Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1986)
3 I £ V E 7 2 E L L The Heppner F e b r u a r y 16-24 H ig h Gazette-Times M o rro w C ou n ty \OI. I»4 NO • '• Weather by perform general supervision No teacher shall be compelled to per form general supervision in excess of eight hours per month Neither the factfinder's or either sides position was adopted for Maintenance of standard« General language which the board objected to was made more specific in terms of Items and conditions related to the contract Fair Share or money withheld from paychecks of non union mem her teachers to be used fo collective bargaining was not included in the contract Insurance will continue with the current coverage carrier for this year In 1986 87 long term disability insurance will be added with the district and teachers dividing the coat 95 percent 5 percent respective ly Both teuchers and the district agreed that if in any given year the premium increases more than 20 percent, the two groups would split the cost 50-50 Kxtra duty and extended respon sibilities were excluded from Ju«l Cause protection New teachers in the district will not be protected by, just cause for dismissal or renewal for the first two years they are employed by the district Added back in the contract 6Tas language from an earlier contract requiring due proccsd 'for dismissal and non renewal Teachers agreed to the board's 'February 101 last offer for Salary Increases will be nine, eight, seven, and four percent depending on how- many years of experience the teach er has and length of time in the district The board did agree to a f” UT percent increase for each of the three years on the longevity step and reduced the last step from I# to 18 vears The board also added a BA * 90 equivalent to a MA ♦ 30 step which especially will benefit rle mentary teachers who take many courses in different areas but do not work toward a graduate degree The school board was to meet Monday night to review the tentative agreement and decide when to vote concerning iatification "I can't see any reason why they would not agree to the proposal," Starr said The district, he said feels very in this year’s purchases Collection* are better, revenues from patient and nursing nome services are belter and are expected to continue to Increase, he said Donations to the auxiliary and the hospital have Increased and should continue to Increase as the hospital's Image is upgraded, he said The Increased donations should help off set any increases In expenses for the hospital During December, 2 2 acute care beds were used per day and 142 per day during January. The nursing home Is generally pro viding better care and Increased revenues reflect Increased usage There has been a 24-25 patient The county will nerd 81.2*1).62* in average during the past year for an taxes to balance thr proposed bud 80-85 percent use rate get The total levy which the county A dramatic difference can be seen will ask. however, is 8.1.KM.568 which between last year s budget and this includes a six percent allowance for year's, he said because the admin taxes which arr not expected to he istrator's salary is not paid by the collected Because the county's lax county but by St Anthony Hospital base is 8531.000. no election Is The county pays an administrative required to approve that portion of fee to St Anthony lust year that fee the tax To balaner the proposed was just for the administrator's budget, the county will ask voters to salary, but beginning in May of his approve a special levy of 82.568,711 year, St Anthony will charge a fee of and a one-year hospital levy of 81.000 per month for services it 8381,6*4 provides to Pioneer The two levies will be presented on A decrease in the amount spent for separate ballots In the March 28 public relations can be seen largely election The hospital levy la 816.SIS because St Anthony has made ser less than last year's hospital levy, or vices available in that area an 8 62 percent decrease The serial Salaries generally are expected to levy for the county Is up 6 it percent reflect a 4 1 percent increase al or 816* 873 from last year though in a couple of .-ases salaries This year's estimated tax rate for appear to have raised more than the total budget levy is estimated at that, he said Contract negotiations 84 38 per 81 t*K) of assessed property are not yet finalized, and the in value based on the best information crease is shown in the salary contin available from the County Assessor gency fund rather than the salary at the time of the estimate, con line item That is because the tinued Bowman The tax rate for the salaries have been changed to more hospital levy is 48 cents per 81.000 of accurately reflect the work done by assessed value The total rate for all some people whose jobs included other funds except Lifeguard, is more than what they were being 83 86 per 81.two baid for Workman's Comp and Blue The lifeguard serial levy was Cross rates have increased for all approved last year as a three year county and