he heard was mostly criticism of the way his
department handled previous investigations of the groundwater
situation and skepticism about any new arrangement with the
state agency.
Paul Taylor, a Lexington rancher, said the Water Resources
Department had a "credibility gap" that would have to be filled
before he would talk about a new agreement for protecting the
groundwater.
He warned, however, that if the state tried to impose
another order on-Butter Creek he would "fight it to the death or
the end of my ranch."
Another Lexington rancher, Larry Lindsay, accused the
water department of creating a "veritable nightmarish hell on
earth'' for farm families in the Butter Creek area.
Sexson said appealing the department's latest reversal
would have tied the Butter Creek order up in court for a number
of years and the "major objective of protecting the groundwater
would not have been achieved."
Instead, the department has elected to go with what Sexson
described as a "proposed" or "draft" order. Key elements
include:
Declaring Butter Creek a critical groundwater area;
Defining hydrological and control boundaries;
Allowing no new wells;
Issuing pending permits on wells presently is use;
Data gathering;
And setting an irrigation season, rejecting applications on
non constructed wells and prohibiting wells from being dug into a
deeper acquifer.
Sexson said the draft order would, go "one step further" than
past efforts by the department. Farmers would be able to
comment on what should go into the. order. It would then be
issued in draft form for additional comment before a final order is
prepared. .
As'an alternative, the water resources director suggested a
"voluntary agreement" among all parties on how the water in
Butter Creek should be used.
Sexson said he preferred the voluntary approach to having
the department "impose our will on these folks (meaning farmers
in the Butter Creek area)."
Bill Crow said the voluntary agreement was "far and away"
the best but that the critical groundwater declaration or the
setting of boundaries were "totally unnecessary."
He contended the boundaries couldn't be set fairly without
the concurrence of a substantial part of Eastern Washington.
Crow and several other farmers claimed Eastern Washington
was using the same groundwater acquifer that was used in
Butter Creek.
A critical groundwater order would "only impair Oregon
residents to the benefit of Washington residents in the
development of the groundwater area," he said.
Sexson noted the declaration was needed to "properly
manage" the area unless there was a voluntary agreement with
property owners' and the state.
But Bill Schroeder, a Vale attorney, said the declaration
"won't fly." He said it would give the state the power that in a
week's time it could change its mind and limit pumping in Butter
Creek.
John Prag, a Boardman farmer, said the state had done no
real research on the Butter Creek groundwater area. "You really
don't have your stuff straight," he. told. Sexson, adding there
were "so many flaws in your research you're not at' the point of
even talking about a voluntary agreement."
"You guys don't hardly know what you're talking about in
this area," he said.
Sexson was questioned by John Lewis, an attorney from The
Dalles, on whether the state could enter into a voluntary
agreement without a declaration. He also asked Sexson if he had
obtained a legal opinion on whether the state could enter into an
agreement while the groundwater reservoir was still in dispute.
To both of these questions 'Sexson said, "I don't know."
Sexson asked the small group of farmers, who occupied a
small corner of the stuffy junior high auditorium, if anyone was
concerned about the declining groundwater level in Butter
Creek. '
Prag said his well hadn't declined and another farmer noted
his well hadn't dropped since 1973.
But Gary Grieb, a Lexington rancher, said he was
"concerned" about the groundwater in his area. He said his well
has dropped 294 feet since 1969. Its pumping capacity has also
diminished, slipping from 2,000 gallons per minute to about 1,400
gallons per minute.
Grieb suggested the Water Resources Department delete
critical from its groundwater declaration and insert the word
"chase . , . That's what we're doing, chasing the water."
Grieb said he thought the state had good data when it made
its groundwater declaration. The state could get all the data it
wants, he said, "but as long as there's enough money, people can
beat it in court."
The rancher said "eventually the problem will take care of
itself." There are quite a few farms for sale now, he said, and
there will be more.
Larry Lindsay of Lexington said there was a need for
additional data and, analysis of the groundwater situation in
Butter Creek.
In 1971-72, Lindsay said he thought the state was correct
about the area's groundwater. From 1972 on, he said, "I thought
the state's theories were incorrect."
The Lexington rancher claimed the state checked his main
producing well only once and that its depth level was not
recorded in the state's logbook. This was because the
measurement did not agree with the state's theories, he said.
Lindsay said his domestic well had shown a decine but that
his irrigation well was up. When the second critical groundwater
order was issued (the first was reversed by the Court of
Appeals), his irrigation well was higher than in 1974.
