Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 2003)
Heppner Gazette-1 imes, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - THREt Council okays $6 million city water project The Heppner city council M onday ap p ro v ed a $6 million water system upgrade project that will take 30 years to repay. The project will be paid for with $ 1.25 million in grants and $4.75 in loans. Water rates will be raised to pay back the loans. (See table) The council unanimously endorsed the project but not after hearing comments from the public, city administrators and members of the council. About six members o f the public were present to speak about the project. Everyone acknowledged that the water system was deteriorating and needed to be fixed, but some questioned the size o f the project and others said the new rate plan, which will begin charging some groups that have not been charged in the past, would be a hard burden. Kim Cutsforth sits on the Willow Creek Park District b o ard w hich o v e rsee s operation o f the Heppner swimming pool, said the pool has never been charged for water. “We are not prepared for a full-blown water bill,” she said. The pool is alw ays working on a slim budget and she said she was not sure what the additional $260 per month charge would do to its budget. The pool uses about one million gallons per year Cutsforth 'said. Dave Pranger of the Willow , Creek Little League echoed Cutsforth’s concerns, saying if the little league started being charged for water to irrigate their three baseball fields in Heppner “It is going to be a tremendous burden.” “We have been trying to conserve now,” Pranger said. “I d o n ’t know w here the money is going to come from.” In order to get the low cost loans the city is required to charge everyone w ho is hooked to the city w ater system. This includes the pool, little league, churches and the hospital, which in the past have not been charged. Under the rules of the loan the city is also required to charge a minimum for water. The charges are . necessary to repay the $4.75 million in loans. Breazeale said it could be possible that the city might reimburse groups like the little league for the cost o f water, but that they had to put on a meter and bill them initially. ^ would support that and the city paying for that water ^or the good ot the city,” said Heppner resident Jerry Healy. After approving the project Monday, the council said it would reserve the right to “tweak” the water rates. The only opposition voiced ab o u t the p ro je c t was questioning the need for another one million gallon reservoir to hold water for the city. Randy Lott said that while he approv ed o f the need for fixing H eppner’s old and deteriorating water system, he did not see the need for the new storage tank, estimated to cost $1.1 million. City officials said the storage was needed because o f the configuration o f the current water tanks, and to make sure that there would be enough water to fight a major fire on a dry summer day. “Our main reservoir drained in seven hours,” said city manager Jerry Breazeale. “If we have a fire in the summer we will not have the capacity.” He also pointed out that if the $1.1 million storage tank were cut from the project it would not lower the loan amount local people would be required to repay. He said the project grants would be cut first and local water users would still have the same debt to repay. C ouncil m em ber Judy Buschke also questioned the need for the large new storage tank. Public works director Craig Canham said it does not cost much more to build a one million gallon tank as opposed to a 500,000-gallon storage tank. D ave C am pbell o f Heppner spoke in favor of the project. “Our water system has problems,” he told the council. “Our water lines are a mess. We are going to have to spend some dollars. We have to support this. This is your prime responsibility to take care of the infrastructure. This is a good deal. We are not going to find a better deal,” Campbell added. After the council approved the new w a ter p ro je c t, Breazeale said the engineering would take about one year, and then another two years to complete construction of the new water system. In other business the council reviewed bids to put a new Kapp? S t. Patricias Da?! We wUl be open until 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14 SUPPORT THE AUCTION AT THE ELKS CLUB AT 7 P.M. I We w ill open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 2 * * *A*D sec T “ *'«««•«* 9ïisH T) P Ht* AH& O T tv a tn « tv ls S t- ArrA*Sey*cr[t, (it*®1* Oattt ot Nf (QocH* atio «Tr, SLitn« *** 20°/o hiew ^ C M s h i r t , 5 a*.«« st. p TJ * * »5H / 217 North Main • Happnar 676-9158 Serving H«ppn«r ¡.»Kington A Ion» 7ÂÛ C o M îir y R ose heating and cooling system in the city manager’s office (the former police dept, office) but decided to wait before making a decision. A master plan for remodeling o f city hall is currently in the works and the council was concerned that the need an additional $ 1,500 in repairs before it can be sold plus other expenses from to a buyer. The city has a heating system would not H ousing and U rban buyer for the property located match the remodeled offices. Development (HUD) may on Gilmore St. Heard a report that CITY OF HEPPNER Dave Fowler had been PROPOSED WATER RATES FOR 2003-2004 appointed to the city planning commission. Residential, Commercial, and Minimum Heard that a Heppner for 0 - 2,000 gallons $8.75 house the city is buying for $ 1 Magazine sales raise money for HES number o f subscriptions they sold. The top seller in each classroom was: Mrs. Gibbs: Tori L an k fo rd ; M rs. Haguewood: Willie Gentry; Mrs. Allen: Joe Pranger; Mrs. S m ith -G riffith : Tom as Elguezabal; and Mrs. Dowdy: Kassey Wilson. The class that earned the most money also earned an ice cream feed. Mrs. D ow dy’s class and Mrs, H ag u ew o od ’s class both received ice cream sundaes for their efforts, as their final numbers were