Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 12, 2018 -- FOUR
Pit bulls are legal - with special license
Proof of insurance required too
By David Sykes
It is legal to keep pit
bulls in the city of Hep-
pner, but owners must first
obtain a special dangerous
animals license and provide
proof of $100,000 liability
insurance, it was announced
at Monday’s city council
meeting.
Confusion about the
legality of owning pit bull
dogs surfaced last month
when Heppner Mayor Cody
High announced that pit
bulls were not allowed
inside the city limits. The
Heppner Gazette-Times,
which attends monthly
council meetings, reported
on his comments. Follow-
ing publication of the article
it was learned that under
city ordinances with spe-
cial restrictions residents
can indeed own the dogs.
At Monday’s December
meeting High said he “mis-
spoke” about the legality
of owning the dogs. “Last
month I misspoke. We have
a dangerous animal per-
mit,” he told the council.
“You need to have a permit
with insurance and there is a
higher fee for the dangerous
animal permit,” he added.
There are also other rules
to go along with owning
the animals.
First off, pit bulls are
defined by the city as Amer-
ican Staffordshire terriers,
Bull Terrier, Staffordshire
Terrier, American Pit Bull
Terrier and “mixtures con-
taining those breeds.” The
ordinance also defines dan-
gerous animals as “any an-
imal, wild mammal, reptile
or fowl which is not natural-
ly tame or gentle” and could
be a danger to the public if
not kept secured.
Residents can own
these animals but must
follow special rules regular
dog owners do not. They
must have a special higher
cost Dangerous Animal Per-
mit good for one year. Each
year the city will renew the
license after an animal con-
trol officer inspects where
the dog is being housed.
The officer will look to see
if the animal is kept in a safe
manner; is secure from the
public; safeguards are in
place to prevent “unautho-
rized access to the animal”
by the public; the animal’s
health and wellbeing are
maintained; the animal is
not disturbing neighbors;
adequate light, sanitation
and ventilation for the ani-
mal; no offensive odors and
that the animal is muzzled,
leased or in a cage when
off the owner’s property.
Also, when on the owner’s
property the animal is to be
either inside the house or in
a secured pen. In addition
to the annual inspections,
the animal control officer
can inspect the property if a
neighbor complains. If the
owner is in violation of any
of the ordinance the license
can be revoked or denied.
All dogs in the city are
required to be licensed and
tagged. The rates are $7 per
year for neutered animals
and $15 for non-neutered.
Dangerous animal licenses
are $100 per year per animal
and the owner must also
give proof of $100,0000
insurance with renewal of
the yearly license.
At Monday’s meeting
the council discussed possi-
bly changing the dangerous
animal permitting process.
One councilmember strong-
ly urged the city to specifi-
cally list the breeds of dogs
the ordinance would cover.
High asked who would be
responsible for determin-
ing if a dog is dangerous?
“The city staff doesn’t want
responsibility for checking
A View from the Hill
By Doris Brosnan
November is a month
viewed as one for thinking
“thankful,” and the Willow
Creek Terrace Commu-
nity had much to think
about. They included their
neighbors in their thoughts
and demonstrated this by
taking each neighbor a loaf
of homemade bread on the
Sunday before Thanksgiv-
ing. The thirteen loaves
were tied with ribbons that
held Thanksgiving cards
expressing these neighbors’
importance to the Terrace.
Residents on the hill
continue to be thankful
for the many gifts they re-
ceive throughout the year.
The most recent gift to the
kitchen was the meat from
the Christian Church. The
whole pig was a wonderful
addition to the meats of a
beef, pig and lamb received
last month from a kind do-
nor, so the Terrace is well
stocked with meat, enough
that they have rented space
in a freezer at the grocery
store.
The Thanksgiving-Day
celebration featured a tra-
ditional turkey and all the
trimmings dinner. Twen-
ty-six diners, residents and
guests, enjoyed the festive
meal and conversations.
Since the Willow Creek
Terrace community views
celebrations with enthusi-
asm, this month is one filled
with opportunities.
Roice Fulleton’s birth-
day celebration set the
mood on Monday, Dec. 3.
Roice was the eldest res-
ident at the Terrace when
he shared his 101 st birthday
lunch with neighbors and
family. After that auspi-
cious occasion, however,
Roice suffered some health
setbacks and passed away
early on Thursday, the anni-
versary of his move-in day
at the Terrace seven years
ago. He will be missed,
and the community on the
hill extends condolences to
Roice’s family.
