Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2007)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 14,2007 - THREE ________ ^ _ = = = = ^ = Special The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you pros ide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not elections be printed in the new spaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks ~ Letters to the Editor ~ Continued from page one will be placed in the classifieds under "Card of Thanks" at a cost of $10. There are some things worth fighting over - like when government shafts the people it exists to serve. Since getting elected to Heppner’s city council. I’ve tried to pick my fights carefully. However, there are some things worth fighting over - like when government shafts the people it exists to serve. Read on. If my information is correct, it was back in the m id -1 9 8 0 's w hen the M orrow C ounty g overnm ent was first approached hy some barge company to authorize the Finley Buttes Landfill as the repository for metropolitan P o rtla n d 's solid w aste. Recognizing that the politics of turning a piece o f our county into the garbage dump for Oregon’s largest city carried a certain stench w ith it, the county com m issions of that time diligently slogged their way through Boardman, Irrigon. lo n e, L ex in g to n , and H eppner, holding public hearings which they used as a forum to sell the proposal to the public based on the notion that a) the landfill site occupied a remote location, and b) the money paid to the county (“tippage fees” ) by the e n terp rise w ould be m ade a v ailab le for the benefit of its citizens. Sounds like they did their homework w ell. In July 1987. the county passed their “Solid W aste M anagem ent Ordinance,” and everybody sat back and waited for the new lan d fill to get e sta b lish e d and start generating revenue. In February 1993, the county commissioners dutifully followed up on their p rom ise and passed a re so lu tio n (a form al statem ent o f position or intent by a government body - something less than a law or ordinance, but more than an idle election campaign p ro m ise) that a ctu a lly spelled things outs: 50% of the tip p ag e fees (less administrative costs) would be split equally among the county's five communities, 40% would be split among those same com m unities based on population, and the rem aining 10% would be retained by the county. So, maybe the m ega-garbage dum p w asn ’t such a bad idea, w e’re all going to get some additional money for needed public projects, and everybody’s happy, right? Wrong. In July 1994, the county commissioners passed a second resolution that revoked the first one outright and plopped the money right back into the county’s general fund for their exclusive use. And that's the way it's been ever since - instead of going to the cities as first promised, 90% o f the tip p a g e fee revenue (which currently, by the way, adds up to about $ 1 million annually) is now a w indfall to the c o u n ty ’s general fund, and the rem aining 10% is being carefully doled out by the commissioners to the five communities, a few dollars at a time, in a magnanimous gesture to demonstrate what great guys they are. Last W ednesday, F ebruary 7, the cu rren t com m issioners met with representatives of the towns to hear th e ir case for adhering to the original form ula for splitting the tippage fee revenue as first prom ised, and otherw ise take public testimony. Held on the commissioner’s home tu rf at the county courthouse, the meeting was a farce. The courthouse was stacked with what seemed to be every form er Morrow County commissioner since the passage o f O reg o n 's statehood act, along with various and sundry farmers, ranchers, and others with a vested interest in county programs and services. Like a really bad opera, they popped up one by one singing the praises of county gov ern m en t and railin g against the audacity of the cities for daring to rock the boat. O u tn u m b ered and clearly out of their element, the city representatives were m ute for the m ost part, except for their appointed spokesman. You've got to had it