EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 31, 2021
BMCC remains
committed to students
By Dr. Connie Green,
Interim President, Blue
Mountain Community
College
In 1962, our communi-
ty took on the courageous
challenge of opening one
of the first community col-
leges in Oregon. In the
nearly 60 years since Blue
Mountain Community Col-
lege (BMCC) first opened
its doors and began serv-
ing students, much has
changed. The college has
celebrated triumphs and
weathered challenges. The
past year has brought about
a particularly challenging
time for our faculty and
staff, students, and the com-
munities we serve.
BMCC is working to
address the issues that most
rural community colleges
in 2021 face: enrollment
decline, budget challenges,
poverty and COVID-limit-
ed contact that has resulted
in decreased connections to
high schools, universities
and businesses. Despite
these challenges, and what
you may have read else-
where, BMCC is commit-
ted to being your college
and meeting the needs of
the communities we serve
in Umatilla, Morrow and
Baker counties. Failing you
is not an option.
As the interim presi-
dent at BMCC, my agree-
ment with the Board of
Education is to address
these issues openly, and
with the campus team and
our community partners
working together to create a
stable two-year budget that
will provide predictable
and stable learning oppor-
tunities. This step will
ensure BMCC’s programs
and services to our students
and partners are strong and
vibrant. In doing so, we
will also become flexible
and nimble to ensure the
connections and the results
increase as we all work
together to support commu-
nities and individuals that
thrive in eastern Oregon.
So, yes, BMCC is expe-
riencing significant transi-
tion and change to meet the
current reality. The college
will begin a search for a
new president. The intent
is to not pass on current
budget challenges for a
new president to handle.
The college and its Board
of Education recognize that
for BMCC to continue to
meet the evolving needs of
its students and communi-
ties, it, too, must adapt. That
means BMCC will change
how we are organized, how
we operate and how we
partner. This can be a scary
endeavor.
It can also be an op-
portunity.
BMCC has an oppor-
tunity to renew its commit-
ment to students and the
community while review-
ing its internal organization
and structure, and right-siz-
ing. It has an opportunity to
serve students in new ways
in a post-pandemic era
that will see our economy
in recovery and our local
industries adapting to the
challenges of the past year.
So how did BMCC end
up in its current financial
challenge? The answer is
multi-pronged.
Like most community
colleges across the country,
BMCC has experienced
enrollment decline for the
past several years. This was
exacerbated by the pandem-
ic over the past year, which
forced us into virtual learn-
ing, and became a major
challenge for the hands-on
Career Technical Education
(CTE) programs. Since
community colleges rely
on enrollment for tuition
revenue and state fund-
ing, fewer students mean
less revenue. The prima-
ry sources of funding for
Oregon’s 17 community
colleges come from three
revenue sources. In 2019-
2020, the College received
31.03 percent from state
funding, 32.38 percent from
student tuition and fees, and
36.59 percent from local
property tax revenue.
Many community col-
leges, including BMCC,
have had to raise tuition to
help cover costs. BMCC
has also taken steps to re-
duce its expenses over the
past year, reducing nearly
$2 million for the 2020-
2021 budget. These reduc-
tions were in materials and
services and staff develop-
ment, as well as a reduction
of 24 positions. Last year
had difficult decisions. The
intent of the board is for
the college to make any
additional reductions for
the 2021-2022 budget so
that the expenditures and
revenues balance and the
college is “right-sized” for
the future.
How does BMCC do
this? Through inclusive
conversations with facul-
ty, staff, students and the
Dr. Emily Jack accepts MCHD offer
Dr. Emily (Thompson)
Jack has accepted the offer
made by the Morrow Coun-
ty Health District Board for
employment in the district,
MCHD Administrator Ryan
Fowler told the board at
their regular meeting Mon-
day night in Boardman.
