Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2008)
n u a n c i v j a t c u c * i i i i i c d , r i c a l i c i , v / iu y u n »» c u i i w u a y , j u i y Boardman clinic asks $70,000 a year for five years from Morrow County Health District By April Sykes Ed Glenn, represent ing Columbia River Com munity Health Services (CRCHS) of Boardman, asked the Morrow County Health District (MCHD) for $70,000 each year start ing this year and continu ing for the next five years. Glenn, current Boardman mayor and former MCHD Board member, presented an intergovernmental agree ment laying out the financial agreement between the city of Boardman and the health district that the CRCHS Board wanted the district to approve. The health district had previously paid the Boardman health care clinic a stipend each year, but had not made the payment recently as the three-year contract between the two entities had expired, accord ing to MCHD. The lack of payment prompted the visit to the MCHD regular meet ing in Boardman Monday night by members of the clinic’s board. John Prag, also a former member of MCHD, told the health district board that they should pay the annual stipend to the clinic because Boardman carries the health district in terms of tax monies. He also noted that Heppner taxpayers were in compression and would not face increased taxes if the levy passed. “You won’t have to pay a dime,” said Prag. MCHD Chair Larry Mills responded by saying that some Boardman taxpay ers are also in compression. MCHD CEO Victor Vander Does later noted that only around 10 percent of the district’s income is from taxes. In exchange for the $70,000 yearly subsidy, Mills asked Glenn and Prag for the support of the Board- man community in the dis trict’s upcoming levy. The health district board made it clear that the district would not be able to give the clinic the money if the levy did not pass. Clinic representa tives also made it clear that if the clinic did not get the money, they were not so inclined to offer their sup port for the health district. MCHD also asked CRCHS to consider sending their lab work to Pioneer Memorial. CRCHS reps said they were happy with their current lab provider, Interpath, but said they would discuss it with their board. Despite their differences, however, the two entities agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to support each other. Rollins earns promotion at Bank of Eastern Oregon The previous stick ing point for the health district was that the Board- man clinic board refused to divulge its financial infor mation. Glenn told the board Monday night that the clinic, which is a private non-profit organization, is not required to divulge its finances and would not do so because the clinic board was earlier subject to “public ridicule” over the salaries and wages paid its employees. “Our fear is that full disclosure of financial statements will be misinterpreted,” said Glenn. Vander Does remarked that the Boardman clinic may be in a better financial posi tion than the health district, which will have to survive a year without additional tax monies, that is if the levy does indeed pass. The Boardman clin ic, a “federally qualified health clinic”, receives an annual renewable federal grant and they compete with other entities for an ad ditional federal grant every three years. The clinic relies on matching funds, such as the MCHD donation, to assist in qualifying for the federal grants, which have targeted the migrant popula tion. If they lose donations, they could lose their fed eral grants, which amount to around $475,000 a year. The city of Boardman has pledged $20,000 yearly to the clinic. M indy B inder, CRCHS executive director, assured the health district that the clinic is doing well and has greatly increased the percentage of “underserv ed” patients from around 10 per cent to 37 percent. She also said that the clinic has built up a three-month financial reserve. They employ two physicians and two physi cian’s assistants, in addition to other staff, and serve the Boardman area. Clinic representa tives said that they planned to build a new clinic near Windy River Elementary school in Boardman us ing loans, grants and fund raising projects. They are currently selling inscribed bricks to raise money for the new clinic. Also at the meet ing Vander Does said that workers are in the process of renovating the hospital to accommodate long-term patients with demolition well under way. In other business the board: -approved a 3.8 percent increase for union workers; -approved pur- Morrow Wheeler Behavioral Health changes name to the addition of Gilliam County, Morrow Ed Rollins, assis wife, Tricia, BEO’s Hepp Wheeler Due Behavioral Health has changed their business ner branch manager, name to Community Counseling tant vice president The change live in lone and are went into effect on Tuesday, July Solutions. and commercial 1. raising two young loan officer, was Except for the addition of Gilliam County to boys, Taylor and the program, services, staff and locations promoted to vice will not be Bryce. president of the changing. The location of the Gilliam County offices “Ed contin will also remain the same. bank. ues to tackle some Rol l i ns For more information call the Heppner office of our largest and at 676-9161. joined the bank in most complex rela February of 2004 tionships. He is pri Public meeting for a potential after working for Ed Rollins marily responsible two different lend for our participation Boardman Urban Renewal District ing institutions in A potential new urban renewal district in the vicin Montana. He is a graduate relationships and handles of Montana State University things very professionally,” ity of downtown Boardman will be discussed at a public meeting at Boardman City Hall, July 16, 2008 at 6 p.m. in Bozeman. He and his said George KofFler. A map of the proposed area is available at City Hall or at www.cityofboardman.com on the City Council page. As currently envisioned, the urban renewal area boundary encompasses approximately 164 acres in the area to the south of 1-84 freeway and on both sides of Main Street. The meeting will focus on the process of forming an urban renewal area and potential urban renewal proj ects in the area. Urban renewal consultant Elaine Howard along with City Manager, Karen Pettigrew and Commu nity Development Director, Barry Beyeler, will provide information. Urban renewal allows for the use of tax increment financing to pay for urban renewal projects. Tax increment revenues, the amount of property taxes generated by the increase in total assessed values in the urban renewal area from the time it is first established, are to fund investments in the urban renewal area. Damages caused