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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2008)
Commissioner candidates voice their opinions on Morrow County issues U n 7 v e « ^ ^ ; o7 aPer lib rary Eugene, OR 97403 VOL. 127 NO. 18 10 Pages Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Editor s Note: Voters will soon he receiving their ballots for the May election in the mail. There are two democratic candidates who have filed for the position o f C ounty C om m issioner Position I. The H eppner G azette-T im es a ske d the candidates. John Wenholz and Leann Rea, about their views fo r Morrow County. The questions and the can didate's answers are listed below. HG-T: W hat are the most important issues Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Health district approves nearly $9 million for 2008-09 proposed budget By April Sykes The Morrow County Health District Board ap proved a proposed budget o f nearly $9 million for the 2008-09 year at their regular meeting in Monday night in Lexington. The district anticipates $8,312,446 in reso u rces, not including property taxes. A nticipat ed property taxes in the amount o f $634,542 would bring total resources up to $8,946,988. Chief Financial Of ficer Nicole Mahoney told the board that she had based the anticipated tax revenues on inform ation received from Morrow County As sessor Greg Sweek, howev er, board Chair Larry Mills said that the anticipated tax revenues may be revised upwards, according to the latest inform ation he had received. The budget will be revised prior to adoption if necessary. M ahoney’s tax in formation was based on an estimated county assessed value o f $1,115,776,180 billed at a rate o f .0006050 per thousand. The gross col lectible amount o f $675,045 is expected to be reduced by $40,503 because o f tax compression, discounts and c o llectib les, resu ltin g in $634.542 in estimated col lectible taxes. Total expenditures for 2008-09 are anticipated at $9,097,331 which leaves the district in the red by $150,343. The district antici pates nearly $5.1 million in revenue from Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Hep pner with around $4.5 mil lion in expenditures. They anticipate $1.1 million in revenue from the Heppner clin ic, w ith $867,754 in expenditures; $586,326 in Home Health and Hospice revenue with $595,666 in expenditures; $332,320 in revenue from the Irrigon C linic w ith $293,358 in expenditures; $220,735 in revenue from the Boardman Ambulance with $244,602 in expenditures; $127,066 in revenue from the Irrigon Ambulance with $140,972 in expenditures. The Boardman clin ic, Columbia River Commu- nity Health Services, which is separate from the district and the recipient o f federal funds, does not contribute any revenue to the district. Instead, the district has in previous years made a con tribution to that clinic. The district also ex pects nearly $1 million in rev en u e d e d u ctio n s and bad debts and around $1.2 million in capital purchases for 08-09 In 2007-08 the dis trict adopted a $6,490,427 budget with $6,516,384 in expenditures for a $25,957 lo ss fo r th e year. T h at year the district received $914,000 in tax m onies, up considerably from next year’s tax revenue expecta tions. In 2006-07, the district adopted a $6,651,245 bud get with $941,456 received in taxes and $6,388,226 in total expenditures for a $263,019 gain for the year. In 2005-06, the district ad opted a $6,265,797 budget with $913,987 received in taxes and $5,8 0 1 ,9 6 6 in expenditures for a $463,831 gain. In 2004-05, however, -Continued on page Two A beautiful day for Little League facing Morrow County today? Wenholz: Some ol th e m o st important is s u e s I see facing Mor r o w County today are: a ttra c t ing fa m ily w age jobs to the C o u n t y , John Wenholz o n -g o in g issues in regards to Chemi cal Stockpile Em ergency P r e p a re d n e s s P ro g ra m (CSEPP), and creating car pooling/van pooling oppor tunities for South Morrow County residents. Rea: I think we have several major issues: The need o f family wage jobs; the lack o f communication; affordable transportation to jo b s; im provem ent o f county road system. HG-T: As a county commissioner w hat do you plan on doing about these issues? Wenholz: If re-elect ed, 1 will continue, (along with the other members of the court), to work closely with the Port o f Morrow to attract businesses that have family wage jobs. For CSEPP, I am chair o f the Oregon CSEPP Governing Board and also on a National Integrated Process le arn that is looking at how to deal w ith the issues of closeout o f the CSEPP program once the chemical weapons are through being incinerated at the Depot. I have been instrum ental in ensuring and will continue to ensure that the Army and FEMA provide the resources nec essary to ensure the safety o f the citizens o f our com munities. I have arranged for State Public Transit employ ees to meet with members of the Willow Creek Economic Development Committee to look at starting a car pool/ van pool program. Rea: I th in k that while we are and will con tinue to be an agriculture based county we also need to encourage the develop ment o f more family wage jobs that are not dependent on agriculture. This can be done by w orking closely with the Port o f Morrow, Willow Creek Valley Eco nomic Development group and ICABO. I would plan on attending their monthly meeting in an effort to stay appraised o f their activ ities and any potential develop ments. I feel today there is a lack o f communication be tween the various county de partments as well as a lack of communication between the suggested a sizable increase countv court and the public in the amount o f money that at Li e. 1 would encourage is placed into the Needs and Issues process. I would also regular like to see a plan developed m eetin g s so that if a community or an among entity requesting funds for a al l d e large project, a designated p a rtm e n t reserve fund could be dev el heads. We oped and held until adequate can only funds have accumulated to im p r o v e complete the project. our coun H G -T : Wh a t is ty if we all your opinion on the OHV wo r k i n g tow a r d s Leann Rea Park and the county’s in volvement in the park? the sam e Wenholz: The OHV goals. 