Last Wednesday, the
youngest resident celebrat-
ed her 79 th birthday. Joann
Wiester recently moved
into an apartment, just in
time to celebrate with her
family and new neighbors
at her birthday lunch. Joann
is a Brosnan who was raised
on Little Butter Creek and
retired in Heppner several
years ago, after a career in
Portland.
Dec. 4 was festive,
filled with Christmas mu-
sic while most residents and
staff joined in their annual
deck-the-halls activities.
The Terrace is now picture
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Road
Ione Oregon. 97843
dogs for dangerous,” he
said. The council asked that
a copy of the dangerous an-
imal ordinance be emailed
to them for study before any
decisions are made. Coun-
cilmembers also reviewed
an ordinance by the city of
Irrigon for possible ideas.
RV park residents may
not afford utility pay-
ments
The council discussed
a city ordinance that re-
quires anyone living in an
RV park for more than 30
days be considered a per-
manent resident and pay
the city’s full water and
sewer charges. The issue
was also discussed at a re-
cent city utility committee
meeting when Northwest-
ern RV Park owners said
they may have to close the
park if the higher fees are
enforced. Owners are Alvin
and Lina Liu. They told
the committee residents
of the park, many who are
unemployed, may not be
able to cover the higher fee
and have nowhere to move
to. They pointed out that
there is a housing shortage
in Heppner. The Lius asked
for more time to survey the
residents of the park to find
out if they would pay higher
fees or leave before the city
takes any action.
The city does not want
to see the RV park close,
but says everyone must
be treated the same. It was
pointed out that the base
rate is not just for water, it is
for delivery and infrastruc-
ture, and the city’s loan for
past water improvements
requires every resident to
pay the fee. Mayor High
said if the owners do de-
cide to shut down the RV
park, they should contact
the Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development
Group to help find another
use for the property.
Necessary sewer improve-
ments still a problem
The council spent some
time talking to Civil En-
gineer Doug Ferguson, of
Ferguson Engineering in
Mt Vernon. He has been
working in and around Hep-
pner for the past 30 years
and is looking into how to
solve Heppner’s “sewer
problem.”
Department of Envi-
ronmental Quality (DEQ)
has told Heppner it must
stop dumping its treated
effluent from the sewer
plant into Willow Creek.
Alternatives are to upgrade
the aging city plant, build a
lagoon system or construct
a new state of the art treat-
ment plant. Each option has
difficulties however, as the
council was told.
If the current plant is
upgraded and the ammo-
nia level dropped (what is
currently concerning the
DEQ), it may be only short
term, with the agency com-
ing back at a later date and
putting more restrictions
on the city’s effluent. A
consensus has been estab-
lished that the best option
is for the city to “get out
of the creek.” A lagoon
system would solve this,
however it requires about
20 acres, which is hard to
come by around Heppner.
Farmers that own flat land
near Heppner have said
they do not want to sell,
and pumping to a higher
ground lagoon would be
expensive and challenging.
The old Kinzua Mill site has
been looked at but it is in
the flood plain so there are
problems there. A brand-
new treatment plant might
be an option and it has been
pointed out that John Day
may have to build one at a
cost of $10 million, so cost
perfect for the season. As
always, friends and family
were invited to help trim the
tree and hang the many dec-
orations, caroling followed,
and soup and breads were
enjoyed by all.
Dec. 9 was recognized
at the Terrace as Christmas
Card Day and with that
seasonal activity in mind,
volunteers are invited to
help residents in the coming
days with the addressing
of their cards. Readers are
encouraged to call 541-676-
0004 to volunteer.
Next Sunday, Dec. 16,
will be National Caroling
Day, and residents and staff
will be pleased to welcome
carolers who want to share
yuletide carols. Calling
541-676-0004 can ensure
a spot on the day’s agenda.
The following day will
feature another birthday
celebration. Mary Ramey
will become 92 years old
on the 17 th , so she will have
her choice of birthday lunch
menu to share with neigh-
bors and family.
The residents will head
for the kitchen on the 19 th ,
ready to bake some cookies
and decorate cookies that
will be served to guests be-
ginning the next day. That
is when Mrs. Lemmon’s
piano students will return
to the Terrace for what has
become an annual piano
recital, always enjoyed and
appreciated by the com-
munity.
Dec. 23 will mark the
publishing of Clement
Clarke Moore’s poem, “A
Visit from St. Nicholas” in
1823. First printed as writ-
ten by “Anonymous,” the
famous piece has become
better known as “The Night
Before Christmas,” and a
reading of the poem will be
included in the Christmas
Eve event. After everyone
has settled down for “a long
winter’s nap,” the Terrace
Angels and Santa will see
that each stocking is filled
with a special gift and an-
other gift is tucked under
the tree for each resident.
