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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2023)
TEN - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 26, 2023 From the Archives June 26, 1991 Gazette-Times Ione moves forward with city security cameras Ione joined other Mor- row County communities this month in purchasing security cameras to help cut down on crime and vandalism. At its regular April 18 meeting, the Ione City Council approved the pur- chase of eight Verkada Bul- let cameras that have the ability to recognize faces and license plates. The council allotted $19,875 to the project at the March meeting, and Ione Commu- nity Agri-Business Organi- zation (ICABO) is funding the remainder of the project through a $15,000 grant. The city will be contract- ing with Verkada for the system. Brian Points of Points Consulting, Morrow Coun- ty Planner Tamra Mabbott, and Dawn Hert of the De- partment of Land Conser- vation and Development (DLCD) also joined the April meeting by Zoom for a presentation of the Goal 9 economic development plan for Ione. Points discussed the project timeline, the tax lots in Ione that have a po- tential for commercial and industrial development, the possibility of extending the urban growth boundaries, the moderate employment forecast for Ione and other county-wide statistics. Resident Marvin Pad- berg and former mayor Linda LaRue commented that there is not enough room to expand industries and that the city should focus on becoming a livable bedroom community. Also at the meeting, the council approved an amended engineering con- tract with Anderson Perry & Associates (AP.) The amendment was for the in- clusion of the Build Amer- ica Buy America (BABA) clause as required by the BABA Act. Currently, the city is waiting for several Right to Entry documents that need to be returned to Ione City Hall before AP begins surveying properties for the wastewater project. The Land Use Compatibil- ity Statement for the drain field that will be located on Johnson Grade Road has been submitted to the Morrow County Planning Department by Dane Ma- ben, engineer with AP. Maben also will meet with Morrow County Public Works Director Eric Imes to determine placement of lines up Johnson Grade. The city staff have been tasked to complete a land line adjustment with Mor- row County Grain Growers to accommodate the place- ment of a lift station. The council also dis- cussed monthly rate fees for residences, RV parks, businesses and restaurants. Padberg inquired if a dump station is part of the project. The city does plan to place a dump station at the city park. In other business, the Ione City Council: -Tabled a noxious odor ordinance until the May 9 meeting. After a brief discussion, it was decided to combine the proposed ordinance with the chicken and dog ordinances and include other issues that need addressed. It will be presented as the Nuisance Ordinance. -Learned that six shut- off notices were placed throughout the city this month. The council ap- proved development of a collection policy that would include a written agreement for accounts with outstand- ing balances. -Approved the employ- ment of a summer intern for the public works de- partment. -Set the budget com- mittee meeting date for May 11. If needed, a sec- ond meeting will be held May 18. The meetings will be held at the American Legion Hall at 6 p.m. -Unanimously ap- proved the financials, min- utes from the March 14 meeting and Code of Ethics Policy as written. The next meeting of the Ione City Council will be held May 9 at 6 p.m. at Ione City Hall. The zoom link can be found on the cal- endar on the city’s website, www.cityofioneoregon.gov. Ambulance debate at county meeting -Continued from PAGE ONE of another medical profes- “If Boardman Fire Rescue County commissioners to discuss Greater Idaho The Morrow County Board of Commissioners will hold its first discussion of Greater Idaho at its regular meeting May 3 in Heppner. -Contributed The Morrow County Board of Commissioners has announced it will dis- cuss the “Greater Idaho” re- location of the Oregon-Ida- ho state border at several upcoming meetings this year. The board will discuss the topic during its regular meetings May 3 in Hep- pner, Aug. 16 in Irrigon and YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Call 541-676-9228 Or Email graphics@rapidserve.net We also offer Nov. 1 in Heppner. The three meetings are required as part of County Measure 25-88 that passed last November. The mea- sure requires the county commissioners to meet three times yearly to discuss Morrow County’s inter- ests in relocating the state border. Mike McCarter, who has been a driving force behind the Greater Idaho movement, told the Ga- zette-Times he plans to attend the May 3 meeting in Heppner. “I have not met the commissioners, as yet, and would like to give them a short update on the Move Oregon’s Border/Greater Idaho movement,” said Mc- Carter, saying he would be available to answer ques- tions from the commission- ers or those attending the meeting. He encouraged Morrow County citizens to attend the meeting. “This is a great oppor- tunity for Morrow County citizens to express their concerns and ask ques- tions,” he said. Morrow County voters approved the measure with 60 percent of the votes, 2,315 compared to 1,522. The measure passed in every precinct, though the margins were closest in Boardman, Lexington and Ione, with Irrigon and Hep- pner showing the most support. Meetings in Heppner will be held at the Bar- tholomew Building, while Irrigon meetings will take place at the Morrow County Government Center. Regu- lar meetings of the board of commissioners begin at 9 a.m. with MCHD threatening legal action against both Boardman Fire and the commissioners, and public comments last week were indicative of the high emo- tional tide the issue is caus- ing throughout the county. While not every com- ment addressed the ASA, most did, and the comments from the nine individuals who addressed the board were overwhelmingly pro- health district. Several appeared to question the board’s motives in its re- cent decision, while others expressed fears over loss of ambulance services and possible layoffs. “As a Morrow County resident, I feel it’s my duty to make sure this plan is written in the best inter- ests of providing excellent emergency care to Morrow County residents and that it’s not written with hidden political or financial agen- das,” Jodi Ferguson told the commissioners. Donna Sherman, chair of the EMS advisory com- mittee for Morrow County, said the advisory committee had noticed a pattern of patient and safety concerns and liability concerns re- garding calls to which the Boardman Fire ambulance responded. “There has been a pat- tern of patient care interfer- ence, unauthorized continu- ation of care, disregard for patient safety and comfort, disregard for patient priva- cy while already in the care sional,” she said. Other comments ad- dressed the desire for more translation services at coun- ty meetings, the request to upload meeting videos to the county website and anger over recent tax abate- ments granted to Amazon for its Morrow County data centers. The letter of support for Boardman Fire had been on the board’s consent agenda for the meeting, but Mor- row County Commissioner Jeff Wenholz asked that it be removed and considered separately because of a wording change request- ed by BFRD Chief Mike Hughes. The letter as drafted stated simply, “The Morrow County Board of Commis- sioners supports Boardman Fire Rescue District in its quest to seek licensing for its agency and ambulanc- es.” Hughes had requested the addition of the sentence, District is granted an Or- egon ambulance service license, Morrow County shall ensure Boardman Fire Rescue District complies with Morrow County am- bulance service plan.” “I don’t think we’ve had an analysis to see the effects of adding that sen- tence,” said Morrow Coun- ty Counsel Justin Nelson. He added that previous discussion around the letter had been regarding Board- man Fire working with other counties and agen- cies, not within the Morrow County ASA. “I think we should wait until we get more clarifi- cation from counsel,” said Morrow County Commis- sioner Roy Drago, Jr. The commissioners voted unanimously to table the letter of support until Blackmore had a chance to review the requested addition and determine its legal ramifications. 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