by a storm that rolled through on Sunday Urban renewal investments can include construc night are adding up significantly. According to Tom Wolff of Co tion or improvement of streets, utilities, parks, and other lumbia Basin Electric, approximately $300,000 worth of damage public facilities. has resulted from the storm. The main objective of the Boardman urban renewal Heavy winds took down power lines throughout the county. Also, power was turned off on Monday afternoon for approxi area would be to provide infrastructure improvements to mately three hours in Heppner, Lexington, lone and Olex while facilitate development in the area. electrical crews worked on a transmission pole. The above photo For additional information, contact Barry Beyeler, was taken of damages sustained during the storm on June 27. Community Development Director, City of Boardman at 541 -481 -9252 or bbeyeler@cityofboardman.com. Damages from weekend storm adding up ✓ chase of a walk-in bathtub for $14,616, which will make patient bathing safer and easier for patients and staff. -approved p u r chase of an endoscope for $146,935.25, which will allow a new physician. Dr. Nichols, who plans to start employment with the district in July, to be able to perform endoscopies (colon screen ings). -approved a contract with Murray’s Drug for pharmacy services. -learned that the district ended May with a $43,108 loss. Vander Does told the board that it was actually a very good month with $484,423 in gross pa tient revenue, but the district had to pay $ 178,000 back to Medicare. He says that after adjustments the Medicare payback amount is expected to be lowered to around $120,000. Tax revenue for the month was $81,614. -a p p ro v e d the 2008-09 proposed budget for $9,096,988 with $8,462,446 in resources excluding taxes and $634,542 in tax rev enues. -viewed the follow ing report: Pioneer Me morial Hospital had four admissions, swing bed had three admissions, 13 were admitted for observation; hospital respite had one ad mission; 470 were admitted as outpatients with 71 total emergency room encounters; 1520 lab tests; 117 x-ray procedures; 45 CT scans; 29 EKG tests; one Sigmoid procedure; 19 respiratory therapy procedures; Pioneer Memorial Clinic in Heppner had 440 patient visits with 20 new patients, 59 seen by a nurse and 12 no-show s; Ir- rigon Clinic had 188 patient visits with 32 new patients, 27 seen by a nurse and four no-shows; Heppner Ambu lance had 25 page-outs with 23 transports for $23,899 in revenue: Boardman Ambu lance had 34 page-outs w ith 16 transports for $ 17,346 in revenue; Irrigon Ambulance had 22 page-outs w ith 11 transports for $9,719 in revenue; there was one life- flight; Home Health had 174 visits; hospice had three admissions; pharmacy had 1424 drug doses for $49,356 in revenue. -learned that Palmer Roofing was the only bid to replace the Pioneer Memori al Hospital roof for $62,725. The board indicated they would like more than one bid for the project. -held an executive session to discuss personnel issues. Grand marshals announced for lone Fourth of July celebration Sixty years ago the the fireworks not going returning World War II vet- straight up, so Rod Went- erans came home worth (a welder to lone and started in lone), and Walt our fireworks cel Corley, who worked ebration. Many of for Rod made a these men had just steel tube, welded returned from the it to a wheel, to war and were excit use the next year. ed to be home and The first year fire wanted to celebrate works cost $100, our country’s vic Ernie McCabe the group collected tory and the return $200 so had a start to normal life. They toward the second deserve special recogni year’s fireworks. tion, many of these 19 ser- In honor of all 19 vicemen participated in the veterans, the city of lone fireworks for many, wishes to honor many years. those that are no longer with us and Bob Riet- the eight of the re mann. Bob Hoskins, maining veterans and Jim Barnett were will be grand mar the original lighters shals for 2008. Jim of the fireworks. Barnett, Melvin Bob DeSpain, Joel Brady, Bob Hosk Engleman, Gene ins, Bob DeSpain, Normwell, and Jiggs Bob DeSpain Ernie McCabe, Fisk carried the fire Don Peterson, Ted works. Collecting donations from the crowd Peterson, and Ralph Smith. were Rod Wentworth, Mel This will be a great tribute to vin Brady, Ted Palmateer, the Fourth of July celebra Ted Peterson, Don Peterson, tion and to those w ho made Pinkie Allyn, Ernie Mc this an annual tradition. The Cabe, Walt Corley, Eldon lone American Legion Post Padberg, Don McElligott, is providing the float and Ralph Smith, and Harry will have the Honor Guard at the beginning of the pa Normwell. They almost had an rade. The parade will begin accident that first year with at 1 p.m. on Main Street. July Chamber Luncheon meeting schedule There will not be a Chamber Luncheon meeting Boardman Council this week due to 4th of July weekend. The entity report would normally take place this week has been moved meeting schedule update to that Thursday, July 10. There w ill also not be a meeting on lü CALEDONIAN GAMES JULY 12 AND 13 • CITY PARK • ATHENA * Featuring FREE entertainment by The Golden Bough Dancing, piping, storytelling, Celtic harp, pipe bands, food and friends... __f It'4 îc*11c fU fatxy *if The City of Boardman Council meeting for July Thursday, July 24th. has been changed. The meetings have been rescheduled Effective with the July 10th lunch, price for lunch to July 22 at 7 p.m. will now be $9. RSVP’s will be taken through Wednes day so an approximate number can be known, but if your Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Drake schedule opens up and you can make the meeting and and Mr. and Mrs. David Gunderson haven't been able to RVSP, come anyway. would like to invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Nicole Drake and Derek James Gunderson on July 5, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Drake Ranch on Sandhollow Road , Heppner There mil he a reception to follow with dinner and live music BEO Bancorp leads earnings releases BEO Bancorp, parent company of Bank of Eastern Oregon, announced that in the recently published D.A. Davidson Oregon Bank quarterly report for 3/31/08 for all community banks headquartered in Oregon, that BEO Bancorp ranked first for all banks in this group for Return on Average Equity at 22.8% for the first quarter of 2008. “We are pleased that our organization has achieved this level of profitability,” said President and CEO, E. George Koffler. “Our employees continue to add value to our stockholders’ investment with great results," he added. For more information on the company or to access Internet banking, visit the website at http://www.beobank. com.
