Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1981)
VOL. Morrow Co. voters to Three separate levies will be on the ballot when Morrow County voters go to the polls next Tuesday. One, seeking $1,927,563 In taxes outside the six percent limitation, will be for the general operation and financ ing of the county. ' The second, a $2,856,000 serial levy each year for the next three years, would be used to fix up county roads. And the third, a request by pioneer Memorial Hospital for $108,565 in taxes outside the six percent for operation of the county medical facilities for the coming year. General county operation A ballot Next year's proposed gener al fund, or operating levy, to pay for county services such as the sheriff's department, planning, clerk's office and other departments is up $2M,283 over last year, accor ding to budget director Don McElligott. Main reasons for the in creases he says, are a 12.5 percent salary and fringe benefit package given to all county employees and the county court for next year, general inflationary coats and the purchase of new equip ment and hiring of new personnel. Included in next year's budget is $46,000 to purchase three new compact automo biles and three new patrol vehicles for the sheriff's department. The three compact cars would be used by the county health department, a process server (a new position funded in the budget), and the assessor. McElligott says in the past vehicles passed down from the Sheriff's Dept. have been used by these departments, but they are inefficient. 'The old sheriff's cars are real gas guzzlers, and with the compacts we will be able to save quite a bit of fuel," McElligott pointed out. In addition to the vehicles (lie county alao plans to buy an $11,000 bookkeeping machine for the county clerk's office and a $6,500 copy machine. According to McElligott the bookkeeping machine will be similar to one used by the assessor and will improve efficiency in the clerk's office, and keep the county from ' hiring any additional workers to handle the bookkeeping load. He said the machine was recommended to the county by a team of efficiency experts that recently finished studying the Morrow County Court House operations. In the personnel department the county has budgeted for two new positions at the court house. A new process server and transport officer with a salary of $15,321 in the sheriff's department, would free offic ers now spending time trans porting prisoners and serving papers, for more time on patrol. In addition, the county Is seeking to hire a full time building inspector in the planning department, and move the secretary there from part to full time. "We hope to be doing all our own Inspecting in the future," GAZE Morrow County's Home-Owned W. NO. 20 THURSDAY, MAY 14. 1981 said McElligott of the changes. He said the Inspector should make the building permit process a "one stop process" in the county, and eliminate long waits for state inspectors to come and inspect construction projects. The new inspector would have a salary of $15,694 per year, however. McElligott says the county should collect about $nj3tf in building fees" next year, which in the past had gone to the state. The county will also lose one position next year. Chief Appraiser Tom McElligott will be leaving, and his position with a salary of $16,920 will not be filled, said McElligott. Also included in the general fund levy, or A ballot, is $1,200,000 for estimated road maintenance in 1981-82. It is not part of the special three year road upgrading levy voters will also decide on next Tuesday. Three-Year road serial levy B ballot This levy would allow the county to tax $2,856,000 each year for the next three years with the money to be used to purchase new road equipment and substantially upgrade roads throughout the county. The levy originated with the Wheat League and was put on the ballot at the request of local citizens who want to see county roads, which they say are badly deteriorated, fixed up. Prime mover behind the special road levy, lone farmer Eric Anderson, says "This serial levy effort has been a major effort over many months, by many people, who instead of complaining about poor roads, decided to try to do something about it." Anderson says county court policy in the 1970 s held road levies "artificially low" to stay under the six percent limitation of increased taxes. "Some long-term mainten ance tasks such as pavement reseating, bridge work and graveling went largely un done," says Anderson. He says the 16 members of the county road committee have held 14 meetings over the last six months to come up with a plan on where, and how, to spend the $8,568,000 passage of this levy would generate over the next three years. Under the plan six miles of Wilson Road, two miles of Rietmann Grade, 3.5 miles of Patterson Ferry Road, 16 miles of Sandhollow Road and part of Bombing Range Road would get various degrees of straightening, widening and repaying next year. The second year of the plan would see lone Gooseberry, Willow Creek, Rhea Creek, and Clarks Canyon Roads all receiving work. In the third year Anderson says the committee decided to work on Kunze, lone-Board-man, Baseline East, Little Butter Creek and misc. feeder roads. In all, close