Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 13, 2017
- THREE
MARIJUANA
-Continued from PAGE ONE
has done for the treatment
of symptoms.
Roberta Lutcher want-
ed to know why the mari-
juana issue had come up
before the city council, with
City Attorney Bill Kuhn
saying it was necessary to
“clean up” the city’s ordi-
nances on marijuana sales.
One ordinance bans all
sales of the drug in the city,
and another ordinance al-
lows for medical marijuana
sales in designated areas.
The conflict arose when the
state first passed a medical
marijuana law and then
later passed a law allow-
ing recreational sales. The
original medical law did not
allow for cities to “opt out”
of sales, so Heppner had no
choice but to pass an ordi-
nance to allow. Even though
no one has set up a medical
dispensary, the law was on
the books. Later state vot-
ers passed a recreational
law that allowed all types
of sales, however the law
allowed any city that voted
over 55 percent against to
“opt out”, which Heppner,
along with 74 other cities in
the state, did, thus creating
the conflicting laws.
By opting out however,
Heppner is forgoing the tax
money generated from mar-
ijuana sales. While there is
no estimate on what Hep-
pner is losing, the state is
taking in record amounts of
tax money with 10 percent
of it going to cities, based
on population and number
of licensees. As of Febru-
ary of this year Oregon has
collected $65.4 million in
marijuana tax payments
since January of 2016.
Heppner City Man-
ager Cody High said the tax
money Heppner is losing is
not a lot, but people should
realize that the ban means
there is money we are not
receiving. High also read a
list of statistics at the hear-
ing on the number of traffic
fatalities caused by mari-
juana and other data on who
uses the drug, which he says
shows the number of users
has not increased since the
drug was allowed. “Those
that are going to use it are
going to find it either on
the street or in a store. By
banning it the city passes
up potential revenue. Just
because we allow it doesn’t
mean we will see shops
springing up,” he said.
Members of the council
voiced their opinions on
the ban before the vote was
taken. “The voters in our
area voted against it and I
can’t see not representing
them,” Councilmember
John Bowles said. “I know
there is money we don’t
have,” said Dale Bates, but
added that all the city is say-
ing is if they ban the sales,
it’s not that people can’t get
it, just not here. He said be-
ing over to the coast where
the shops are springing up
all over, “It’s looking a little
seedy.” Corey Sweeney
said the city has bigger is-
sues to deal with. Joanne
Burleson said, “I don’t want
it.” Adam Doherty said he
was conflicted. “The busi-
nesses side of me says we
are passing up opportunity,”
but added that Heppner
and Morrow County voters
voted against recreation-
al marijuana. In the end
Bowles, Bates, Sweeney
and Burleson voted in favor
of a total ban, and High and
Doherty voted against a
total ban on all sales.
In another hearing the
same night the council
heard testimony about a
property on Water Street
that has been a problem
for some time with trash,
weeds and dry grass. Sev-
eral neighbors came to the
meeting to complain and
ask for action.
According to the com-
plaint the properties at 475
and 485 Water Street “are
covered with tall dry grass
and weeds, scattered accu-
mulation and piles of trash,
scraps of metal and old
equipment and appliances,
ten to twelve abandoned
vehicles and trash wood are
scattered over the proper-
ties. These things create a
fire hazard and harborage
for rodents and insects and
are injurious to the health,
safety and general welfare
of the people.” The proper-
ties are owned by Tareena
Healy who attended the
hearing and said she is
trying to get the properties
cleaned up. Several neigh-
bors in attendance said the
property is an eyesore and
a fire hazard.
After hearing the tes-
timony, the council voted
unanimously to name the
property a nuisance and
warned Healy she had 30
days to clean up or the city
would move in and do it for
her, and then if the cleanup
bill is not paid, it will place
a lien on the property for the
cost of the cleanup. “If the
property is not cleaned up
the city will clean it up and
put a lien on the property.
If you don’t pay then, the
city will foreclose and you
will be without a place,”
City Attorney Bill Kuhn
explained.
In other business, the
council voted to purchase
a new pickup for Fire Chief
Rusty Estes. Apparently,
Estes’ current pickup had
the transmission go out
and the city felt it time to
replace it. The city received
two bids for a 2018 Chev-
rolet Silverado 2500HD
4WD Double Cab Work
Truck. Wrights Chevrolet
bid $32,383 and McCurley
Chevrolet bid $31,309.
