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.
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