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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2004)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Letters to the Editor Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times w ill not publish unsigned letters. Please include vour address and phone num ber on all letters for use by the G-T office. The G-T reserves the right to edit. The G-T is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in letters. (Any letters expressing thanks w ill be placed In the classifieds under *Card o f Thanks" at a cost o f $7.) Need real facts on garbage issues To the Editor: Real Garbage: City o f Heppner wants to take over garbage collection Or, is this just another hopeful money making scheme for the City? Let’s look at some real facts in light o f that possibility It’s been said that two city employees could each work one-half day for two days and get the job done Perhaps However, this is bad for our pocket book and local economy. This computes out to having two half-time unemployed people This saves the City m oney on w ages and benefits but increases expenses for public assistan ce such as food stamps and Oregon Health Care In addition, government will shut down another small business and one more person will be added to the unemployment list E xisting g arbage trucks belong to Heppner Garbage Disposal, not to the City o f Heppner The City will have to purchase and maintain their own garbage truck Oh, make that two trucks, it is good to have a spare truck when the other one needs maintenance or repairs. Basic “manual fill” garbage tru ck s costs upwards of $80,000. Ju st like skunks, garbage trucks stink No am ount o f w ashing will make a garbage truck not smell like a garbage truck Some people complain about the stink coming from their dumpsters or garbage cans. If your container stinks, it’s your responsibility to un stink it not Heppner Garage Disposal. The City will learn too, that you cannot afford to empty the garbage truck at the end o f each workday. A quarter or half-fill garbage truck still requires the same amount of time and dumping expenses as a fill truck This requires going to Finley Butte Land Fill, a 90 minute round trip, either daily or better yet, when the truck needs to be emptied Finley Butte dumping fees are by the ton, therefore, make each round trip count We don’t want half-time unemployed people going over their hourly time limits City o f H eppner does not own or operate Heppner Garbage Disposal The Cities responsibility is approving a franchise to a private c o n tra c to r for a specific period o f time, i.e. 10 years The current franchise requires pick-up once a week, Monday thru Friday, for subscribing customers. There is no quote “garbage day.” If the M orrow County Schools, M orrow C ounty 4-H Fair, or any o th e r su b scrib er desire additional garbage pick-up service then they m ust contract for it and pay for it Complaining to City Hall about your garbage service is like “wetting” your dark colored pants; you might feel b e tte r for aw hile, but eventually you will get a rash and start stinking Instead, call H eppner G arbage Disposal about concerns, or even an occasional thank- you would be in order. Take a moment and consider some of the benefits we enjoy from our current garbage service provider compared to what the City proposal would provide -C urrently, off- curbside pick-up is normal This means that the garbage man walks up your driveway, around the corner, up some stairs and carries your garbage back to his truck, then returns your can to its location Don’t expect this from anyone else. -You can carry your own garbage can out to the curb yourself and return it -Currently we pay for one 32-gallon garbage can (60 pound maximum) pick-up weekly For some it is a 45-gallon garbage can mounted on wheels (cost more), same weight -Rain or shine, snow or freezing weather, your garbage man gets there No extra charge for basic service Yet there are no holidays, perks, sick leave, vacation time or overtime pay. W hy will y o u r garbage rates increase in the future9 Because future new fran ch ised serv ice requirements by the city will necessitate it -First by mandatory “garbage day” pick-ups. R equiring ad d itio n al manpower, garbage trucks and disposal fees -Mandatory $20,000 insurance bonding o f the garbage pick-up provider Insurance premium will be passed on to the customer -Demanding additional daily garbage pick-ups will require paying more for services