to the commissioners - they may indeed suffer from se le c tiv e m oral dwarfism (particularly when 600D LUCK IONE CARDINALS! SIMPLY THE BEST lone Cardinalv Varsity How (L-R): top row-Coach Jim Swanson. Kip Krebs, Kevin Flowler. Clay Marter, Montana Marlatt. Coach Dennis Stefani; bottom mw-Stormy Kendrick. R.J. Ramos. Paul Hams. Matt Hams. Matt Coleman. Justin Archer, Alan Rictrnann. Big Sky District Tournament: lone Cardinal Varsity B o ys play Cascade Locks on Thurs day, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Umatilla High School in Umatilla. serious money is involved), but they’re astute enough at basic political gamesmanship to orchestrate a meeting in such a way that it flows sm oothly tow ard the outcome they want. Which is exactly what happened. Reinforced by supportive cro o n in g from th e ir predecessors and others, the three in cu m b en t commissioners unanimously agreed that a) the cities’ case had insufficient merit, b) the money belongs to the county anyway (notwithstanding the promise to split most of the revenue am ong the five communities), c) the cities’ appeal couldn't come at a w orse tim e, in view o f budget woes and what-not, and d) we all is quite content w ith the p resen t arrangement, thank you, and by God, w e're keeping the dough. B ang. M eeting adjourned. A little side note here to deflect a bogus argument y o u ’ll p ro b ab ly h ear in com ing days. During the aforementioned meeting, the commissioners predictably dredged up the point that k eep in g th e ir rev en u e- sharing promise would cause irreparable harm by forcing re d u c tio n s to v alu ab le county program s an d /o r elimination of county jobs (translated: unacceptable sh rin k ag e o f th eir little bureaucratic empires). This is a stale diversionary tactic based on the premise that co u n ty p ro g ram s and services are somehow more valuable than city programs and services, and should be dropped from the debate immediately. In truth, the county has needs, the cities have needs, everybody her got needs, but none of us have the resources to fully meet them. And which is more important: repairs to a chuckhole-ridden street, an additional cop to patrol that street, a county planner, or new playground equipment for a worn-down city park? All produce a public benefit and all have value (except, of course, for the planner). All levels o f government w ant m ore m oney to accomplish their respective m andates, both real and imagined. And the people, quite correctly, resist giving up their money because a) they need it for themselves and their families, and b) th e y ’re fully aw are that, although government is very e ffic ie n t at su ck in g up everybody’s private income, it’s inherently wasteful and horribly inefficient when it com es to sp en d in g it. Instead, they force elected officials to weigh costs and benefits, and make tough funding decisions. So let's drop the w h in in g about “needs” - it’s irrelevant. The issue at hand is not needs, it’s basic morality, or rather, the lack of it. O f course, ethically challenged politicians are as old as the hills. We even joke about them - the contortions in reasoning some of them go through to rationalize their behavior is frequently hilarious. However, when it happens at the local level and you’re the victim, it becomes a bit more personal and stops being funny. With respect to the good c itiz e n s o f Boardman, Irrigon, lone, Lexington, and Heppner, you’ve just kissed off, by duly elec te d county representatives, to the tune o f som ew here betw een $ 100,000 - $ 200,0 0 0 (depending on the size of your town) worth of good that could have been done for each of your communities ... unless of course you’re willing to band together and fight back. As of this writing, th e re ’s a m ove under consideration by the mayors o f the five affected communities to launch an initiative measure forcing the county com m issioners to perform at least in part on their original promise. For anybody th a t’s forgotten th eir high school civics lessons, the initiative is a dandy little constitutional mechanism that enables the people to o v errid e