Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2001)
Local OWGL members attend bucket brigade Cacata 7 o t a o l l U o f J I.>strapu ir* L i b r a r / L u g a n o , Lit i; / u ; î î î à & . r (‘ ^ ,,U < O R O W E lis Local folks who traveled via Oregon Wheat Growers League/ Farm Bureau buses to the Klamath Falls "Bucket Brigade" protesting the government stance against allowing farmers water for their crops include (left to right): Debbie Sutor, Oregon Wheat Grower League office manager, Adams; Chris Kaseberg, Sherman County President, Wasco; Karl Scronce, Klamath Falls Counts President. Merrill; Tom McCoy. OWGL President, Wasco; Virginia Grieb. Lexington; Daren Coppock. executive vice president of OW GL. Pendleton; Ken Klinger, Morrow County President, lone; Greg Goad. Pendleton. VOL 120_______ NO 22______ 10 Pages Wednesday, May 30,2001________ Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Court discusses fair and rodeo issues Bv Doris Brosnan At the May 23 m eeting o f the Morrow County Court, representatives o f the Rodeo Committee and o f the Fair Board visited with the court about some fair and rodeo issues. Judge Terry Tallman emphasized the need for comrjiumcation between the facilities and the county maintenance staff, and he explained that these organizations must, as do other departments, follow a process with contracts that requires the signature o f the County Court. Clarified was that the fair secretary, as a county employee, is under the supervision o f the county judge. Weed control at the grounds was discussed, as was the need for more garbage receptacles and consistent garbage pickup. Another issue o f concern was inadequate parking, for which the Rodeo Committee has formed a subcommittee. The court suggested that the public works director meet with that subcom m ittee to create a plan. The court expressed appreciation for the improvements at the fair grounds and for the volunteers who work there. Veterans and Special Transportation coordinator Diana Ball and former coordinator Barbara Hayes spoke w ith the Court about the programs and the part-time position. Ball reported application for grants for next year's operating expenses and for a 26-passenger bus. The Court approved the applications. Commissioner John W enholz explained the state's funding methods and said that • funding for bus buildings is tighter now than is funding for vehicles. Wenholz proposed separating the coordinator's position into two part- time positions. He explained that too much work exists for one less- than-half-time person. Ball offered a list o f duties and requirements for the special transportation position, suggested the amount of time needed weekly for the veterans work, and agreed that the two functions need more total time than the position covers. The Court studied the information and the projected costs o f hiring an additional person and agreed to make a decision at a future meeting. County counsel Bill Hanlon discussed three issues with the court. He explained the contract w ith the Museum Foundation and the court approved signing it, contingent upon the foundation's securing adequate liability insurance He reported that O CT some unexpected language changes in the contract received for the Ruhl Pit led him to preparation o f a contract with language previously approved by the county. The court approved signing the agreement prepared by Hanlon. He and County Assessor Greg Sweek. again offered information from records on the road to the lone cemetery and an easem ent on that road. Hanlon explained the general law but noted that the question is whether the easem ent is for cemetery access only or for public access. Public W orks Director Burke O'Brien added that the road in question is not a county road. Commissioner Dan Brosnan requested that Hanlon be present at a meeting of the parties who are discussing the road, to explain the legal status of the issue. Hanlon also reported that some changes at the Umatilla County Com munity Corrections Center should be reviewed by ShenfTVerlm Denton, noting a change in the proposed county contract with the center. He suggested to the court that the county go out for bid on the second phase o f the Wilkinson Arena doors, though the project is under the limit, and the court appointed Andrea Denton as the contract performance manager for that contract. The court requested Hanlon to prepare deeds for the Act o f Congress parcels that the county has under lease. Behavioral I lealth Director Kelly Sager reported to the court on the status o f the Mid-Columbia Center for Living contract. He noted that property purchased by the county under the contract becomes property o f the county, and the court reminded him o f the responsibility for any such equipment. Sager reported the need for two more staff and vehicles there. Sager told the court o f a recent consum er satisfaction survey in which the county's Behavioral Health Department ranked second, a compliment to the staff. He also reported the department's selection as the "DUII M ultidisciplinary Training Task Force" for the year. Sager described a legislative effort to correct an imbalance in funding between the mental health and the alcohol and drug financing. Morrow- County, Sager said, had been suffering from the inequity