Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1979)
FOURTEEN The Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, November 22, l7! V - M j . - i J i 1 ?l "1 Audit report accepted by council Mayor Sweeney tells of court operation 200 at Heppner concert The Irrigon City Council has accepted an audit report for financial operations ending June 30. The audit prepared by the accounting firm of Faunt, Lewis and Bare, co vered a period of administra tion by City Manager Jack Baisden. The audit report expressed criticism of bookkeeping methods which "did not pro vide for proper internal con trol." Because insufficiently trained personnel were charged with maintaining re cords, imbalances occurred which led to violations of local budget law, the report said. Also noted by the auditors was that a receipt jounal was not maintained during the first half of the audit period. xj irxigoii news Francis Rose Wihon 922-3352 No attempt was made to reconcile records with bank statements, the cash disburse ment journal did not agree with budget control cards, checks marked void later showed up as cleared by the bank and many checks re mained outstanding for long periods of time, the auditors said. Also noted was the fact that the Improvement District bond payment schedule re flected a total of $2,064.81 past due, including principal and accrued interest. Many of these areas have been corrected and a system of adequate records has been ordered. The present city recorder, Barbara Draxton, has brought the city books to current order and presented a financial statement to the council. In accepting the audit report the council also requested that Irrigon sewer system plans aired by council; 40 at hearing Approximately 40 citizens of the Irrigon area met at a public hearing in A C. Hough ton school auditorium to hear the current plans for the city of Irrigon 's proposed sewer project. Mayor Vernon Stewart, who presided, introduced G. Tho mas Clark, representing Vitor Engineering of Tri-Cities who in turn presented the revised facility plan. The following reasons for need of the revised plans were discussed by Clark. As a result of a State Health Department hearing held in Irrigon Dec. 5, 1978, where evidence and testimony were presented concerning conta mination of shallow wells from septic tanks, a determi nation was made that a potential health hazard did, in fact, exist in the Irrigon area. Following this finding, the city's priority for grant fund ing was placed at 91 on the list by the Department of Envi ronmental Quality. It had previously been completely removed from the list. A portion of the area with the potential health problem lies west of Irrigon and was not included in the previous study. Population projections com piled by East Central Oregon Association of Counties fore see a four-fold increase for Irrigon in the next 20 years. The previous study had not considered as great an in crease, so a revision was needed to meet the projec tions. The pufpose of the hearing was to bring the public into the planning pro cess early, so deci sions can be made intelli gently as they are needed. Police Report"" The following cases were reported to the Morrow County Sheriff's Office the past week ending Nov. 19. Gregory Hanson, who works for Dexon Security, reported a criminal mischief case involv ing two slashed tires and a broken windshield. Two tires, valued at $40, and a wind shield, valued at $200, were destroyed at the PGE Coal fired Plant. Booth Twining Company owned the 1969 Ford Ranchero that was battered. Eye witnesses of the event refused to give statements so no further action will be taken. Don E. Anderson, Star Rt. in Arlington, reported two Here ford calves missing worth $1,000. Two male juveniles from Lexington, both 17, were arrested for possession of less than one ounce of a controlled substance. Justice Court The following violations were handled by Charlotte Gray, Morrow County justice of the peace, for the week ending Nov. 19. Joe Louis Dearborn, P.O. Box 638 in Heppner open container of alcohol ($24 fine) and giving false name to a police officer $55 fine. Shawn Michelle Bremer, Lexington hit and run pro perty damage ($309 fine with $102 suspended, and no opera tor's license $55 fine with $45 suspended. William Douglas Tews, Star Rt. Box 153 in lone driving while under the influence of intoxicants $185 fine. Russel Stanley Reed, P.O. Box 253 in Heppner driving while under the influence of intoxicants $750 fine with $440 suspended fine. Bernard Eugene Marshall, P.O. Box 151 1905 Court St. in Heppner driving while under the influence of intoxicants $157 fine. David Knute Johnson, 415 S.W. Isaacs in Pendleton tandem axle overload $19 fine. Marion Richard Ness, 160M W. Center in Heppner failure to change address on vehicle registration $7 fine. Douglas Donald Wagner, Rt. 1 Box 166 Space No. 6 in Pendleton tandem axleover oad $29 fine. Elmer Boyd Bennett, P.O. Box 252 in Long Creek, axle jverload $19 fine. James Gilbert Simpson, 1437 S.W. 37th in Pendleton axle overload $10 fine. Lucille Ruth Rietmann, Box 105 Morgan Hill Road in lone failure to yield $10 fine. Marvin Leroy Lane, 380 S. Gilmore in Heppner no brake lights $12 fine. Earl Douglas Green, 1220 