1 would request that all com m issioner meeting Park is only one the three minutes be posted on the county parks and I am a county web-site. If the min stro n g s u p p o rte r o f the utes were made available, County Park System. The 1 would hope that the local OHV Park has been pre newspapers would then pub dominately funded through lish a brief recap. We need state funds. All o f our parks to continue working to re have helped increase tour solve transportation issues, ism in the county. especially with the rising Rea: I think this is a fuel prices. 1 commend the perfect example o f lack o f road department for the job communication. The park they have done with limited was purchased and oper resources. Now with the ates on grants and donated increase in funds with the labor and funds. Yes, there recommended transfer from are times when county em Tippage fees, 1 am sure more ployees are working there. improvement to our roads At these times their wages will be forthcoming. and benefits are being re H G -T: VVhat is imbursed by grants. There your opinion on the cur are also times when the em rent distribution of Tip- ployees are donating their time. This facility which page money? W enholz: 1 am a brings lots o f people into strong supporter o f the Needs our county for recreational and Issues process to dis purposes is not costing our perse Tippage fees. In 2007 taxpayers anything. 1 am we increased Tippage fees to sure the grocery store in be dispersed by Needs and Heppner as well as the ser Issues from $135,000.00 vice stations will tell you to $235,000.00. In 2008 they have seen an increase w e h a v e a p p r o p r ia te d in their businesses because $500,000.00 to be dispersed o f this activity. There was through the Needs and Is a time when deer and elk sues process. The remaining hunting drew large crowds Tippage fees are being spent into our local mountains, on programs to benefit the however, that is not the case anymore. 1 would like to see county as a whole. Rea: As the income more recreational sites and from this fund continues activities developed in our to grow. I think we need to county. H G -T : W h a t is address more o f our citizens concerns and the county your opinion/prediction does not need to retain as on the financial situation large a reserve as has been at the county? Do you ex pect surpluses, shortages held in the past. HG-T: Do you plan or the status quo in the on c h a n g in g a n y th in g years ahead? W enholz: At th is about the distribution? tim e our staff predicts a Please explain. Wenholz: As the pro shortfall for this next fiscal cess o f dispersing the Tip- year and after that become page Fees evolves ov er time more stable as projects in 1 am interested in forming the Enterprise Zone start a committee to look at the coming on the tax rolls. Rea: I believe that types o f projects/programs that are eligible to receive through continued hard work funds through the Needs and to bring new and varied in dustries into our county, Issues process. Rea: Yes, 1 want to some o f the larger compa see som e changes. As a nies coming out o f the en member o f the budget com terprise status and onto the mittee, we suggested to the tax roll, and the continued current county court that excellent w ork from the they develop a new crite various departments in the ria for the disbursement o f county to keep a close check funds through the Needs on their spending, that the -Continued on page Two and Issues process. We also lone principal/superintendent recommended for Hermiston job Bryn Browning, lone Community School principal superintendent, was recently recommended by Hermiston School Superintendent Fred Maiocco for the job o f assistant superintendent for educational services. Browning has been the principal/superintendent o f lone Community School for the past four years. The position o f 1 lerm- iston School District assistant superintendent for educational Saturday, April 26, was the opening day of the Little League season. Teams gathered in Heppner for a beautiful day of games. The opening pitch was thrown out by Bob Kilkenny on behalf of his son, Pat Kilkenny. Pat Kilkenny donated funds to the Heppner Little League program. Little League used the funds to purchase a new mower, new uniforms, and other much needed items. -Photo by David Sykes Brvn Brow nine services is currently held by Dr. Mark Mulvihill who will be leaving to take the job o f superintendent o f the Umatilla- M orrow Education Service District on July 1. The search for a replacement for Mulvi- hill’s position has taken place over the past three months. The Hermiston School B o ard wi l l c o n s id e r th e M aioeco’s recom m endation of Browning at its meeting on May 6. 1200 lb. Low-Profile Hydraulic Transmission Jack Has four adjustable load support arms that swivel, easily accessible release valve, four full swivel ball-bearing casters and a wide support base. Lowest Price of the Year: ONLY $449.00 ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 * 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 For farm equipment »tslt our web site it www megg net