hospital employees of 12 special levy, so no election is needed and 10 percent respectively this year to collect the tax The rate "W e're very satisfied with the for the Lifeguard Levy is four cents people we have now. we don't accept per 81.000 valuation mediocrity as a norm The way to During the budget workshops, the remedy mediocre performance is to committee cut 876.454 from the train the people we have, not bring proposed budget before arriving at in new people " The inservice the final proposal The cut is refl training budget shows a 50 percent ected in a reductionof 8212.746 in the increase from 82.500 to 85.txw this proposed levy keeping that amount year below the current tax rate limit In some areas, although services ation are expected to increase, supplies should cost less. Hemple said, be cause in some cases a better buying Hospital Adm inistrator John arrangem ent has been im ple llrmpel reported to the county's men ted. and in others an inventory- budget committee that this year's system is slowly becoming sys levy request would he down from tematic, and supplies are being last year's request in spite of the fart more intelligently bought and more that emplovees are receiving raises, intelligently used the hospital was offering better A computer, a typewriter, and a quality care, and a computer system transport cart are the major expend and other equipment were Included itures which are budgeted for next year The computer will be linked with the computer at the county courthouse Should hospital use in crease, some other areas will need to tie upgraded sooner than they are budgeted for The electrical system and the physical plant are out moded, but are serving the current patient load Recruitment costs for I) Thlessen will lie paid from the current year's budget There is an expected de crease in this line item next year because the hospital is not expected to be recruiting again soon Physician's Assistance is the doctor's salary The agreement with Thiessen is that the county guar antees him 85.1881 per month during the first two years Should his actual income be lower, the hospital would pay the balance Dr Thiessen has been budgeted both as an asset and as a liability This measure ensures that the hospital could sup port him. and that any monies made shall be carried to 1987 as a begin ning fund balance, Hempel ex 26 Saow > « ta *7 .46 , . T r . Tr a* B a ta 26 4* 26 F r i. 4S 26 1* S a l. 62 68 41 15 41 *• 74s 48 a* San M aa aa aa aa aa the City of Heppner Contract reached ; ratification expected It s ill over but the shout inn Morr ow County teachers and the school board reached a contract settlement at 4 06 a m Friday, Feb 21 The all night bargaining session was the i ulmination of many months of negotiations between the two parlies for a three year contract for county teachers "Neither side got evrryth in it they w an ted ." said teachers negotiator Hill Jacobson, "so the agreement was O K " Negotiations went well and teachers are expected to vote today to ratify the contract Speaking for the school district. Assistant Suj»erintendenl Chuck Starr said hcUxntght both sides felt good abnui the agreement and he ex pei-ted no problems with the board's acceptar ce Both sides will scrutinize the agi cement before it is ratified, he said Starr reports tha t the issues still in dispute prior to last Thursday's meeting were settled as follows: Both sides agreed to accept the factfinder's proposal for Manage ment Bights Kactfu der Gary Axon proposed the adoption of a brief statement of management rights which will serve to protect District powers Teuchers accepted the Board's offer to continue insurance benefits only as an incentive for Early Retirement The factfinder's recommendation was accepted (General Supervision and-or ticket selling at all school functions outside regular working hours or extending past regular working hours will be paid at the rate of 88 per hour for 1985 86. 88 50 per hour in 1080 87. and $0 per hour in 1087-88 Building administrators shall first seek volunteers for these assignments before assigning teach era on an involuntary basis to la w 14 W ed rh u rs H o m e -O w n e d Weekly N e w s p a p e r Heppner, Oregon 2 5 'WEDNESCttY, FEBRUARY 26 1 966 36 Tu es positive about the agreement.that the salary schedule will make the district more competitive in recruit ing and keeping teachers and that* some language matters have boon worked out in a satisfactory man tier Both sides have been willing to bargain all ulong. he said, but some areas were so serious that it was difficult for either side to give in and it just took a lot of time to work out all Iho details. Starr concluded Pre-applications needed for retirement housing project l ‘re applications for apartment rentals in the retirement facility planned for the Heppner Hotel site are now available at Heppner City Hall. Case Fruniture Store.and Murray Drugs in Heppner Stale offices need reassurance from pro applications that the pro posed facility w ill be fully used, says