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