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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2020)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Amazon data centers tax deal approved Up to four data centers at $1 mil- lion plus each By David Sykes A new tax deal ap- proved by the Columbia River Enterprise Zone (CREZ) paves the way for up to four new Amazon data centers to be construct- ed at the Port of Morrow in Boardman. Under the agreement each center will pay over $1 million a year in lieu of property taxes to the CREZ over the next 15 years. The centers represent part of the large invest- ment Amazon continues to make in Morrow Coun- ty with its data or cloud computing business. Each center is a large concrete building, with emergency electrical generators on the side, housing computers servicing clients around the world. The proposed new data centers are to be locat- ed on Gar Swanson (Com- missioner Melissa Lind- say’s grandfather) Drive at the Port of Morrow. In addition to the $1 million per center each year, with a minimum pay- ment of $2 million, the agreement also calls for Amazon to pay the full property tax rate plus a three percent annual in- crease on the first $25 mil- lion in value. There is also a Public Safety Impact Fee of $50,000 and a Student Success Fee of $50,000 per year, both increased at three percent annually. Also as part of the agreement, as with previous deals, Ama- zon agrees to hire at least 10 full time employees, and will pay wages 130 percent of the county wide average wage. After several months of negotiations, the CREZ approved the new deal at its April 19 meeting. It then passed the agreement on to the three sponsors of the enterprise zone for final approval. One sponsor is the Morrow County Com- mission, which approved the deal on a 2-1 vote May 6, but not without some controversy first. At the meeting Com- missioner Jim Doherty said he did not like the idea of Amazon escaping pay- ment of all bonded debt throughout the county. “It was fine that the we (Mor- row County) give them an 85 percent tax break and that 15 percent (taxes collected) is fantastic,” he said of the tax load, but he thought Amazon should, like the rest of the county tax payers, have to pay full price for bonded debt. Doherty gave as an example “down the road when the school bond comes in and their (Amazon’s) portion is X millions of dollars and now the constituency out there who has already given up the 85 percent tax break, they have to reach in their pocket to pay their share, that’s pretty grating on them,” Doherty told the commission. In addition, Doherty then asked Commissioner Don Russell if he should consider declaring a con- flict of interest and per- haps recusing himself from negotiating or voting on Amazon agreements. Rus- sell is also chairman of the CREZ which negotiates the tax deals with Amazon. Doherty said since Russell is an owner of Windwave Communications which provides fiber services to Amazon, he has a con- flict of interest. Doherty suggested if a citizen ever mounted a legal challenge against the Amazon tax deals, the county may be liable for damages if the contracts were found inval- id because of the conflicts. Doherty says some of those involved with the deals have vested interests and Spiritually Speaking Motherhood: an epitome of self-sacrifice By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church newborn baby and the mother after the childbirth, both The Gospel reading of this past Sunday, the sleeping peacefully. I could practically feel the peace fifth Sunday of Easter, was certainly appropriate and tranquility on the face of the mother after nine to the celebration of Mother’s Day. The fourteenth months of taking care of that little babe in her womb. chapter of the Gospel of John begins: “Do not be Until the child reaches the age of reason, the worried and upset.” When something happens mother has to be with that child as caretaker, pro- to a little child, or when a child faces some dan- vider, guard, protector. How can anyone repay a gerous situations, the first thing the child does is Fr. Joseph mother for all the sacrifices and pain she bore for? call for “Mother” for safety and protection. As What she expects from us all may be a kind word, we celebrated Mother’s Day, I thought of high- quantitative loving, and qualitative presence when lighting some qualities that we can learn from our own she ages. Now days the nursing-care centers are increasing dear mothers. in number, since we are busy with our daily routine…. During my interaction with young people, I ask them We need to keep in mind that when we were babies, these the question of what comes to their minds when I ask mothers gave their best time for us. What is happening them to imagine pictures of their mothers. From the light with us when she reaches her elder years? We have lack of those sharing, I share a few reflections. of time? We need to reciprocate what they have done for Mother who bears all things: Mother is the one who us when we were children. undergoes excruciating pain in childbirth. In fact, I found Mother who cares for all: As children we used to fight in Wikipedia the pain of childbirth described like this: “A each other saying the mother was showing favoritism/ human body can bear only up to 45 del (unit) of pain. Yet partiality towards one. I know mothers who are willing at time of giving birth, a mother feels up to 57 del (unit) to forgo all their comforts for the sake of all their kids. I of