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Estimated county tax rate $5.74 per 1,000
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Morrow County assessor Greg
Sweek has announced that the
total county estimated valuation
is $790 million, up $10 million
over last year. Sweek said that the
increase in estimated valuation is
based on the construction of an
onion dehydrating plant in Board-
man and the completion of the
final phase of the gas pipeline
construction.
The estimated tax rate for
county operations, including the
medical fund, is $5.74 per thou
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sand, up one cent over last year.
The medical fund portion of the
tax rate is 61 cents.
Estimated cost to a taxpayer
with a $40,000 home is $229.60.
A taxpayer owning a $400,000
business will pay $2,296 and the
owner of a $1 million farm will
pay $5,740.
Voters will decide the fate of
the $3,708,449 county operating
levy on March 22. This year’s
levy is down $58,402, or one
fourth of one percent over last
year’s. The total county budget is
$18,235,732, which is over $2
million more than last year's total
county budget of $15,776,478.
Total taxes required, which in
clude the six percent increase
allowed by law without a vote of
the people, are $4,540,435. Total
taxes required last year were
$4,551,743. Last year’s total
taxes were reported incorrectly in
the Jan. 12 Gazette-Times.
Extension wants own tax district
School board cuts bond proposal
The Morrow County School
Board, Jan. 18, cut over a million
and a half dollars from the pro
posed bond issue which will fund
additions and improvements to
county schools.
The board approved the
$15,585,000 bond issue which
will now appear before Morrow
County voters in the March 22
election.
Cuts from the previous bond
proposal are as follows:
-R iverside High School:
auditorium and platform-$760,
000; corridor and lobby-$315,
000: enclosure for freezer-$19,
000; total cuts-$l ,094,000;
-Sam Boardman Elementary:
trash compactor-$15,500; baler-
$7,690; total cuts-$23,190;
-Columbia Junior High School:
trash compactor-$15,500; baler-
$7.690; total cuts-$23,190;
-Heppner Elementary School:
art, music rooms, cafeteria-
$637,500; new gym-$900,000;
trash compactor-$ 15,500; baler-
$7,690; sub-total cuts-$l,560,
690.
Instead of separate art, music,
cafeteria and gym facilities at
Heppner Elementary School,
however, the board voted to com
bine the four into one
12.000-square foot facility at an
additional cost of $1,020.000,
which would put HES’s total cuts
at $540,690. The combined
facility would be located at the
site o f the present ju n io r
high/middle school, which would
be demolished.
The Heppner High School gym
will be remodeled and expanded
to accommodate the additional
students in grades seven and eight
who will move from the junior
high to the high school. Accor
ding to school board chairman
Marcia Kemp, the high school
gym will be expanded to house
two gyms, one for high school
students and one for junior high
students.
Kemp said that some propos
ed trash compactors and balers
will be eliminated, but one for
each community will remain in
the budget.
Complete bond issue figures
are
as
follow s:
-A.C. Houghton Elementary.
Irrigon: sitework and demolition-
$135,000; new constructional,
275.000; existing remodeling-
$80,000; boiler rw m asbestos
removal and reinsulation-$6.000;
enclosing freezer-$ 19,000:
storage building-$22,500; flush
valves for urinals-$2,800; trash
com pactor-$15,500; baler-
$7,690; recycling bins-$5.000;
remodel, repair parking-$25.000:
total-$ 1,593.490;
-Columbia Junior High. Ir
rigon: sitework and demolition
-$60.000; new class construc
tio n a l .428.000; locker rw m
construction^ 140,000: wheel
ch air
lift-$20,000;
new
roof-$ 100,000;
recycling
bins-$5,000; total-$l,753,000.
-Heppner 7-12 (high school and
junior high combined): chair
lift-$35,000; computer lab-$102,
000; remodeling stage area-
$48,000; construct greenhouse-
$22,500; replace acoustical tile
with carpet in gym-$ 10,000;
replace ceiling tile in upstairs hall
and floor tile-$23,500; replace
wainscoat in halls-$15.000;
replace glass panels-$2,000;
carpet library and band
room -$3.000: rem odel art
room-$45,000; remodel vo-ag
room-$l ,000; replace controls on
two CZY units-$4,000; air lock
bus entrance-$3,700; convert to
hot water heat-$24,000; metal
siding on gym-$ 15.000; trash
compactor-$ 15,500: baler-$7,
690; recycling bins-$5,000; site
work-$21,000; remodel and ex
pand gym-$375,000; total-$777,
890.