local spokesperson Meg Murray Some similar facilities in the Will amette Valley are not fully rented at present because many such facil ities are available in that area State officials need firm data slating how many will apply for rental units at 'he facility The information will be used in a feasibility study concer ning the pay back of a 86tx).000 loan from the Klderly Housing Finance Program The pre application forms request routine responses, Murray con tinues. but also require financial information necessary to determine low income rental status The state considers those with income less than 828.500 as a candidate for low-income rentals, and they are eligible for rental assistance Those with income over 828.500 will pay the market rate for rent which currently in the tri-county area averages 8267 per month for a one bedroom apar tment The Umatilla County Housing Authority has the necessary exper Use and will manage the proposed facility, says Murray The Housing Authority already has a housing assistance program in effect In Morrow County Prr applications are an expres sion of intent only and not a guar antee of an apartment The forms should be filed at Heppner City Hall Availability of the loan and com pletion of the rehabilitation project will depend on how many wish to avail themselves of the opportunity to live in a community with the necessary support services in place during their retirement, conclude Murrav Proposed county budget down, but tax levy would go up 6.6 % The Morrow County Budget Com mittee met February 4,5.6,7,and 12 and approved an 88.244.878 total budget which is o 48 percent or 840,076 below last yea r's total adopted budget Although the total budget is down, the county's total tax value is also down County revenues are below expected amounts, therefore the total tax levy is up 6 61 percent, says county Budget Officer LoRayne Bowman Last year's budget was figured with as little excess as possible, so there is also less carryover for the current fiscal year than at the beginning of last year Hodpiud fund levy \ has been included in the budget with the salary listed al a slight reduction from that offered last year The building inspection budget has been reduced to reflect the current downward trend in building activi ties during the year The budget reflects a continuation of the exist mg service and revenues and are predicted on converstations with port officials, mobile home place men! business and recent activities by HPA and the U S Corps of engineers regarding a second fish hatchery, says county Planner Dean Soegor Four alternatives are off erod for handling the vacancy in the position of building inspector The County Court will choose how to fill the position I) hire a building inspector, 21 contract services for five years and add electrical inspec tions, 31 contract with the state for services. 4i hire a part time inspec tor on an hourly basis which will work only if a properly certified individual is available Bequests for capital outlay in dude personal computer viewer and printer for the Clerk's office plained Food service used for the nursing room divider, desk and computer home has been listed where it is typewriter stand to make "usable actually used With the computer office space" and a better working which the hospital hopes to purchase environment for the non support this year, some of the food service officer, a new office chair for the two office and laundry expenses may be more juvenile department accurately placed in the budget chairs, a microfilm reader printer, according to where they are actually and copy machine for the- Sheriff's used office i Sheriff Ih-pt vehicles are More volunteer staffing is used for purchased from non departmental ambulance service Mainenance fundsi, two four drawer file cabin staff at the hospital do make amhu ets for the museum, folding chairs lance runs during the day because for public meetings, desk, chair, volunteers generally are unable to typewriter and computer desk for leave their jobs a that time the I’ uhlic Works Dept , a non de partmental copy machine for the Extension Service and 848.(88) for nondepartmenlal vehicle* The Justice t unit hudgrt was ftla rie * and benefits for rmplov approved a* submitted Mlhuugh. at ees covered In the General Fund are thr final review a motion wa* made budgeted at the same as last year or and set ended lo eliminate Justice si the same increase av negotiated I ourt from thr county hudgrt. thr with emplovees In the road depart- motion failed bv a (our to one vote. men! Fleeted official* did not Health Department and nonde receive raise* last year, so arr partmental Extension Service bud expected to hr included for raises gded rent increases resulting from this year calculated on thr same moving the respective offices lo the rate of increase Negotiations arr new Pettyjohn (Ifflt'e Building Bent not yet complete, so anticipated increase for the Health Dept is from amount* arr Included in the contin 8*xX) lo 86. ixxi per year For the gency