Whether it is with Heppner Garbage Disposal, City o f Heppner Garbage Service, or another private contractor. In all likelihood the City would rather provide us w ith the big city accommodations, using new hydraulic side lo ad er $100,000 garbage trucks that require (demand) that you p u rch ase special g arb ag e cans th at are adapted to the particular style o f a hydraulic side loader truck. C u rre n tly every home or business is not required to participate in contracting with Heppner Garbage Disposal You can haul your own garbage if you desire W hat about the Heppner Garbage Disposal customers who are outside o f the city limits; oops, maybe we should not go there, yet...? Now the City says they are placing a 90-day p ro b atio n on H eppner Garbage Disposal Probation for w hat9 Probation is a follow up procedure for go v ern in g v io la to rs for proven errors, blunders and/ or m isdeeds. W hat has Heppner Booster Club would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous donations to the 2004 Steak Feed and Auction. Without their support, this annual event would not have been such a success! Allstott Construction LL.C Alpine Meadows Golf Course Angie Hanson Artisan Village Bank of Eastern Oregon Barbara Bloodsworth Bev Howe Bob DeSpain Bobbi Childers BPOE Elks 358 Brian & Susan Thompson Buffalo Peaks Golf Course Campbell Motors. Inc Cascade Athletic Celita Strouse Central Red Apple Market Charlie and Marcia Anderson China Creek Golf Course Chuck Matteson Columbia River Processing Costco Cottage Flowers Country Shears Coyote Springs PGE Craig & Deb Gutierrez Crown Paper & Mark Huddleston Dale Conklin Darlene Lovgren Dave Fowler Dave. Patty. Shane & Stefan Matheny Deena Reid Dennis & Babbette Wall Dennis & Penny Miller 8 Frances Freel Devin Oil Dick Temple DVM Dobyn's Pest Control DorityAuto Sales. Inc Dr Dennis Turner DMD Echo Hills Golf Course Ernie & Mary Jean McCabe Frederickson Farms Gardner ’s Men 's Wear Ginger Keithley Gordon Robertson & Cliff Ellis Gordon s Electric Graybeal Distributing Green Feed & Seed Greg's Custom Clubs Gwen Healy Hair Expressions Hale's Restaurant Heppner Auto Parts Heppner Day Care Heppner Elementary 5th/6th Graders Heppner Garden Club Heppner Hardware Heppner High School Heppner High School Alumni Assoc Hermiston Glass Holloman's Howe s About Pizza Ida Farra J & G Services Jannie Allen Jean Marie Healy Jeff Cutsforth Jerry & lone Martin John & Diane Kilkenny John Boyer/Gar Aviation John & Nancy Gochnauer John Nickey Judy & Sandy Photography Kelwayne & Mary Haguewood Ken & Jean Ann Turner KIE Irrigation Kim & Gayle Gutierrez Kimmel Athletic Larry & Betty Mills Les & Kevin Payne Les Schwab Tire Center Lott's Electric Louis & Betty Carlson Marcia Kemp Mark & Tami Rietmann Mary Ann Elguezabal Mary Ella Johnson Mike& KimArmato Molly Day Morrow County Grain Growers Murray's Drug Neff Oregon Zoo Ostler Orthodontics Panda Inn Chinese Restaurant Papa Murphy's Patriot Auto Glass Pendleton Bottling - Pepsi Peterson's Jewelers Pizza Hut Portland Trail Blazers Red Robin Rhonda Helfrecht Riddell & Mark Elmblade Rolling Hills Hunting Preserve Rusty & Cyde Estes Seitz Aviation Shirley George Spout Springs Resort Styling Arena Tim Hedman USA Subs Virginia Grant \Atode & Marrianne Smith Wal-Mart Wheatland Insurance Wdmer Brothers Brewing Company Wilcox Furniture Wild Horse Resort & Casino Willow Creek Bakery & Diner Willow Creek Country Club Wright Chevrolet Wyna Woodford Many others also contributed to the success of the Steak Feed and Auction: Heppner Junior/Senior High School Students. Faculty, and Staff Auction Committee -Dinner Committee • Decorating Committee Ken Grieb. Auctioneer • And everyone who assisted during the night of the dinner and auction Their hard work and dedication made it all possible! Thank you, everyone! Heppner Booster CCirf \ Heppner Garbage Disposal done or been convicted o f to w arrant being placed on probation9 No matter how this turns out, your garbage rates will increase; the question is by how much? (s) Duane Jones Matlack Heppner understands public service To the Editor: Ken Matlack wasThe O regon S tate Police Sergeant at the Arlington office for several years while I was the Ju stice C ourt Judge there Sgt Matlack’s approach to law en forcem en t m ade it a pleasure to work with him He was interested in the livability o f the community and believed that part o f his resp o n sib ility , as a law enforcement officer, was to do what he could to improve the com m unity. He d em o n strated that he