County Commissioner candidates visit
economic development group
Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library
University o f Oregon
'
Eugene, OR 97403
VOL. 127
NO. 15
12 Pages
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
By David Sykes
The Willow Creek
Valley Economic Develop
m ent G roup (W CV ED G )
invited the two candidates
for Morrow County Com
m issioner, John W enholz
and Leann Rea, to attend
their monthly meeting April
2 for discussion about the
candidates’ thoughts on eco
nomic development in South
Morrow County.
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Heppner Sewer Treatment Plant project completed
By Autumn Morgan
“ T h e p r o je c t is
complete,” stated Heppner
M ayor Les Faustian. The
Heppner Sewer Treatment
Plant project, which came
to an official end on Mon
day, April 7, has been in the
works since October 2007.
The old p ro p a n e
backup power generator was
replaced with a new diesel
generator. The new g en
erator will allow the sewer
treatment plant to operator
for a lengthy period o f time
Pictured L-R are members of the Heppner Public Works crew:
if the power is out.
Brian Harmon, Chad Doherty, Randy Sample, Dan Doyle, and
-Continued on page Six Robert Whalen. -Photo by Autumn Morgan
Health district to put levy before
voters in November; awards low bid
for long-term care remodel at hospital
By April Sykes
The Morrow County
Health D istrict Board, at
th e ir regular m eeting in
H eppner M onday night,
voted to send a bond issue
to the voters this November.
Board members agreed that
the bond was necessary to
keep the district viable and
to continue to provide up-to-
date medical care for district
patrons.
“ We need the levy
to maintain services,” said
board C hair Larry M ills.
District CEO Victor Vander
Does added that he was
concerned that the district
would have to look at pos
sibly reducing staffing if the
bond does not pass.
The board approved
a 39 cent per thousand bond
proposal over five years,
which would cost a home
Cast members vote to give
donations to hospital program
Sheridan Tarnasky, member of the cast of "From Cenacle
to Calvary;” written by Father ( Jerry Condon, presented a
check for $1,005.25 to Victor Vander Does, CEO of Pioneer
Memorial Hospital, for the long term swing bed program.
The money came from freewill donations collected during
the performances of the play. Community cast members
voted to donate the money to the swing bed program. -Photo
by Autumn Morgan
owner w ith a $ 100,000 home
$39 per year, for example.
The district has for
mulated a wish list o f items
to be funded by the pro
posed levy in fiscal years
2010-2014, but Vander Does
and C hief Financial Officer
Nicole Mahoney stress that
not everything on the list
will be able to be funded,
even if the levy passes.
Possible items to be
funded over the length o f
the levy include: a $350,000
subsidy for the Boardman
c lin ic , C o lu m b ia R iv er
C o m m u n ity H ealth S er
vices, which a federally sub
sidized clinic not affiliated
with MCHD; a one-and-a-
half time paramedic and a
full-time EMT with salary
and benefits for Boardman,
estim ated at $761,966; a
half-tim e param edic and
full-time EMT with salary
and benefits for Irrigon at
$416,192; a building expan
sion and a digital x-ray for
the Irrigon Clinic, which is
operated by the district, for
$272,500; electronic medi
cal records softw are and
hardw are for the d istrict
for $50,000; a CT scanner
replacement for $100,000
for a used machine; and the
-Continued on page Six
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Following are ques jobs to other businesses that and to back fill the budget. 1
tions asked by WCVEDG need higher skill sets. 1 have am sure there are some other
and the responses from the been working on van pool Departments that received
two candidates.
ing and car pooling plans to these funds, but I can't recall
WCVEDG Please help workers get from the them at this time. I think that
t e l l us y o u r
South end o f
all funds that
thoughts/ position
the county to
are not needed
on economic de
the jobs in the
to backfill the
velopment efforts
North end.
b u d g e t, and
in Morrow Co. Do
W C -
assure a rea
you differentiate
VEDG: What
sonable end
Community Devel
role should the
ing fund bal
opment from Eco
County Com
ance should be
nom ic D evelop
missioners play
made available
ment i.e. commu
in economic de
for worthw hile
nity infrastructure Leann Rea
velopment and/ John Wenholz
projects coun
and services from
or community
ty wide. 1 think
job creation?
development efforts?
that within the next two or
REA : The Port o f
REA: I believe the three years there should be
Morrow is and has taken the C o u n ty C o m m issio n e rs enough of the larger projects
lead on Economic Develop should alw ays be on the that are currently in the En
ment. Particularly in North lookout for new businesses terprise Zones going on to
Morrow Co., but that is not that are interested in coming the tax roll that the County
to say they have ignored to our communities. That will not require any o f these
South Morrow County. Ex w ould include w hile a t funds to assure an ending
amples o f their efforts are tending meetings w ith other fund balance. At that time,
1) The installation o f the Counties, they talk up the 1 feel the bulk of the money
water system for the Emert assets of our communities. from tippage fees should be
Addition in lone. 2) The in 1 further believe that the going to the communities.