to $1 million in equipment would be purchas ed by the county over the next three years under the levy, however, some work county crews could not do "cost effective" would be contract ed out, according to Anderson. The Heppner TTET 12 PAGES decide fate of three levies May He also says that cities in the county will receive some money back for work on city streets under the serial levy. "The Morrow County Court has pledged to follow and implement this plan complete ly if the levy is unsuccessful," Anderson says of the upgrad ing plan. Hospital levy - B ballot Pioneer Memorial Hospital will be seeking voter approval next Tuesday to tax $108,565 outside the six percent limita tion. The money will be used to operate the hospital facilities at Heppner as well as the North Morrow Medical Clinic and ambulance service in Boardman. The hospital, nursing home and ambulance in Heppner requires $41,800 in taxes next year. North end services require $66,765. lone Junior-Senior Banquet held Friday lone juniors, seniors, The lone Junior-Senior banquet 8 in the school cafetorium. The Voters to A second advisory ballot seeking voter opinion on construction of the Willow Creek dam in Heppner will be put before the voters on the BMCC levy vote May 19 May 19. voters in Morrow and Umatilla counties will be asked a budget levy of $2,761,044. This is the second time the college has ftme to (he voters for approval of an operating levy. The college has no tax base and must win voter approval of its budget levy each year. Voters turned down the levy by 39 votes on March 31. Prior to this first vote, the BMCC board and budget committee had pared college budget Rodeo Court "The Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Court looked real sharp in their navy and red outfits at Arlington," said Mary Ann Palmer, where they took first place. The court look part in the parade and attended the luncheon following it. They were also in the grand entry. Those attending were Queen Nancy, her parents, Melba and Tad Miller, and her brother, Steve; Princess Kathy Hansen and her moth er, Kathy Hansen; Princess Anita Palmer and her parents, Mary Ann and Lee Palmer. MES Weekly Newspaper 20 CENTS HEPPNER. OREGON Hospital Administrator A K. "Lucky" Felt says the taxes required by the hospital this year are up from $70,457 to $108,565 mainly because of increased expenditures on North Morrow Medical Clinic and ambulance services. Felt pointed out that this year's budget does not call for a rate increase at the hospital, although he would not rule out the possibility on one later in the year "if inflation goes wild." 'The State and Federal government forces us to write off a significant portion of the cost for caring for the patients funded by public programs," Felt said. 'The board and administration of this hospital feel that this cost should be spread over the entire county and not be recovered by raising rates to the paying patients." Included in this year's budget are some new equip parents and faculty enjoy a buffet style dinner at the Banquet was held last Friday, May dinner was buffet style. see dam May 19 election next Tuesday. "Do you favor construction of the Willow Creek Dam?" will be asked of all voters in the Heppner Water Control requests by $324,694. Follow ing the first defeat, the group cut the budget by an addition al $35,750. According to college Presi dent Ron Daniels, the propos ed levy would increase taxes on a $60,000 home by 90 cents per month. The total college levy would be $1.67 per $1,000 true cash value. The owner of a $60,000 home would pay $100.20 in taxes for the support of Blue Mountain Community College for the 1981-82 school year. takes 1st Mrs. Palmer is also the court chaperone. Pennant bearers and par ents traveling with the court this year are -Sylvia Ladd, Lorraine and Elmer Ladd; Lori Fetsch, Donna and Larry Fetsch; Andrea Ball, Dianna and Archie Ball; and Shelley Stroeber, Jan and Don Stroeb er. Princesses Kathy and Anita participated in the barrel racing, as did pennant bearers Lori and Andrea. The court's next appearance will be at the Spray Rodeo, Saturday, May 23. ment and services at the hospital : A $1,000 spirometer to perform pulmonary and lung studies. A new OB baby table, to replace "make-do" ones, at a cost of $3,000. A new floor in the kitchen. And a new ultrasonic nebul izer, as well as other purchas es for a total of $11,777 in capital outlays. Summary The total county budget, including the hospital, general operation and the three-year road levy, totals $7,566,244. Of this amount $390,069 is . within the six percent limita tion and may be levied without a vote; $1,927,583 is outside the six percent and will be voted on in a special A ballot, and used for general county opera tion; $108,565 is outside the six Entertainment was provided Friends," members of the lone question again District. An identical question asked only of Heppner city residents April 3. 