Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 1993)
Council member files suit against council vv L I B 9 7 4 F I' VOL. 112 NO. 24 Heppner City Council member Martha Doherty has filed a suit against the city council, council members and the city ad ministrator over a merit pay resolution enacted by the council. The suit, filed June 7, names city mayor Bob Jepsen, council members David Allstott, David Pranger, Chuck Holt, Kay Robin son and LoRayne Bowman and city administrator Gary Marks as defendants. In the suit, Doherty maintains that the merit pay system “ violates the city charter in that it unlawfully empowers the city administrator and department heads to determine the amount o f compensation for services o f ci ty officers and employees.” According to the suit, the city charter states “ The council shall determine the amount of compen sation for services for each city officer and employee.” The personnel evaluation and merit compensation policy ap proved by the council calls for evaluation o f employees by their supervisors and ranking o f employees’ job performance bas ed on the number o f points ac cumulated. An employee could be ranked unsatisfactory, needs improvement, satisfactory, above 10 Pages Wednesday, June 16, 1993 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon Joe Yocom to ride in Sesquicentennial wagon train Joe Yocom is ready for the trail A bon voyage party at his Lex ington home last Sunday featured Morrow County’s official Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial Wagon Train teamster Joe Yocom, who is ready to roll. Yocom will spend over two months bumping along “ the trail” as the driver o f one o f the 10 official wagons dedicated to this long journey. Starting June 25 from the Wyoming border the wagons’ slow travels across two states will halt at Oregon City for an “ end o f the trail” celebration on Labor Day weekend. This memorable event will recapture the pioneer ing spirit o f thousands of people who came west beginning in 1843-the longest and largest migration in American history. The sesquicentennial journey will parallel as closely as possi ble the route taken by the original pioneers, in some places in sight of the actual ruts. Averaging 15 to 20 miles per day, overnight stops will coincide with festivities o f communities planning their own wagon train commemoration. Former Heppner resident Jerry Schubert, Pendleton, will be the wagon master, using his wagon and horses that have been featured in many parades. Yocom’s wagon train adven tures hinged on the restoration of an old farm wagon belonging to the George Griffiths below lone. Yocom still wasn't sure he could make the trip until a retired pump and irrigation specialist was hired to take his place during his absence from work for the Mor row County Grain Growers. Stormy spring weather imped ed progress as the old wagon was dismantled in haste at the Mel Piper country home. Piper drew up a blueprint to ascertain the missing parts and he fashioned new parts including the tongue and the coupling pole out o f oak hardwood. New metal fittings were patterened after ones that had been dug out o f the ground in the junk yards of various farms. The metal rims on the wheels had to be refitted by a wheelwright in Moscow, Idaho. Now that the wagon was reassembled and brightly painted it looks as it had been restored for a museum. But even with lots of free labor from family and friends this authentic wagon cost Yocom over $1,000 to repair. Yocom’s determination is in herited from the pioneering spirit of his great grandfather who came west by covered wagon and homesteaded in the Willamette V alley. Yocom recalls his boyhood days in Wasco County where horses and mules were us ed for putting up hay. But because he was too short to pitch hay on the wagon, his job was stacking loose or bundled hay, he says. Yocom’s immediate family took roots in Morrow County while the four Yocom children, Debbie, Millie, Jack and Marie, were growing up. During that time Yocom’s western adventures continued to grow. There were wild horse round-ups above Meacham and wild horse events at rodeos with his Lexington friends. Like a Roman Ben Hur, he participated in chariot racing during Heppner rodeos. His jockey experience provided some harrowing tales when he rode for the Heppner Wranglers during relay races at the Heppner show and the Pendleton Round-Up. While the family participated in rodeo events Yocom served many years as the dance director for the Heppner Rodeo Board. In recent years his horse-driving interests led to transporting wedding par ties in his fancy buggy pulled by high-stepping horses. But for now he’s putting aside his tuxedo and top hat. He’ll be spending long days pioneer style, perched on the high wooden seat o f his trail- worthy wagon pulled by two big Percheron mules. In mid-August this wagon train will be crossing Morrow Coun ty. An overnight stop at the Kuhn. Doherty is asking for no monetary compensation, just a legal ruling. A small delegation of citizens attending the city council meeting Monday night protested the merit pay increases and voiced fears that the system would take con trol out of the hands of council members. “ It’s a pretty tough evaluation system,” added council member David Allstott. “ The council has final authori ty over the budget,” said council member Chuck Holt. “ We haven’t lost any control what soever. If it gets out o f hand one iota, I’ll jump all over it.” Those citizens initially disagreeing with the merit in creases finally agreed with the council’s position of letting the system work for a year. Meeting set for summer project A meeting for volunteers for the Neighborhood Center Sum mer Project for area children has been planned for this Thursday, June 17, at the United Methodist Church from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Rev Grace Drake, project coordinator, says that volunteers are especially needed for the se cond and third weeks of the pro ject on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The project begins July 6 and will conclude July 30. