FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times. Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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Letters to the Editor ~
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also requesting that >ou provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters
may not be libelous. The GT resenes the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks”
at a cost of $10.
Town of Lexington shares proposed protocol revisions
To the editor and Lexington residents:
Once again, there has been a letter sent to the
Heppner Gazette-Times regarding Lexington Town
government that is full of inaccuracies. We would like to
address some of those inaccuracies here.
The actual first draft, which has not yet been
adopted by Lexington Tow n Council, of the new public
comment protocol revisions, is printed below and is not
what was in the previous letter.
Issues that you would like to discuss, with the City
government members, at the current month s Town Coun
cil meeting, have to be submitted in writing 4S business
hours prior to the meeting, on a public comment form,
which is available, free o f charge at Town Hall Those
issues, that legitimately pertain to Town business, will
then, as time constraints allow, be placed on the agenda
fo r next month's meeting Speakers will he limited to three
minutes, unless extended by the Mayor.
There will still be a place on each meeting agenda
fo r "other public comment " fo r persons wishing to ad
dress the City government regarding matters that are not
on the current Town Council meeting agenda. Speakers
will be limited to three minutes, unless extended by the
Mayor Action, regarding issues that legitimately pertain
to Town business, will not be taken at this current meeting.
The City government members, however, after hearing
from interested citizens, may, at their discretion, place
items under new business on a future agenda. Those
people that do not respect, and do not follow this protocol
will be warned once that they are out o f order. The second
time that they are out o f order, regarding this protocol,
they will be asked to leave the meeting.
We are not taking away anyone’s right to speak,
or state their opinions, at council meetings. We are not re
quired by state, county or city laws, or statutes, to include
any community input in Lexington’s Town Council meet
ings. The community input section of our meetings are
included strictly as a courtesy to the community members.
What we are doing is simply revising the protocol so we
can eliminate any yelling, fighting, or time-consuming
disruptions during meetings. These protocol changes will
allow the Council to conduct Town business in a timely
manner, and are for everyone’s benefit.
The Town Recorder does not make “other ar
rangements” with people who are behind on their water
bills. A letter of delinquency is sent out, stating that pay
ment arrangements are allowed. If the bill is not paid, or
payment arrangements made, and followed, the water
is turned off. This procedure is per the Town’s water
ordinance.
The statement that all of the Town’s revenue
comes from water service is inaccurate. The audit of the
Town’s finances for the 2007-2008 fiscal year states that
water service was just under 50% of the Town’s total
revenue. The other 50% of the Town’s revenue comes
from “a few other small incidentals.” Anyone wishing to
obtain a copy of the audit may request one at Lexington
Town Hall.
The opinions regarding the monthly financial
statements are also inaccurate and indicate a lack of
knowledge as to how a municipality actually operates.
Some months will have greater expenses than revenues.
Some months will have greater revenues than expenses.
These numbers wax and wane, but always balance in
Rietmann graduates
from Pacific University
Shanna Rietmann of Heppner graduated from
Pacific University in May with a bachelor’s degree in
biology.
More than 200 bachelor’s degrees were awarded
at this year’s commencement ceremonies, which were
held in the Pacific Athletic Center.
CLOSED MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 7
Wedding Tables
C h ris Peck &
A n g e la M u n h e rs
S a tu rd a y , S e p te m b e r 5th
L a cey M a tt e s o n
&
S a m M a c k e n z ie
A d a m N e iffe r &
L auren S te nder
S a tu rd a y; N ovem ber 2 1 s t
Mltf/HUJ'J DjOU)
217 North Main • Happnar • Phone 876-9158 • Floral 676-9426
Serving Heppner Lexington A lone
Letter to the editor:
1 regret our Morrow County School System finds
it necessary to cut programs for this 2009-2010 school
year.
I refer specifically to the reducing of the Heppner
High School Drama Club presentations from two to one.
1 am grateful one remains.
Twice, 1 sat on the drama audition panel as a
community representative. I was impressed how much
change evolved from audition time to performance nights.
