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.