th eir w ayw ard p o litic a l rep resen tativ es and pass enforceable laws by direct popular vote. Anyway, the mayors, apparently a very civilized and kindhearted bunch, are pushing for only 75% of the money originally promised to the five towns. M y self, I ’d reco m m en d recovering every last penny, both to get the maximum benefit for our communities, and to teach the good o l’ boys at the courthouse the lesson that they shouldn’t make promises they don’t intend to keep. But however the matter is approached. I ’m co n v in ced that the initiative process is now the only available remedy, and worthy of your support. And rem em ber, y o u r m ayors aren’t going to accomplish this by themselves. They’ll need you to call in expressing that support, tell your neighbors what’s afoot, sign a petition to get the measure on the ballot, and cast y o u r vote for the initiative. The entrenched county commissioners have taken their stand, and they’re gambling with the citizenry w ill be too ap ath etic or divided to take them on. Now it’s your turn to show them they made the wrong bet. A fte r g ettin g the misappropriated funds back to your communities, there’s the question of what to do about the three fun-loving commissioners who’ve just thum bed th eir collective noses at the town dwellers who helped elect them. File fo r an im m ed iate recall election and toss them out on their ears? O r just dump them like so much garbage as they com e up for re- election and pray that they behave them selves in the interim? I suppose you could also re-elect them, which strikes me as something akin to a group of nuns inviting a few serial rapists over to the convent for dinner. Good heavens, it’s no wonder that so m any p eople accord politicians the same level of esteem they usually reserve for used car salesmen and con artists. Glenn Baker, Councilman Heppner City Council Position 3 - four- year term P osition 4 - tw o- year term Position 5 - four- year term Position 6 - four- year term; Irrigon Community Education Committee Position 2 - four- year term Position 3 - four- year term Position 4 - four- year term P osition 6 - tw o- year term; B o a r d m a n C om m u n ity E d u catio n Committee Position 2 - four- year term P osition 3 - two- year term P osition 4 - two- year term P osition 5 - two- year term; M orrow C ounty Health District Position 5 - four- year term Position 4 - four- year term; H eppner W ater Control District three p o sitio n s at large - four-year terms; All candidates for these positions are required to file a Filing of Candidacy for S p ecial D istric t Nomination form, with the Morrow County Clerk by March 15, 2007. Petitions may be picked up at the M orrow C ounty C le rk ’s Office or go to the Secretary o f S ta te ’s w eb site at www.sos.state.or.us/ E lectio n D iv isio n / Publications and Form s/ District Election Manual. Use fillable pdf forms SEL 190 and SEL 191. Include SEL 220 if you are filing a Statement of Organization. A $ 10.00 filing fee or 25 signatures o f eligible Morrow County voters are req u ired . File wi t h the Morrow County C lerk at 100 S. Court Street, P.O. Box 338, H eppner, OR 9 7 8 3 6 . www.nxTnowcountyoregon.com CLERK For m ore information, call (541) 676- 5601. THESE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES CONGRATULATE THE IONE CARDINALS’ ROTS BASKETBALL TEAR AND WISH THEM GOOD LUCK AT DISTRICT! Adena, Mason. Locus & Mariah Allen 8 Nancy Anderson Allstott Construction Anda Kay B.E.0. Financial Services Arietta, Abby & Katy Arnspiger Ashley, Cathy, Adam 8 Meghan McCabe Bailey Heavy Equipment Bank of Eastern Oregon Member F.D.I.C, Barney Rea Becky Tullls Beryl A Susie Stillman & Children Betty Gray Betty Rietmann Betty & William Bergstrom Bill & Nancy Jepsen Family Bill Rietmann Bink, Lynn Dee, R.J. & MaKenna Ramos Boardman Foods Bob Baker Bob Hubbard Bob Perry B P O E No 358 Bnan & Lori Sullivan & Family Bnan & Peggy Doherty Family Bnan, Sharon, Andrew, Allysa, Alan, Alex 8 Anthony Rietmann Bruno Construction Butch & Helen Heideman Buzz. Jeanette Logan Chad, Kan. Sierra. Jordyn 8 Kendell Robie Chuck 8 Tobie Williams Clint. Sarah, Alex 