N. Locust in Prineville no valid operator's license $55 fine with $45 suspended. William Arnold Sheets, Rt. 2 Box 2649 in Hermiston hunt ing violation $12 fine. Alfred Benjamin Burt, Box 686 in Heppner hunting using prohibited methods $24 fine. Jose Aguilar, Rt. 1 Box 250 in Umatilla illegal posses sion of a game bird dis missed (defendant deceased). Javier Villa Escalera, Court E. No. 60 in McNary illegal possession of a game bird $44 fine. Jacob Vanpelt, 30810 S. Needy Rd. in Canby expired camper's license not guilty. Samuel Lee McDaniel, Rt. 1 Box 3415 in Heppner illegal possession of furbearer pelts $55 fine. The city was concerned that the slush-plant disposal might be excessive for a city of Irrigon's size, considering operational costs. A circle ditch, lagoon-type of disposal is being considered. Of the suggested sites being considered for the plant, Site No. 1, between 13th and 14th St. West, would cost an estimated $1,058,000. Strong opposition was ex pressed by residents to pro posed Site No. 2, ranging from odor to decreasing land val ues. Some resentment was expressed that the city could operate and locate a facility outside its geographical limits without those affected having a voice. Others expressed a concern that the effluence at Site 2 would discharge directly above the irrigation pumping station serving the area. The property proposed for site 2 was taken by the government in connection with the building of the John Day Dam and its resulting backwater. It was recently declared surplus by General Services Administration and made available to nonprofit agencies, cities, school dis tricts, etc. for health or education or related facilities. The city has submitted an application for this land. Site No. 1 property also is in control of the Corps of Engineers and sub-leased to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, posing somewhat more of a problem in securing it. It is also near the school, posing safety questions. It is upstream from the park and swimming area. Excessive costs for extending outfall pipes far enough into the river were noted. Also raising questions was the site's ability to adequately accomodate the expected population expan sion. Anticipated growth is projected to the south and west, which would be away from this site. Lift stations would be re quired on all the plans submitted for either site, but for some the operational costs would be more than others. It is expected that grant funds will finance 75 percent of the construction costs, with the city paying the remaining 25 percent under a bond issue already passed. To be eligible for grant monies the following steps must be completed by Febru ary. 1980. 1. Site selection for treat ment plant. 2. Master sewer plan selec tion and sewer system design criteria approval, with inter ceptors and laterals that might be built by federal grant. 3. Firm committment from property owners or other users that intend to use the system. It was recommended in the report that the council should explore both voluntary and compulsory connections to sewer system by residents. The city should meet with County Commissioners and develop a joint regional plan and sewerage treatment po licy for N.E. Morrow County. a financial statement be made at the end of each month. Also in the accounting area, an agreement was made that employees drawing gas from the city pumps sign a form noting the amount, date and mileage. Police activity came up for discussion and it was agreed that a police log should be submitted that the officer should be required to attend council meetings. Mayor Stewart reported that 6-inch pipe material was on hand for the water line extension to the new school. City employees were laying it this past week. In other business the coun cil: Transferred $1,500 Fe deral Revenue Sharing funds from maintenance and repair of streets to the purchase of a police car. Mayor Stewart had recently made a trip to Salem where the purchase was made for the 1978 Pontiac from state surplus. A promissary note for $3,824 to former City Engineer Val Toronot was authorized in an out-of-court settlement in a services pay dispute. It was also learned that the city owed $168.55 due to a court decision involving work done on the police car. The council authorized pro ceeding on an annexation request by Pattons to annex 3.64 acres north of Ore gon Avenue and west of town. A request to have it zoned R-l was included. Winter to aid Warren group Herman W. Winter, a Hepp ner attorney, has been named Morrow County chairman for the Committee to Elect Ed ward Warren judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals. Warren, 43, is an appellate attorney specializing in cases heard before the Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court and Federal Appellate Court. Warren has practiced law in Portland since 1966 and was chairman of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners, a prestigious bar admissions committee, in 1966-1967. Mayor Jerome Sweeney of Heppner addressed a work shop discussion at the recent League of Oregon Cities meeting in Portland on how Heppner uses the Morrow County court system. "We work with both the district attorney and the sheriff's office as well as