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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2018)
THREE - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Irrigon clinic almost complete RV LIVING -Continued from PAGE ONE an observation Russell later confirmed. In response Russel sub- sequently wrote a letter to county Planner Carla McLane and Sheriff Ken Matlack asking for “clar- ity” on the ordinance and its enforcement. Both Mc- Lane and Matlack attended the June 13 commission meeting to discuss the RV ordinance and how it is enforced. Russell said he took a drive around the area of Philippi’s property and saw multiple instances of people obviously living in RVs. Russell said he assumed people were living in them when he saw porches and decks attached, and water and power going to the vehicles. “I don’t think that Blake is asking for a special allowance, but instead would like to be treated like the rest of his neighbors,” Russell said in his letter. “Help me answer his questions. What makes it OK for one and not for the other?” McLane said living in an RV without a permit is generally not allowed in Morrow County, but sited three instances where it is. One, if the RV is being used while a home is un- der construction, two for temporary housing when people have visitors but not to exceed 30 days in any 12-month period, and three for seasonal recreational camping or hunting use by the landowner. An RV can also be used for living when there is a medical hardship. McLane said one exception to the rule is people can live in RVs when they are parked in an authorized RV park, several of which are located around the county. She said the ordinance pro- hibiting RV living is there mainly for health and safety reasons. Both McLane and Mat- lack said the violation pro- cess usually begins when someone complains. “If a neighbor complains we go and look and see if there is a violation,” McLane told the commissioners. She added the entire code violation process in the county is complaint driven, with her office only investigating other offences such as de- bris, car bodies, excess veg- etation etc. when someone complains. However, she pointed out, following her receiving Russell’s letter her staff went around the area and found 13 other possible RV living viola- tions. McLane said letters had been sent to those land owners informing them they may be in violation. Although the discus- sion originally started with the specific code violation of RV living, commission- ers, the sheriff and McLane eventually ended up dis- cussing all code violation enforcements throughout the county. “How much effort do we employ?” Mc- Lane asked about enforce- ment, pointing out there would be additional costs associated with her office, and the sheriff’s depart- ment putting additional effort and manpower into enforcement. Russell said he want- ed to see a more uniform approach to enforcement. “I understand where Mr. Philippi is coming from. He says, ‘Why me?’ Rus- sell said. “I think we need to be consistent. You can’t drive by some violations to enforce another one,” he told McLane and Mat- lack. Matlack agreed. “We want it uniform.” He said people can sleep in an RV on property, they just can’t live in it. However, when they see an RV with power and sewer hooked up they pretty much know someone is living in it, he said of his deputies. Matlack also said that code enforcement is “not a top priority” in the sheriff’s department and if a deputy working on code violations receives an emer- gency or higher priority call then they have to leave code work and go to the more important call. He also said if the commissioners want more code enforcement other than from just citizen complaints, then his de- partment would need more resources. “If we are going to do more enforcement, it has to be on everybody and that means more hours and more money,” he told the commission. McLane said there are a lot of violations around the county including junk, weeds, noise violations and even animal cruelty. The State of Oregon does not deal with noise (because of budget restrictions) Mc- Lane pointed out, and nei- ther does the county. “No one likes to work code,” said Matlack, “but it’s ev- erywhere and there is so much to do if you want. There are a lot of code is- sues in Morrow County that are not addressed. And it’s complaint driven (for lack of staff and resources) out of necessity,” he told the commissioners. Commissioner Jim Doherty suggested that if there is to be consistency in enforcement of codes in the county, then maybe there needs to be a code enforcement person hired. Commissioner Melissa Lindsay disagreed, saying the county should use what it has to deal with code vi- olations. “We have to deal with it using the resources we have.” However, “If it’s (ordinance) not enforce- able, maybe it shouldn’t be there,” she added. Following the discus- sion, no action was taken, however McLane did say she would check around and see what other counties are doing, and report back. She also plans on putting out some news releases to explain to the public about the RV codes. She added that summer time normally sees an increase in people living in RVs illegally. Kilkenny graduates Katherine Kilkenny her bachelors in nursing from Gonzaga University graduated from the in 2012. She started University of San Di- her nursing career ego in May earning in Washington on her doctor of nursing a cardiac unit and practice degree spe- then moved to San cializing in psychiatric Diego to continue mental health with a her nursing career. 3.9 GPA. Katherine In San Diego Kilkenny graduat- Kilkenny she was part of a ed from Heppner High team to create a School in 2008 and received telemetry-medical-surgical unit at Sharp Memorial Hospital. She then began her doctorate education in 2015. Katherine plans to start practicing as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in San Diego this summer. She is the daughter of John and Diane Kilkenny. Neigh- borhood Center to hold bag sale The Neighborhood Center in Heppner will hold a $15 bag sale on Tuesday, July 3. The center will be closed on Wednesday, July 4 in observance of Indepen- dence Day. The clinic expansion/remodel in Irrigon is scheduled to be completed soon. Morrow County Health District CEO Bob Houser told the MCHD Board, at their Monday night meeting in Irrigon, the Irrigon Clinic expansion construction is expected to be completed and the remodeled facility in use by August. “It’s coming along,” said Houser, who added that the building’s siding has been