Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2001)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 13, 2001 County court focuses on chemical depot issues discusses lone-Boardman Road By Doris Brosnan In a brief special session o f the Morrow County Court on May 31. most discussion focused on issues related to the chemical depot and the commissioners agreed to invite Wayne Thomas o f the Department o f Environmental Quality to a future meeting. Questions and unresolved topics to discuss further with Thomas include compliance o f permits, an environmental specialist position, and a contingency plan. Director of Emergency Management Casey Beard, County Planning Director Tamra Mabbott, and the commissioners continued discussions o f impact aid, noting activities and recent comments from other affected states, the change in senate leadership, the radio system and the unanswered questions o f incineration and storage. As the discussion turned to the proposed racetrack siting. Beard suggested that the county request an easement from the Navy, across the bombing range to the proposed track, noting that Morrow County has borne "more than its share o f the nation's defense with storing 13 percent o f the nation's stockpile and 60,000 acres o f bombing range." Mabbott and Beard showed on m aps the proposed route and alternate routes proposed by the Technical Advisory Com mittee She talked about the project's transportation plan development, for which the developers are responsible, and its impact on the county. Beard observed the possibility o f a need for intermodal transportation options, including Amtrak service, river transportation, andpark-and-nde. Mabbott advised that she and Beard have been proactive in helping with the project, representative o f economic development and diversification, and she has been in conversation witlj the project developers to explain what could and could not be included at the raceway. Impacts on the Road Departm ent and the Sheriffs Office were considered, as well as the possible touring o f other Morrow County sites by visitors attracted to the racing events. At their June 6 m eeting, the Morrow County Court discussed a recent development in the "lone- Boardman Road" issue. PGE is requesting county maintenance, at a rank o f 70 on the pav ement index, o f 8.6 miles o f low er Road, in accordance with a 1099 agreement. Dial agreement, however, included the county's getting an "lone- Boardman Road.” which did not happen. Offutt, if the county signs the new' agreement, would agree to an easement connecting l ower Road to Highway 74. w hich is not the same as the "lone-Boardm an Road." Members of the court voiced concern over agreeing to the 1999 language instead o f agreeing to maintenance at the same standards as other county roads. Public Works Director Burke O’Bnen has observed that Tower Road is currently "way below" the 70 index. With Planning Director Tamra Mabbott, they discussed possible approaches to resolution o f the issue, including requesting the state's and/or Offutt's participation in the road improvement and possible wording o f a new agreement. ITie court held a public hearing on the county budget for 2001-2002. Hearing no comments, the hearing was closed. Budget Officer Lisanne Currin and Accounting Supervisor Tawny Miles reviewed the budget and the financial summary with the court. They also reviewed the balance o f discretionary funds and examined the "Needs and Issues Inventory" prioritized projects from last November. County Assessor Greg Sweek and the commissioners discussed the Act of Congress Land. The court approved letters to contiguous- property owners. approved authorizing the landowner to make the property line adjustment application without the court's signature, agreed that in cases of multiple landowners, all options o f an agreeable split would be explored before putting the land up for public sale. The court appointed Administrative Assistant Andrea Denton as the contact person. Sweek also discussed with the court public inquiry-only access to assessm ent and tax files He reviewed w hat is presently av ailable and explained how a converted system and back-up would work for his office, the clerk’s office and other departm ents. He suggested a dial-up system in which each log in time could be billed. The court agreed and Sweek will talk to the ESD representative. I.arry Lutcher, o f the OSU Extension Office, prov ided the court an update o f the crop programs. Lutcher explained his job responsibilities as including help for produeers and the education o f children. He demonstrated a presentation he offers fourth graders on different soil types and conserv ation practices and talked about wheat production and export and uses for the soft whites, hard reds, and durums. He also discussed value-added products and invited the court to a field tour. The number-one priority o f his advisory group, Lutcher said, is chemical fallow, and he explained the differences between that and conventional fallow. He talked about no-till methods, patents on new varieties, a variety resistant to herbicides. The court expressed appreciation for Lutcher's work and shared