8 Julianne Carlson Clint. Sharon 8 Tiana Camanllo Collier's Market Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative Craig. Paul 8 Matt Hams Craig. Janet, Steven. Emily 8 Rachel Holland Daily Bread Farms: Joel. Lea. Gus. Oskar 8 Babali Dale. Karen, Barbara. Stephanie 8 Thomas Holland Dana 8 Tonya Heideman Darrell 8 Paula Emmel Family Damn 8 Henry Padberg Dave Barnett Dave 8 Beth Heagy Family Dave. Debbie 8 Mike Radie Dave 8 Patty McNary David Stevens 8 Cynda Dean 8 Florene Robinson Deacon, Ehn 8 Jacob Heideman Dean's Pendleton Athletic Del 8 Linda LaRue Dennis Stefani 8 Misti 8 Sydney Dennis. Janet. Jennifer, Curtis, Jason 8 Brendan Thompson Devin Oil Co. Dick 8 Jannie Allen Donna Bergstrom Donna, Susan, Andra, Stormy. Skyler 8 Shadow Dick 8 Nancy Snider Dick 8 Rosie Graham Dobyns Pest Control Don 8 Eunice McElligott Dorothy Stefani Dot Halvorsen Duane, Linda, Jacob, Adam 8 Paul Neiffer Dustin, Karen, Ashley 8 Hannah 8 Hunter Padberg Earl. Rhonda 8 Kate Garrett Eastern Oregon Orthopaedic Surgery 8 Sports Medicine LLP Eric. Brandi. Morgan. Matthew. Madison 8 Mason Orem Frank 8 Cathy Halvorsen Fred 8 Faye Walton, John 8 Nik Gar Aviation Gene. Kathy 8 Tony Bolin Gene 8 Knsty Crowell Gerald 8 Linda Wilson Glenn, Kelly. Tracy 8 Jennifer Griffith Gregg. Shelly, Tanner. Evan 8 Ola Rietmann Hank 8 Kathi Pointer Helen Crawford Helen Pettyjohn Henry 8 Robin Krebs 8 Missy Heppner Family Foods Heppner Gazette-Times Heppner Heating Howard 8 Dianne Mullins lone Community Band IfiT LLC Jarrod, Alison 8 G race Ogden Jason. Tara 8 Cameron Proudtoot Jerry, Lisa. Ann 8 Emma Rietmann Jim 8 Gayle Eynetich Jim 8 Gma Jepsen Jim, Eileen, Miranda, Colin 8 Taylor McElligott Jim, Monica, Adrienne, Luke 8 Tyan Swanson J. Keithley Construction Joe 8 Darla Vandever 8 Teonna Joe 8 Jeri McElligott 8 Family Joe. Anita, Caitlin 8 Zac Orem Joe. Donna, Emily 8 Mary Rietmann 8 Terry Joe, Linda 8 Stacee Halvorsen Josh 8 Bryn Browning Family John 8 Jean Jepsen John 8 Linda Bnstow John, Barbara. Johnny 8 Adam Collin John, Helen 8 Arthur Ekstrom John, Janna, Jonathan, Beth, Joel, Chnstan. Jamie 8 Julianna VandenBnnk John, Kerry 8 Brenna Rietmann Juanita Schultz June Crowell Justin, Stacie 8 Payton Miller Katherine Lmdstrom Keith 8 Judy Rea Keith, Yvonne. Austin. Malmda. Bnttnee 8 Rebeka Kelly. Debbie. Richard, Derek 8 Dalton. Nicola 8 Cameron Cambell Ken, Christopher 8 Kelley Klinger Ken 8 JeanAnn Turner Kerry 8 Ina Peterson Laurel Cannon Lee 8 MaryAnn Palmer Lee, Wendy, Justin 8 Stefanie Archer Les Schwab Tire Center Las, Kim, Olivia. Kelly. Lacey. Seth 8 Katelyn Thompson Lexington Auto Body 8 Towing Lloyd 8 Shirley McNary Loa 8 Mark Henderson Loa McElligott Loren 8 Della Heideman Lorrene Montgomery Lott's Electric Louis 8 Betty Carlson Loyal 8 Betty Bum s Marc. Lindsay, Grace, Satire 8 Hattie Orem Marvin 8 Tanna Padberg Mike's Mobile Slaughte' Mike, Tobey, Lauren. Kaitlm 8 Alexus Garrett Morrow County Gram Growers Monty 8 Susan Crum Murray Drugs 8 Country Rose Nancy, Kristen 8 Kara Miller Office Pub 8 Grill Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Pea Ridge Embroidery Peg Leg Farms Perry 8 Kathy Morter Peterson's Jewelers Pettyjohn's Farm 8 Builders Supply Ralph, Ann, Clay 8 Beth Morter Ram os Brothers Ranch Rick 8 Anita Peterson 8 Family Robin 8 Melissa LaRue 8 Family Rod, Glenda, Jenna 8 Paul Taylor Ron 8 Karen Haguewood Rudy 8 Jackie Bergstrom Ryan 8 Allison Rudolf. Jill 8 Thomas Scott, Cindy, Brenda. Camie. Brad. Kemmery. Logan, Larysa and Lucas Bumght Sherrell Chevrolet Seitz Aviation Skip 8 Barbara Pettyjohn Skye. Penny. Cayle 8 Kip Krebs Slater, Darcee, Cason. Mariee 8 Landon Mitchell Stacey, Theresa. Paul. Kevin Matt 8 Gunner Steve 8 Vicki Wagenblast Steve Camille 8 Sara Peck Steve, Rose, Grace 8 Cameron Crum Steve 8 Tern Schaber 8 Kyte 8 Kaytee Sunflower Junction Sweeney Mortuary Taylor's Restaurant The Dumler Family Tom 8 Anne Bedoriha Tom Artynda. Bill. Chanssa 8 Sierra Gates Tom Shear Treve 8 Elizabeth Peterson Family Tn County Propane Vandever Brothers, Inc Vince 8 Donna Alleman Virgil Debbie 8 Kan Morgan Wayne. Dianna 8 Shawn Hama Wheatland Insurance W oodsid* Enterprises Wnght Chevrolet —a j I