so close. HES’s students and staff certainly appreciate the support of the community on this project. “Creative ways will continue to be used to keep those valuable programs which our students enjoy so much,” said an HES staff member. St. Patrick’s Committee donates fountain were made to not only use the McElligott named to Gonzaga President’s List Jacob McElligott, a senior from lone, was among the 7 13 students named to the G o n zag a U n iv ersity P re s id e n t’s List for fall semester. Students must earn a 3.7 grade point average or better to be listed. G onzaga is an 3,750 - 5,625 gallons $26.25 5,625 to 7,500 gallons $35.10 plus $.90/1000 gallons over 7,500 gallons Arts and Crafts Sale to be held during St. Pat’s celebration Mrs. Haguewood's fourth grade class All Irish families are invited to attend the dedication o f the drinking fountain in memory o f the early Irish settlers at the comer ofWillow and Main on Friday, March 14, at 4 p.m. The committee has been saving for the fountain for a number o f years. Donations have been given over the years toward the annual event from individuals. In the beginning, the entire celebration was funded because Jim Farley had a gift o f blarney. Many, like Ebb H ughes, w ould say, “here, give this to Farley; he’ll be looking for me anyway.” Then, w ith the passing o f Ilene Kilkenny Laughlin, H erb M cL aughlin, John Barrick and Bill Healy, came memorial donations. Plans $17.50 • Multiple dwelling units shall be charged $35.10 plus $8.75 for each additional dwelling unit over one, plus $.90/ 1000 gallons over 7,500 gallons plus 2,000 for each separate dwelling unit. • Commercial shall be charged $35.10 plus $8.75 for each business under a separate name using the same meter, plus $.90/1000 gallons over 7,500 gallons plus 2,000 gallons for each additional separate business. • Residential, Business, and Industrial Services outside city limits Will be charged a Right of Service Fee of $20.00 per service in addition to the charges listed above. This “Right of Service Fee” is not part of the water rates which are evenly applied to all customers. Mrs. Dowdy’s fifth and sixth grade class From Feb. 18 through March 4, students in grades four, five and six at Heppner Elementary School worked to raise m oney for special programs at their school. The magazine sale began in 2000, and has grown each year with support o f the parents and community. The grand total for 2003 w as $ 1 2 ,2 0 6 :4 0 . Chairperson Patti Rill reports, “We get to keep 40 percent of the money here at HES, so th is is a very im portant fundraiser for our kids.” The money raised will be used for outdoor school, class field trips, assemblies, Artist and Education, and other special classroom activities. S tu d en ts w ere rewarded with prizes for the 2,000 - 3,750 gallons donations to keep the event on going, but to save for a memorial in memory o f the Irish. The fo u n tain was purchased and donated to the City o f Heppner. The City crew has worked diligently to have it in place for the St. Patrick’s weekend. The St. Patrick’s committee invites one and all to join in the dedication and have a drink from what may just become know as “the blarney fountain.” An Arts and Crafts Sale will be held during the St. Pat’s Celebration, Friday, March 14, from 12^1 p.m. and Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Les Schwab Tire Center in Heppner. Local artist and craftsmen will be featured with their w orks. One such person is professional artist Sandra Gaynes. She will be available with her scratchboard western art and animals, along with pencil and oil paintings. Gaynes has recently come back from the Western Art Show in Spokane, WA, and will soon be opening a framing business. Lynne Uitto has her beautiful cross stitch all framed and ready to hang in your home. While husband Irv will I*1'1 d isp lay in g his e woodworidng, including small folding tables and jew elry and other boxes. Mary Ella Johnson has a special accent for your home with her crocheted cotton and wool rugs o f various sizes. Two talented people in household crafts can be found in Betty Christman and Lorene Montgomery. Their work done in decorative wood and various materials will decorate your home with a country craft flair. Molly Day has framed her painted feathers and has them ready to hang in your home. She will also have other artwork done in acrylics and pencil. The Mural Society will also be at the sale with prints of the Mural of Railroad and Sheep in Morrow County. See Louie and Betty Carlson, Doris Bronson, or Bob and Sharon Harrison for more information. Stop by Friday and Saturday and see these local a rtist and craftsm en o f Morrow County. Filing deadline for elected school board positions nearing The deadline for filing for elected positions for the Morrow County School Board is March 20. Five school board positions are up forelection: Position One currently held by Gary Frederickson, Boardman; Position Three, held by John Rietmann, lone; Position Four held by Larry Mills, Heppner, who was appointed; Position Five, held by Pat McNamee, Irrigon; and Position Six, held by Burke O ’Brien, Heppner, who was also appointed. According to the Morrow County Clerk’s Office as ofTuesday, March 11, John Kilkenny of Heppner has filed for Position Three and Barney Lindsay, a former board member from the Lexington area, has filed for Position Six. School board members are no longer elected by zone, but by at-large positions. ft Judy a Therapeutic 'Ma<waye fiaa moved to 280 S. Mam (at -Hail Expn’AAiatiA, ■ ‘ M’eppner) § Call fa r Appointment: Temp. WitAtneM pfwne: 676-5271 ‘Home pfwne: 676-9962 J u d y ‘D tukee-'N hniA , £ ‘M T CLS2f f % HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAYJ Celebrate St. Patrick's Weekend at John's Other Place with Barbecue Ribs, Brisket, and Chicken A L L DAT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY JOHN’S OTHER PLACE Main Street, Heppner 233 N Main • Heppner 676-9426 I