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, with longer classes on field trip days. Contact Rosalie Scharen 676-9209. The project is open to children who have completed first grade through sixth grade. Shelby Dyer gets souvenier ball Shelby Dyer, a resident o f Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home was made an official honorary member of the lone Cardinal Ma jor league team Monday night. The team, made up of nine through 12 year olds, presented Dyer with a baseball cap and certificate. Dyer, 81, who is paralized on his left side, caught a fly foul ball Saturday when the Cardinals played Condon. Team members signed the ball and presented it to Shelby. The Cards went on to hand Condon their first loss of the season 5-4. Shelby Dyer Swimming lessons scheduled at lone The lone swimming pool will open for public swimming on June 15. Pool hours will be from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The pool will be closed on Monday. Pool rates for all ages are: season pass family-$50; individual $20; per session $1. Season passes will have priori ty for swimming if the pool fills to capacity with swimmers. Checks can be made out to lone Pool and mailed or delivered to lone Schools, Box 167, lone, 97843. The first session o f swim lessons for lone and Heppner have been set for the following dates: lone: June 22-July 2, advanc ed beginners from 9-9:45 a.m. and 10-10:45 a.m.; beginners 11-11:30 a.m. and 11:45-12:15 p.m. Basic water safety classes for students who have passed advanc ed swimmers will be available if enough sign up. Registration for the lone lessons may be made with Jill Nelson at the lone pool or at 989-8494. Lessons for Heppner children will be held July 6-16. For more information call Shane Palmer 422-7115. The second session of lessons will be July 20-30 for lone and August 3-13 for Heppner. County employees receive pink slips Twenty-four county employees received “ pink slips” last week, advising them that their jobs will be eliminated as of July 1. Unable to support County operations on the revenue generated from the tax base established in 1908, a third levy failure would require the county to slash all non-mandated person nel and services for fiscal year 1993-94, said Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson. The fiscal year begins July 1, 1993. The lay-off would represent a 31 percent reduction in work force. The road department would receive a 40 percent reduc- tion in tax revenue thus eliminating all new construction, paving and crushing contracts. Carlson said. MSWCD to give away seedlings The Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District will be giv ing away Ponderosa pine and Douglas Fir seedlings beginning Thursday, June 17 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. There is no limit to the number of seedlings per individual. Hawkins Ranch on Buttercreek is scheduled for August 16. The next night will be at Well Springs. The following two nights, August 18 and 19 will be at the Krebs Ranches at Cecil. County organizers are already gearing up for a major celebra tion at Cecil. By then Yocom and other wagon train members should have plenty of trail stories to tell. Public participation for segments o f this 73-day journey must be reserved in advance by calling Metropolitian Events in Portland 223-3299. This Portland based agency is in charge of handling events and logistics for the wagon train. Participation is limited and there is a charge for those who wish to ride in or drive additional wagons, or accompany the train by walking or riding horseback. These charges help cover expenses of the train which have been kept at an affordable rate with the help of sponsors, ac cording to the agency. Meals and other amenities are included in the cost. The wagon train is ac companied by support services including meal service, water wagons, fire fighting equipment, portable showers and toilets, hay for the animals and other services that will be traveling in a separate group. The area itinerary is Monday, August 16-Butter Creek/Hawkins Ranch, Tuesday, Aug. 17 Well Springs, Wednesday, Aug. 18 Cecil Krebs Ranch #1, Friday, Aug 20 Krebs Ranch #2. standard and outstanding. An employee ranked unsatisfactory, needs improvement or satisfac tory would receive no merit in crease. A ranking of above stan dard would result in a three per cent merit pay increase and a ranking of outstanding would result in a six percent salary increase. Merit increases become perma nent upon approval by the city ad ministrator and are effective the month following completion of a review . Employees will be granted only one merit increase during any calendar year. The merit increase would be in addition to an annual cost-of- living increase. Doherty is represented by her brother, Hermiston attorney Den nis D oherty. The city is represented by city attorney Bill Anyone interested in seedlings is requested to bring his own con tainers. The district office is located in the Pettyjohn Office Building. 430 Heppner/Lex- ington Highway, Heppner. For more information call 676-5452. The sheriff department would lose all deputies with the excep tion o f the civil deputy which is required to serve legal papers to residents. All departments of the courthouse will be reduced to elected officials and appointed department heads. Office hours will be reduced to Vi days to the public. Funding for extension and other non-mandated services will need to be eliminated because of lack o f funding he said. In the event of a levy failure, a representative will be on hand at the courthouse to assist employees with unemployment applications. Morrow County voters have twice turned down a levy which seeks to raise fewer dollars than were approved last year. County officials responded by providing a fact sheet that they believe to be necessary for voters to make an informed decision. Judge Carlson said, “ We have listened to the public and have responded in the way they have asked.” Carlson said they have cut operating costs by $100,000; frozen elected official and depart ment head cost of living in creases; provided detailed infor mation for what services are be ing provided in Boardman and Ir- rigon; explained what services will be discounted in the event of a third levy failure. “ Now the time has come for the voting public to decide if they are willing to pay for the services that they typically have enjoyed,” said Carlson. “ If the majority votes to reject these services, that is their choice, on the other hand, if their choice is to vote in favor o f these services, the structure is still in place and most of these services will continue.” If approved by the voters, the levy will establish a property tax rate o f $6.28 per thousand o f assessed value. This includes an already approved tax levy for the medical fund of 73 cents per thousand o f assessed value. Carlson said that voters should consider that utilities pay 65 per cent of total tax revenue collected in this county. Introducing our new LOW INTEREST CREDIT LINE THE EVERGREEN ACCOUNT H A N K OF — — ,___ D JZ a ste rn O reaon A rlin g to n • H e p p n e r • lo n e )fw h u h />< f i l i t i l U m iH <h w i i l H u n k M em ber F 0 I C