Lindsay questioned why the wells were shut down in his
area when the state never proved they were affected or were
affecting anyone else.
He said the state, in the last eight years, had created a
"veritable nightmarish hell on earth" for families in the Butter
Creek area who were included in the state's order.
The state's actions, according to Lindsay, panicked lending
institutions who were afraid they wouldn't get a return on their
investments. Crop loans were 'cut off in mid season and some
long-term financing was also chopped, forcing some farms, that
had been in families for generations, to face the prospect of
bankruptcy.
"Financing institutions look at the words 'critical ground
water area' and stop on that," Lindsay said. Their actions don't
depend on facts, he added.
Twice the Water Resources Department has been in court
because it didn't have enough facts, Lindsay said. And both
times, "not one single person from the water department
attended." This showed how much concern the department had
for the people in the area, he said.
The Butter Creek rancher said the state's arguments were
"demolished" in court. Yet the procedure goes on regardless of
the facts, he said. A former law student, Lindsay said he "lost
respect" for the law in the last eight years.
He said the state's figures were fraudulent when they said
his well was the worst offender, this was admitted under oath.
"We're supposed to trust your methods," Lindsay said, adding he
has seen "your (Sexson's) people deny statements or fail to
record information."
"Some of us are very skeptical of the state's methods," he
said. '
Lindsay claimed no one in the Water Resources Department
understood the impact of the state's actions. "You're cutting the
throat of the area without having the ability to do it," he said.
Lindsay's comments drew an "amen" from one farmer and a
round of applause from those attending the meeting.
Sexson said the session was "very educational for me" and
that he would be meeting with the farmers again. It "probably
won't be very long," he said, indicating another meeting would be
held in about a month.
Looking For A New Car?
Check the Classified Page for new and used
automobiles to fit your needs.
jiiiiiiiiMiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMmiiiiiiiiiiim
Morrow
County
Picnic I
i s
Sunday, August 5 1
j Held At J
Laurelhurst Park
I 39th & S.E. Burnside I
i
Portland, Or. i
5 s
nlllllllllllllllllllllllllllHMIIIIIIMIIHIIIHIIIIIlE
Local man backs Pioneer
Cont. from page 10
if DOT is allowed to carry out
its cutbacks, "there will be a
skeleton system of train
service."
To Aho, the DOT is "anti
rail' has ignored public testi
mony in favor of retaining
routes, have attacked the
trains as fuel-inefficient,
sought to raise fares, have
ignored the West and sought
increased service in the
Northeast."
In surveys of train passen
gers he has conducted aboard
the Pioneer system for the
University of Idaho, Aho said
he had found that 93 percent of
the people recommended train
travel and 83 percent would
have taken the train even if
there had been no gasoline
crisis.
Since the gasoline crisis, the
demand for train travel has
been so great that Aho
recommends calling for res
ervations between 2-6 a.m.;
otherwise, callers will normal
ly reach a busy signal.
Amtrak has been reporting a
1,000 percent increase in calls,
train service between Port
land and Seattle has been full
as well as the trains between
Portland and L.A.
Retention of the Pioneer
service might also help Ore
gon's sagging tourist economy
which has been estimated to
be 10 to 40 percent lower
because of the energy crisis, is
the safest mode of transporta
tion (estimated at 144 times
lower than cars, and 2 to 4
times more energy efficient
than the automobile.
Eliminating the Pioneer run
would reduce passenger use of
connecting lines, says Aho,
calling it a "self-perpetuating
mess."
Admitting that the Pioneer
service doesn't make much
money yet, but used an
argument recently voiced by
Sen. Mark Hatfield while in
a Heppner stopover. "We
should be thinking of how
much oil something could
save."
Aho criticized the DOT for
removing the Amtrak ticket
office from the headquarters
offices in Washington, D.C.
aSjd the department's attempt
tosell 68 Amtrak cars, a move
stopped by Sen. Frank
Church. He noted that there is
one company which manufac
tures railroad cars, the Budd
Company and only 17 received
from an Amtrak order of 300.
Insisting that politicians
should ride Amtrak more
.often, Aho said the main
reason why there hasn't been
support for maintaining pres
ent service is that politicians
were afraid of the Proposition
13 backlash with taxes going
up. He now says that there is a
50-50 chance of Pioneer being
retained when before he
thought it was ' a 10 to 90
percent chance.