Sherrell Chevrolet sent in a
note saying it was too busy
to do a quote.
Council member Corey
Sweeney said he was work-
ing with Kim Cutsforth and
that Cutsforth had report-
edly found a federal grant
that is available to purchase
the pickup. The council
voted unanimously to move
forward with accepting
the grant and buying the
pickup. Only cost to the
city would be to provide
the decals on the pickup and
the lights, which were esti-
mated to be around $2,000.
In other action, the
council discussed the Kirk
St bridge. Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation,
ODOT, told the city the
bridge needed to be re-
placed and it could get
on the list to have it done
between 2022 and 2024.
Under the ODOT program
the state would pay between
$1.2 and $1.3 million for
the bridge with the city
matching that at a cost of
$220,000 and $230,000.
The bridge, which at one
time provided access to the
Hager Dairy, but now only
serves the back side of two
properties across Willow
Creek, was rehabbed in
2007. The council did not
make a decision to be put
on the list.
In other action the
council voted to opt in to
the planned new Extension
Service District covering
both Umatilla and Morrow
Counties aimed at provid-
ing stable funding to local
4-H and extension services
and programs. The new tax-
ing district is expected to go
before voters for approval
next year.
The city could have
opted out of the district,
but the council was told
that would mean anyone in
the Heppner city limits that
wanted to participate in 4-H
would have to pay an extra
fee since the city was not
part of the district.
If the district is ap-
proved the Extension will
no longer receive money
from Morrow or Uma-
tilla Counties, where it
now receives its funding
for programs. Oregon State
University pays the sala-
ries of extension personnel
such as the county agent.
Approval of the district
however, will mean that
the City of Heppner could
receive “up to $15,000 less”
in tax revenue. The city is
under a property tax “cap”
which limits the amount of
taxes that can be levied in
the city limits to $10 per
thousand of valuation. Any
new taxing district added
will cause all other districts
encompassing the city (ex-
cept for the school district)
to receive less tax money.
Several members of the
public urged the council to
opt in, including Ashley
Gould. “4-H has been ir-
replaceable molding my
kids. If you take away 4-H
you will not have the many
successful kids you now
have from here. This would
be impacting lots of kids if
you opt out of this,” she said
The council voted
unanimously to opt into
the new Service District if
passed later by voters, but
also said it was not “endors-
ing” the formation of the
new district.
In other business, the
council listened to a dis-
cussion about a game the
local kids are playing called
fugitive. The kids have been
informing the sheriff’s de-
partment that they will be
in the city parks after the
9 p.m. closing and around
town between 8 p.m. and 12
midnight. Councilmember
Corey Sweeney explained
the game saying that the
kids dress in black and try
to elude each other without
getting caught. They have
a spotlight and if shined on
them then they are caught.
Undersheriff John Bowles
says the kids call to let them
know they will be playing
the game around town.
Bowles also reported
that juvenile and criminal
mischief complaint reports
to the sheriff’s department
were down last month.
Over 25 Morrow County youth excel at Oregon State Fair
Local kids spend much
of the year preparing proj-
ects, training animals and
contributing service to their
community through the 4-H
Program. After competing
at the Morrow County Fair
in areas such as family and
consumer science, com-
munications, expressive
arts, animal science, some
4-Hers are selected to rep-
resent the county at the
state fair.
The 4-H Program pro-
vides experiences where
young people learn by do-
ing, receive guidance from
adult mentors in a positive
environment and are en-
couraged to take on proac-
tive leadership roles.
The Oregon State Fair
was established in 1861 and
first began in Oregon City
during the time of the U.S.
Civil War. Since 1862, the
fair has called the Oregon
State Fairgrounds in Salem
home, hosting thousands of
visitors each season with
premier concerts, art, cul-
ture, rides, agricultural ex-
hibits and livestock.
