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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2020)
EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 26, 2020 CONDEMNATION -Continued from PAGE ONE co-op examine a shorter alternative routes con- sidered that would not have required condemnation. He went over the major technical difficulties with each route coming back to the same conclusion that the proposed route filed with the PUC is the best. Echenrode has said sever- al times condemnation of property is never a desirable option, and the co-op works hard to avoid the process, but all the engineering and environmental studies show the current proposed route is the best. In an effort to avoid condemnation, commis- sioners have proposed the route putting a part of the power line over county property. Echenrode said while the offer was “gen- erous” it would not change the co-op asking PUC for the right to condemn. “So, the county coming to a writ- ten easement agreement, would it change your con- demnation work and how much you would condemn of one of our neighbors?” Morrow County Commis- sion Chair Melissa Lindsay asked. “No. We would still have two landowners that we would need to reach mutually agreeable terms and receive an easement on,” Echenrode said. He New Baby in Your Family? Engagement? Wedding? We want to share your life events! Stop in the Heppner Gazette office or email us with details and photos. All birth, engagement and wedding announcements are always free! said while gaining the coun- ty easement might lessen the amount of private land needed, there would still be a need for easements across some of the remaining two holdout landowners’ prop- erties. “Whether the order of condemnation is for one foot or 100 feet is rath- er irrelevant,” Echenrode pointed out. “I don’t think the act of condemnation Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print *Mail Sykes Publishing 541-676-9228 changes. How much (land would be needed) could certainly change if a short- er route is obtained,” he added. “Condemnation is never a good thing; it’s always the last resort. If the county signed an easement, that would certainly work toward minimizing the im- pact on the land owners, but it would not force any different outcome with the act of condemnation on the landowner,” Echenrode emphasized. Details for an easement agreement between the county and UEC had al- ready been worked out and documents were ready to be signed at last week’s meet- ing, however, the county put off consummating the deal for further study. The agreement was for an ease- ment option with UEC. If the easement were needed UEC would then exercise its option. According to the agreement UEC would pay the county $1,000 per year for the option and $16,275 lump sum if the easement were used. The county land over which the power lines would run is being used by the public works depart- ment, and Director Matt Scrivner has been directly involved with the negotia- tions and easement details. On delaying signing of the easement option, Ech- enrode said that until there is written agreement with the county, UEC will con- tinue to plan for the current proposed route and all of the procedures necessary to build the power line there. He added that if signed, the co-op would not exercise the county easement option if not needed. “So, if I don’t need the easement, I won’t execute the easement. If for some reason the adja- cent landowner is settled, we would not execute the easement and let it expire. If it is in the best interests of a neighboring landowner to look at a shorter route because of the county’s generosity, that’s great. I can focus on that effort. But I need the county’s ease- ment with certainty before I can continue to offer that option with the adjacent landowner,” he said of the ongoing negotiations with property owners. He said without the county easement agree- ment, the co-op would continue working on ob- taining the current power line route without change. “I cannot adjust the route until I have the alternate route that was discussed here today established. So if the county needs some time, I can respect that but I cannot deviate from filing the application with the var- ious agencies until I have an alternative route that is achievable, and that won’t happen until the county executes an agreeable set of documents,” Echenrode pointed out. “If the county is ready to take action, that is wonderful. If not, I understand.” Following an executive session to discuss the proposed easement in private, the county com- mission made no decision, and placed the UEC ease- ment agreement back on the agenda for the August 26 commission meeting. NEW LISTING 188 W Willow Street Heppner, OR editor@rapidserve.net The Heppner Gazette-Times wants pictures of your trophy animals from this hunting season. Stop by to have your picture taken, drop off photos, mail them to PO Box 337 in Heppner, email them to editor@rapidserve.net or text cell phone photos to 541-980-6674. $159,500 There are two homes on this property. 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