TWO • Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, Apnl 16, 2008
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
Published weekl) and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner,
Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner. Oregon
Office at 188 W Willow Street Telephone (541) 676-9228 Fax (541) 676-9211.
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subscriptions
David S ykes.................................................................................................... Publisher
Autumn Morgan ............................................................................................... Editor
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Morrow County School District hears
biodegradable food tray proposal
-Continued from page One O ther options included a
classes.
pre-Labor Day start with
two weeks at Christmas; a
post-Labor Day start with
1-1/2 weeks at Christmas
and a pre-Labor Day start
with 1-1/2 days at Christ
mas. Option A was over
whelmingly approved in a
staff survey. While the board
unanimously approved Op
tion A, board member Bar
ney Lindsay argued that
parents should be surveyed
to determine their prefer
ence. “We’re elected by the
patrons,” he said. “After all,
we are serving them and
their children.” The board
subsequently discussed the
difficulty of conducting such
a survey. A staff survey is
mandated by contract.
-accepted a resigna
tion from Forrest McKin-
nis from the Heppner High
School boys’ basketball ex
tra duty coaching position.
-approved appoint
ing Lindsay as an Oregon
School Board Association
Legislative Policy Commit
tee representative.
-scheduled a work
session to deal with budget
issues at 6 p.m., prior to the
Boardman town hall meet
ing planned for Monday,
A pril 21, at the Port o f
Morrow.
-heard the follow
ing announcements: OSBA
spring regional m eeting,
Blue M ountain C om m u
nity College Student Union
building, April 15, 6 p.m.;
Boardman town hall meet
ing, Port of Morrow, April
21,7 p.m.; Irrigon town hall
m eeting, Stokes Landing
Senior Center, April 28, 7
p.m.; first budget meeting,
d istrict office, May 5, 7
p.m.; next board meeting,
Irrigon High School, May
12, 7 p.m.; Heppner town
hall meeting, Heppner El
ementary School, May 19,
7 p.m.
-held an executive
session to deal with person
nel and legal issues.
~
Letters to the Editor ~
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the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under
“Card o f Thanks” at a cost o f $10.
Why 1 voted “no” on Senate Bill 10
Dear Editor,
Citizens have likely read news reports o f local government officials protesting recent changes to Oregon’s
ethics laws. The new law requires all local officials, most o f who serve without pay, to disclose personal information
about their sources o f income and the names o f their family members, including their spouse and children.
City councils, county boards, and planning commissions in 25 cities in Northeast Oregon fall under this new
law. Understandably, many people are resigning from their positions rather than having to publicly share personal
details about their private lives.
Last year, 1 predicted that this new law, also known as Senate Bill 10, would threaten the ability o f citizens in
Eastern Oregon to participate in city councils and volunteer commissions. Unfortunately, I was right.
1 support tough ethics requirements for state elected officials, such as myself. However, I don’t believe the
state should discourage honest, law abiding citizens from serving in their communities. This is why 1 voted “no” on
Senate Bill 10.
During the Senate Bill 10 debate, I worked to pass an alternative version that would have protected local of
ficials and volunteers from these strict reporting requirements. My alternative legislation would have subjected state
officials to strict gift limits, more frequent reporting requirements and more expensive penalties for ethics violations.
The majority party rejected my efforts, and instead passed legislation that is now threatening civic participation across
Oregon.
During the 2009 legislative session, 1 will be introducing legislation that creates a new two-tiered system for
public servants. The first tier would retain the tougher standards for legislators and other state officials. The second
tier would include practical accountability measures for local government officials and volunteers, but would prevent
the mass exodus we are witnessing today.
Again, 1 believe we need strong ethics laws to assure accountability and transparency. However, the Legis
lature can’t expect to increase confidence in government while it is imposing unreasonable barriers to local public
service.
As always, 1 appreciate the opportunity to serve as your State Representative.
Rep. Greg Smith
State Representative
House District 57
Transparency is the price of admission
Oregonians deserve to know whether decisions made on their behalf benefit the decision-makers
The entire planning commission o f Elgin resigned the other day. So did four planning commissioners in
Maupin. Some kind of virus seems to be racing through the volunteer corps that governs rural Oregon. We suspect
it’s a case o f cold feet.
These people -- including some stalwarts o f public service -- quit in the face o f new ethics requirements that
kick in next month. By April 15, they would have had to file statements identifying all sources -- though not actual
amounts -- o f any income over $1,000, plus those o f close relatives or members o f their households. The disclosure
forms go on to address property holdings, honoraria and certain types o f debt and investments.
Whoa, Nellie, where are we here: Nazi Germany? Not quite.
Return with us now to those thrilling days o f yesteryear — Watergate. In the wake o f the scandal that brought
down President Nixon, citizens across the country began to ask more and more pointed questions about public officials
and the things — not all o f them pretty -- that they do. In this national movement, Oregon was a pioneer.
In 1974, voters here passed a ballot measure to form an Ethics Commission. In what may be a first — and a last
— in Oregon history, communities that didn’t much like the sound of the new law were allowed to exempt themselves.
Almost 100 communities and six counties opted out.
The ethics law has often been tweaked — and regularly been circumvented — ever since. Last year, legislators
finally made long overdue substantive changes to it. They put strict limits on gifts to public officials. They increased
fines for ethics violations. And they banned certain kinds o f entertainment. No more luaus with lobbyists.
Then, capping what turned out to a watershed year for clean government in Oregon, they swept into the system
all those communities that had been left out for 33 years.
