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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 16, 2022 -- SEVEN BROADBAND -Continued from PAGE ONE duce the fire fuel risk at the Mitigating the floodplain’s until a replacement can be lion federal infrastructure bill approved by congress last November. Also included in the local broadband funding was money for a profes- sional grant writer specific to broadband grant writing, digital inclusion and equity to make sure all areas of the county demographics have access to broadband, and legal expenses for the broadband team if needed. The local electrical co-op, Columbia Basin Electric (CBEC), was also recruit- ed in the broadband effort, as it agreed to handle the money and be the fiscal agent for the broadband team. “We can provide the accounting of the expendi- tures,” said CBEC manag- er Andy Fletcher who was at the meeting. “Our object is nothing more than fiscal agent,” he emphasized. The broadband effort in the county is aimed mainly at pushing fast in- ternet availability out into the rural areas, as the cities have been seeing higher speeds made available by private businesses. As an example, with the arrival of GorgeNet in Heppner and Ione there is now very high speed affordable in- ternet being offered for every home and business in those cities. The more rural areas of the county, however, still lack high speed or even reliable and affordable internet access, which is where the action team is focusing its efforts. OHV grazing rights In other business at its March 9 meeting the commissioners approved a revised Grazing and Fire Fuels Management Agree- ment for the county-owned 9,000-acre Off Highway Vehicle Park in the moun- tains. The agreement is similar to prior grazing contracts the county has with local cattlemen on the property but does include an increase in fees. Two area ranches, Horseshoe Hereford and Triangle Ranches, will continue as contracted ranches to graze on the property. County officials have appreciated past close re- lationships with the ranch- ers in management of the property including at cer- tain times moving cattle on and off the property to accommodate park users. Of the land approximately 7,700 acres are located in Morrow County and are included in the lease, while the other 2,000 acres are in Grant County. “Horseshoe Hereford Ranch and Tri- angle Ranches are willing to work as partners with Morrow County to provide fire management grazing at the Morrow County OHV Park,” the agreement stat- ed. The ranches “…have shown an ability to work collaboratively with Mor- row County Parks to re- OHV Park, while also pro- viding feed for livestock,” it stated. Under the agreement the ranches will pay the county $11,680 annually for the grazing rights, a $3,000 increase over the previous year. County Park official Greg Close and Commissioner Don Rus- sell had done research and talked with other ranchers about common grazing fees around the county to come up with what they said was an equitable charge for the rights. The agreement runs from April 6, of this year to November 1, however county officials said be- cause of the July Fourth OHV camping crowds, the cows usually don’t come onto the property until af- ter then. Flood plain at old mill site In other action the commissioners voted unanimously to write a let- ter to the U.S. Economic Development Adminis- tration (EDA) in support of a $1 million Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group (SC- VEDG) grant application for elimination of the flood plain at the former Kinzua Mill Site in Heppner. local economic development officials believe the flood plain at the site has kept new businesses from locat- ing there. The mill closed in 1998 permanently, lay- ing off 138 workers and dealing a major blow to the south county economy. “Heppner is home to a now abandoned industrial lumber operation… that to this day cannot be devel- oped because of floodplain restrictions there,” the let- ter said. The letter sited the closure of the coal plant in Boardman as further im- pact on lost jobs and neg- ative economic impact on the county. The letter also said WCVEDG has received “roughly three calls a month from companies in- terested in developing the Heppner industrial park site, and during COVID, they received 30 such calls.” It said removing the flood plain restrictions would open up this large area for business develop- ment. “Not only will the County’s general lack of buildable industrial land be addressed by opening up almost the entire 80-acre industrial park from flood- plain restrictions, but it will enable existing small business entities to expand and redevelop the area,” it said. “There has been con- sistent and predictable interest in the industrial park/Kinzua Mill site for siting commercial, manu- facturing and other busi- ness entities, but the flood- plain restrictions severely limit development options. impact through individu- al plans at each business would be cost prohibitive, and a barrier around the entire site would be much costlier than the planned excavation, bridge remov- al and grading,” the letter concluded. WCVEDG presi- dent Kim Cutsforth, who is a local expert in flood plain issues, told the Ga- zette-Times if awarded the $1 million grant would need a 25 percent match, or $250,000 from the mill site owner Port of Morrow. She said the port approved the match at its meeting last week. Commission discusses resignations In other business the commissioners appointed Robin Canaday, currently Nurse Supervisor, as inter- im Public Health Director and Public Health Admin- istrator. She will take the place of Nazario Rivera who recently resigned the positions. The appoint- ment will be for 90 days found. At their March 2 meet- ing the commissioners discussed the recent res- ignation of both the coun- ty Finance Director Kate Knop and Financial An- alyst Deanne Irving. The county is entering its bud- get season, so it is a busy time for finance. Commis- sioners