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Morrow County, Amazon Web Services ink six new data center deals Includes $30 million up front payments, and participation in bonded debt 50¢ VOL. 143 NO. 20 10 Pages Wednesday, May 17, 2023 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Health district launches $4.3 million lawsuit against county, Boardman Fire By Andrea Di Salvo Morrow County Health District ramped up the de- bate over ambulance ser- vices in Morrow County when it carried out threats to take legal action against Morrow County and Board- man Fire Rescue District (BFRD) last week. Thursday, May 11, the health district filed a civil complaint against Morrow County, Boardman Fire Rescue District and Board- man Fire Chief Michael Hughes in Morrow County Circuit Court. The health district is seeking an injunc- tion against the develop- ment of a new Ambulance Service Area (ASA) plan, as well as monetary claims totaling at least $4,372,350. In addition, MCHD is ask- ing that the matter be settled by a jury trial. Part of the dispute cen- ters around the legitimacy of the 2021 ASA plan; the health district considers the plan valid, while the Morrow County Board of Commissioners says it is not because the correct legal process was not fol- lowed. Furthermore, Mor- row County Commission Chair David Sykes said it is the county’s legal obliga- tion to develop, update and replace the current 1998 ASA plan. For the time being, the board of commissioners has stated the county is operating under the 1998 ASA plan, which desig- nated the health district as the sole ambulance service provider. At the same time, the county has made it clear that MCHD was not provid- ed with a “perpetual right” under the 1998 ASA Plan. As the county works to develop a new ASA plan, a county release has stat- ed that it will seek input from “all parties providing or interested in providing ambulance services, and all parties who wish to be consulted or provide advice regarding the Plan and the boundaries of ambulance service areas.” Morrow County has never officially stated that it intends to re- write the ASA boundaries or include Boardman Fire as a provider. “The complaints and allegations are baseless and inflammatory, misrepresent the process and actions to the public, and seek to prevent the Board of Com- missioners from exercising their obligations,” Sykes said in a statement regard- ing the lawsuit. Nonetheless, the health district is asking for a tem- porary restraining order followed by a permanent injunction stopping Mor- row County from either moving or disputing the ASA boundaries in Mor- row County for at least the five-year span of the 2021 ASA, saying that Morrow County would be in breach of contract to do so. MCHD also cites “sub- stantial expenditures” fol- lowing the drafting of the 2021 ASA, including a transition from volunteer to paid EMS staff, in order to accommodate increased county demand on ambu- lance services. Another MCHD con- cern is the potential loss of cost-based reimbursement for its ambulance services. The health district says the loss of that funding, an es- timated one million dollars per year, could threaten am- bulance services throughout the county, as well as cost- ing lost jobs associated with those services. So, as an alternative to the injunction, the health district is asking for the county to pay the difference between cost-based reim- bursement versus actual reimbursement for the next three years, to the tune of $3 million, plus $100,000 potential loss of hospital revenue and $1.1 million in damages, for a total of 4.2 million. The lawsuit also makes allegations of conflict of interest against Morrow County Commissioner Jeff Wenholz, saying his po- sition on the Good Shep- herd Health Care Board of Trustees caused him to act against the best interests of Morrow County residents. While Wenholz was not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, the health district has “reserved the right to Morrow County and the Columbia River Enterprise Zone (CREZ) have signed six new data center agree- ments with Amazon Web Services (AWS), marking a significant investment for the company in the region. The agreements include a unique benefit to the local communities, with a $5 million Community Devel- opment Contribution per agreement, a new benefit over past deals as AWS commits to helping fund local projects. In addition to the up- front payments, the compa- ny committed to paying into any newly-issued general obligation bonding agree- ments related to public utilities, educational, fire, public health, parks and rec- reation facilities, and public safety. The bonded debt obligation shows AWS’s commitment to investing in the local communities and infrastructure. The Community De- velopment Contribution payments are directly linked with the start of construction, which al- lows jurisdictions to begin funding capital improve- ment projects earlier. AWS expects to pay its first $5 million payment to Morrow County by the end of 2023. This type of up-front contri- bution is uncommon, and it sets these agreements apart from previous ones. The six agreements will create job opportunities in the region through data center construction and op- erations, generating future tax revenue that would not be gained from the current vacancy in the lots. The economic impact of the new investments will also throughout the communi- ties and provide a boost to the local economy. The total dollar invest- ments in both Morrow and -Continued to PAGE SIX Governor meets with county officials -Continued to PAGE SEVEN Heppner residents complain about loose dogs City park restrooms again vandalized By Andrea Di Salvo Complaints about loose dogs in Heppner have been on the rise, but residents appeared at a Heppner City Council Meeting last week to complain about one set of dogs in particular One Heppner resident spoke up during public comment and complained about Kenny Stookey’s dogs. She said they run around everywhere, and she is constantly finding their droppings in her yard. She also said at least one of the dogs is aggressive, and