Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current, January 10, 2024, Image 7

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Heppner gazette-times., January 10, 2024, Page 7, Image 7

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Newspaper Page Text+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, January 10, 2024 -- SEVEN MC Commissioners meeting on ASA -Continued from PAGE ONE the county has been target- Nicole Drive. HU¶V²LQÀXHQFH´ “If you look at other ASAs, that is not the case,” he added. Jensen said the re-do of the ASA would provide oversight and allow the county to consider, though not guarantee, multiple pro- viders. He pointed out that the county had previously gone through changes with its law enforcement struc- ture and said a new ASA would allow the county to have the same flexibility with ambulance services. He also restated his previous assertions that no provider determinations have yet been made, despite continued chatter on social media. “Yes, this does provide an opportunity to consider other providers, but it is not a guarantee,” Jensen said. Jensen also said that, despite previous assertions that the ASA submitted to the Oregon Health Author- ity was not a draft, it was indeed a draft document, and OHA was aware of that. “They (OHA) said, ‘Send us the initial draft. :H¶GOLNHWRZRUNWKURXJK the issues,’” Jensen stated. “They were fully acceptant of it being a draft.” He also said he had been in contact with MCHD and they were looking into some “tweaks” that had been brought up. Once the county has finished the feedback process with OHA and interested providers, he said, there would again be public hearings. Jensen also addressed the upheaval caused in Irri- gon, especially, by MCHD’s announcement that it would terminate ambulance ser- vices in the county. He said the county already had assurances from dif- ferent parties to ensure that ambulance services within the county will continue after MCHD discontinues services, though he did not specify who those parties were. Jensen said he was also reaching out to the various communities to discuss plans and options. ³:HUHDOL]HWKDWFKDQJH LVGL൶FXOWEXWDWWKHVDPH time we believe that this is necessary,” he said. “It might feel painful right now, there is a certain level of uncertainty, but this is something that needs to be done.” Circuit Court Building Update Also on last week’s agenda was an update on the progress of the planned new circuit court building in Heppner. Jensen said that, per the board of commis- sioners’ recommendation, ing the proposed site next to the county fairgrounds in its planning so far. Jensen admitted there has been silence concern- ing the new circuit court building. He said much of that was due to delays in SODQQLQJVSHFL¿FDOO\ZLWK ¿QDOL]LQJWKHFRQWUDFWZLWK the architect. Once the design team is in place, he said, the coun- ty will begin coordinat- ing stakeholder meetings. Those stakeholders will LQFOXGH VWD൵ WR EH ORFDWHG in the new building, impact- ed neighbors such as the Collinses, and neighboring RUJDQL]DWLRQVVXFKDV+HS- pner Elementary and the fair and rodeo. “And that will be, ‘Hey, here is what we’re plan- ning. Let us know of things we need to take care of,’” he said. Jensen said that, real- istically, those stakehold- er meetings will begin in February. He also said that the current costs for the build- ing look high, but that the county will try to strike a balance between cost and design as the project moves forward. Geotechnical surveys are already underway at the sight, Jensen said. Once those results are in, the county will know whether the proposed site is even suitable for building. Those also should be ready around WKH¿UVWRI)HEUXDU\ A town hall regarding the issue was last held in September. Jensen said he hopes to have more public engagement after the coun- ty has met with stakeholders and created a preliminary design. Jensen did add that, because the building will house the circuit court, the VWDWHFRXUWVZLOOKDYH¿QDO say on almost all aspects of internal design. For that reason, outside engagement will be limited. “They have