FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon
Wednesday, July 31,2013
MISS
CONGENIALITY
Health district board discusses
CREZ funds
By A p ril Sykes
TTie CREZ (Columbia
River Enterprise Zone) and
its proposed disbursal o f
millions o f dollars paid by
businesses located in the
zone in lieu o f county taxes
was a topic o f concern for
the Morrow County Health
D is tric t B o ard at th e ir
regular m eeting Monday
night in lone.
MCHD Board member
Leann Rea, who is also not
o nly a M orrow C ounty
C om m issioner, but also
a m em ber o f the CR EZ
Board, explained somewhat
the CREZ Board's thinking
on potential distribution
o f th o se funds to o th er
g o v e rn m e n t e n titie s or
charitable organizations.
Rea explained that the
CREZ Board plans to invite
proposals and grant requests
on a yearly basis. However,
concerns were raised by the
health district board that
monies that would normally
go to taxing entities, such
as the health district, would
now go to the CREZ five-
m e m b e r, n o n - e l e c t e d
board, for distribution. Rea
showed the MCHD Board
an extensive list of entities
that have requested funds of
the CREZ.
M CH D D ire c to r
o f N ursing M olly Rhea,
voiced concern about a
ru m o red co m m en t th at
“the health district would
not rec e iv e a d im e ” o f
the money, possibly due
to long-standing grudges
against the district held by
some north Morrow County
residents.
Grigg said he and board
Chair Larry Mills attended
a meeting concerning the
CREZ at the invitation of
Cyde Estes, chair o f the
M orrow County U nified
R e c rea tio n D istrict. He
said th a t “ The p u rp o se
o f th e m e e tin g w as to
assess the interest o f the
special districts in jointly
sponsoring a letter to the
Enterprise Zone requesting
that a portion o f the fees
they collect be shared with
the special districts.”
G rig g la te r p o in te d
out, and board m em bers
concurred, that the district
would not be in the black if
the district did not receive
tax monies.
Concerning physician
recruitment, Grigg related
to the board that he has
b een in c o n ta c t w ith a
physician who is currently
p ra c tic in g o u t o f sta te
w h o h a s e x p re s s e d an
interest in working for the
district. Grigg said that this
physician is a colleague of
Dr. Russ Nichols, who is
employed by MCHD. He
said that he has arranged
to brin g the doctor and
his wife in for an onsite
interview Aug. 21 and plans
meet-and-greet dinner get-
togethers with the physician
and his w ife and board
members.
While the provider staff
is currently sufficient, Grigg
and the board anticipate
the possible retirem ents
o f Dr. Ed B e rre tta and
P h y s i c i a n ’s A s s is ta n t
Sheridan Tamasky within
the next several years.
A lso at the m eeting,
C h ie f F inancial O fficer
Nicole Mahoney submitted
a pro p o sal to the board
that would provide for an
accelerated pay-off o f long
term debt, w hich w ould
save an estimated $400,000
in interest payments.
Through this proposal,
th e m o n th ly p a y m e n t
for the Bank o f Eastern
O regon R evenue B ond,
currently at $3,193, would
be increased to $4,500.
The d istric t’s BEO loan
for the hospital remodel,
cu rren tly with a $4,150
m onthly payment, would
be increased to $4,500. The
district's USDA loan, now at
$5,622, would be increased
to $6,000 per month. The
d is tric t c u rre n tly has a
$250,000 balance on the
BEO revenue bond with a
May 1, 2021 payoff date;
a $415,000 balance on the
BEO hospital remodel with
a Dec. 1,2023 payoff date;
and a $1,065,608 balance
on the USDA loan with an
Aug. 1,2042 payoff date.
All told, with this plan,
the district would expect a
$2,035 m onthly increase
in payments, for a $24,423
total annual increase.
B o a rd m e m b e r Joe
Perry, who is also a banker,
pointed out that the district
w ould save m oney if it
paid off the smallest loan,
with the highest interest
rate, which would be the
BEO Revenue Bond. The
board subsequently voted to
increase payments for that
loan to the entire $2,000 a
month, rather than spread
out increased paym ents
over the several loans.
In other business, the
board voted to approve
the low bid from Roche
D iagnostics C orporation
to r e p l a c e th e a g in g
chemical analyzer for the
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
laboratory. While the Roche
bid for the machines was
slightly higher, the long
term p r o p o s a l, w h ic h
in clu d e d su p p lie s, was
lower. Roche Diagnostics
Corporation’s proposal for
two analyzers called for
$204,686 for the first year
for the new equipment and
supplies, with $56,686 each
year for the next five years
for supplies for a total o f
$431,431. A bid submitted
by S iem ens H ealth care
D ia g n o s tic s , I n c ., o f
Newark, Delaware, for a
com bined a n a ly z e r was
$192,683 for the first year
for equipment and supplies,
with $66,733 each year for
the next five years for a total
o f $459,615.