believed it w as m ore im portant to deal with problems before they came to the attention of the law rather than after. He was active in community affairs both at the city level and the county level I also appreciated Sgt Matlack’s approach to problem solving When he perceived a problem he contacted all the parties that were involved and talked to and listened tb everyone before making decisions He was willing to cooperate w ith all o th e r law enforcement agencies, the courts and the governing bodies of both the towns and the county in G illiam County. Sgt Matlack was an asset to the Oregon State Police, the town of Arlington and Gilliam C ounty. He understood what it meant to be a public servant. (s) S. “Chris” Nix Retired Justice o f the Peace Condon Tim is a proven leader in our community and has had years o f experience in working with people with differing views He is a man o f good c h arac te r and judgment and is willing to listen to all sides o f the issues He is very serious about listening to everyone’s co n cern s and brining consensus to the challenges that face our town Tim has given much o f his time to make our community a better place to live. He has served for many years as a volunteer and community leader Here are just a few o f his areas o f service: completed the Rural D evelopm ent In itiativ e train in g co u rse in com m unity lead ersh ip ; served on city council for 10 years, currently as president o f the council; member of the C ham ber o f C om m erce; chair o f the Police C om m ission; M o rro w C ounty S h e riff’s D ep artm en t C haplaincy program, Hospice; Welcome Wagon; Junior High girls and boys basketball coach; and the Columbia Bain Electric C o-O p H elping H earts program P lease jo in us in voting for Tim VanCleave. Tim is the right man for the job o f mayor. (s) Mayor Bob and Suzanne Jepsen Heppner Irrigon residents dispute Lambier’s letter To the Editor: I am w ritin g in regards to Jeff Lam bier’s letter in the Heppner Gazette dated Oct. 13. I wanted to express my appreciation for your time o f service to our communities, myself and my husband were among the many who prayed for you and Office Snyder But I would like to set you straight on a couple o f things. The meeting on Sept. 9 at A C Houghton, VanCleave is the myself and husband right man for the pjanned, financed and paid for the building, not Mr. job Matlack. Four different To the Editor: ladies made cookies. My We are w riting in husband and myself put the support o f Tim VanCleave announcements in the for mayor of Heppner papers, made flyers and put them up. This was not a debate about Mr Denton (we have been friends with Andrea and Verlin for many years and will continue to be) Our meeting was an informational meeting to allow people to meet Ken and ask questions Not to try to make a big issue like you did Mr Matlack did graciously answer all your questions When you stood to talk you said you spoke for the whole Deputies Association I have a question for you; you said w ith the opening o f the Irrigon High School, everyone has had to cut back What does that have to do w ith the informational meeting and the electio n fo r county sheriff7 As for asking the audience to su p p o rt the campaign, by being on a phone committee, putting up yard signs, going door to d o o r and fo r financial support, that was our idea, not Mr Matlack’s. The meeting did not start with a local pastor. Jeff, you threw a few stones, so I guess I could throw one. I hope you’re factual skills as a deputy are better than your facts in your letter to the editor. As you said, this was not a race for governor, so let’s watch the mud slinging (s) Billy and Sarnie Griffin Irrigon Burns is professional To the Editor: My choice for Morrow County Justice of the Peace is Betty Burns. For the past six years, I have served with Betty on the Board o f Directors for the U nited Way o f M orrow County and then the United Way o f U m atilla and Morrow Counties. I have known her to be both professional and efficient in w hatever she does. B etty has the knowledge and ability to achieve her goals She is very well organized and has e x ce lle n t b u sin ess and computer skills. I am m arking my ballot for Betty Burns for Morrow County Justice of the Peace (s) Nancy McKay lone BURNS FOR MORROW C O U N TY JUSTICE of the PEACE “Life Experience” “Business Experience” “People Person” “Professional” “Efficient” Mark your ballot for: Bettv A. Burns CHANGE IS GOOD! PAID AND AUTHORIZED BY BETTY A. BURNS \