very strict and steadfast require- ments,” he said. Construction is antici- pated to take place in 2025. Sykes called for a ¿YHPLQXWHUHFHVVDIWHUWKH report so members of the public could address Jensen directly with questions. Other Business Also at last week’s meeting, the board of com- missioners held a public hearing regarding the Bris- tol Estates Subdivision just west of Irrigon. :LWK QR SXEOLF FRP- ment, the board approved WKH ¿QDO VXEGLYLVLRQ SODW accepted a road dedication for the subdivision and approved the road name, Also on the subject of roads, the BOC approved a road use agreement with :KHDWULGJH (DVW :LQG which will include portions of Baseline Ln., Sandhol- low Rd., Myers Ln. and Spur Loop Rd, among oth- ers. The road agreement is for the energy company to move equipment for a pro- posed wind energy project in the Butter Creek area. Morrow County Public :RUNV 'LUHFWRU (ULF ,PHV said the agreement would help the county maintain road integrity and the safe- ty of the motoring public during project construction. :KHDWULGJH VXSSO\ trucks will be required to use designated pull-out ar- HDVDQG:KHDWULGJHZLOOEH responsible for any damage caused by their equipment. They will also keep roads maintained to county stan- dards. Imes said he and some- RQHIURP:KHDWULGJHZRXOG complete a road survey to log road conditions before work begins and again after the project is completed. In other business, the board: -Reappointed Gibb Evans to Morrow County Budget Committee Position #3, a position expiring June 30, 2026. -Appointed Morrow County Finance Director Kevin Ince as the budget R൶FHUIRU)LVFDO<HDU -Approved amend- ments to the county ad- ministrator job description; major changes remove the administrator as the budget R൶FHUDQGJLYHWKHFRXQW\ administrator more pur- chasing authority within the budget. -Approved a contract for county counsel services with Morrow County Dis- trict Attorney Justin Nelson and Deputy District Attor- ney Gregory Goebel. -Accepted Sykes’s res- LJQDWLRQ IURP WKH :ROI Depredation Advisory Committee and appointed Morrow County Commis- sioner Roy Drago Jr. in his place. -Appointed Keira Klein and reappointed Braxton $GDPVWR¿OOYDFDQFLHVRQ the Morrow County Fair Board and learned of an additional vacancy created by the resignation of board member Sarah Baker. -Heard from Jensen that the BOC held 31 meet- ings in 2023 for a total of 94 hours and 19 minutes, for an average of more than three hours per meeting. That time does not include public hearings and town halls. That averaged a little &21*5$78/$7,216 Mom on your 50 years as President RI*ULHE)DUPV,QF:H7+$1.<28 for all your hard work raising Angus cattle, wheat, and us your family. Here's to another year of checking the wheat market and joining us to move equipment on the last day of harvest. Love, Ken, Julie & Geri more than three hours per meeting, Jensen said, which was comparable to previous boards who met four times a month. Jensen also noted that several processes had been streamlined to make PHHWLQJVPRUHH൶FLHQW “You’re still dedicating just as much time as the pre- vious board of commission, and it does allow time for VWD൵DQG\RXDVDFRPPLV- sion to have other meetings and attend to other matters RQWKRVHR൵ZHHNV´KHWROG the commissioners. DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5PM Advantage Dental by Dentaquest Allstott Construction, LLC. AmeriTitle "Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. Bank of Eastern Oregon Blue Mountain Community College Blue Mountain Investment Management, LLC Brannon's Auto Repair %UHDNLQJ*URXQGV&R൵HH Doris Brosnan Bucknum's Bar and Grill Buckshot, Inc. Butter Creek Cattle Co. Spot On Septic The Cell Fix Christian Life Center Circle ""K"" and Mobil Gas Station (Devin Oil) City of Heppner Columbia Basin Electric Coop. Columbia Development Authority Community Counseling Solutions Connected Professional Accountants, LLC Craig Miles Farming Creekside Ranch Dickenson Chiropractic Clinic Domestic Violence Services East Oregonian Eastern Oregon Business Source John Edmundson CMG Financial )LQOH\%XWWHV/DQG¿OO Gentry Homes Green Feed and Seed