1979, received approv al, 188 yes to 135 no. As with the 1979 vote, the County Mental Health program could suffer $14,700 in budget cuts By MARY ANN CKRl'LLO The Morrow County Mental Health program could lose $4,700 of state money should a 10 percent cut occur, as was indicated by the House Ways and Means Committee report ed Dr. Terry Templeman to Morrow County Court last Wednesday. Dr. Templeman testified on the impact of the governor's budget on small mental health programs in Eastern Oregon. The program might be able to make up the $4,700 differ ence with insurance revenues and fees, otherwise said Templeman, he didn't know where to find the money. Templeman further stated that, "We could be looking at losses in services." Dr. Templeman reported that the Mental Health Clinic is currently handling 8 incest cases, six in the north end. Dr. Templeman brought to the court's attention that because of such cases, the Ione-Hep- 19 percent and will be on a B ballot, for operation of the county's hospital; and $2,856,000 is the first of a three year proposed serial levy to, to upgrade county roads. The remainder of the funds in the total county budget come from sources other than county property taxes. The general county levy would require an estimated tax rate of $4 per thousand of true cash value. The hospital levy would require .19, and the special county road levy $4.93, for a total of $9.12 if all three levies are passed. Voters should remember that it is not possible to pass either the hospital or the road levy (both B ballots) without also passing the general operating levy (A ballot). If the A ballot fails, both B ballots are automatically defeated. by "Carol Cheney High School chorus. and May 19 vote will be strictly advisory and have no binding effect on construction of the dam. initial phases of which have already started. pner Branch of the AAUW is currently setting up a victim advocate program. The organ ization will be working through the district attorney's office and provide victims of violence with needed emotion al support. The Mental Health Clinic in the north end presently con sists of a therapist, Alison Turner, and a receptionist. Ms. Turner is currently handling twenty-five out of thirty-three north end cases, Templeman stated. She is also beginning to develop a pro gram similar to the AAUW victim advocate program for the Boardman-Irrigon area. With a ten percent cut, said Templeman. the north end clinic could be looking at either losing its receptionist or closing down all together. Morrow County Court agreed to recommend to Representative Bellamy and Senator Jernstedt to endorse the support of small rural mental health clinics. Bergstrom, King win Ruth Bergstrom and Martha King are winners of this week's Gazette-Times "Know Your Local Business Person Contest' Each won a $25 gift certificate for being the first two entries drawn, correctly identifying the places of business of six area business people. There are only three weeks remaining in the contest. For details, where to enter, six new pictures for this week, and answers to last week's contest, see page five of this week's G-T. Handmade quilt a beautiful addition to IUCC auction t s: I LZZ3 KZ iT2k WL- Lucile Rietmann and Ruth McCabe sew a quilt which will be auctioned at the lone United Church's auction on June 6. Lucile Rietmann and Ruth McCabe are among many women of the lone United Church of Christ who are working on a handmade quilt to be auctioned at the church's annual auction on Saturday. June 6. "The women have spent a total of 150 hours in making the quilt. Because of the quality of needlework, the quilt will be a beautiful keepsake for the purchaser," said an auction spokesperson. Each year women of the church hand craft a variety of Hams selected for lone Yard of Month ft M . - v i Pete and Marjorie Hams The home of Marjorie and Pete Hams at the corner of 'H' and Main streets in lone was chosen the "Yard of the Month" by the May judging committee of the lone garden club. The Hams property, a park-like setting, has expan sive lawns interspersed with flower beds, which furnish continual bloom throughout the growing season. Flowering trees and shrubs and a rock garden at the southern gate add variety to the landscape. In the middle of the this 200' x 200 property a hundred foot planting sepa rates the vegetable garden from the mobile home area. Included in their plantings are boysenberries, strawberries. i X v. r . . . J. beautiful things such as dish . towels, pillowcases, aprons, baby quilts, purses and cloth toys to be sold at the Country Store. They also produce tantalizing goodies for the Country Kitchen section such as pies, cakes, cookies, breads, jams and jellies. The 18th annual barbecue and auction will be held at the Willows Grange Hall in lone with the Country Store open ing at 10 a.m.. the outside auction at 10M5 and the pit barbecued beef dinner at 12 : 30 p.m. ' ,, -- V .? feat -'V and fruit trees - apricots, peaches, plums, cherries and apples. The tragrance of wallflow ers permeated the area as the judges visited the pleasant garden Previous winners for March and April were Clarence Clarence Mclntoshea and Jessie Childers. "The decision was a difficult one as the selection of "The Yard of the Month" has inspired many beautiful years in lone," said a Garden Club spokesperson. "To enjoy this interesting yard one need only to drive along the southern most entrance of lone, pass the railroad to the corner of Main Street. An identifying marker has been posted in the front yard. List, fit irtl iTV Ti rfHq.rt ii