The MCHD contract
with Jack includes a stag-
gered compensation pack-
age per hour, depending
on years in the physician’s
specialty and in which ca-
pacity the doctor is serving,
such as clinic only-$108 to
$128 per hour, emergency
department and clinic from
$123-$143 per hour; ER on
call-$75; ER Patients-$75;
hospital patients $108-
$128 per hour; procedures,
$108-$128 per hour; and
physician assistant super-
visions-$200 per month
base for each PA supervised
plus $90 per hour of super-
vision for each PA being
supervised to be tracked in
bi-weekly timesheet (chart
review).
The agreement includes
a sign-on bonus of $20,000
upon signing the agreement
and an additional $20,000
on the first day of work
within the district for a total
of $40,000. If the physician
does not start employment
as scheduled, the physician
will repay all amounts paid
by the district by Sept. 30,
2022.
For each year, the phy-
sician is granted 24 days
paid vacation, six days paid
sick leave, 10 days for con-
tinuing medical education
and is eligible for payment
of district recognized holi-
days, plus up to $10,000 for
the reimbursement of doc-
umented moving expenses.
The board subsequent-
ly approved the contract
with Dr. Jack, commencing
no later than September
30, 2022 and continuing
through September 30,
2025 unless either party
gives 120 days’ notice of
termination or resignation.
A three-year renewal of the
agreement may be available
to the physician if the dis-
trict does not provide notice
of termination.
Concerning the search
for another physician, “Pa-
cific Companies ruled out
the previous candidate that
they had identified,” said
Fowler. Pacific Companies
earlier had two candidates,
but that was narrowed down
to one.
Fowler reported that
Boardman Fire and Res-
cue District had proposed
splitting the ambulance
service, which is operated
by Morrow County Health
District so that Boardman
Fire would operate the ser-
vice in Boardman and Ir-
rigon. “After a productive
work session with county
commissioners, we believe
it is in the best interest of
Morrow County to retain
control and ownership of
the ambulance service to
improve services,” he re-
ported. Boardman Rural
Fire Protection District had
just recently changed its
name to “Boardman Fire
and Rescue District.”
Fowler reported that
he had communicated with
Heppner attorney Bill Kuhn
concerning the property
transfer in Irrigon to allow
space to build the new Irri-
gon Ambulance building.
He said that Kuhn assured
him that he was “within
community. BMCC has
already begun intensive
work internally, reviewing
department budgets, orga-
nizational structures and
potential revenue options.
Nothing is off the table for
discussion as we review
budgets and options.
Now, a discussion does
not necessarily mean all
things change. A discussion
means we learn, listen and
consider implications so
that we can make informed
decisions moving forward.
We need a structural organi-
zation, plan and budget that
is sustainable and provides
students and the community
with college programs and
services that are stable and
predictable, as well as flex-
ible and nimble.
While this process will
be challenging – and even
heart-breaking – for many,
BMCC’s faculty and staff
are resilient. They have
weathered past storms, and
each time the college comes
out stronger.
With these impending
changes, there remains one
constant: BMCC is com-
mitted to the students and
communities it serves. Our
administration, faculty, staff
and Board of Education are
committed to strengthen-
ing BMCC so that it can
thrive and be the affordable,
high-quality educational
option for eastern Oregon.
We are committed to work-
ing with local industries
to put eastern Oregonians
back to work and reinvig-
orate our local economy.
We are committed to being
“Students First.” And, just
like when we first opened
our doors in 1962, we are
committed at BMCC to you
– our community.
Fact Sheet
Residential Burn Barrels:
A Source of Toxic Pollution
How does burning household waste produce
toxic air pollution?
Burn barrels are inefficient and polluting; they produce
low temperature fires that receive very little oxygen.
They also produce a lot of smoke (finely divided
particulate matter) and many toxic substances. Virtually
all of the pollutants are released into the air close to
ground level, where they are easily inhaled.
cans, aluminum, newspaper, cardboard,
office paper, glass, plastic containers and
used oil.
Garbage pickup service – Check with your
local municipality.
Self- haul – For do-it-yourself types, it is
cheaper to haul trash to a permitted landfill
or transfer site.