-Heppner Elementary 1-6: site
work-$90,000; art, music, cafe
teria, gym facility-$ 1,020,000;
construct six rooms (computer,
class, staff)-$714.000; replace
urinal flush valves-$l .650; new
boiler (primary)-$25,000; boiler
room asbestos removal and re-
insulation-$15.000; recycling
bins-$5,000; air conditioning
(primary)-$50.000; carpeting
(primary)-$20.000: total-$1.940,
650.
-lone Elementary: barrier free
elevator-$ 100,000; flush valves
-$ 1,350; main floor air condition
in g ^ 19,000; electrical updating
-$10,000; carpeting-$20.000;
renovating basement-$50,000;
repairing walks and concrete
areas-$25,000; total-$225,350.
-lone High School: install
distance learning equipment-
$12,000; replace ceiling tile
$3.500; install lockers-$8,500;
gym acoustical treatment-$10.
000; exterior painting (both
buildings)-$20,000; roof gym/
locker areas-$44,000; flush
valves for u rin a ls -$ l, 100;
separate boiler for pool and
locker room-$22,000; asbestos
removal and reinsulation-$26,
000; trash compactor-$15,500;
baler-$7,690; recycling bins-
$5,000; total-$ 175,290.
-R iverside High School,
Boardm an:
sitew ork
and
demolition-$ 150,000; new class
room construction-$ 1,390,000;
gym nasium /w restling-$l ,275,
000; lockers and weight room-
$400,000: restrooms-$l 10,000;
existing remodeling-$448,000;
asbestos removal and reinsula-
tion-$ 17,500; water tower for
chillers-$23,000; mineral cap on
roof-$ 10,000; intercom system-
$7,000; trash compactor-$15,
500; baler-$7,690; recycling
bins-$5,000; total-$3,858,690.
-Sam Boardman Elementary:
sitework and demolition-$30,
000; new classroom construction
-$740,000; existing remodeling
-$40,000; replacement of soffits
-$9,000; fence playground-
$16,000; repair gym floor-$36,
000; addition of four new rooms
-$408,000; expanding storage-
$22,500; recycling bins-$5,000;
total-$l ,306,500.
-District Office: replacement of
floor tile-$8,500; chair lift to first
floor-$30,000; roof gym (storage
area)-$ 18,000; recycling bins-
$5,000; total-$61,500.
-District-wide: wiring and
equipment for technology/com-
munication update-$l ,000,000;
copy machine updates-$80,000;
total-$l.080,000.
The bond proposal also in
cludes $2,809,919 for contingen
cy architectural and engineering
designs and fees and the cost of
issuance.
District superintendent Chuck
Starr says that the estimated tax
rate for the proposed 15-year
bond issue has not yet been
determined.
ESPN to drop Heppner TV
Heppner T.V. Inc. is notifying
all subscribers of the possibility
that ESPN will drop Heppner
T.V. in mid March. ESPN
elected not to extend the present
agreement, which ends March
15. according toJudie Laughlin,
office manager. Negotiations on
entering into a new agreement
have not taken place because
ESPN’s affiliate executive has not
responsed to three letters sent to
ESPN by Heppner T .V .’s Board
if Directors’ legal counsel, said
Laughlin.
If subscribers would like to ex
press their views on this matter
or alternative programming, they
may do so in writing to the Board
of Directors. PO Box 587, Hepp
ner, or drop comments at the
T.V. office at 162 N. Main St.
Consideration will be made at the
next regular board meeting.
lone Marketing club to meet
The lone Marketing Club will
meet on Thursday, February 3 at
6:30 a.m. at the Office Cafe in
lone.
Larry Lev, Oregon State
University Extension economist
will discuss wheat marketing
potential for 1994.
Wheat
grow ers
and
agribusinessmen are invited to at
tend. For more information con
tact John Ripple at Morrow
County Grain Growers. 989-8221
or Phil Nesse at the extension of
fice 676-9642.
The Morrow County Extension
Advisory Council voted to pur
sue the formation of a county 4-H
and Extension Service District to
provide continuing, stable fun
ding for Extension work in the
county.
Since its beginning in Morrow
County in 1918, extension has
been supported by the county’s
general hind budget. However,
increasingly tight restraints on the
county budget has made it more
and more difficult for the Mor
row County Court to guarantee
local support in the future, ex
plains Don Eppenbach, Irrigon
advisory council president.