o f the state's formula, but he voiced concerns over the proposed new formula. Sager also discussed with the court the need for supervisors o f clinical staff working for licensure. The court approved his contracting with the Center for Human Development in Union County for this service. He also reported the unresolved issue o f office space in Fossil, and he told the court about an organizational study that he expects useful results from in September. The court also discussed some items with Director o f Planning Tamra Mabbott. In response to a question about power plants, Mabbott reported that the Governor has signed a bill that would change some o f the generating plant requirements. She said that she has not yet applied for a transportation grant for which the timing is not yet nght. She submitted a consent- to-participate agreement with Morrow Power, which the court signed. Public W orks Director O'Brien reported the following: the crew has com pleted crack sealing on Willow Creek Road and finishing the same on Bombing Range Road. continued page 2 Funds sought for attorney's fees A committee has been formed to raise funds for Morrow County School Board members Keith Lewis and Barney Lindsay. This fund is intended to help defray attorney fees for the two. At the last board meeting. Chair Gary Frederickson brought forth questions regarding the qualifications o f the two to serve as board members Failure by Iewis and Lindsay to successfully fight these charges could result in their being replaced by appointees of the remaining board members. According to opponents o f that action, this would invalidate the results o f the elections. Contributions to the fund may be made by mailing checks or pledges to: The Lewis/Lindsay Defense Fund, P O. Box 570, Heppner, OR 97836. Contact Kim or Mike Armato for further details by calling 676-9777. A special board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the district offices in Lexington where a determination is to be made about the status o f these members. Interested community members are invited to attend S A L E ^ O ALL H i Q ual F le x P a n e ls W ! Sale through Saturday, June 9th M orrow C o u n ty G rain G r o w e r s ^ ^ L e x in g to n ^ 8 9 -8 2 2 1 » From the OWGL Newsletter Several Oregon Wheat Growers League members and staff joined 13,000 people May 7 at the "Bucket Brigade" in Klam ath Falls. The crowd assembled in peaceful protest o f the US Bureau o f Reclamation term inating all deliveries o f irrigation water to Klamath Basin fanners, instead reserving all o f the water for protection o f endangered sucker fish in Upper Klamath lake and coho salmon in the Klamath River. An array o f politicians and local families addressed the crowd, which then moved to the main street in Klamath Falls and filled the 1.5 mile stretch from Veterans M emorial Park to the "A" diversion canal near Klamath Union High School. Descendants o f the original hom esteaders dipped 50 buckets o f water - one for each state - from the lake near the park, which were then passed hand-to-hand down the street and poured into the lmgation canal. In contrast to recent dem onstrations in Seattle and Quebec, there were virtually no confrontations and no dam aged property in this peaceful protest. One speaker testified that this gathering was the largest protest in Oregon history for any issue. Farmers from all over Oregon, as well as fanners from California and Washington, came to Klamath Falls to support the local farmers in their quest to share the water. As those w ho came from the north drove into town, they drove by an U pper Klamath Lake that is brimming w ith water. One o f the pools that flow s under the roadway from the lake is within inches o f exceeding its banks and spilling onto nearby farmland. And yet there is supposedly not enough water for the farmers to get even a bucket-lull. In the eyes o f this writer, the federal decision to save every drop o f water for the fish - particularly with the lake swelling its banks - is a clear and egregious abuse o f the Endangered Species Act. The federal agencies involved (Bureau o f Reclamation. Fish and Wildlife Service and National M arine Fisheries Service) have clearly displayed their belief that fish are more important than people or the local economy, and that even with a lake completely full o f water, the farmers will still receive no w ater. Congressman Greg Walden and his predecessor. Bob Smith, urged participants in the rally to flood W ashington, D.C. with their opinions and recommendations on the issue. In particular. President Bush(presidentiawhitehousegov) and Vice President Cheney (viccpresident(a whitehouse.gov) need to be contacted, as do members o f Congress from the Northeast - both Democrat and Republican - who have not experienced the business end of E ndangered Species Act enforcement in their districts Congressman W alden’s office is working on a list. Walden also announced that House Resources Committec Chairman Jim Hansen (R-UT) has agreed to hold a field hearing in Klamath Falls soon on the situation SHAME! SHAME! U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION UMATILLA COUNTY FARMS I. Ken Klinger, lone Klinger passes a bucket down the line 1 - 8 0 0 ^ 5 2 ^ 3 9 6 F « ^ tqaipnm m U w ittM 11 *■» m g Ml > I