He noted that hesaw Rep.
Les AuCoin riding the train to
Portland.
Carlita
is earning back to work
part-time on Thursday
and Friday....beginning
August 9.
Tfish's Beauty ShofA
Phone 676-9282
S3
,Wf,j;,
SANITARY LANDFILL NOTICE
Effective, August 1, the county landfill will be open Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday., Tjie Lexington
dump will be open on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
Charges are $1 minimum, $5 for pickups and $10 for truck loads.
The dump will be closed on Sunday.
By Order Of The
Morrow County Court
PUBLIC NOTICE.
ANNUAL REPORT MORROW COUNTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1978
County Treasurer Cash on Hand July 1, 1977
County Treasurer Receipts July 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978
County Treasurer Disbursements July 1, 1977 to June 30,
1978
County Treasurer Balance on hand July 1, 1978
.S 527,133.29
4,609,796.18
4,597,272.91
5J9, 056.56
Taxes turned over to County Treasurer July 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978 $3,316,746.15
Assessor Collections turned to Treasurer July 30, 1977 to June 30,
1978 5,683.37
Respectfully submittedthis 23rd day July, 1979
COUNTY CLERK
ANNUAL RcPORT FOH MOKROH COUNTY,
complying with ORS 296,230 to 294.235 t
FROM JULY 1, 1978 to JUNE 30, 1979
s amended by chapter 153 of the 1957.1aws.
County Court $ 5, 013. 01
Sheriff Department 145,601.53
Co. Clerk's Department 29, 667. 20
Tax Collector department 18,482.34
Treasurer Department 11,371.44
Assessor Department 83,614.45
Health Nurse's Department 20,878.80
District Attorney office 18,840.45
Court House expenditures 14,341.43
Juvenile Department 18,929.24
Museum expenditures
Justice Court, 5th dlst. expenditures.
Justice Court 6th Dlst. " "
Circuit Court
County Planner's office expenditures...
Veterans Service expenditures
North Morrow County expenditures
Morrow Co. Surveyor expenditures
Audit
Bonds
Co. and Home ext. agents
Current expense (Telephone)
Elections ,
Insurance
Official Publications
Social Sec. and Uneroploy. , Insurance ...
6,433.85
18.285.11
14,288.85
15,412.14
26,757.47
1,622.99
1,291.07
1,475.00
5,073.00
636.00
34,833.00
9,379.48
7,048.20
. 35,122.25
1,210.46
22,082.49
Soldiers & Indigent fund $ 100.40
Predatory animal Control 8,602.00
Co. Retirement Fund 16,001.00
Paper and postage 7,936.43
Machine Mtse 5,191.24
Mental Health fund 4,500.00
Brochures, etc 322.14
Radio Equip. Black Mt 800.00
E.C.O.A.C. fund 2,145.51
Spec. Attorney fund 5.364.91
Board of Equalization 229.95
Soil Erosion Control Fund 39.00
Watermaster expense 2,000.00
Boardman I Heppner Clinic 3,516.74
Surplua Food expense 58.90
Soil Survey, S U.C. D 3,330.38
Gas Pump ftShelter, irrigon 4.155.00
Tax Roll Computor 7,328.00
New Vehicles 24,414.97
Vacation pay 1,216.80
Gen. Contingency fund 10,787.56
Gen. Roads 568,973.25
Revenue Sharing fund 46,988.55
Anti-Recession fund 13,892.54
Airport fund 1,243.70
Law Library fund 1,252.85
Mental Health fund 60,374.73
Total of all fund expenditures $1.408,478
WARRANTS OUTSTANDING FOR GENERAL FUND
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1978 $ 45,536.22
Warrants lBsued July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979 715,752.79
Warrants paid July 1, 1978 to June 30, 19 7 9 721.533.54
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1979 $ 39,755.47
WARRANTS OUTSTANDING FOR THE GENERAL ROAD FUND
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1978
Warrants issued July 1, 1978 to June 30,
$ 25,822.19
1979 568,973.25
Warrant Paid July 1, 1978 to June 30, 199 459,463.77
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1979 135,331.67
WARRANTS OUTSTANDING FOR REVENUE SHARING-FUND
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1978
Warrants issued July 1, 1978 to June 30,
Warrants paid July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1979
WARRANTS OUTSTANDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH FUND
Warrants outatandlng June 30, 198
Warrants Issued July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979
Warrants paid July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979
Warrants outatandlng June 30, 1979
WARRANTS OUTSTANIND FOR LAW LIBRARY FUND
Warrants Issued July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979 ,
Warrants Paid July 1, 1978 to June 30, 19 79 ,.