M a h o n e y sa id th at
the lab p e rso n n e l w ere
f a v o r a b le to w a rd th a t
option.
In other business, the
board;
-ap p ro v e d a one-
year contract renewal for
Sheridan Tamasky, PA-C,
with some small changes.
-learn ed from G rigg
o f ex p a n sio n o f patient
s a tis f a c tio n s u rv e y to
include the tw o clin ics,
one in Heppner and one in
Irrigon.
-received a proposal
from the Bank o f Eastern
O regon for a $ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0
five-year loan for purchase
o f an ambulance and other
e q u ip m e n t w ith a 3.75
percent interest rate. Total
payments for the five-year
loan w ould a m o u n t to
$3,661 w ith no pre-payment
penalty.
- le a r n e d o f th e
district's annual employee
engagement survey.
-h e a rd fro m G rig g
c o n c e rn in g th e c u rre n t
s ta t e o f th e E a s te r n
Oregon Coordinated Care
O rg a n iz a tio n . He sa id
that the EO C C O B oard
members have agreed to
seek approval for non-board
m em ber CEOs to attend
CCO meetings and pledged
to improve communication.
EOCCO board members got
a spot on the board basically
through a six figure buy-in.
Board spots were not made
available to CEOs o f the
sm aller d istric ts, w hich
were unable to come up with
the dough. The recently-
formed coordinated care
organizations will supervise
disbursement o f funds for
M edicaid patients for all
types o f care, including
h e a lth , d e n ta l and
psychological.
-h e a rd fro m G rig g
c o n c e rn in g a “ N a tio n a l
N ig h t O u t” s p o n s o re d
by the Boardm an Police
D e p a rtm en t, B oardm an
R u ra l F ire P r o te c tio n
D istrict and the M orrow
County Health District to
be held at the Boardman
C ity P ark on T u esd ay ,
August 6, from 5-8 p.m.
The evening will include a
hamburger/hot dog dinner,
bike and infant car seat
raffles and an opportunity to
visit with providers. Grigg
commented that he wants
the people o f Boardm an
and Irrigon know that the
district wants to help them
as much as they do Heppner.
-received the following
p rofit/loss statem ent for
June: the district received
$646,023 in gross patient
revenue; less $11,411 for
bad d eb ts and $86,481
fo r c o n tra c tu a l and
o th er a d ju stm e n ts, plus
$ 116,118 in tax revenue and
$31,516 in other operating
revenue for $695,764 in
total operatin g revenue,
$707,303 in total operating
e x p e n se s, $39,763 in a
non-operating gain for a
$28,224 gain for the month,
an average monthly year-to-
date gain o f $47,720 and a
$572,634 gain for the year
to date.
-received the following
report for June: Pioneer
M em o rial H o spital had
two admissions, one swing
bed admission, 17 admitted
for observation, 488 total
admissions, 83 emergency
room encounters, 1821 lab
tests, 138 x-ray procedures,
37 C T sc a n s, 25 EK.G
tests, three colonoscopy
procedures, two endoscopy
procedures, 20 respiratory
therapy procedures; Home
Health had 95 patient visits;
Pharmacy had 1084 drug
doses for $69,701 in drug
revenue; Pioneer Memorial
Clinic had 372 patient visits
with 23 new patients, 36
seen by a nurse and five
no-shows; Irrigon Medical
Clinic had 135 patient visits,
22 new patients, 47 seen by
a nurse and 14 no shows;
H eppner A m bulance had
25 total page outs w ith
23 transports for $26,697
in re v e n u e ; B o a rd m a n
A m bulance had 32 total
page outs with 18 transports
for $23,798 in revenue;
Irrig o n A m b u lan ce had
20 total page outs with
13 transports for $16,903
in rev e n u e ; th e re w ere
seven flights. For the year
end, Heppner Ambulance
had 284 total page-outs
w ith 241 t r a n s p o r t s ;
B o a rd m a n A m b u la n c e
had 396 total page outs
with 230 transports; and
Irrigon Ambulance had 291
total page outs with 187
transports. There were 42
flights for the year.
Wildhorse grants
funds for bell rehab
Most county residents
are a lre a d y a w a re th a t
th e M o r r o w C o u n ty
Courthouse in Heppner is
in the early stages o f a face
‘lift.’ Many applications
are going into various grant
programs in the area to help
fund this restoration. The
Wildhorse Foundation o f
the C onfederated Tribes
o f the U m a tilla In d ia n
Reservation has awarded
M orrow County $10,000
toward this rehabilitation
project.
Residents
can
c h e c k u p d a te s as th ey
b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e in
th e H e p p n e r G a z e tte -
T im es, on th e M orrow
County w ebsite at www.
morrowcountyoregon.com
and on the ‘Morrow County
Clock Tower Renovation’
Facebook page.
