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.