What materials can be burned?
Untreated wood, paper and natural
vegetative materials can be safely burned.
Burning in burn barrels is considered “open burning”
The majority of pollutants emitted from burning
household wastes in a burn barrel (or other types of
open burning) are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
very small breathable particles and nitrogen oxides.
However, smaller amounts of more poisonous
chemicals are also released into the air when household
waste is burned. These include benzene, styrene,
formaldehyde, dioxins and furans. These toxic
chemicals are carried deep into the lungs, attached to
fine particles. There, they embed into lung tissue and
enter the bloodstream.
Many cities have banned burn barrels, or open
burning altogether, including Brookings, Bandon,
Florence, Medford, Jacksonville, Talent, and
Salem/Keizer.
AT 5PM
Pendleton
800 SE Emigrant Ave
Suite 330
Pendleton, OR 97801
541-276-4063
Asbestos
Asphalt
Auto parts (including frames)
Dead animals
Plastic and rubber products
Tires
Waste oil, petroleum materials
Wet garbage and food waste
Material creating dense smoke or
noxious odors.
The Dalles
400 E Scenic Drive
Suite 307
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-298-7255
Salem
4026 Fairview Industrial
Drive SE
Salem , OR 97302
503-378-8240
Burning prohibited materials can result in
serious fines. For more information on
Oregon’s open burning rules and recycling
options, contact DEQ.
Complaints
Please call your local fire department to report
an open burning complaint. You may also
contact DEQ’s complaint hotline at 888-997-
7888 or submit a complaint online at
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Get-
Involved/Pages/File-Pollution-Complaint.aspx
•
SOUTH-END STATION, HWY 74 HEPPNER/LEXINGTON HWY, LEXINGTON
•
NORTH-END STATION, 69900 FRONTAGE LANE, BOARDMAN, OR
Este sitio no acepta
North and South Transfer Stations DO NOT
Estos artículos:
Accept:
Baterías de plomo ácido
Lead-acid Batteries
Amianto
Asbestos
Animales muertos
Dead Animals
Residuos de aguas residuales
Sewage Waste or sludge
Quimicos
Chemicals
Explosivos
Explosives
Barriles Open Burn
Open Burn barrels
Materiales peligrosos
Hazardous Materials
Automobile bodies
MONDAYS
Portland
700 NE Multnomah St.
Suite 600
Portland, OR 97232
Phone:
503-229-5696
800-452-4011
Fax:
503-229-6762
-approved a three-year
expenditure from Veloci-
tyEHS, Chicago, for an HQ
account for $5,000 for year
one, $5,100 for year two
and $5,200 for year three.
-approved a flexi-
ble agreement with im-
pact!Communications for
newsletter development,
design and production ser-
vices, including social me-
dia, website updates, bro-
chures, signs and banners,
development and distribu-
tion of press releases, with
the community newsletter
prices at $8,500 per edition,
a monthly communications/
design support at $5,165
and training with an unde-
termined fee.
-approved an agree-
ment for technical services
with Incyte Pathology, PS,
to provide a technical su-
pervisor responsible for
assisting Pioneer Memo-
rial Hospital in accessing
regulatory compliance in
its high or moderate com-
plexity laboratory.
-approved credentials
for two Providence pro-
viders.
-received the following
report for February: Pioneer
Memorial Hospital had
three in-patient admissions,
six swing bed admissions,
11 admissions for obser-
vation, one admission for
hospital respite, 614 total
outpatients, 50 emergency
room encounters, 1,541
lab tests, 80 x-ray/ultra-
sound tests, 31 CT scans,
two MRI scans, 24 EKG
tests, two lower endosco-
py procedures, two upper
endoscopy procedures, 24
respiratory therapy proce-
dures; pharmacy had 2,669
drug doses for $93,980 in
drug revenue.