pain. This is similar to 20 bones getting fractured at have not seen any mother who eats before she dishes out a time.” Impossible to imagine? As I was thinking of to her kids. These mothers often forgo all their comforts writing an article on motherhood, I saw on Facebook a and many other things for the good of all their children. Mothers must often care for their kids without proper “direct conflicts” through concern. There is a huge sleep, not even bothering about their own health. I know their ownerships in Wind- tax break (for Amazon) cases of mothers who have even been willing to give up wave. and people at the table their lives for the survival of the children in their wombs. Mother who protects all: A mother cannot forget her Russell said he did not are not declaring actual or have a conflict and he has potential (conflicts),” she child in the womb. The Bible says, “Can a woman forget checked with the state eth- said. Russell responded, her own baby and not love the child she bore?” (Isaiah ics agency who cleared “So, you want me to de- 49: 15). Usually the mother cannot forget the baby of her him to participate. He said clare a potential conflict of womb, and she lives for that child. When I was in another while Windwave does do interest because a company parish, I knew a young pregnant woman who climbed on business providing fiber I have a financial interest a plastic chair to clean the household things. The chair internet services to Ama- in, Windwave, has done broke and she fell on the ground. As she came down, she zon, the company competes business, competed with was so cautious that she put her arms out to protect the against other providers. He multiple other entities for child in her womb of eight months. She broke her right said sometimes they get business at Amazon. I will arm in three places in order to save her little baby. I suppose we all have witnessed the dedication and the contracts and some- do that. But I have talked times they do not. He said to the state about it and it commitment with which some mothers take care of their figures Doherty gave out at does not preclude me from mentally and physically challenged kids with lots of joy and happiness. Some mothers, when their kids need an the meeting on the amount voting,” he said. of business the company Lindsay said that was organ transplant, are the first to come forward to give does with Amazon were helpful and a valid point organs in order to give life to their children. Our mothers, completely inaccurate. “I but added that, “Those dec- I can say, are embodiments of self-sacrificing love, care don’t know where he got larations have not been and protection. In the Gospel we heard last Sunday, Jesus says he is those figures,” he told the (previously) made.” From Gazette-Times. there Russell did declare a the way, the truth and the life. We are all runners in this At the meeting, com- potential conflict and par- universe to achieve our life goals/dreams. They have, in missioners asked County ticipated in the vote which fact, put us all onto the right path, the way of life that Council Justin Nelson his passed two yes, Lindsay we need to follow. Our mothers’ lives and examples are opinion on a possible con- and Russell, and one no, our truth to be lived in. Our mother’s life reminds each flict. Nelson said since he Doherty. Lindsay, who also of us to live and enjoy our lives in spite of numerous is the council for the coun- serves on the CREZ board, hardships. I conclude with the scripture again. Book of ty and not the enterprise said she had voted in favor Sirach says, “If you honor your mother, you are earning zone, so he would only be when the agreement was great wealth” (3:4). Let us trust in this scriptural verse concerned with the vote approved by CREZ, so she and spend more time with our mothers, especially when by the commissioners to would continue to support they are experiencing their second childhoods. To be approve or not approve the the Amazon agreement. there to show them the way that they lived and showed agreement already negoti- “I think there are valid for us. Honoring their truthful lives. Give them the lives ated. Nelson said it would concerns and I don’t know that they long for. I would like to hear from you regarding my article. I ultimately be a decision of how we move forward re- the state ethics commis- searching that. Definitely will be happy hear from you, your comments; my email sion to determine a conflict we need to be declaring for is thankachansdb@gmail.com. You can listen to me on of interest. Commission the pubic moving forward,” Sundays through this live streaming link: https://video. nest.com/live/OuBZvzPtOA. Chairman Melissa Lindsay she added. said Doherty “raised a valid VOTE JOSEPH ARMATO MORROW COUNTY COMMISSIONER ZOOM & FaceBook To Church! Ione Community Church (Worship and Bible Study available online! The Wired Word Bible Study via Zoom Sundays at 9:30 am ( call Pastor Jeff Clabaugh at 971-517-0548 for link) Sunday Morning Worship on FaceBook (search for Ione Community Church on your FaceBook page) CONGRATULATIONS, HEPPNER & IONE 2020 GRADUATES! Join us in honoring and congratulating this year’s Graduating classes from Heppner and Ione. We will be publishing photos of the seniors in the May 20th issue of the Heppner Gazette-Times. The cost is $10 to have your name, business or family included. Email - graphics@rapidserve.net Call - 541-676-9228 Honesty • Integrity • Independent VOTE Cody High MORROW COUNTY TREASURER WORKING FOR YOU