stallation o f a large amount County should be willing 1 further feel we need to
o f the water system upgrade to step forward and offer tweak the way the funds are
in Lexington. 3) The transfer funding (loans or grants) to divided and allocated.
o f ow nership and ground allow leverage for obtaining As to the Equity Fund, to
preparation for the Assisted grants for companies that the best o f my know ledge,
Living Facility in Heppner. are interested in coming into to date none o f these funds
4) The attempt to restart the our area.
have been spent on any proj
Co-Generation Plant at the
W E N H O L Z : We ect. As a Budget Committee
old Kinzua Mill Site, as well need to find a little money Member, I can state that we
as the numerous attempts to to su p p o rt an econom ic (the citizen m em bers) o f
site other businesses at the development person. There the budget committee have
site. Currently, the site is be are four people in this room strongly urged the County
ing used by OSU Extension, that our on the budget com Court to get some o f this
OSP and DMV as well as at mittee so we should be able money out to prospective
least four other entities.
businesses. While I do not
to accomplish that.
Having said that, 1 could and
W C V E D G : There believe fly by night projects
would support an individual are a number o f county should be funded, 1 do be
that was partly funded by the revenue sources that are lieve that financially sound
County and partly funded identified for economic de projects should be able to
by the Willow Creek Valley velopment purposes, at least access these funds without
com m unities, to work for one (Video Lottery) that begging.
the economic development is restricted fo r economic
W EN H O LZ: I be
o f Heppner, lone, and Lex development exclusively. lieve the video lottery (the
ington. I believe that if such O ther dedicated county county receives money from
a person were to be hired, revenue sources are more the state from video lottery)
they would need to answer broadly interpreted to be needs to go to an economic
directly to the Chair/Presi- used for "community bene development person. 1 have
dent o f the Willow Creek fit", (Tippagefees). There is been helping w ith a van
Valley Economic Develop also a fund that is used as a pooling program . Gas is
ment Group and not to the revolving loan fund (Equity expensive and people would
County Court.
Fund). Are you aware how be able to get to jobs in the
Part 2) Yes, 1 differentiate those dollars are currently north. We are not going to
Community Development being spent? What portion use county funds to keep it
from Economic D evelop o f the revenue do you feel going, but only seed money
ment. Although, 1 believe should be expended each to get it underway. As far as
E conom ic D ev elo p m en t year? For what types o f the equity fund $ 150,000 has
can not occur it adequate projects or activities:
been used from the fund. It
infrastructure is not in place.
REA: While I haven't re is not a grant program. Mor
During the time, 1 worked viewed the budget decisions row Development needed
in Irrigon the city was un since last April, when we $50,000 to leverage one half
der a restraint from further last met, I believe some of million dollars. We loaned
construction until the new the Lottery Money is used to them that a no interest to get
sewer system was in place finance the County Fair, and those funds. The Tippage fee
and fully functional. During some goes to the Planning had a $1 million carryover
that time I had numerous Office and if 1 remember this year, but next year you
individuals come into the correctly, som e o f those will not see that. There could
office seeking to subdivide funds went to OSU experi be a short term increase
their property, only to learn ment station for crop science in the amount o f garbage
that no additional homes research. All o f these funds coming into Finley Buttes
could be sited until the in should be expended each Landfill. It will not double,
frastructure was in place. So year.
but there could be a lot more
while I see the difference, Tippage fees w ere used coming in.
I feel they also go hand in for the (needs and issues)
WCV EDG: Should
hand.
program, OSU Extension, the County Commission be
W ENHOLZ: With the Neighborhood Center in more or less pro-active in
out development our com Heppner, the Irrigon Board- local development activi
m unities cannot survive. man Emergency Center, the ties? For example helping
We need family wage jobs. Wildlife control unit, the lone. Lexington, and Hep
The Port o f Morrow is the Soil and Conservation De pner capitalize on the wind
econom ic en g in e in the partment. the Watermaster. farm construction projects
county and they are moving the fund that the C ount\ or the potential internet
-Continued on page Six
away from agriculture type retains for special requests.
AT THE GREEN FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER:
Super Sandals & Muck Clods Clearance Sale!
Buy one pair, get second pair 1 /2 Price
Buy two pairs, set third pair free!
M orrow County Grain G rowers Green F eed & S eed
’
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)