I could see and hear increased confidence to express one
self, speak up with clarity, new skills learned in music,
dance, stage preparation/settings/changes, wardrobe/
make-up and relating to one another beyond their day-
to-day "teen talk.”
The audience support included siblings, parents,
grandparents, other family members, friends and people
from the community coming for a night out for entertain
ment.
Although there are other extra-curriculum activi
ties; drama offers an opportunity for growth, exposure,
and achievement for those not involved in such other
activities, and/or desire to experience an additional di
mension to their high school experience.
Our community is fortunate to have a willing,
highly skilled drama coach in Jodi Chapa. She offers an
experience with responsibility for cast members that can
undergird them if they opt to participate in higher level
productions in college and elsewhere.
I sincerely request the re-instatement of the sec
ond drama presentation to be considered.
Carolyn M. Willey
Heppner
No creative arts makes Heppner a
second rate school
To the editor:
When we lived in Medford we took our two
young sons to high school plays. After we moved to Hep
pner we bought reserved seat tickets to the Heppner High
plays so we could sit in the front row. That was the begin
ning of life-long enjoyable entertainment for two young
boys. One of our sons, his wife and two other couples are
attending a dinner comedy this weekend.
High school plays are an important part of nearly
every community. They compliment athletic events for
some of us and are an enjoyable event for those who
don’t attend athletic events. A fall play and a spring play
keep those of us who like those kinds of cultural events
entertained.
It was truly saddening to learn that the drama
program has been severely reduced and the art program
has been cut from our schools. That leaves Heppner with
no creative arts program and that makes us a second rate
school. I believe we should support our creative arts, not
reduce them.
Barbara Hayes
Heppner
Health district approves payment
of state health insurance tax
-Continued from Page ONE
ments to the vehicles. The
board concurred that while
nothing may be wrong with
the decals in question, it
was the perception of non
professionalism that they
were concerned about. The
board was also concerned
that the vehicles had no
signage indicating that they
vehicles were owned by
the district. The board has
learned that the vehicles
now have decals identifying
them as Morrow County
Health District owned and
some decals have been re
moved but other decals still
remain. They also learned
that the OHV park has
“recreational immunity”
and the EMTs volunteering
there act as “good Samari
tans,” so district insurance
in this capacity is sufficient.
The board voted to draft a
letter to ask the volunteers
to remove the questioned
decals and to express the
board’s appreciation to the
volunteers who are provid
ing EMS services there.
-learned from Di
rector of Nursing, Home
Health and Hospice Molly
Rhea that the hospital now
has five people in long-term
care. She said that two or
three people were on the
waiting list.
-learned from Ma
honey that the district had
$599,634 in gross patient
revenue and $660,187 in
total operating revenue
for July with $640,579 in
total operating expenses
and a $40,484 gain for the
month.
-learned from Ma
honey that the number of
days in accounts receivable
has dropped to 56.1 days,
the lowest in a year.
- l e a r n e d from
Blauer that he had received
a call from a patient who
had received a colonoscopy
procedure at the hospital.
Blauer said the patient com
mented on the great care
that people can receive
locally.
-learned that the
Irrigon Clinic had 166 pa
tient visits for the month of
July with 22 new patients,
41 seen by a nurse had
15 no shows, even with
four days that a provider
was not available due to a
nurse practitioner position
vacancy; Pioneer Memo
rial Clinic had 422 patient
visits with 38 new patients,
38 seen by a nurse and 11
no-shows; Heppner Ambu
lance had 23 page-outs with
19 transports for $23,434 in
revenue; Boardman Ambu
lance had 26 page-outs with
22 transports for $25,865 in
revenue; Irrigon Ambulance
had 18 page-outs with 10
transports for $9,999 in rev
enue; there were two flights;
COLUMBIA BASIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Heppner - Condon - lone - Lexington - Fossil
PRESS RELEASE
S a tu r d a y , O c to b e r 2 4 th
I
the end. Our accounting practices are impeccable. Our
financial records reconcile to the penny each, and every,
month. Any one wishing to see the Town’s financial state
ments may do so at Lexington Town Hall.