Following are the Mor-
row County 2017 Oregon
State Fair results, listed
alphabetically by last name:
Anderson, Harley - Ex-
panding Skills Level 4 -
Garment, knit, Blue, Cham-
pion; Hands for Larger
Service, Int., Red
Arellano - Desirey, Jaena
- Acrylic painting, Sr, Blue,
Champion
Boor, Kylie - Expand-
ing Skills Level 4 - Out-
fit (2 or more), Blue, Re-
serve Champion; Hands for
Larger Service, Int.,Blue,
Champion
Combs, Christina - Shad-
ed Drawing, Sr, Red
Comingo, Kaitlyn - Sten-
ciling/Printing/Stamping,
Jr, Red
Fletcher, Casey - Public
Speaking, Int., Blue, Judg-
es; Individual Illustrated
Talk, Int., Red
Haselbusch, Amanda
- Animals, Int, Blue; Land-
scape, Int, Red; Animals,
Sr, White; Plants, Sr, Blue
Hermanns, Emma - Ani-
mals, Int., Blue;
Landscape, Int., Red
Joyce, Julianna - Yeast
Bread, Alternative Dietary
Choices, Red
Joyce, Megan - Cook-
ies, Level 2, Blue; Quick
Bread, Alternative Dietary
Choices, Blue
Martin, Eva - Baked
Food, Alternative Dietary
Choice, Level, Blue, Cham-
pion
Masterson, ZaBrena -
Syrup or Juice, Int
. ,
Red
McElligott, Michael -
Cookies, Level 1, Blue
Nelson, Casey - Edu-
cational Display, Jr, Red;
Series or Story, Jr, Blue
Ogden, Grace - Ac-
tion/Movement, Int, Blue,
Champion; Cooking up
a Career, Level 4, Blue;
Fashion Revue, Int, Blue;
FCS Skill-a-thon, Int., Red;
Individual Demonstration,
Int., Red; Series or Story,
Int., Blue
Orem, Madison - Fa-
vorite Recipe Collection,
Jr., Blue; Hands for Larger
Service, Jr., Blue, Cham-
pion; Landscape, Jr, Blue,
Reserve Champion; People,
Jr, Blue; Scrapbooking, Jr.,
Blue, Champion
Orem, Morgan - Land-
scape, Sr., Blue; People,
Sr., Blue
Orr, Isabella - Animals,
Int., Red; Expanding Skills
Level 4 - Outfit (2 or more),
Blue, Champion; Impromp-
tu Speaking, Int., Red; Indi-
vidual Demonstration, Int.,
Blue; Leathercraft, Stamp-
ing techniques, Int., Blue;
Performing Arts, Int., Blue,
Reserve Champion; Plants,
Int., Blue; Pottery or clay
work, slab technique, Int.,
Blue; Print or Stencil, Int.,
Blue, Champion; Program-
ming, First Year, Int., White
Orr, Quinton - Action/
Movement, Int., Blue, Re-
serve Champion; Special
Effects, Int., Blue, Reserve
Champion
Palmer, Hannah - Ex-
panding Skills Level 4 -
Garment, med., Blue, Re-
serve Champion; Hands for
Larger Service, Int., Blue;
Yeast Bread, Combination
of Flours, Level 4, Blue
Palmer, Madison - Yeast
Bread, Added Non-per-
ishable, Red; Yeast Bread,
Combination of Flours,
Level 3, Blue
Serrano, Jolene - Basic
Skills Level 1 - Garment
with skills other, Blue; Bis-
cuit, Level 1, Blue; Canned
Fruit or Berries, Jr., Blue;
Muffin, Level 1, Blue
Sifford, Shane - Land-
scape, Jr., Red
Sifford, Vizta - Archi-
tectural, Sr., Red; Special
Effects, Sr., Blue
Spivey, Katie - Basic
Skills Level 1 - Garment
with casing, Blue; Canned
Fruit or Berries, Jr., Blue;
Favorite Recipe Collection,
Jr., Red
Taylor, Emily - Animals,
Sr., White; Other interesting
subject, Sr., Blue
Vaughan, Kathrin - Wa-
ter Color, Tempera or other
water media, Int., Blue
Wedam, Nathan - Cook-
ies, Level 2, Blue; Scone,
Level 2, Blue
Wendler, Stephine -
Plants, Int., Red
Worden, Arianna - Ba-
sic Skills Level 2 - Gar-
ment with skills other, Blue,
Champion; Embroidery, Jr.,
Blue; Self Portrait, Jr., Blue,
Champion
Worden, Daemon - Peo-
ple, Jr., Red; Self Portrait,
Jr., Red
HEPPNER LES SCHWAB IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF
MORROW COUNTY 4-H & FFA LIVESTOCK AUCTION
2017
Sold!
Bought!
LOOK WHAT
WE GOT!
Cecilia McElligott
Casey Nelson
Jacob Heideman
124 N. MAIN STREET HEPPNER OR 541-676-9481
Have a news story or photo for the Gazette?
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