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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2008)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 6,2008 - THREE ~ Red Hat Rowdies to meet Letters to the Editor ~ 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 prov 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 be printed in the newspaper. 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 will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. Sick of Politics Guest Editorial By Louis Carlson, former County Judge When Ed Glenn, spokesman for the five cities of Morrow County, spoke at the Chamber o f Commerce in Heppner, he was asked if 75% o f the total Tippage Fee that the cities are asking for would continue to fund county ser vices such as 4-H Clubs, Extension Service, Neighborhood Centers and the like. After a bit o f stammering (unlike Ed) he declared that he could not assure city funding for such projects as Extension, water master and predator control etc. even though such program were rural and community by nature. Mayor Glenn gives best shot To his credit, Ed spoke the truth. To think that a coalition o f the five cities o f Morrow County agreeing upon any thing other than sunrise and sunset would be a stretch o f the imagination in anyone’s language. In truth, Ed did bring out a lot o f fiscal issues that do make sense. The one set o f figures that struck me was the accumula tion o f carryover in the Tippage Fee Fund o f upwards o f $ 1 , 000 , 000 . I ask the question, what in the world would justify this exhorbitant accumulation o f carryover in the Tippage Fund especially after the county had taken its fair share out o f tax offset? These remaining dollars should have been designated in some manner to each of the communi ties to offset the imposition o f Willamette Valley garbage injected into our pristine Morrow County soils. If these figures are correct, there may be some extra funding from the Tippage Fund carryover that could be used for other purposes, namely for each community’s discretion. Time Passes Years ago, the court in its wisdom, declared that part o f the Tippage Fund should be used for a tax offset to preserve countywide programs. This was a result o f the sluggish increase in the county’s valuation and because of increased cost to operate the county, i.e. fuel cost, paving oil, labor contracts and the like. This thought process seemed reasonable to the taxpayers and acceptable until some o f the cities spent themselves in to a tax capped situation as the result o f Oregon's Measure 58. After reaching the cap, those cities could not raise a dime o f new taxes for services other than through a bond issue. This presented a financial problem and thus the cities took a new look at tapping into the Tip- page Fees for their increasing needs. Hold on says the County Court. We are already providing additional cash to the individual communities by providing tax offset to individual and a process for the cities to tap into the Tippage Fee. Foul, cried Mayor Paustian o f Heppner. If the county can confiscate Tippage dollars, why can’t the cit ies? The good mayor says that the cities have absolutely no hope o f financial growth because state laws have capped out increased taxation based upon a certain percentage o f their valuation. “We have no place to turn to except the Tippage Fee for financial help.” Nonsense says Judge Tallman “You have had ample opportunity to have a share o f the Tippage Fee through the ‘Needs and Issues Pro gram’ that was specially designed to accommodate cities and their respective communities. In fact, last year your communities received in excess of $235,000 for the above mentioned services plus another $245,000 offered under the ‘Needs and Issues Program’ o f which all cities were encouraged to participate in.” The fact is, both parties are so isolated from each other and are playing games at the expense o f the citizens o f Morrow County. The people o f Morrow County are sick o f politics, nationally as well as locally. Well mean ing citizens intend for the spoils o f the landfill need to be shared among all citizens o f the county. However, these same citizens believe that it is the duty o f our elected of ficials to come to a conclusion and very soon. The question is not if, but how much and by what process? I am convinced that there is a fair and equitable process by which this can be accomplished. The Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation is now contract ed to work with the County Court to receive applications from each o f the cities, organizations and communities for worthwhile projects to be funded by the Tippage Fee. GEODC has proven to be non-political, fair and balanced through receiving applications, evaluating the applications and determining which applications should be funded. The County Court has not had any influence on how this process unfolds each and every year. The only unanswered question then becomes one of appropriate funding for the “Needs and Issues Program.” This will require a negotiated debate between a representa tive from the County Court and a representative from the cities. Compromise, a little statesmanship and some good will at this juncture will prove to be a healing process that this county could certainly use. The alternative may see some new faces entering the political field. The Red Hat Rowdies will meet at noon on Thursday, February 21, for a no-host luncheon at Sweet Productions. All interested ladies are invited to attend. Atten dance is not mandatory but Red Hats are encouraged to come. Rietmann elected president of South Morrow County Scholarship Trust Bill Rietmann o f lone was recently elected presi dent o f the South Morrow County Scholarship Trust for the 2008 year at the SMCST’s annual meeting in Heppner on January 28. Barb Hayes was elected vice-president, Del LaRue was elected Treasurer, and Sharon Harrison was elected secretary. Board members are Missy Cutsforth, Martha Munkers, and Carrie Grieb. The South Morrow County Scholarship Trust was established several years ago to provide funds to grant scholarships to graduating seniors from Heppner and lone Concerns about Tippage Fee distribution High Schools. Letter to the Editor: Applications for this year’s scholarships