We recognize that much civic business in Oregon is conducted by volunteers. Nowhere is this more true than
in small, rural communities. And w e’re wary o f any change that might inhibit volunteers from fully participating in
decision-making affecting their communities. But we hope these people can come to understand that the benefits o f
helping grow their communities far outweigh any costs o f filling out a six-page form.
Yes, these will be public documents. But the new law does not require them to be posted on the Internet until
2010, and there is talk o f tweaks by the 2009 Legislature that might allow for redaction of certain information, such
as home addresses.
Helping to make civic decisions is indeed a public service; it is also a privilege. And transparency is the price
o f admission. Oregonians, all o f us, have an abiding interest in government being as open as possible. That’s because
when people are making decisions, their neighbors need to know whether those decision-makers are in any way
benefiting personally.
It’s that simple. And it’s that right.
Reprinted from the Monday, March 31 edition o f The Oregonian newspaper
In other business,
the board:
-approved a variety
of policies with the excep
tion o f policy concerning
cyber-bullying, which will
be modified and presented
to the board at the next
meeting. The board agreed
to expand verbiage con
cerning cyber-bullying to
include activity conducted
in the hom e, such as on
the internet or cell phones,
which could harass or harm
students or staff and “disrupt
the educational process.”
-heard from B ur
rows that he and other ad
m inistrators are m eeting
to tackle problem s in the
way the state reim burses
schools for educating stu
dents. Burrows said this was
o f utmost importance for
MCSD, since many MCSD
students leave for extended
periods for fam ily h o li
days and miss a substantial
amount o f school. He said
that the district loses a great
deal of money because, ac
cording to the state funding
Letter to the Editor:
formula, these students can
This is a letter in support o f John Wenholz re-election as Morrow County Commissioner, and to ask both
not be fully counted. Neither
Democrats and Republicans to join me in voting for John.
are districts reimbursed for
When I served on the Morrow County Court, I witnessed first-hand John’s energy and dedication to serve the
summer school and credit
people o f Morrow County as their Commissioner. I actively support his re-election.
recovery classes, he said.
John is a tireless worker in many areas, including Public Works, Public Safety, Public Transportation, Economic
“ If w e’re responsible for
Development, County Taxes, and Budget. He supports economic development and family-wage jobs, van pooling
educating kids, then we
for south county residents to north county jobs, and equitable Tippage Fee distribution. He staunchly defends equal
should get funding,” said
treatment for all citizens o f Morrow County in all situations, and does not hesitate to take an unpopular position if
Burrows.
he knows it is right.
-approved 2008-09
Under his leadership, our public transportation has become a showpiece in the state o f Oregon. In the field of
school calendar Option A
public safety, John was instrumental in Morrow County’s CSEP Program becoming a national model o f efficiency.
which calls for a post-Labor
He is currently chair o f the CSEPP Governing Board, as well as their delegate to the National Close Out Program,
Day start and a two-week
and member o f the Local Re-Use Authority (LRA). These positions assure Morrow County will have a strong voice
Christmas break. Under this
as the chemical munitions destruction program winds down and UMCD property is returned to the two counties. Loss
option, teachers will begin
of John’s energy and dedication to Morrow County, as well as his institutional knowledge o f these critical programs
work on August 25 with
would be a serious loss to our county.
students beginning Septem
In about three weeks, your ballots for the primary election will be arriving in the mail. Please vote for John if
ber 2, Christmas break from
you have a democratic ballot. I am also asking all republicans to join me in writing John Wenholz name in on their
December 18 to January 5,
republican ballot (there is no republican running). This will help assure John serves another term as Morrow County
students ending Wednesday,
Commissioner, keeping his energy, integrity, and knowledge working for Morrow County in the coming four years.
June 10, and teachers end
ing June 12. Administrators
Ray Grace
had previously said that a
Heppner
post-Labor Day start and a
longer Christmas break will
result in more class time for
students whose families take
extended holiday trips and
consequently will result in
more funding for the district.
opment Specialist, will be
Morrow County Clerk Bobbi Childers has released
The C ity o f H ep structural deficiencies.
“We leave probably $40,000 the following report o f marriage licenses issued:
pner, with the assistance
T h e se f u n d s are discussing the program at
on the table when we take a
-April 11: Luis Javier Diaz, 29, Boardman and o f Greater Eastern Oregon made available through a the April 14th City Council
short break,” said Burrows. Gabriela Rodriguez, 23, Boardman.
Development Corporation housing rehabilitation loan meeting in further detail.
(GEODC) is announcing the program that the C ity o f Interested parties should call
availability o f housing reha Heppner implemented in the 1-877-351-9030 to request
AT MCGG GREEN FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER:
bilitation ftinds for qualified mid- 1990’s. Funds origi additional information and/
hom eow ners in Heppner. nated through the Oregon or sign up for the program
uouA.
A u m m e s i!
These funds are available to Housing & Community Ser as funds are limited and ap
qualified low-income hom vices Department through plications will be processed
eowners, at zero interest, for Community Development on a first-come first-serve
basis. Applications will be
a deferred payment loan up Block Grant funds.
K a r e n K e n d a l l , received through April 30.
to a maximum o f $25,000,
to correct health, safety and GEODC Economic Devel-
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
Support for MC commissioner re-election
Marriages
Q el
4fa>ut.
t d a e l '
ROTOTILLER & LAWN THATCHERS
RENTALS AVAILABLE NOW
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)
City of Heppner announces the availability of housing
rehabilitation funds for qualified homeowners