fund Extension Service, from 810,769 to The Assessor's office is requesting 816,587 the addition of a data analyst <liber nondepartmenlal costs in because iho states appraised Indus the general fund are for predator trial accounts have reverted back to animal control, weed control, soil the county and the additional help is and water conservation, extension needed The Accounting Dept is service, and the watermasler requesting the addition of a full time accounting clerk The Public Works The road department ha* operated Dept has requested promoting the iMKikkeeper to Public Works Office without a public work* director since hudgrt time last year Thr manager and hiring a half-time amount budgeted for a director's secretary Although there is curren salary last year 121,4*6. said Judge fly no County Counsel the position Special levy General fund Hoad fund Don McFlllgotl, wa* Inadequate The salary range for public works directors, I* 813. inm 861),000 'A good public work* director, ran make money (or thr county, If he's willing to go out and do some engineering," hr said Mr will hr looking for a director again after thr budget election " Road department revenues ure down a net 4 2 percent from last yeur forest fee* are down 10 percent, public land sules down 30 percent, equipment rental down 83 percent, and sale of surplus equip men! and supplies down 16 percent, motor vehicle license fees ure up 3 4 percent, und sale of surplus equip men! and muteriul is expected to be up 50 percent This is the second year of a two-year contract for road depart ment salaries The agreed sulary raise for those effected is 4 % percent The overtime hus been rut in half. said, road supervisor Don Ball, in the hopes that next winter will be mild "The depart ment has also saved some money by exercising its option to change the place where employees report for work with three months advance written notice While county em ployees are working at the north end of the county, they report directly 'here at starting tune rather than rejMirting to the shop in Ia*xington and traveling on county time using county vehicles At the budget workshop, commis sioners pointed out that they hear criticism of the county for moving equipment from the job site to the shop daily with one employee per rig und suggested that money could be saved by leaving the equipment at the site and using a van or other vehicle to transport all employees in one vehicle Ball pointed out that the concept seems to make sense, hut at some sites there is danger of vandal u,m to the equipment and the coal for replacing even one windshield in a truck would be considerably more than the would be savings from leaving the equipment at the site When a secure location is near the worksite, he said, they do leave the equipment there and use other tran sportation The cost for cold patching is listed at 875,000. the same us last year which should provide a good patch ing program Spraying services on a three year rotating program with all county roads will be up on expected 33 percent while costs incurred for renting equipment ure expected to be down 25 percent Materials und services include a 812,000 paint and painting item which was cut from lust year's budget The amount will fund the county's share of a slate project to stripe 100 miles of rouds Expected cu*i* for the rock crush er are down slightly from Iasi year l.asl year, the budget committee challenged thr rrusher lo produce a "reasonable amount" < 30.0001 yards of crushed rock during the year or the budget committer would recom mend selling the crusher and acquir ing crushed rock by other means The crusher has produced 44,1*2 yards of crushed rock *0 far and with four months to go before the end of the fiscal year. Is expected lo meet the challenge The amount budgeted for purchasing rock is down so percent from last year 1 823.0001 which rrdurrd from 871.1*7 In 1*84 " We're getting crushed rock aa cheap as any way we could al this time." said Judge McFlllgotl The county la. nevertheless, looking Into a possible alternative agreement for rrusher operation. Capital outlay lists purchasing three S-IO pickups at a cost of 87.201) each, u 708 yard Insert Sander at a cost of 86.500. and air conditioners for two blades at a cost of 83.000 last year 8104,500 was budgeted for equipment purchase, the total this year is 831.100 Ploase turn to poge 2 Heppner teams head for playoffs The Heppner Mustangs und Fillies basketball teams will journey to the district playoffs at the I’endlelon Armory Thursday. Feb 27 The Fillies will play the Sherman County Huskies at 7 p m At 8 .30 p m . the Mustangs will play the Riverside High School Pirates Both Heppner teams have earned first place in the eastern division of the Columbia Basin Conference sc the teams that win the Thursday games will automatically advanci to the regional playoffs the following weekend The teams that lose th fin t place contest play the winner 1 the contest between second placi teams for a shot at the distrtc second place shot
