TWELVE - Heppner Gazette-Tim es, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 2 ,1 9 9 9
County court approves emergency
management computers
The Morrow County Court, at
its May 26 meeting, approved
the purchase of nine computers
for the Emergency Management
Department.
The court appointed Juvenile
Department director Carolyn
Holt, Judge Terry Tallman, a
school counselor, and Ron
Daniels to the
Juvenile
Scholarship Committee.
The public works director
reported that county counsel is
to complete a road exchange
agreement with the Forest
Service.
The Valby Road
subgrade is about 85 percent
completed; the county will be
widening two gates, and next
week should see completion of
the project. Chip sealing on
Willow Creek should be finished
on June 14. The director,
assessor, GIS director, and
planning office are working to
bnng the spelling of "Hale Ridge
Road" into line with the history
of the road's name, as requested
by some residents. The director
received a recommendation for
the court's consideration that
developers of partitions be
required to properly develop
roads. In response to a resident's
request, the court discussed a
speed limit sign, a "slow” or
"children at play” caution sign
on Parkside Drive and will also
discuss the options with the
sheriff.
The director gave
permission to a resident to work
at the comer of Eastregaard Way
and Wilson Road, as a deterrent
to cattail growth in the ditch.
The lone-Boardman Road is in
the year's plan for chip sealing,
but Gooseberry Road, which is
not scheduled for work for about
three years, is starting to come
apart,
so
the
director
recommended changing the
priority of the two and the court
agreed. The laser level approved
for purchase last week is no
longer available, so the Court
rescinded
last
week's
authorization and approved the
purchase of another model. The
court requested the director to
check a fence on a county right-
of-way that was cut, agreed to
speak to the port manager qbout
a sign at the Port of Morrow, and
continued a brief discussion of
the airport situation at the port.
At a public hearing on the
budget, finance director Lisanne
Currin pointed to some changes
that may need to be made before
adoption of the budget;
elimination of $65,000 in capitol
outlay in the road fund because
of a cat lease payoff this year;
about $63,000 in additional tax
revenue set aside for the year
2000 programming and/or
Clarks Canyon Pit; a $3,500
adjustment
in
general
maintenance for the backhoe
bucket; the probable continuance
of funding for the OYCC
program, which had been
scheduled for elimination from
the county budget; the VOCA
grant; a correction in the clerk's
salary; STP money for Bombing
Range and Willow Creek roads;
Heritage Trail Fund; 911
coordinator position; and the
road district allocations.
The finance director presented
transfer resolutions for the 980
Cat, to exercise the purchase
option under the lease; the 911
fund, the Commission on
Children and Families, the
Victims Witness Fund, and the
general
fund
for
A&T
adjustments; and for the VOCA
grant. The court approved the
three resolutions.
Lexington Mayor Bill
Sheirbon reported to the court
that the community has been
awarded grant money to pay for
80 percent of costs to replace the
TT Street bridge, which has been
on a waiting list for some time.
The state will provide another 10
percent. The city is to provide
the remaining 10 percent and
would be responsible for moving
utilities and a percentage share
of cost overruns but is
experiencing senous shortfalls.
Sheirbon
reported
that
Lexington is hiring a bookkeeper
next month but recovery could
take two years. He observed
that the bridge serves a county
road. After discussion of the
importance of the project to the
city and the county, the court
approved committing $5,160 of
discretionary tippage fees in the
1999-2000 fiscal year for the
project.
Mental Health Director Gary
Oberg
and
prevention
coordinator Tiah Sanderson
I
updated the court on the
"Prevention
Implementation
Plan".
In response to
Commissioner
Brosnan's
questions, Sanderson reported
that the plan does include input
from every social service agency
in the county and, although it
would be the priority document
for the various agencies, they
would retain their authority.
Brosnan stated concern that
funding
the
coordinator
positions not add another level
of government but, rather,
provide some true coordination
of the programs among the
agencies. Sanderson said that
some structure issues will need
to be ironed out, but she thinks
the agencies will work together
and accomplish their goals. She
agreed that the community
shares the commissioner's
concerns, and the committee will
need to prove that they are
accomplishing something real.
Judge Tallman requested a
complete list of funding sources
targeted at prevention. Some
discussion followed on a
parenting senes that will be
useful; the video conferencing
equipment in the Behavioral
Health Department, which is
also available for use by others;
the positive feedback that Oberg
and Sanderson have been
receiving, in particular from the
school,
which
was
not
previously happening; and the
need for an emergency plan
discussed at the LPSCC
meeting.
The court heard an updated
proposal for developing a radio
station: a low-power, high-
antenna set up. In response to
questions, Monika Hunter said
that a higher power set up would
be needed for reaching lone; the
organization would be public,
non-profit; she would consider
partnering with the schools; she
has been in contact with the
FCC; she sees it as a multi-
generational project; and is
looking for support. The Judge
mentioned the SCERT process
for possible funding assistance.