Warrants outstanding June 30, 1979
Mrs. Sadlt Psrrlsh
Clerk of Morrow County, Oregon
4,939.90
46,988.55
50,236.49
1,691.96
4,726.49
60,374.73
61.1B0.51
3,920.71
2,431.70
2,375.50
56.20
Hepiner, Oregon
July 1, 1979
In accordance with O.R.S. 294,230, I herewith submit this, my annual report af rclpta
and disbursements from July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979, both dates Inclusive.
Balance on hand June 30, 1978
4539,656.56
Receipts!
Received fromi
Tax Collector, Unsegregated taxes -
Tax Collector, Temporary License fees
Conn ty Clerk, Ball, Restitution, etc . ...
County Clerk, Clerk's fees, Law Library fees
County Assessor, Mobil Home tax, Personal Property tax - .
Sheriff's fees. Pistol Permit.
A. Green, Desth Certificates -.
Co. HeaHh Office
Planners Office .... .
J . P. fees, heppner ,. - - ... -. . .....
J. P. fees, Irrigon -.
Cutsforth Park
eights Psrk
Heppner Medical Clinic, Rent
Umatilla Vision Clinic, rent
Mental Health, Office rent at Boardman
Und Fill, fee. for dumping
Landfill, Franohlae agreement . ...
1st National Bank, Interest (Co. School Bide, fund) - --
1st National Bank, Interest (Co.Gen.fd. ,Road fd, Rev.Shar. )
iat National Br.nk, Interest (Trust account
1st National Bank, Interest (fair runaj
Bank of Eastern Ore., Interest (co. Sen. Bldg. fund) .
Bank of Eastern Ore., Interest (Forestry rentals) .
U. S. National Bank, (Co. Gen.fd.,road fd., Rev. ehar.)
Inland Empire Bank, " ' " " "
1st National Bank purchase of School Bonds
uounty Mental health Reeelpte
State of Ore. Mental Health Receipts
Morrow County to Mental Health
Fair Board oecretery's
E. George, Heppner Cemetery - "-
E.C.O.A.C, General fund
E.C.O.A.C. Read fund
Blue Mt. Eco. Development (neighborhood Center)
Hanger Rent at Airport .n. ...
Airport Rent - . '
Sals of Maps and photo copies, Sen. fd. -Sale
of cepler - -
Miscellaneous refunds, gen. fd.
Sale ef supplies, Road fd.
State of Ore. , Amusement tax "
State of Ore., Cigarette tax
State of Ore., aid to Co. health
State of Ore,, Liquor receipt. - '
State of Ore., aid to landfill employe
4,905,825.36
554.75
2,855.06
31,106.24
23,036.18
5,765.12
434.00
462.00
1,363.00
22,912.72
32,773.64
3,410.75
2,477.75
4,200.00
412.50
687.50
239.00
668.84
149,936.80
15,315.95
61.55
2,297.26
83,426.95
13,184.74
8,194.43
7,428.29
4,727,885.38
45,081.23
20,278.09
2,250.00
27,401.22
8,582.36
25,774.59
13,877.44
8,017.13
2,100.00
1,800.00
1,544.84
300.00
270.04
19.F39.36
405.70
8,658.25
9,187.79
14,072.58
1,475.00
Annuel Report
Land Cema.rr.tlon-
Beeelptai
State .f Or.
Stat, sf Ore. , Hoter License fees .
Stat, ef Or.., Racing receipt. -, . i
State f Or.., Timber Severance
State ef Ore)., Veterans Aid -
Stat. ef Or.., Election recount -
Stat, ef Or. , In Liera .f Tut, Car Campania.
Stat, ef Ore., Common Schsel fund
State ef Or.., '.ra.try Rentaja .
State af Ore., Sal. of Publlo Ltmda . ..... .
Stmt, ef Or.., Flood Control Leaaoa "' '
Stat. f Or.., Tejrler erasing fees .
State of Ore., refund for Mental Health retirement fund
State of Ore., Ina. Dividend i Gen. fd.,i Read fund
State ef Or.., Re lab. Circuit Court Expense
Stat, af Ore.; Museum Grant - . .