installed around the front of the building, but has not been complet- ed on the existing portion of the clinic, sheetrock for the expansion has been brought into the building and is in the process of in- stallation, the sidewalk and ramp have been poured and the security wires to allow employee access with their badges are also in the pro- cess of being installed. The date for construction of the IMC parking lot was set for June 26, with the clinic remodeling completion date of August 18. Also at the meeting, board Chair John Murray swore in newly appoint- ed board member, Marie Shimer from Boardman. She replaces Joe Perry, who resigned. Shimer is an administrator with the Mor- row County School District. The board approved purchase of two MTS Pow- er load gurneys and lease of four additional ones, which will enable EMTs and other medical personnel to lift a patient up to 700 pounds. Houser said the gurneys will enable even a small person to lift very heavy patients, basically at the touch of a finger. Cost for the two purchased gurneys is $47,229; the two-year lease agreement for four gurneys is $94,459, with the option of a buyout. The dis- trict benefited financially by buying several of the gur- neys at once, said Houser. The board also ap- proved purchase of an automated pharmacy dis- pensing unit at a cost of $286,262 and an ultrasound unit at $134,680, which includes training and two probes, both of which are to be funded with a five- year $359,857 loan at 4.5 percent from the Bank of Eastern Oregon. In other business, the board heard a presenta- tion by Andrea Fletcher on the 2015-2017 and 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment and subse- quently approved the 2015- 17 health needs assessment and impact evaluation sum- mary and the 2018 Commu- nity Health Needs Assess- ment and strategies. Board member Aaron Palmquist, Irrigon, who is also the Irrigon city administrator, commented that a housing crisis exists and population is expected to grow dramat- ically with new jobs antic- ipated in the county. He said the district will need to adapt to a diverse popu- lation and also bear in mind the future needs of an aging population, particularly in south Morrow County. In other business, the board: -approved awarding a contract to apparent low bidder, Wesley Wise Ex- cavating, for $88,162 for the Irrigon Medical Clin- ic parking lot; and a bid from Wellen’s Farwell for $93,925 for erosion control, survey work, sidewalk re- moval, excavation, asphalt, curbing, driveways and walks. -learned the large signs and reader board for the Boardman building, which house a physical therapy office and Murray’s Board- man Pharmacy, may not be completed by July 1, due to permitting issues. The signs for the Boardman building and the Irrigon Medical Clinic have been approved. -a registered dietitian, Lauren Robbins, Baker City, began seeing MCHD patients on June 19. Houser said that she plans to see both inpatients and outpa- tients, review menus and Marie Shimer is sworn in as a new board member by Chair John Murray. tutor the dietary manager. Robbins is employed by St. Alphonsus Medical Center. -learned Pioneer Me- morial Hospital has re- ceived the nurse staffing survey results, the first the hospital has had dealing with new Oregon adminis- trative rules. MCHD Direc- tor of Nursing Terri Brand Correia and others on the staffing committee are in the process of working to respond to the deficiencies. Houser commented the new rules “cause a lot of angst, especially in smaller hos- pitals,” adding that imple- menting the policies could cost “tens of thousands of dollars.” -received the following profit and loss statement through May: the district had $966,240 in gross pa- tient revenue, less $5,492 for bad debts and $168,647 in contractual and other adjustments, plus $149,591 in tax revenue and $65,330 in other operating reve- nue for $1,007,022 in total operating revenue, less $1,085,148 in total operat- ing expenses and a non-op- erating gain of $38,362 for a $39,764 loss for the month and a $103,398 year to date loss. -received the follow- ing hospital report for the month: Pioneer Memorial Hospital had three admis- sions in May, one swing bed admission, nine admis- sions for observation, one hospital respite admission, 582 total outpatients, 92 emergency room encoun- ters, 2,109 lab tests, 131 x-ray/ultrasound tests, 24 CT scans, five MRI scans, 34 EKG tests, six lower endoscopy procedures, 24 respiratory therapy proce- dures. -received the follow- ing reports: Home Health had 76 patient visits for the month; Hospice had one admission; Pharmacy had 2,375 drug doses for $82,300 in revenue. -received the following ambulance report: Heppner Ambulance had 28 page- outs with 27 transports for $47,302 in revenue; Boardman Ambulance had 31 page-outs with 18 trans- ports for $30,702 in rev- enue; Irrigon Ambulance had 29 page-outs with 18 transports for $25,670 in revenue; Ione Ambulance had five page-outs with one transport for $1,435 in revenue; there were five life flights. -received the follow- ing clinic reports: Pioneer Memorial Clinic had 427 patient visits for May, with four new patients, 40 seen by a nurse and 25 no-shows; Irrigon Medical Clinic had 297 patient visits with 45 new patients, 46 seen by a nurse and 46 no-shows; Ione Community Clinic had 35 patient visits, no new patients, eight seen by a nurse and zero no-shows. Community lunch menu The Neighborhood Center summer hours are Monday through Friday The community lunch will be held on Friday, July 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6 next week instead of Wednesday, due to the holiday. Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m. Willow Creek Baptist volunteers will serve lunch on Friday, July 6 at St. Patrick’s Senior Center. Lunch will be cheese burgers, jo-jos, coleslaw, fresh fruit salad and flat apple pie for dessert. Effective June 29, Milk is served at each meal. Suggested donation is 2018, the Fire $3.50 per meal. Menu is subject to change. Chief of the City of Heppner is imposing a CLOSED SEASON for open burning based on local fire safety concerns. This burning ban is for the City of Heppner. A reminder that open burning also includes a “burn barrel.” The closed season will remain in effect until further notice this fall as per ORS 478.960. Library district meeting time changed Oregon Trail Library District has changed the time for monthly board meetings to 6:30 p.m. OTLD meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month unless there is a scheduling conflict.