County Counsel Bi|) Hanlon
reported to the court: He has
prepared the letters to the
Umatilla County and city ending
Morrow County's association
with the Greater Umatilla
Enterprise Zone. He reported
that some questions need
answers before the county signs
a contract for the recently
awarded work at the Wilkinson
Arena. Counsel will compose
the Clark Canyon Pit offer. The
court signed the "findings of
fact" for the Comprehensive
Plan Goal 5 Amendment.
Hanlon reported that he will be
reviewing the Forest Service
road exchange agreement. A
brief discussion addressed the
issue of plat maps and the
storage of the maps.
The court, assessor and counsel
discussed with adjacent land
owners a piece of county
property, which, if sold, would
probably have to be through
public auction.
The court approved the 1997-99
budget plan amendments of the
Commission on Children and
Families,
presented
by
department staff Dar Memll
and Arletha Brannon, as well as
th e
1999-2000
recommendations. The court
also approved up to $600 in
registration fees for attendance
of
the
Youth
Violence
Prevention Summer Institute.
The court approved one
termination of employment
agreement and approved to
waive the road-naming fee for
the request submitted by the
Halvorsens and Rietmanns, as it
should have been included in the
original road-naming ordinance.
County Assessor Greg Sweek
reported on the request from the
Port of Morrow to extend the
boundary of the Columbia River
Enterprise Zone, which would
then include a presently located
business. His research suggests
that the equipment, purchased
in-county, would not qualify
under the administrative rules
for tax exemption. Sweek will
report his findings to the
business owner, and the court
will check with the port about its
request before revisiting this
issue.
Hungry
for
Savings?
Troedson scholarships awarded
The selection committee for the
Carl W. Troedson Educational
Fund has awarded grants-in-aid
in the amount of $1000 to 21
Morrow County high school
seniors for the 1999-2000 school
year:
The following students have
received awards:
Heppner High School: Jill
Barber,
Tim
Dickenson,
Kathleen Greenup, Jaclynn
Hughes;
lone High School: Jessica
Krebs, Niki Sullivan, Victoria
Odinet, Kathryn Tworek;
Riverside High School: Kevin
Baker, Jason Calloway, Caitlin
Daniels, Bret Files, Derek
Gribble, Kory Killingbeck, Ryan
Neal, Jenny Prag, Jenie Price,
Jared Purcell, Kelly Redinger,
Cheryl Rodgers, Kara Sandlin.
The grants are awarded from a
fund provided by the will of Carl
Troedson, a prominent wheat
rancher of the lone area.
The students will be eligible to
apply for renewal of their grants
in the following years of their
college or training programs
provided that they maintain good
academic standing during their
first year of post high school
study.
The selection committee
consists of the Morrow County
School
District
Assistant
Superintendent, the pastor of the
Valby Lutheran Church and the
Morrow County Judge, as
specified in Troedson's will.
Award of the Troedson grants
was announced at the recipients'
respective
high
school
graduation ceremonies.
Pioneer Memorial Foundation
presents scholarships
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
Foundation has chosen Christian
Schultz as the recipient of the
Wallace
Wolff
Medical
scholarship. She was awarded
$600.
Christian is currently enrolled
in the nursing program at Blue
Mountain Community College.
The foundation also
administers the Earl and Hazel
Wilson Health Care Education
scholarship fund. In order to
qualify, students must be
pursuing education in a
discipline directly related to
health care delivery.
The
recipients of this scholarship
were second year nursing
students. Crystal Tallman and
Jessica Van Winkle.
They
received $400 each.
Crystal will attend the OHSU
School of Nursing in the fall.
Jessica is enrolled at Eastern
Oregon University, majonng in
pre-nursirig.
Brooke Boyer, a member of the
Heppner High School graduating
class of 1999, also received an
award of $250. Brooke plans to
pursue a nursing degree.
The Pioneer Memorial Hospital
Foundation contributes to the
needs of the Morrow County
Health District. Donations made
to the PMH Foundation are tax
deductible, and can be restricted
for a specific purpose if desired.
Fund raising efforts are made on
behalf of the Pioneer Memorial
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Some of the recent contributions
went towards the purchase of a
CAT Scan and replacing the
windows in the nursing home.
Community members may also
help contribute to the foundation
by placing their receipts from
Central Red Apple into the box
in their store. All funds received
will be used for the hospital and
nursing home.
For more information about the
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
Foundation, contact one of the
following board members: Betty
Brown, Linda LaRue, Sherree
Mahoney, Larry Mills, A1
Osmin, Don Peterson or Glen
Ward.
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