also discussed who would fill one of Knop’s other rolls as administrator and judiciary of the coun- ty’s retirement plan. Knop said she spends a lot of time working with current and retired county employees answering questions about their retirement. The com- missioners talked about either outsourcing some of Knop’s duties or hiring qualified people in the area to work on a contract basis until a new finance director can be hired. The county is also without a public works director as he recently re- signed his position also. The county is now in the process of searching for his replacement also. Boyer-McKnight exchange vows Tyler and Lindsey Boyer Tyler and Lindsey Boyer Tyler Boyer, Heppner, and Lindsey McKnight, Gird- wood, Alaska, were mar- ried at the Alyeska Alaska Resort, near Girdwood on July 10, 2021. Tyler, the son of John and Kelly Boyer, Lexington, is a graduate of Heppner High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Linfield College and his master’s degree in psy- chology from Lewis and Clark College, Portland. He is employed as an as- sessment coordinator for Community Counseling Solutions in Heppner. Lindsey, the daughter of Jean McNight, was raised near Anchorage, Alaska, and graduated from the University of Montana with a master’s degree in Human Resources. She is employed as the human resources manager for the State of Oregon in Pendle- ton. Owner/Broker David Sykes 541-980-6674 188 W. Willow P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 david@sykesrealestate.net Volunteer campground hosts being sought The Umatilla National Forest is looking for vol- unteers to spend the sum- mer as campground hosts at the Jubilee Lake, Wood- ward, Olive Lake, North Fork John Day and Bull Prairie Lake campgrounds. A campground host greets campers, provides infor- mation on the surrounding area, and generally makes campers feel at home. Hosts will visit with camp- ers and day-use visitors, clean and maintain re- strooms, restock supplies, occasionally clean up after camp and carry out minor maintenance as needed. They keep an eye on things and set a good example for others in the campground. Individuals or couples can apply to be hosts. Retirees often apply to the camp- ground host program, finding it the ideal way to spend the summer in a beautiful setting. Hosts need to be friendly, flexi- ble and responsible. Host applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. Those who apply will need to supply their own trailer, camper or motor home. Campground hosts will be provided a camp- site, usually near the main entryway to the camp- ground. Though the host program is a volunteer program, a food allowance and propane is offered, and personal vehicle mileage associated with hosting duties is reimbursed. Jubilee Lake Camp- ground is located 12 miles NE of Tollgate and is the largest developed camp- ground on the Umatilla National Forest offering 53 campsites, four picnic areas and a 2.8 mile acces- sible hiking trail around the 92-acre lake. This campground is very pop- ular for overnight camp- ing as well as day-use activities. Campground hosts are typically on-site from early-July through mid-September. For more information on becoming a Forest Service volunteer campground host at Ju- bilee Lake Campground, please contact Kiyoshi Fu- jishin at the Walla Walla Ranger District (509) 522- 6277 or Kiyoshi.fujishin@ usda.gov. Woodward Camp- ground is located right off Highway 204 at Toll- gate and offers 14 tent/ trailer sites, four picnic areas, four accessible toi- let facilities, and views of Langdon Lake (however Langdon Lake is a private lake and access to the lake is not allowed). Hosts are typically on-site from ear- ly July through the end of September. The hosts at this campground are also responsible for taking care of Target Meadows and Woodland Campgrounds, which are both located nearby. For more informa- tion on becoming a Forest Service volunteer camp- ground host at Woodward Campground, please con- tact Kiyoshi Fujishin at the Walla Walla Ranger Dis- trict (509) 522-6277 or Ki- yoshi.fujishin@usda.gov. Olive Lake Camp- ground is located 12 miles SW of Granite and sits on the shore of a 90-acre high mountain lake. This camp- ground is typically hosted from early-June through Labor Day. The camp- ground features 28 camp- sites and seven accessible toilet facilities. Other fea- tures include a two-mile accessible hiking trail around the lake with near- by access to wilderness and scenic area trails, a boat ramp and two docks. If you are interested in becoming a Forest Service volunteer campground host at Olive Lake Campground, please contact Roy Vega at john. vega@usda.gov. North Fork John Day Campground is located eight miles N of Gran- ite and is situated along the beautiful North Fork John Day River and is a gateway to the adjacent wilderness of the same name. The campground offers five tent sites, and 15 tent/trailer sites, as well as horse handling facili- ties and a trailhead. This campground is typical- ly hosted from Memorial Day through mid-October, though a shorter duration is negotiable. If you are inter- ested in becoming a Forest Service volunteer camp- ground host at North Fork John Day Campground, please contact Roy Vega at john.vega@usda.gov. Bull Prairie Lake Campground is located 36 miles south of Heppner and offers 30 tent/trail- er sites, 12 picnic areas, a beautiful 28-acre lake with four floating fish- ing docks and a 1.5-mile paved accessible trail. This campground is typical- ly hosted from Memorial Day through mid-October, though a shorter duration is negotiable. For more information on becoming a Forest Service volunteer campground host at Bull Prairie Lake Campground, please contact Roy Vega at john.vega@usda.gov. Do you have property to sell? Now is the time! I have buyers looking for homes, land and building lots in the Heppner, Lexington and Ione area. This is a good time to sell! Call, text or email me. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228