are avail Morrow County voters will face an important issue able in the form o f a computer disk at both high schools, in the March election. The five cities in Morrow County have decided starting in March. Deadline to turn them in will be April that they are entitled to 75% o f the money generated by 15. licensing fees from the Finley Buttes landfill. Historically, this money, which in round numbers is about $1,000,000 per year, has been controlled by the County and used, in part, to help fund the road department, the county fair, extension service, neighborhood centers, According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s wildlife services, and others, with some back-filling o f National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures at items in the County’s general fund. Heppner averaged colder than normal during the month The County also has a process called the Needs and o f January. Issues Inventory, which is used to grant money directly to The average temperature was 31.3 degrees which cities and groups to help with specific projects. In 2007, was 3.0 degrees below normal. High temperatures aver $235,000 was granted in this process, also from the Finley aged 40.2 degrees, which was 2.1 degrees below normal. The highest was 55 degrees on the 4th. Low temperatures Buttess licensing fees. The cities, however have decided that they should averaged 22.4 degrees, which was 3.9 degrees below nor receive this money directly and disburse it themselves, mal. The lowest was 3 degrees, on the 21st. beginning with 25% o f the total, increasing to 50% the There were 27 days with the low temperature below second year, and going to 75% the third year. 32 degrees. There were 6 days when the high temperature I have several concerns with that approach. I feel stayed below 32 degrees. Precipitation totaled 1.68 inches during January, that the current Needs and Issues process is working fine. Secondly, two legal issues need to be addressed. The first which was 0.22 inches above normal. Measurable precipi is the question o f whether this election will even be bind tation -at least .01 inch- was received on 13 days with the ing on the County Court, since the contract is between the heaviest, 0.78 inches reported on the 28th. Snowfall totaled 8.6 inches with at least 1 inch of County and Finley Buttes Landfill Company, not between the cities and Finley Buttes. The second legal issue is snow reported on 2 days. The heaviest snowfall was 7.0 whether the cities have legal authority to disburse money inches reported on the 28th. The greatest depth o f snow' outside their boundaries, as they have promised to do to on the ground was 7 inches on the 28th. The outlook for February from NOAA’s Climate address rural needs and projects. Each city has proposed setting up some process Prediction Center calls for below normal temperatures and for disbursing its portion to needed projects. In Hepp above normal precipitation. Normal highs for Heppner ner’s case, they are proposing a committee comprised of during February are 47.1 degrees and normal lows are 29.4 three people from within the city limits and two from the degrees. The 30 year normal precipitation is 1.23 inches. The National Weather Service is an office of the surrounding rural area. As one o f the residents from that rural area, I am concerned with the three-to-two majority National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an o f urban residents. In fact, since the population in Mor agency o f the U.S. Commerce Department. row County is split 60 - 40, with 60% being rural and the minority o f 40% being urban, I am opposed to the minority Boardman DHS to hold foster and urban imposing their w ill on the majority, the rural citizens. I must wonder, also, how much o f the money would make adoptive parent classes Foster and Adoptive Parent Foundations classes it to rural areas. I believe that this money needs to stay with the will be held at the Boardman DHS office on March 21 County Court and the present system continued. I would far and 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for anyone interested in help rather trust three county commissioners elected by all the ing children in -need. This is a free class. To register call citizens o f the county to be fair than five city governments, 541-481-9482, ext. 224. none o f which represent me or any other rural residents. I think the cities’ proposal is a bad idea and is mo Divorces The Morrow County Circuit Court at the M.C. tivated not by fairness, as they claim, but by the prospect Courthouse in Heppner has released the following re o f more money to bail them out o f present difficulties. It comes down to whether you trust the County port: -January 23: Ronald LeRoy Jeffreys and Helen Court to continue to do the right thing, or whether you trust Mary Jeffreys. five cities with five different agendas to represent you. -January 23: Steven Dean Woods and Jeanine Kay Please, join me in voting “no” in March. Michael. Dan Brosnan Heppner NOAA issues monthly climate summary for Heppner ) Come join us to cef ebrate w ith \ JEAN ANN & K E N N Y TURNER 5 0 th ANNIVERSARY ( Saturday, February 9th • 7 -1 0 p.m. ) ) Heppner Elks Club j ) Hors d'oeuvres provided i a E< .spresso opeciai: Special: ocolafe Covered C lie r r ij Seattle C h oco late (new lastij flavor!) Ì Advertise with the Heppner Gazette-Times Ca\\ 676-9225 HEPPNER ELKS 358 676-9181 "Where Friends Meet” 142 North Main Thursday, February 7th Elks Ladies Night Mexican Night from 6 - 3 p.m. We have Valentine Carde, Candy, Jewelry and S tuffed Animale Parts, Repairs for Everything 750 Hermiston Ave., Suite 1 (next to Goodwill) 2 E 541-567-8138 • 866-567-8138 (toll free) ^5 M im j ' j D aiuj 217 North Main • Heppner Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426 Serving the Willow Creek Valley Heppner. Lexington. A lone We save 17 trees for each ton of recycled newspaper. If only / 00,000 people stopped their junk mail, we could save up to 150,000 trees annually. If a million people did this, we could save up to a million and a half trees. Morrow County Transfer Station Hours of Operation: Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 4:00. Always set an exam ple by not littering, no m atter where you are. Keep Morrow County Green.
