Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2012)
Council discusses free water for hunters Illllllllllllllllll",,ll,llllll Bossie Wetzel I Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene. OR 97403 5(K HEPPNER : At least one Heppner resident doesn't like visiting hunters tilling up water tanks like this one for free. Dick Paris of Heppner took this picture at the Heppner water station at Heritage Park and even told the hunter about his objections. 12, 2012 County Court directs department heads to curtail unnecessary expenditures VOL. 131 N O . 36 8 Pages Wednesday, September The Morrow County Court met in Heppner on September 5 with Judge Terry Tallman and Commissioners Ken Grieb and Leann Rea in attendance. Finance Dept. Cash Flow Update: Finance Director Rick Worden provided the court and several department heads with spreadsheets and charts indicating the differences in the general fund bank balances, cash outflows, payroll comparisons, cash inflows and accounts payable from this time last year. It was noted that the approx. $75,000 received as overhead from the CSEPP program will no longer be coming into the county’s general fund. At the conclusion of the presentation the court decided to notify all department heads that all unnecessary expenditures are to be curtailed until after November 15, 2012 when tax revenues starts coming into the county. At this time it appears the county may be able to fund necessary items without obtaining a short term loan as was necessary last year. The city and citizen comment period for Heppner was opened; no comments were offered but Cody High and Kim Cutsforth attended. The court rev iewed and approved the OYCC final payroll, payroll payables, 2012 Morrow County • Rodeo payouts, voids and account payables in the net total amount of $96,396.87. Road Dept.: The crew has been working on repairing all gravel roads that had developed dust holes from harvest traffic. Those repairs were finished yesterday. The crew worked on a total of 25 different roads in the county. The crew excavated, formed and poured a concrete base for the new kiosk at the old “Spring Hollow Bridge”. The kiosk was then mounted to the base and the signs were added. The crew has been working on the drainage system along Spruce Lane that goes up to the Heppner High School. All 800 feet of the 24 inch diameter culvert has been installed beside the road. Currently the crew is working on the drainage ditches and catch pond at the top of the hill. Meadowbrook Road; The crew has been working on ripping up the old asphalt from Bert Peck Road intersection to near Highway 74. The old asphalt was ripped out and processed into base The Morrow (bounty District Attorney’s office hosted a Sexual Assault Re sponse Team (SART) train ing at the Port of Morrow on Sept. 7. The training was facilitated by Jenna Harper of the Oregon Sexual As sault Task Force. SART is a multi-disci plinary, inter-agency col laboration that unites its members in a coordinated victim-centered and offend er-focused approach to the intervention and care for sexual assault victims. Representatives of the Morrow County District Attorney’s office. Morrow County Sheriff's Office, Boardman Police Depart ment, Victim's Advocate, Domestic Violence Servic es, and Community Coun seling Solutions attended the training to learn how to create a SART, create pro tocols, set goals, and learn how to collaborate with local agencies and com munity groups to provide Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon material, ditches were constructed as needed. The crew has started hauling and placing gravel over the base rock. A fallen tree was removed from Olson Road near Kunze Lane; another tree was removed along Kunze Lane. The county and the state have come to an agreement to build a fence around their gravel pits in Irrigon. Dave Pranger did some in county paint striping last week, and is currently striping for Baker County. USFS update and Title 11 Projects: Forester, Jonathan Day provided the court with four Title II projects and requested the court prioritize the various projects. They were rated as follows; Noxious Weed Eradication in the amount of $10,600 (high), Small Diameter Thinning in the amount of $18,550 (high), Refurbishment of Scenic Byway Interpretive Signs in the amount of $10,350 (high) and Wall Creek Road Reconstruction (3.1 miles) in the amount of $55,200 (medium). There is a total of $36,031 that can be used towards these projects. The county funds will be used to leverage additional funds where possible. -Continued on PAGE SIX Sexual Assault Response Team forming in Morrow County By David Sykes A service to give about it but I just told him I store also puts merchandise free drinking water to hunt- didn't think it was fair, him on the sidew alk. ers and make them feel getting his water for free Cody High of more welcome in Heppner and I have to pay for mine,” Bucknum's said at this has at least one resident said Paris, who happens time they did not plan on here not so pleased. to live on Water Street in serving beer outside, but Dick Paris told Heppner. did want to place several the Heppner City Council The council spent picnic type tables outside Monday that he doesn t like some talking about the free for customers. High, who the city s policy of provid- water for hunters policy, is also a member of the city ing free drinking water to The council