regret over a seeming public apathy over production o f food. Director o f Personnel Andrea Denton explained a problem with the management pay scale, and the court agreed to fix the inequity by increasing two positions that are out o f alignment, effective with the com ing fiscal year. Public W orks Director Burke O'Bnen reported the following: Hie crew’ has started chip sealing on Willow Creek, spreading with the sealer rather than a sander, to get a more even spread. Before repaving Rippee Road, they will install a new base because the present one is not adequate. Other actions o f the court included the following: - approval o f a quitclaim deed for a right o f way at the intersection o f Highway 207 and Turner Lane; - approval o f a permit for a Umatilla Electric overhead at the Riverfront Subdivision in Imgon; - approval o f allowing the Town o f Lexington to use the county copier for a one-time project, if they provide paper; - approval o f changes in the enterprise zone extended abatement w ith Morrow Generating Company (PCi&E) to include a provision that they pay not less than 150 percent o f the average annual salary in Morrow County and include a contractor to operate the property; - approval o f the annual Maternal and Child Health Plan to the State o f Oregon; - approval o f the Special Transportation Fund Guidelines developed by STF Committee; - acknowledgement o f the need to replace Tom Sly, who has resigned his position on the Morrow- Baker Partnership Board; - approval o f the order initiating the annexation o f territory into the Heppner Rural Fire Protection District; - approval o f an map-maintenance agreement with the Department o f Revenue; - approval o f the purchase o f a chair, a storage cabinet and a shredder by the Assessm ent and Taxation Office; - approval o f the purchase o f a chair by the Behavioral Health Department. HHS softball season ends with 17 wins By Debbie Harper Heppner Mustangs' softball team ended the season with a 17-4 record. They were first in the league with a record o f 11 -1. The team was made up o f freshman Blake Allstott, sophomores Aleshia Geer, Jesse Kempas, Marcy Miller and Nikki Sisk, juniors Jesse Gutierrez and Shelley Rietmann, and seniors San Juanita Elguezabal, Chanssa Gates, M anssa McCabe and Jenni Patton. O utfielder Blake Allstott was voted m ost inspirational player. Team season statistics were: centerfield San Juanita Elguezabal, 20 RBIs, 0.489 batting average; first base Chanssa Gates, 21 RBIs, 0.368 BA; left field Aleshia Geer, two RBIs, 0.167 BA; catcher Jesse Gutierrez, 12 RBIs, 0.340 BA; utility Jesse Kempas, 16 RBIs, 0.340 BA; short stop M anssa M cCabe, 24 RBIs, 0.521 BA; second base Marcy Miller, eight RBIs, 0.219 BA; third base Jenni Patton, 14 RBIs. 0.220 BA; pitcher Shelley Rietmann, 17 RBIs, 0.479 BA; and right field Nikki Sisk, 10 RBIs, 0.405 BA. Coach Lindsey Harle said she was proud o f the team. "It was a tun season. A good learning season for the girls. They learned to really enjoy playing." Seven o f the team were named to the Eastern Oregon All League team. Shelley Rietmann was named first team pitcher, San Juanita Elguezabal, first team outfielder, and M anssa M cCabe, first team infielder. Named to the honorable mention team were Jesse Gutierrez, catcher, Chanssa Gates and Jenni Patton, infielders, and Jesse Kempas, utility. Elks Lodge receives awards The Heppner Elk's Lodge #358 was presented with two lodge awards at the summer convention in Seaside in April. The "All American Lodge Award first place plaque was presented to Heppner for Division III with 501-700 members. There are pproxim ately 61 lodges from Oregon, W ashington, Idaho and California. Com petition is based on district, state and Grand Lodge levels. Points are earned by com peting lodges, based upon degree o f their participation in 42 categories o f endeavors, ranging from youth scholarships, hoop shoot. Elks National Foundation, Mother's Day and Flag Day ceremonies, ritual competition, eye poster contest and veteran’s programs. For the second award, Heppner Lodge placed first in the NorthEast District Hides Competition, for the collection o f 535 deer hides and 141 elk hides which totaled $ 1,972 in sales for the veterans. There was also an additional 157 man hours and 812 miles driven (all donated by lodge officers) for a grand total o f $4,622.22. This is the third year in a row Heppner Lodge has won this award. A NICELY CARED FOR HOME Rebuilt in 1980, this 1169 sq. ft., nicely cared for home, on one floor, has three bedroom s, one bath, baseboard heat and a 14’x l 1’ patio in back. It is located across from the city park. $65,000 Contact David Sykes, Agent £ 1B l H e r ita g e L a n d Co. www.heppner.net 1-800-326-2152 toll free (541) 676-9228 days, (541) 676-9939 evenings How m uch is your allowance? Brought to you by the Morrow County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition. For further information, contact the Morrow County Health Department at 541-676-5421 or contact the Morrow County Commission on Children and Families at 541-676-9675. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________O 2001 Campaign For Our Children, Inc.