with Justice of the Peace Charlotte Gray," Sweeney explained. "The City of Heppner cannot afford to prosecute criminal cases, such as traffic offenses, and it costs $28 or $29 a day to board and room a prisoner in Pendleton." The mayor pointed out there are no jail facitilies in Morrow County. Persons arrested by the police and awaiting ar raignment or trial must be held in Umatilla County. Heppner police cite all serious traffic violators into the Justice of the Peace Court, under the state's Uniform Traffic Code, and the booking arrangements including transportation to jail are handled by the sheriff's office. Hence, all revenue from fines is retained by the county. Sweeney said the city court, presided over by Marshall Lovgren, handles only charter or ordinance violations, which do not call for the penalty of going to jail. Lovgren also serves as the city clerk. The mayor said the 1975 State Legislature provided that governmental units may enter into agreements for mutual benefits, hence Hepp ner's arrangement with Mor row County for the handling of court cases. "It works well for us and satisfactorily for the county," he added. About 200 persons attended the 1979 Fall Concert Nov. 15 at the Heppner High School cafctorium. The Heppner Junior High Band started the show with a rendition of "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," with a solo by Danny Fortenberry. Cord Adams had a solo in the next song called, "Blue Rock." The band continued its swing type songs with the tune "Boogie On By," with a solo by Matt Howard. A complex piece of music of . many parts came next. It was t called, "Sonatina for Band." The high school ended the evening with the song "Varia tion Overture." For a change of pace, the last song was a march called "Bunker Hill," with a snare drum solo by Travis Hyatt. The high school band fol lowed with a march by J.F. Sousa called "The Thun derer" to open its part of the show. Jimmy Carter due in Portland lone man to report at Conservation meet President Jimmy Carter will be the main speaker at the Democratic Party's annual Wayne Morse Banquet to be held at the Memorial Coli seum in Portland, Nov. 30. The 8 p.m. banquet will be preceded by a VIP Cocktail Party at 7 p.m. President Carter will arrive at the banquet after attending Democratic events in Seattle. The Morse Banquet is part of a major fund raising effort by Oregon Democrats. The banquet is considered to be significant by Democrats as they celebrate 25 years as the majority party in Oregon. This year is the 25th anniver sary of the election of Dick Neuberger to the Senate and Edith Green to the House. C.R. McElligott of lone will report on a varity of topics at the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts' 31st annual meeting Nov. 26-27 at the Red Lion Motor Inn in Pendleton. The convention hosts are the Heppner Water Conservation District (WCD), the Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the Umatilla County SWCD and the Birch Creek WCD. McElligott is an at-large director for the OACD and he is a past president of the organization having served from 1975-77. He belongs to the Morrow SWCD. He will head a discussion on public lands Nov. 26 in a forum setting. The next day, McElligott will be a part of a panel and talk about Cropland Erosion in a morning session. In the afternoon, as a duty as chairman of the public lands committee, McElligott will give the forum reports and resolutions. WARNING! To those disposing of garbage in city streets and parks : Dumping of rubbish, debris or materials on private land or public way is prohibited by City Ordinance No. 365. Violators shall be punished upon conviction by a fine of not less than $5.00 nor more than $100.00 or by imprisonment for a term of not less than two days but nor more than fifty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. Marshall,Lovgren City Administrator Publish: Nov. 15, 22, 29, J)ec. 6, 13, 20, 1979. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Morrow County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 26, 1979, at 8:00 p.m. in the North Morrow County Annex Building in Irrigon. A public hearing will be held on the following: 1. Request of change of zone from Qualified Farm to Farm. Land is situated in the NW'i of the NE1 1 and NE" i, NW" i of section 11. Tp. IS, R24 EWM, adjacent to the Highway between lone and Lexington. Applicant Roy A. Lindstrom, lone. 2. Request for change of Zone from Qualified Farm to Farm. Land is situated in the NW'j of the NE4 and NE1 1, NW' i of section II, Tp. IS, R21 EWM, adjacent to the Highway between lone and Lexington. Applicant Gale Gray, lone. 3. Request for change of Zone from Single Family Residential to Duplex within U.G.B. Boardman. Applicant Lester Moen, Boardman. Interested persons are invited to the hearing and to express their views. Written signed statements will be considered. Reasons for disapproval should be included in oral or written statements. - Dorris L. Graves, Chairman, Morrow County Planning Commission Publish November 15 and 22, 1979. JiSU IF C3 S70HE OIJLY Pricos Effoctlvo Nov. 23 thru Doc. 2 Get Your Hero At PAY LESS 1 From your . . Staffing at... 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