Christmas morning will
begin with a continental
breakfast and the opening
of gifts from under the tree.
The festive atmosphere will
continue with music, and
everyone will gather for the
luncheon feast that will fea-
ture the prime rib roast once
Old
Country
Church
All are
Welcome
is an issue with that option.
Ferguson has a good
working relationship with
engineer Brett Moore of
Anderson and Perry Engi-
neering, and they seem to
think the lagoon system is
the best option. DEQ rules
say construction plans for
new treatment are due to
their agency by January of
2021, with construction of
the new system completed
by Jan. 2023. The golf
course uses the current
effluent for irrigation, and
there would probably be a
way to keep that going if
a lagoon system is estab-
lished. If lagoons are built,
additional effluent may also
be available for irrigation
by local farmers, if the
water is not used on “direct
consumption crops,” Fergu-
son said.
City Attorney Bill
Kuhn told Ferguson a la-
goon system was looked
at 30 years ago, and the
same problem of no land
available stymied the plans.
Before leaving the meeting,
Ferguson said he would talk
to Kuhn about past efforts
and see if a new project
can get going. The city has
$10,000 budgeted for the
sewer system and Ferguson
said that should be enough
to get the ball rolling. He
said low interest loans from
Business Oregon are also
available for sewer projects.
As far as costs, while
Ferguson did not estimate
the cost of a lagoon sys-
tem, he did say the city
could “build a lot of la-
goons for $2 million.” He
also mentioned that he
wasn’t sure the new class
A plant planned for John
Day would be built. “I will
believe it when I see it,” he
told the council.
In other sewer business
the council and Ferguson
discussed the upcoming
big $2.6 million renovation
projects planned for Gale,
Center and Chase Streets.
The council wants to make
sure new sewer line is laid
while the road is being re-
placed to avoid tearing up
new pavement later. The
city has the money from
state grants to do the road
work but needs to come up
with $100,000 to $150,000
to replace sewer lines at the
same time.
In other action the
council said okay to Sheri-
ann Martin who asked that
the city allow for an RV to
be parked on her property
at 775 Shobe Street for a
period of three months.
The person living in the RV
would be a caregiver she
said. The RV would not be
hooked to city services. The
council approved.
The council also re-
viewed five properties for
possible code violations of
junk on the property. Two
owners had cleaned up after
being notified, and three
will be ticketed.
In other business the
council received an animal
permit application for a tur-
key to be kept by Pat Walk-
er on Sperry Street. Walker
said the turkey’s name was
Thomas Roland Walker and
noted that Thomas “is a
very personable turkey and
when my city nieces and
nephews come this summer,
they will have an opportu-
nity to meet him and learn
how to care for him,” she
said. The council approved.
again donated by Charlie
and Marcia Anderson. In-
cluded in this and other
menus this season will be
the fruitcakes made at the
Terrace. This long-standing
staple has its special day of
recognition, Fruitcake Day
on the 27 th .
Volunteers are invited
to join the community on
the hill for cards on the 28 th .
That will be Card-Playing
Day, when cribbage, Uno,
Crazy 8’s, Skip-Bo and/or
pinochle could ensure that
every player has a good
time. By phoning 541-676-
0004, individuals can get
more information and claim
a spot at a table.
The sun room will be
alive with football fans
on the 29 th , which is when
NCAA championship play-
offs will be airing. When
the championship game
airs on Jan. 7, fans will
surely return for more fun
at the TV.
New Year’s Eve will
end on the hill with a late-
night activity yet to be se-
lected, but everyone will be
encouraged to get enough
sleep to feel up to the New
Year’s Day crab feed for
which Colin and Erin An-
derson will again guaran-
tee enough crab meat for
everyone’s appetite. The
residents view this kindness
as a great way to usher in
the new year after viewing
December as one of the
year’s finest months.
GREATEST GIFT you can give
TIME & ATTENTION
The
someone is your
HappyHolidays
Morrow County Veterans Services
541-922-6420
Wheatland Insurance
annual Canned Food Drive
NOW THRU
Church Services 1st
DECEMBER 18TH
& 3rd Sundays
Available for:
Weddings ♦ Funerals
Family Events
Owners say RV park in Heppner may have to close if city
enforces full utility payments on residents there. -Photo by
David Sykes
at Heppner & Ione
Whealand offices.
ALL DONATIONS WILL BE GIVEN TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER TO
HELP LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM