Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 16, 2020 -- THREE
Enterprise Zone disburses $9.2 million
New infrastructure allotment gives each south county city $200,000
By David Sykes
The Columbia River
Enterprise Zone, CREZ,
disbursed over $9.2 million
last week, including a new
infrastructure allotment that
saw two hundred thousand
dollars sent to each of four
cities in the county, osten-
sibly to tackle their special
waste treatment needs.
Recognizing Heppner,
Lexington and Ione may
need extra help with their
waste treatment systems,
the six-member CREZ
board last Monday took
some of the record $9.2 mil-
lion in-lieu-of-taxes money
it has collected this year and
gave each city $200,000.
The other two cities in the
county were not left out,
however, and under sepa-
rate allotments Boardman
received $1,310,035 and
Irrigon $1,018,151 which
included the additional
$200,000.
In the past, the CREZ
has disbursed money
around the county in four
categories: education, pub-
lic safety, community en-
hancement and housing.
This year it decided to add a
fifth category of infrastruc-
ture. “In the past we have
talked about some of the
bigger infrastructure prob-
lems we have in the coun-
ty,” CREZ chairman Don
Russell said. As an exam-
ple, he cited the city of Ione
which has septic systems
for all its homes. He said the
Oregon Department of En-
vironmental Quality, DEQ,
has “not been receptive to
septics on smaller lots. I
would like to see some of
this money go directly to
the city to help with their
infrastructure problems,”
he told the CREZ board. He
also brought up Lexington
which also is completely
on septic systems. Hep-
pner, who although has a
central treatment plant, has
been told by DEQ to stop
dumping its treated effluent
into Willow Creek and is
facing a large expenditure
to accomplish this.
While the CREZ board
said it would not mandate
the new allocated money
be used by the cities strictly
for waste treatment, it made
clear that is the reason the
money was given. “I am not
saying we tell them to build
a sewer system because that
should be up to each city to
decide what they want to
do with it,” Russell said.
He added that maybe the
people in Ione for instance
are satisfied with septics
and don’t even want a new
central sewer system. “Here
is $200,000, but what is the
new system going to cost?”
Russell said. “And do the
people of Ione want it? I
think that is still undeter-
mined.” He has talked to
people in Ione and says, “I
know some in Ione are in
favor and some are not. I
don’t know what the over-
all voice of the people is. I
know some think its badly
needed and some think ‘I
just spent money upgrad-
ing my sewer system and
having my septic pumped
and my system works fine. I
don’t want to pay for some-
thing I don’t need,’” Russell
related. “I know being on a
septic system (at his home
outside Boardman) and
someone took me off and
had me paying $50 a month
I might be a little resentful
on that.”
All board members ac-
knowledged that $200,000
alone would not solve the
wastewater problems of
any of the cities, but they
did hope it would get them
on the way to determining
what is needed and how
much it is going to cost.
Heppner City Manager
Kraig Cutsforth was on
the Zoom meeting and was
asked what Heppner is
facing in sewer rehabili-
tation costs. “Right now,
somewhere between $3-5
million,” Cutsforth told the
CREZ board. “It’s pretty
large. I’m hoping to have
a (sewer) retention pond
in the next couple of years
and hope to be out (of the
creek),” he said. He added
that the city also is hav-
ing to replace old, deteri-
orated clay sewer pipes in
town and that is another
expense.” Cutsforth said,
however, that he was happy
to get the CREZ money.
In further clarifying the
rules of the new infrastruc-
ture grant money being sent
to the cities Russell said,
“If the city of Ione says we
would rather do something
else with the money are we
okay with that?” “Yes, we
are all right with that. If
Ione polls their populous
and they decide, say 65-35,
that they like their existing
septic system, I’m not go-
ing to tell them they have
to put in a sewer system to
get this $200,000,” he said.
“But if you really want a
sewer system this is a good
start on how to tackle that
problem.” Others agreed
and said it may be the start
of further grant monies in
the future for infrastructure.
While not a member of the
CREZ board, County As-
sessor Mike Gorman said
he thinks the board should
have a conversation with
each of these cities and get
an idea of how much the
enterprise zone could help
them in future years. “So,
we are not just throwing
away the $200,000. If they
had a plan, and if something
would happen in the next
8-10 years then and they
could actually accomplish
something,” he said of fu-
ture CREZ assistance.
In other money dis-
bursed, the CREZ board
also gave Irrigon an addi-
tional $200,000 this year
for infrastructure, however
it was part of a larger lump
sum of $1,018,151. Each
year the CREZ has given
the three economic devel-
opment groups in the coun-
ty funds, and in Irrigon’s
case the city government is
also the economic develop-
ment group.
The south county’s
economic development
organization, Willow Creek
Valley Economic Devel-
opment Group, received
$628,399, the same amount
as last year. It has used the
money in the past for hous-
ing rehabilitation, business
assistance and building two
new duplexes in Heppner
and other community proj-
ects. The group currently
has a new duplex project
going in Ione and has pur-
chased acreage above Rock
Library board to
hold Zoom meeting
The Oregon Trail Li-
brary District Board will
hold a Zoom meeting
Wednesday, December 16
at 6:30 p.m. Items on the
agenda include approval of
November board meeting
minutes and November fi-
nancials, board governance
policy, draft audit report,
COVID precautions and the
director report.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Street in Heppner for a new
subdivision. WCVEDG
serves Heppner, Lexington
and Ione.
Boardman Communi-
ty Development, Board-
man’s economic devel-
o p m e n t o rg a n i z a t i o n ,
received $1,017,760, the
same amount as last year.
Allotment to the economic
groups is based partly on
population.
Boardman received the
most of any city with a
lump sum of $1,310,035
this year. It has the highest
population in the county
and is also the city most
impacted by the growth in
the economic development
zone. The zone is located
mostly at the Port of Mor-
row which has experienced
a large business expansion
with multiple new internet
“server farms” being con-
structed by Amazon. Til-
lamook Cheese and Lamb
Weston are also expanding
there. This new business
growth has put pressure on
Boardman’s city services
and infrastructure. Board-
man specifically mentions
the large upcoming cost
needed to redo the freeway
interchange that is in the
middle of the town and
separates the two halves of
the city. The city also has
several street projects that
need funding.
An additional new ex-
penditure this year went
directly to the Port of Mor-
row, which is responsi-
ble for the new business
growth that generates the
tax money collected. The
Port has never taken any
money from the CREZ
in the past 10 years. The
Port got $1,145,035 this
year, which, although not
earmarked for any specific
project, would be used on
infrastructure projects.
Some of the oth -
er expenditures includ-
ed $1,145,035 to Mor-
row County government,
$975,736 to the education
foundation and $250,180
to the health district.
Once again, the CREZ
shied away from accept-
ing or granting individ-
ual requests for funding
that have come in over the
years, instead opting to
give the money directly to
the economic development
groups which in turn take
requests and distribute the
funds on down into the
communities. Russell and
some other CREZ board
members were inclined
to keep it that way. “Peo-
ple came with asks,” said
County Commissioner Jim
Doherty, who is a member
of the CREZ board. “The
model was these groups go
to their community groups
(economic development) to
ask for the money. It seems
like a wonderful program,
so we tell them go to WC-
VEDG and make their pitch
as opposed to coming to
us,” Doherty said in sup-
porting the current method
of disbursing money. In
also supporting this meth-
od, Russell related how the
county previously had a
program called Needs and
Issues where money from
the Finley Buttes landfill
tippage fees were disbursed
throughout the county. “Ev-
erybody in the county came
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in with lots of different
requests, all of them prob-
ably good things,” Russell
recalls. He said the county
commissioners were tasked
with who was going to get
money. “The requests way
outweighed the pocket-
book,” he says and was
not a good way to disburse
the funds. “Thankfully,
we have three economic
development partners that
wanted to be involved and
we put that in their pocket
and let them decide who
got funded and who didn’t
get funded. That is how we
have done it in the past,”
Russell said.
At the conclusion of
the three-hour meeting the
group talked about how the
CREZ disbursements have
grown over the years, and
what is the future for the
funding. “In 2013-14 we
disbursed $257,724 and
we thought that was great,”
Russell said. “We were do-
ing wonderful things with
it. Last year we disbursed
$6.5 million, and this year
it is more yet. Everyone
has done well with the
funds we gave them,” he
said. Doherty suggested
the board come back and
meet in six months for a
planning session and talk
about the future spending
of the CREZII, which will
continue to receive large
amounts of tax money un-
der its current agreements
for many more years.
Although CREZII ex-
pired this year it will still
be collecting tax money and
making disbursements from
current contracts for the
next 15 years. In addition,
there is a new CREZIII
coming into existence next
year, and it too will be mak-
ing additional tax contracts
with expected new business
development, and disburs-
ing money throughout the
county in the coming years.
DA’s Report
Morrow County Dis-
trict Attorney Justin Nelson
has released the following
report:
-Pablo Alonzo Her-
nandez was convicted of
Criminal Mischief 2 - Class
A Misdemeanor offense
and sentenced to 60 days in
jail. He was also convicted
of Resisting Arrest - Class
A Misdemeanor offense
receiving a sentence of 30
days jail. Also, for Criminal
Mischief 2 - Class A Mis-
demeanor offense, he was
sentenced to 24 months of
probation, 180 days jail if
probation violated and no
contact with victim (who
is also neighbor) during the
two years of probation.
-Sierra Dennis was
convicted of Criminal Mis-
treatment in the First De-
gree - Class A Misdemeanor
offense and sentenced to 24
months bench probation,
80 hours of community
service and 180 days jail
if probation violated. Also,
must comply with DHS
conditions and successfully
complete a Parenting Skills
Class through a court ap-
proved provider.
-Jose E Guzman Gar-
cilazo was convicted of
Harassment - Class B
Misdemeanor offense and
sentenced to 18 months
of probation, 90 days jail
if probation violated, 30
hours of community ser-
vice, anger management
assessment and treatment
and no contact with victim.
Also, Harassment - Class
B Misdemeanor offense
sentenced to 18 months’
probation, 90 days jail if
probation violated, 30 hours
of community service, an-
ger management assess-
ment and treatment and no
contact with victim.
-Zachary James Stea-
gall was convicted of
Possession of Prohibited
Firearm - Class B Felony
Offense and sentenced to 36
months formal probation,
160 hours of CSW, alcohol
and drug evaluation and
treatment and 180/90 sanc-
tion units imposed.
-Florentino Pena Ra-
mos was convicted of Ha-
rassment - Class A Misde-
meanor offense and sen-
tenced to 60 days in jail,
36 months bench probation,
120 days in jail if probation
violated,120 hours of CSW
and no contact with victim.
Cody Thomas Hen-
dren was convicted of
Manslaughter in the First
Degree and sentenced to
120 months prison sen-
tence. Measure 11 sentence.
Three years post-prison
supervision. Also convict-
ed of Criminal Mistreat-
ment in the First Degree
with 20 months prison sen-
tence - concurrent to other
sentence and three years
post-prison supervision.
He was also convicted of
Criminal Mistreatment in
the First Degree and sen-
tenced to 25 months prison
sentence - consecutive to
any other sentence and
three years post-prison su-
pervision. The case was
open sentencing, with sen-
tence decided by the Court.
State requested that each
count be run consecutive,
and that the high end of the
grid block be used for each.
State’s requested sentence,
based on Oregon sentenc-
ing guidelines, was 170
months prison sentence.
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The year 2020 has been one of challenges and changes. With change comes
new perspective and at Wheatland it brings new and old faces to the office.
After 37 years of commitment and service to not only Wheatland but to
South Morrow County and beyond, Nancy Snider has decided to retire
November 30th. Wheatland wishes her all the best in this next chapter!
Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we are unable to have an open
house to celebrate Nancy and thank her for everything she has accomplished.
With Nancy retiring, you might see some new and old faces around town.
Stacie Ekstrom has been with Wheatland for nearly 24 years in the Ione
office. While she started her career in personal lines, her focus for the past
20 years has been Commercial, Farm and Crop insurance. Stacie has co-
managed the office with Nancy this past year and will continue to manage
the office after her retirement.
Hometown girl is back in Heppner. While not new to insurance, Amy
Wolters is new to the Heppner office. Amy and her family moved back
to Morrow County seven years ago. Many of the local kids know her as
Ms. Wolters as she worked for the Morrow County School District prior to
Wheatland Insurance. Wheatland has been very fortunate for the past 4 ½
years to have Amy as a valuable part of their team. Amy started out in Ione
and transferred to Heppner a couple months ago. She is the assistant
manager and handles your commercial and farm accounts.
A new exciting addition to the Wheatland family is Sean Wood. We cannot
wait to see what he can do. Sean has had some insurance background but
spent most of his time, pre-COVID, flying our friendly skies. Sean will be an
account manager for your commercial accounts.
Alicia Doherty still continues to service your personal insurance needs. She
has been a valuable member of the Wheatland team for 4 years now. Along
with her dedication to Wheatland, you will find her helping out at numerous
community events.
Amanda Fenn has been with Wheatland for just over a year. She is the first
voice you hear when you call the office.
Since we all live in an ever-changing world, changes are inevitable. What
does not change is Wheatland’s commitment to the local communities and
their clients. Wheatland looks forward to continuing to service your
insurance needs and supporting the local communities.