Stat, ef Or , Firework, permit, Mineral leaeea '
Stat, ef Or.., State Court Subeldey for juTcmllo
City ef "eppner, Pelioe Radio, Sanitary Landfill, Library Janitor
Ometille Klectrlo Coop, equity credits, Fair fund
Klecellaneoua refund 1 --1 ""
U.S. Tree.. In Lieu of tax , Land Management, Forest Service,
National Parks, Corp. .f engineer.
U.S. Fish A Wildllf., In 11m of tax
D.S. Tree.. Antl Recession
U.S. Tree.. Revenue Sharing - - ' 1
Carolyn Holt, Estate Trust fund " ' "
Total Reoelpts Received
Plus Balance en hand
14,681.00
122,678.09
20,793.30
83,694.99
514.96
32.20
72,660.00
13,391.04
320,40.19
6,215.75
1,768.12
141.59
3,507.11
5,291.00
7,701.60
562.24
5.00
744.80
4,480.00
39.17
4,347.55
70,552.00
1,466.54
1,011.00
64,637.00
1-611.92
11,080.799.54
539.656.56
11, 620,456 JO
Disbursements!
General fund Disbursed .
Road fund Diebrussd .
County School fund, disbursed
Fair fund disbursed - .... -.
City ef Boardman dieburasments
City ef Heppner diebursemente
City ef Ion. dlabur.om.nt. '
City of Irrigon diebursemente
City af Lexington disbrus omenta
Aeeesser's Cllectlon. refund. ....
School Bond. 4 Interact redeemed . ... ..
Irrigation taxes paid
Blue Mountain Iduoatlon Diatriot dlebureemente .
Law Library warrant, paid
Port of Morrow disbursement - .
County Hospital Dl.bruaament
Forest Fire Patrol Tut Disbursed
Beardman Rural Fir. Patrol Diebursed
Heppner Kural Fir. Patrol Disbursed -Irrigon
Rural Fire Patrol Diebursed
Boardman Cemetery fund dlsburood
Heppner Cemetery warrant, paid
lam, Islington fund disbursed
Irrlion Cemeterr fund disbursed ... ,
lerth Marrow County Vector Control fund disbursed
Beardman Park fund dlaburaod
Irrigon Park fund dlaburaod
Jen Starke Lain fund remitted
Conservation ft Development paid mt
Antl.Reoea.lon marront. paid -
Heppner Water Control dlaburaod
Airport Warrants paid
Revenue Sherini; warrants paid
Mental Health Warrants paid
School Building fund warrants paid
Total Disbursed
Balance on hand July 1, 1979,
Respectfully Submitted
721,715.75
459,459.24
2,643,644.56
49,270.00
74,759.97
163,598.86
16,856.76
16,037.32
2,569.95
210.55
317,478.75
559.88
528,U2.64
1,196.65
40,576.76
123,262.67
36,361.50
19,925.85
7,031.61
18,276.17
3.859.K
23,583.3$
14,450.39
3,105.46
80,413.16
13,033.71
11,700.29
1,061.55
4,447.80
14,950.22
6,689.71
1,543.70
50,236.49
61,219.51
I.24c ..'.12.60
b, 777,912. 52
t4,242,543.5E
Sylvia E. Mc Daniel, Morrow County Treasurer
Heppner, Oregon
Juno 30, 1979
In Accordance with Section 299.230 O.R.S. I hereby submit this my
annual report of receipts and disbursements from July 1, 1978 to
June 30, 1978, both dates inclusive.
TAX COLLECTIONS
Cash on hand and on deposit June 30, 1978
TAXES
$889.51
1978-79
1977-78
1976-77
1975-76
1979-75
1T73-7
A sessors Collection
i .-nalty on Foreclosure
Total C.
l1., 483.21
569.7H7-92
76,092.76
59.1H9.81
6,984.56
1,367.10
13,204.58
59-95
Collected and on hand June 30, 1978
j.9l9.08'
'.919,97'
DISBURSEMENTS
Turned to Morrow Co. Treasurer
Assessors Collections
Foreclosure Publications (Penalty Fund)
Cash on Hand 205.75
On Deposit 385.78
Total Disbursements and Cash on Hand June 30,1979
I9,905,8:s6
13,204.58
352.93
iOI
t. 9 9,974.
Receipts
MOTOR VEHICLES
TEMPORARY LICENSE FEES
1554.75 Disbursed.
July 1,1978 - March 19,1979
is; .75
Elvira Ir by, Morrow County Tax Collector
T
Publshed July 26, 1979
1