she is concerned because they have a lot of kids on their street. “I was just wondering if we could do something about it, because it is be- coming a problem,” she said. Another resident also expressed concerns and added that Stookey had been living in a motor- home under a canopy on the Butch and Judie Laughlin property, supposedly just until the motorhome’s roof gets fixed. He said that Stookey had told them sev- eral times over the last few months that he would not be there much longer, but he was still there. “I don’t know how much longer he’s going to be allowed to squat,” the man told the council. “If I make a move to talk to him or something, he goes into his motorhome and does not come out.” Both residents said they had come to the city with the issue before and that there had been multiple complaints, even involving the sheriff’s office. Heppner Mayor Corey Sweeney asked whether the city had spoken with the property owners, since it was on private property, and Heppner City Manager Kraig Cutsforth replied he had spoken with Butch Laughlin before he died but had not spoken with the children since then. “Why don’t we put this on a timeline?” said Sweeney, adding that the city needs to speak with the property owners and get Stookey trespassed from the property if necessary. At the very least, council members discussed getting visual evidence of the dogs at large so law enforcement can issue citations. “If you don’t see any change, by all means, come to the meeting next month, or into the office sooner, if things escalate,” Sweeney told the residents at the meeting. Council member Cody High added that he would like them to return for the next council meeting so there could be an update on what had been accom- plished “good, bad or in- different.” Heppner Public Works Director Chad Doherty reported that the Heppner City Park restroom was heavily vandalized again. Doherty said he in- spected the video from the park camera, got what he could from it and turned the video over to Morrow County Sheriff’s Office. He said one light was to- tally destroyed and paper towel dispensers in both restrooms were complete- ly ripped off the wall and broken. City workers also had to replace a toilet paper dispenser and soap dispens- er, as well as clean up the restroom. “It was pretty bad,” said Doherty. He added that he had not heard back if there had been any results from the investigation. Vandalism like this was a large part of the reason for the city’s recent purchase of new security cameras to set up throughout town. Cutsforth told the council that the city had already received the Verkada cam- eras, and those would prob- ably be installed in June. The council also dis- cussed the property the city had purchased on Chase Street in order to expedite the clean-up on the burned- out house on the property. The city had offered the house to the fire department for a practice burn, but Hep- pner Fire Chief Steve Rhea said there was too much still in the house—possibly more than there had been when the house burned— and that it also posed too much danger to nearby trees and power lines. The city will move ahead with demolition in- stead. Sweeney requested that it be put out for bid since the projected dem- olition cost is more than $10,000. Cutsforth said some funding for the dem- olition is available through Willow Creek Valley Eco- nomic Development Group. In the issue of fires, the council also addressed the inaccessible South Main Street fire hydrant they had discussed at the last meet- ing. The issue is that it is difficult, if not impossible, for the fire department to access the hydrant. The hydrant was placed there in 1947. At that time there was a through street at that location, but that’s no longer the case. “So, through all the changes, public safety ac- cess was never kept?” asked High. “It’s a hard place to get into either way,” re- plied council member Dale Bates. The council discussed adding an additional hy- drant further out toward the city limits. It would not solve the accessibility issue for the original hydrant, but it would provide better coverage for the houses on the outskirts of town. Cutsforth also brought to the council a proposed land transfer. A landowner in Heppner apparently has a small, triangular piece of property that extends into a city street. Cutsforth said he wanted to check with the city attorney about the feasibility of the landowner transferring that piece to Governor Tina Kotek (right) paid a visit to Morrow County on May 3, and Morrow County Public Health Director Robin Canaday attended a lunch with her. -Contributed photo In a bid to strengthen ties with local communi- ties and address regional concerns, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek paid a visit to Morrow County May 3. As part of the visit Governor Kotek had lunch with several local officials, including Morrow Coun- ty Public Health Director Robin Canaday. They talk- ed about issues that includ- ed the nitrate water contam- ination in the county. Canaday said the gov- ernor was very personable and had “a good sense of humor.” “All in all, it was a good lunch visit and we discussed a lot of issues,” Canaday said of the visit and her time with the gov- ernor. Morrow County Com- mission Chair David Sykes was also invited to the lunch -Continued to PAGE NINE but was unable to attend MCGG since it was on the same day as the regular commission meeting. Governor Kotek later called Sykes and “we had a nice discussion and I told her I hoped to meet her someday,” Sykes said. During her visit, Gov- ernor Kotek toured several key locations, including ag- ricultural sites, educational institutions, and infrastruc- ture projects. Notably, she visited a recently estab- lished vocational training center, where she spoke with students and instruc- tors about the importance of workforce development and skills training. Governor Kotek’s visit provided an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns and offer input on a range of topics, including education, healthcare and transpor- tation. CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