Community lunch
menu
St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish members will serve lunch
on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at St. Patrick’s Senior Center.
The meal will include fish and chips, coleslaw,
cucumbers and onions, hush puppies, and Jell-0 parfait.
Milk is served at each meal.
Suggested donation is $3.50 per meal. Menu is subject
to change.
Lillian Sandford, Miss OHSR 2013-14, with Kyle Robinson
of Heppner, the OHSR National Director, after coronation
ceremonies in Rock Springs, WY. -Contributedphoto
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
s p e e c h , im p ro m p tu ,
m o d e lin g a n d w r itte n
ro d e o k n o w le d g e te s t.
They also participated in
every rodeo performance,
selling 50/50 tickets to raise
m oney for the N ational
H ig h S c h o o l R o d e o
scholarship fund, rode in
four grand entries, were
buddies for the Special Kids
Rodeo, signed hundreds of
autographs for young fans
and represented their states
at the scholarship annual
auction, rodeo knowledge
b o w l, ta le n t sh o w and
Mr. National High School
Rodeo Association contest.
Sandford, now a senior
at Heppner High School, is
the daughter o f Rick and
Sylvia Sandford o f lone.
She was joined at nationals
by sch o o lm ates G arrett
Robinson and Tate Gentry,
who both qualified in the
shooting contest.
The top four in each
event attend nationals each
y ear. M ore th an 1,400
athletes were on hand in
W yom ing for the event.
Oregon’s high school rodeo
season kicks off with the
f ir s t fa ll ro d e o s b e in g
held Labor Day weekend,
September 1-2, in Condon
and Septem ber 13-15 in
Molalla.
“I wouldn’t have been
able to attend finals without
my g racio u s sp o n so rs,”
added Sandford.
HHS to host
volleyball clinic
Heppner High School
is hosting a volleyball skills
camp Monday and Tuesday,
Aug. 5-6.
The session for grades
four through five will be
from 8-10 a.m. each day,
w ith grades six through
eight from 11 a.m. till 2
p.m., and high school from
5-8 p.m.
C ost is $30, w hich
includes a t-shirt. For more
information, contact Dieter
Waite at 541-626-3836.
Fair offers
opportunities for
green thumbs
Yes, 2013 marks 100
years o f M orrow County
resid e n ts sh ow ing th eir
b lo s s o m s , b lo o m s and
arrangem ents at the fair.
It also will be the last year
for the H eppner G arden
Club to be the sponsor of
flow er exhibits. On that
note, garden club members
are asking county residents
to help m ake it the best
year ever.
Everyone is invited to
bring exhibits to the Morrow
C o u n ty F a irg ro u n d s
Monday, Aug. 12, from 5
p.m. to 8 p.m. or Tuesday,
Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. to 10
a.m.
V o lu n te e rs w ill be
th e r e to h e lp p ro v id e
water and jars for freshly
cut flowers. Go to http://
morrowcountyoregon.com/
county-fair/2013-morrow-
county-fair-premium-book/
and look at the premium
book’s pages 29 through
33 for information. Or find
a prem ium book at your
local post office. There is
also a section for youth
ages six and under, seven
to 14 and 14-17. Garden
club members will gladly
help with any questions at
entry time.
L ocal green thum bs
are also in v ited to use
th e ir flo w er pow er and
enter some o f the special
contests: Heppner Garden
Club will award cash prizes
for Best Arrangement and
Most Blue Ribbons, a free
floral arrangement will go
from M u rra y ’s D rug to
the w in n er o f the “Just
Imagine” class, and MCGG
Green Feed will present a
free rose bush to the winner
o f the “Timeless Beauty”
class.
P a ss th e w o rd and
enter!
MimrswiiiciosuuMPM
wwmim . is m wm mm
WEDDING TABLES
Friends and Family are invited
to the wedding o f
K ylee D isq u e &
S e a n A lls to tt
Pisa and
A
Kylee
Sean
on Saturday August 17, 2 0 1 3 a t 6 :0 0 pm
Faith Presbyterian Church
1 0 0 5 SB 9th S treet, Hermiston
Reception to follow a t
Purswell's Place
4 6 5 Christensen Loop Rd., Hermiston
j
RSVPtO S 4 1 -1 8 9 -8 S 3 S
I
Callahan Baker, daughter of Julie and Matt Baker of Lexington,
at her grandmother’s Heppner home, helping choose flowers
to enter in the centennial fair. -Photo by Kay Proctor
August 17, 2013
Tayll o r G o u ld &
W illia m B r a n n o n
September 13, 2013
M m
217 North Main S t. Heppner • PhW e 676-9158 • F *Ja l 676-9426
DOG BITE HARRIS
ALBUM RELEASE PARTY]
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 - BUCK NUM S
B IL L Y COOK
D A N INFECTO
DOG B IT E H A R R IS
Serving Morrow, Whoolor & Gilliam counties Since 1959
}
\
I