discussed put- council but excused himself hunters, and since he pays ting a coin operated water lrom the council for the for water, he thinks they meter on the faucet and the discussion, said Bucknum's should too. additional cost that would is getting more and mort Paris said he went be to the city. Mayor Les customers and needs the ad- so far as to confront one ar- Paustian said there were ditional space. “We want to chery hunter filling up this a couple of months out of do something that is nice for past week and told him how the year that hunters use the out current customers and he feels about it. “I told him service and that the typical do something for our new I had to pay for my water rv holds 25-40 gallons customers,” High said, and how does he feel about of water. T he council also “I don't see a prob- getting water for free, discussed having the police lent with the tables as long Paris said. I have watched monitor the water area, and as they are not encroaching my lawn dry up because of maybe putting a meter on on foot traffic,'' said Mayor the price of water. I can't af- the faucet to see how much Paustian. ford it and why should these is actually being used. The council people come from the coast One person in passed a motion to tem- and get free water?” he the audience suggested porarily allow Bucknum’s asked the council. I like to that maybe local business- to set out tables on the see some consideration for es could be approached sidewalk for food service tourists, but 1 would like to about paying for the hunter while it further researched see some consideration for drinking water. No one on the possibility ol a city code people who live here. the council mentioned that addressing the practice. The city set up a business owners in Hep- The council au- watering station at Heritage pner already pay an extra thorized the city manager to Park a few years ago where $ 17.50 per month on their set up a new back account hunters could pull in with water bills over what resi- specifically for handling the RVs, water cans and tanks j ents pay. Called a fire flow $ I 2 million in lotto funds and fill up before heading to fee, the extra charge was received by the city from the mountains to camp. Ihe implemented after the city the state, through the Port station is complete with a pUt jn its new water system of Morrow, for certain city sign on main street pointing several years ago. Local infrastructure projects. City out the service to hunters business pay the fee even officials will be meeting pulling into town. The free though they traditionally with Ferguson Engineering water fill up is part of an use less water than residen- to “go over our wish list for effort to make hunters feel tial users. Businesses typi- using the grant.” accord- welcome to the area, and ca|iy have only one or two ing to city manager Kim help the local businesses restrooms, used only during Cutsforth. which rely on hunters’ dol- working hours, and do not Cutsforth asked lars for income. The city have lawns, gardens show- the council to begin think- also provides a dumpster ers or washing machines as ing about future projects toi near the park for hunters residents do. The council the city. State Representa- to place their trash when took no action concerning tive Greg Smith has said leaving town. the water service. there should be additional Paris said he can (n other business funds coming in. appreciate the fact that some the council heard a request Ihe council businesses make money from Bucknum's Tavern to learned that the dilapidated off the hunters, and “I see be able to place tables on old abandoned apartment the empty store fronts on the sidewalk in front of the building on Chase Street is main street, he said. But. business and serve meals scheduled to be burned by still doesn’t like the idea outdoors. the fire department. The site that he pays for water and jn discussing the will also be cleaned up by they don t. He even took a request, the council deter- owner Alvin Liu. picture of a hunter filling a rnined it did not have a for- In other business. 300-gallon water tank. Paris ma| permit process allow- the council heard that is- said the man told him he ing businesses to put tables sues between Oregon De- was taking the water up to a an(j chairs on the sidewalk, partment of Transportation campsite in the mountains, an(j there are already two and landowners on Barratt where he would share with businesses. Murray's Drug Boulevard in Heppner have several hunters who have and Cornerstone Gallery, RVs and camp together, which do. It was pointed out -Continued on PAGE “The guy was real nice that Sally Anne's Antique SIX Mustang tailgate supper Friday services to victims of sexual assault. “We are excited to create a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) in Morrow County. The A tailgate ham- beginning at 5:30 p.m. The game, featur- goal of the Morrow County burger supper will be held jhe (jinner wj|| ¡n_ ing a varsity between agencies that attended this this Friday, September elude a hamburger, chips the Heppner game Mustangs and training (is) to create a team 14, at the Morrow County an(j a fo r $5 Willamina, will begin at 7 that will increase victim Fairgrounds in Heppner, p.m. and community safety and to prevent future victimiza tion,” said Justin Nelson, Morrow County District Attorney. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