-received the following
clinic reports: Pioneer Me-
morial Clinic in Heppner
had 356 patient visits, with
12 new patients, 20 seen
by a nurse, 16 no-shows;
Irrigon Clinic had 349 pa-
tient visits, with six new
patients; Ione Community
Clinic had 41 patient visits,
29 seen by a nurse and zero
no-shows.
-received the following
Home Health & Hospice
reports: Home Health had
169 patient visits; Hospice
had two admissions and
three deaths.
-received the following
ambulance reports: Hep-
pner Ambulance had 23
page-outs with 21 trans-
ports for $38,295 in reve-
nue; Boardman Ambulance
had 41 page-outs with 19
transports for $37,716 in
revenue; Irrigon Ambu-
lance had 24 page-outs and
13 transports for $21,441 in
revenue; Ione Ambulance
had one page-out, with no
transports; there were seven
life flights.
-held an executive ses-
sion following the regular
meeting.
Bend
475 NE Bellevue Drive
Suite 110
Bend, OR 97701
541-388-6146
Burning the following materials is
illegal anytime, anywhere in Oregon:
DEADLINE:
two weeks of having all the
paperwork completed.”
In other business, the
board:
-learned from Fowler
that the district has received
inquiries from two qualified
candidates for the Chief
Nursing Officer position
following the recent res-
ignation of current CNO
Jamie Houck, R.N. He said
that he hoped to fill the
position quickly to “give Ja-
mie an opportunity to work
with the selected candidate
prior to her departure.”
-received the February
profit and loss statement
which showed a $294,194
loss for the month with
$1,071, 642 in gross pa-
tient revenue: less $16,368
for bad debts, $243,281 in
contractual and other ad-
justments, plus $185,460 in
tax revenue and $5,127 in
other operating revenue for
$$1,002,569 in total operat-
ing revenue, $1,360,746 in
total operating expenses, a
$63,983 non-operating gain
for the $294,194 loss.
-approved an expen-
diture of $154,000 for 11
hospital beds from Stryker
Medical, Chicago, Ill. Chief
Financial Officer Nicole
Mahoney noted to the board
that the purchase of the
beds was not budgeted
but will be paid for with
COVID monies. According
to the Stryker invoice, the
district saved $65,017.22.
Stryker’s original fee would
have been $219,017.22--
$202,375.91 for the beds,
$14,166.31 for freight, and
$2,475 for disposal of the
old beds for $219,017.22.
-approved an invoice
and budget expenditure for
$32,787.13 ($27,322.61
in matching funds and
$5,464.52 for an adminis-
trative fee) from the Oregon
Office of Rural Health for
the Oregon Partnership
State Loan Repayment Pro-
gram for matching funds
for employment of Katie
Mencos. “This is a tremen-
dous tool for us,” said board
Chair John Murray, noting
the benefit of providing
health care professionals in
underserved areas.
-approved a quote from
Patriot Building & Grounds
Maintenance for cleaning
of the Irrigon Medical Clin-
ic for $23,844 annually.
Currently the staff does
the cleaning, but the board
concurred that “it needs
professional cleaning.” Pa-
triot was the only bidder.
-approved a mainte-
nance service agreement
from Turn-Key Medical,
Inc. for parts and labor
for software at $9,200
per month for a total of
$36,800. MCHD’s current
contract with Turn-Key ex-
pires on January 24, 2022.
“We want to lock in at these
prices,” Mahoney suggest-
ed, and the board approved
the expenditure.
Medford
221 Stewart Avenue
Suite 201
Medford, OR 97501
541-776-6010
www.oregon.gov/DEQ
DEQ is a leader in restoring,
maintaining and enhancing
the quality of Oregon’s air,
land and water.
UEC is looking for exceptional
people to join our team!
Visit our website: ABOUT/CAREERS
for full job descriptions and open
positions.
www.UmatillaElectric.com
Morrow County
Public Works
541-989-9500
visit: https://
www.co.morrow.or.us/
Hermiston Office Boardman Office
750 W. Elm Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-6414
400 N.E. Eldrige Drive
Boardman, OR 97818
(541) 481-2220