Grieb Farms Inc. Haigh Heating and Cooling LLC Hair Expressions Sharon Harrison Heppner Auto Parts Heppner Christian Church +HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV Heppner Market Fresh Foods US Forest Service - Heppner Ranger District Heppner Seventh Day Adventist Church Heppner United Methodist Church Hermiston Luxury Bus Adventures Hopeful Saints Ministry Horseshoe Hereford Ranch Heppner Community Foundation Hughes Ranch (Merlin and Claudia) Intermountain Morrow ESD Jay Coil Fabricating Kilkenny Ranch .XKQ/DZ2൶FH Les Schwab Tire Center Mid-Columbia Bus Company First American Title Insurance Company Morrow County Triangle Ranches Morrow Co. School District Heppner CMD to KROGPHHWLQJ-DQ th The Heppner Cemetery Maintenance District will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. The regular meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Agenda items include min- utes of previous meeting, ¿QDQFLDOUHSRUW &HPHWHU\ Operations. The meeting will be held at the Ag Ser- vice Building conference URRPDW:/LQGHQ:D\ Meetings of the Heppner Cemetery Maintenance District are open to the public according to ORS 192.640(1). For questions, contact Janet Greenup at 541-561-6768. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing Morrow County Fair Morrow County Health District Morrow County Parks Morrow County Veteran's Services 0RUURZ6:&' $J:HVW)DUP&UHGLW O So Kleen Inc Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Oregon Trail Library District-Heppner Branch Frank and Cara Osmin SU Extension Service Pettyjohn's Farm and Builders Supply Pioneer Memorial Therapy Services Port of Morrow Portland General Electric Silver Creek Contracting, LLC SLIM'S PLACE AIRBNB Richard Ladd Neighborhood Center of South Morrow County Statewide Publishing Sweeney Mortuary Sykes Publishing Tacos Hometown 7KH:RROHU\3URMHFW,QF 7KRPDV):RO൵&3$ Tom Denchel Ford Country TREO Bike Tours Turner Ranch, Inc. :KHDWODQG,QVXUDQFH :LOGKRUVH5HVRUWDQG Casino :LONLQVRQ5DQFK//& :LOORZ&UHHN$VVLVWHG Living :LOORZ&UHHN&RXQWU\ Club :LOORZ&UHHN:LQG Invenergy, LLC :LOORZ&UHHN3DUN District :LQGZDYH Communications, Inc. Gar Aviation, Inc Apex Outdoors, LLC Jag Journey, LLC Gateway Cafe Murray's Drugs 0LOOHUDQG6RQV:HOGLQJ Excavating and Garbage Services Morrow County Grain Growers TREO Ranches Lindsay Ranch Lexington Pump, LLC Northwestern Motel Morrow County Museums and Farm Foundation :LOORZ&UHHN9DOOH\ Economic Development Group St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Heppner Balm Fork Lodge Sykes Real Estate 0RUURZ&RXQW\6KHUL൵ 2൶FH Training and Employment Consortium M Technology Solutions :KHDWULGJH:LQG,,//& Heppner Chamber of Commerce Upper Place Concessions Steve's Guide Service Dale and Sheryll Bates *Mail 541-676-9228 Blown Away Ranch Heppner Daycare and Preschool %URZQH+RXVH&R൵HH Company Morrow Development Corporation 'HQQLV:LVHU:LVHU Technology Consulting LLC Flood Town Books LLC :LOORZ&UHHN3URSHUW\ Management LLC $PD]RQ $:6 B.P.O.E. Gorge Networks /LIH'H¿QHGE\/LJKW SAGE Center Eastern Oregon :RUNIRUFH%RDUG The Swanson Insurance Group HomeLightLiberty Grains :ULJKW'HVLJQE\.LUVW Jeannies Jam's & Jellies Essential Massage Tillamook Indian Lake Campground Camas Prairie Cowboy Convention 6KHUZLQ:LOOLDPV Serendipity Designs by Sheena Rogers Toyota of Hermiston Crum Farming Feather Touch Cleaning Foundry Collective Morrow County 8QL¿HG5HFUHDWLRQ District D2 Photography, LLC Michael & Kay Proctor Pine Gate Renewables $PHULFDQ3DFL¿F Mortgage Howard & Beth Bryant Foundation Broken Spoke Restaurant & Saloon Barnett and Moro, P.C. South Morrow County Seniors Matter Anderson Boylan Ramos, PC Elmer's Irrigation Bohn's Printing, Inc. Morrow County Livestock Growers Sherrell Chevrolet Faded Joe's Barbershop 1HL൵HU5DQFK "NextEra Energy Resources Hansen Veterinary Services Lancaster Fencing, LLC. Jack Rabbit Candle Company Townsend Career Coaching Blue Mountain Plumbing LLC RimRock Canyon Church & Cottage at The 32 Ranch EOU Small Business Development Center Kenny Land Surveying Heppner High School Booster Club Taste of The South, LLC Thank you to our 2023 Chamber members!