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
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