If we were, in fact, managing our Town’s fi
nances, as stated in Mr. Taylor’s letter, we would not be
operating. Mr. Taylor has not requested, at least in the last
two years, a copy of the Town’s financial statements. The
Town Council is at a loss as to where Mr. Taylor gather
his "facts” and information.
We would be more than happy to explain, to
anyone who asks, why we are changing our meeting and
community comment protocols. Our next meeting will be
held at Lexington Town Hall, Tuesday, September 8, at 7
p.m. We would appreciate your attendance.
We w ould also like to share a copy of our pro
posed Council meeting protocol revisions. This draft has
not yet been adopted by the Lexington Town Council.
That document follows:
These Town Council meetings are business meet
ings, and will, from this meeting forward, be executed as
business meetings.
I, Dwyla J. Yocom, am the current Mayor o f
Lexington. Oregon. My duties include, but are not limited
to, the responsibility o f managing and controlling the city
council meetings.
As o f right now, these council meetings are going
to be managed differently.
Visiting, or talking, in the gallery’ during the meet
ings will not be allowed, or tolerated, from anyone.
No racial comments, or racial slurs, will be al
lowed, or tolerated.
The City government will not allow or tolerate,
disrespect, profanity or harassment at any time No com
ments regarding the City government s job performance,
or experience, will be allowed, or tolerated.
Personal comments regarding City employees
or City government members, will not be allowed, or
tolerated.
Any complaints regarding City government, or
City government s job performance, must be submitted
in writing, including signatures. These complaints will
be taken under advisement, in executive session, by the
Mayor and City Council members and dealt with accord
ingly. These complaints will be forwarded to the proper
persons, with the State o f Oregon, if necessary.
No comments regarding City personnel, or their
job performance, will be allowed, or tolerated.
Any complaints regarding City personnel, or City
employee s job performance, must be submitted in writ
ing, including signatures. These complaints will be taken
under advisement, in executive session, by the Mayor and
City' Council members and dealt with accordingly.
Those people that do not respect, and do not
follow the above stated protocol changes will be warned
once that they are out o f order. The second time that they
are out o f order, regarding these above stated protocol
revisions, they will be asked to leave the meeting.
Dwyla Yocom, Mayor, Lexington
Ruth Haskett, Council Member, Lexington
Charma Marquardt, Council Member, Lexington
Will Lemmon, Council Member, Lexington
Billie June Owen, Council Member, Lexington
Consideration for second drama
presentation re-instatement requested
A
Electric Co-Op to Perform Tree Trimming Operations in Area
Columbia Basin Electric Co-Op, and their subcontractors, will be
conducting their annual tree trimming operation throughout the service
territory during the coming weeks. Consumers with power lines going through
trees are asked to call the Co-Op so these locations can be put on the list of areas
to be trimmed.
Trimming of trees around power lines is an annual chore and is required by Or
egon PUC and REA to reduce outages and insure continuity of electrical service.
Areas affecting both Primary (distribution) and Secondary (individual service
connections) lines will be cleared.
Any comments, concerns or questions about trees obstructing power lines or
the removal of them may be made to Slater Mitchell at 541-676-9146 or slaterm@
columbiabasin.ee
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
had two admissions, two
swing bed admissions, 14
admitted for observation,
one admitted for hospital
respite, 488 total outpa
tients, 88 emergency room
encounters, 1615 lab tests,
98 x-ray procedures, 29 CT
scans, 26 EKG tests, two
treadmill procedures, nine
colonoscopy procedures,
seven respiratory thera
py procedures, 111 Home
Health visits, six Hospice
admissions and 1498 drug
doses for $18,261 in drug
revenue.
Senior Center
Menu
St. Patrick’s Parish
members will be serving
lunch on Wednesday, Sep
tember 9. The menu will
include baked tilapia, rice
pilaf, mixed veggies, spiced
pears, and hot rolls.
For Sale:
Seed Wheat
Stephens and
limited supply
of Tubbs
$7.25 /bushel
cleaned no treat
$8.50/bushel treat
ed with Dividend
Cruiser available
Ralph Morten, lone
422-7429