“ That’s why the council decid
ed to pursue the formation of an
extension service district that
would have its own tax base,’’ he
stressed. State laws do not require
the county to support Extension.
It’s important to guarantee
local support if Extension is to
continue offering educational pro
grams in agriculture, home
economics, 4-H youth develop
ment, energy and other areas in
the future, Eppenbach pointed
out. Extension is a three-way
partnership between state, federal
and local governments.
State and federal funds pay the
salaries of Extension agents and
specialists; local funds support
county office operations. The
county’s contribution to Exten
sion in the 1993-94 fiscal year is
$94,640, which includes office
wnt, secretarial support, and sup
plies and materials. This is less
than two percent of the county's
general fund, according to Carol
Michael-Bennett, extension agent
and county staff chair.
A petition drive, asking the
Morrow County Court to refer
the issue to a vote of the people
in November, will begin soon.
If approved in November, the
district would be able to levy
taxes in support of Extension for
the fiscal year beginning July 1,
1995.
“ This means that it’s important
to maintain support for Extension
in the county’s general fund
budget for 1994-95.” said
Michael-Bennett. Voters will be
asked to approve a one-year serial
levy for county government this
spring.
Morrow County would be the
13th Oregon county to have an
extension service district if the
issue is approved, adds
Michael-Bennett.
Wheeler County voters approv
ed an Extension district in 1992.
Other near-by Extension service
districts are in Grant and Union
counties.
Approval of a district would
mean that the Extension Service
could plan for the future. “ Right
now, each year we are uncertain
about the future of the Morrow
County office and the level of
local support that is essential to
be able to conduct solid educa
tional programs that meet the
needs of people,” Michael-
Bennett stresses.
Although final details are still
to be worked out, it appears that
it would cost about 15 cents per
$1,000 assessed valuation to
maintain existing Extension work
in the county, Eppenbach ex
plains. By law, the Morrow
County commissioners would be
the governing body of the district.
Eppenbach stressed that addi
tional information will be made
available to county voters as the
district formation is pursued.
Bank o f EO donates to PM H
Bank of Eastern Oregon Cashier Linda LaRue presents
$2,500 donation to Pioneer Memorial Hospital Administrator
Kevin Erich.
The bank’s donation will be used towards purchase of a new
X-ray machine at the hospital. Erich says the present X-ray
machine is too old and is costing the hospital quite a bit of
money in repairs
The hospital is in the process of raising money for the pur
chase, which could cost $125,000 for a used machine, or
$200,000 for a new one
“W e’re in the process of submitting grant proposals to grant
agencies, and that might help us out,” Erich said.
He said the hospital is also accepting donations from the
community towards purchase of the new machine.
Krein, Greenup win Voice of Democracy speech
presented a plaque to VFW Voice
of Democracy Contest winners
Jenny Krein and Truitt Greenup.
Krein placed first in the 1994
Heppner High School Voice of
Democracy contest and second in
the district competition. Greenup
also placed first in the 1993
Heppner High School competi
tion and went on to place third in
the district competition.
Mark M oeller and Patty
Anderson tied for second place in
this year’s in-school competition
Robert Zaaklan. VFW Chief of
Staff for District 8 (Morrow,
Umatilla and Grant counties), and
Bob Taylor. Heppner Local 4184
Voter registration workshop slated
The volunteers for 4-H & Ex
tension from Morrow County are
sponsoring a voter registration
and petition circulation workshop
Wednesday, February 2 at 2 p.m.
at Irrigon City Hall and at 7 p.m.
at the Heppner Extension Office.
The workshop will focus on
techniques for registering voters
and guidelines for circulating
petitions. Oregon State Universi
ty Extension staff will facilitate
the workshop.
For more information contact
Carol Michael-Bennett, 503
676-9642 or 1-800-342-3664.
and Kelsie Evans placed third.
In the 46 years that the VFW
and its Ladies Auxiliary have
been involved with the Voice of
Democracy program, more than
6,000,000 high school students
have participated. Participants
write and then record a three-to-
five minute audio essay express
ing their views on a specific
topic. This year’s topic was “ My
Commitment to America” , last
year’s topic was, “ My Voice in
America’s Future” . National
winners are chosen from the state
winners to receive a total of over
$88.500 in scholarships with a
$20.000 first place award.
Don’t miss the big
CUSTOM ER A P P R E C IA T IO N D A Y
Saturday, Feb. 12
Morrow County Grain Growers
Phone 989-8221
1-800-452-7396
Lexington