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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2024)
%RDUGRI&RPPLVVLRQHUVPHHWLQJ)HE th -Continued from PAGE ONE DQG H൵RUW WR FRQWLQXH WKLV well,” he said. countability, when in the proposed agreement, you have the right to audit our records,” she said. “The post-pandemic healthcare ODQGVFDSHLVYHU\GL൵HUHQW than pre-COVID. Many rural entities have closed or are facing closure due to declining revenues and sky- URFNHWLQJ H[SHQVHV :H¶UH experiencing this in our current operations and are exhausting every resource to support services as we are faced with tough deci- sions and tough economic times.” Charlie Sumner, Lex- ington Fire Chief, told the commissioners he was frus- trated by the political atmo- sphere in the county. “From what I under- stand, there’s two side to this issue, and neither side had been willing to propose something concrete or tell people what’s going on,” he said. “The bottom line is that we all belong to Morrow County and we should all be together on this. Certain individuals want certain things, but what’s good for the county? “It’s not the way we should be operating,” he added. John Kilkenny of Hep- pner, husband of MCHD board chair Diane Kilken- ny, said he was disappoint- ed to see an agreement with ambulance provider AMR in the meeting packet. ³:KDW¶V GLVDSSRLQWLQJ to me is that we’re that far down the road without exhausting the talks with the health district,” he said. “By talking to people from an ambulance company in Portland who I can’t imagine won’t cost more money, have less knowl- edge, is going to have less expertise locally, we’re going to have less services ultimately, instead of keep going down that path with Morrow County Health District.” He pointed out that both the BOC and the MCHD board are elected by the people. “To my knowledge, the two parties have never met,” Kilkenny said. “For- get about the past. Let’s PRYHIRUZDUG/HW¶V¿QGD UHVROXWLRQ:H¶UHJHWWLQJWR the 11th hour and beyond.” “Find out what it is you can agree to. You’ve made progress on the ASA,” he added. “Do the same thing on these ambulance ser- vices.” Nancy Arnson of Blake Ranch said Morrow County is a “family” that takes care of each other. “Morrow County Health District is an import- ant member of our family,” she said. “They set a dead- line because they needed to know what they needed to do to continue operating. That is not strong-arming.” ³7UDQVSDUHQF\ :H¶UH like the parents of children. :H WKLQN WKH ZRUVW LI ZH don’t know the truth. Just tell the truth.” Stuart Dick of Irrigon, representing Morrow Coun- ty Residents for Liberty and Justice, presented a list of demands to the BOC. And requested a written reply. 1HJRWLDWH D VHWWOH- ment with MCHD to end the crisis with our Morrow County Ambulance service. (VWDEOLVK D QXPEHU one priority of the BOC to take the lead to safe guard private well drinking water in our county wells. %2& KDV VWDW - ed the county has a extra $12,500,000 available to build a new Circuit Court- house to be matched by the government. Funds have been allocated for architec- ture drawings yet the site has yet to be approved by the city. Morrow County Citizens request a commit- tee to be organized immedi- ately to determine the best site and best use of taxpayer IXQGV:HUHTXHVWDOOIXQGV BOC project cease until there is public support for the project. 0RUURZ&RXQW\&LW- izens requests an advisory committee of citizens and negotiation experts paid for by the county and the state of Oregon to be established to negotiate with any future Amazon Complex. The pur- pose of this committee is to represent all Morrow Coun- ty cities, Fire departments, schools, taxpayers. etc. 0RUURZ&RXQW\&LW- izens requests one County Administrator not a sec- ond at $160,000. There are multiple complaints against the present County Administrator that need to be investigated. The BOC is not saving $125,000 as stated. The BOC has 6 days WKH VDPH QXPEHU %2& gave MCHD to respond WR GUDIW$6$ WR UHVSRQG to Morrow County Citi- ]HQV :H GHVLUH D UHVROX- tion of these issues, not a recall. However, of the BOC chooses to continue VWRQHZDOOLQJRXUH൵RUWVWR solve and at least mediate these issues we will initiate a recall of all three Com- missioners. Let the people decide who they choose to govern our Country. The vote of the Ione meeting was 13 for recall and 2 opposed. The total of DOO¿YHPHHWLQJVZDVIRU recall and 37 against. Scott Ezell of Irrigon, a PHPEHURIWKH,UULJRQ¿UH board, said Irrigon is being left out of the conversation. ³:H ZDQW WKLV FRP- PXQLFDWLRQ:HZRXOGOLNH you to come to our public meetings and provide pub- lic comment,” said Ezell. “Please get on the record and let us know what the plan is.” Raymond Akers of Boardman told the com- missioners there is growing support for a recall. Kirsten Espinola of Ione, also a health dis- trict employee, said she had been in a small town that went with an outside ambulance company, and people had died because of response time and lack of local knowledge. “I don’t want to have to worry for myself and my children or my husband,” VKH VDLG ³:K\ FDQ¶W ZH work together?” Sara Bayless of Irrigon, health district paramedic, said she had previously worked for AMR, and stat- ed that poor management and wages meant the com- pany operates at all times with new and inexperienced providers. “AMR does not care for WKHLUSDWLHQWVWKHLUVWD൵RU the communities they serve. They care about money,” said Bayless. Colleen Neubert said she did not believe an out- side provider from Portland was in the best interests of the county. “They do not NQRZ RXU URDGV :H KDYH a lot of addresses that are YHU\KDUGWR¿QG´VKHVDLG “They don’t know our cit- izens.” Kevin Jepsen, a Uma- tilla resident who works for the health district, also said he was frustrated by people not being heard. “It hurts me to see these people being left behind and unheard,” he said. “As representatives of the peo- ple, you should be doing what they want.” He also stated that he, too, had experience with AMR. “I am telling you; they are not a company you want in your county,” he said. County Administrator Update Jensen said the Ore- gon Health Authority has confirmed receipt and is reviewing the ambulance service plan. ³:H¶UH H[FLWHG WKDW they are making headway and that things are going Meanwhile, according to Jensen, MCHD has ex- pressed acceptance of the current proposed ordinance and ASA. “This is good news. :H DSSUHFLDWH LW 7KLV LV common ground,” he said, adding that he “had to hear about it through a newspa- per article,” but had since KDGLWFRQ¿UPHGE\0&+' “It provides a basis for us to have further discussions on.” However, Jensen said the health district has insist- ed on an exclusive one-pro- vider model in a contract sent out on January 30, 2024. Due to the health dis- trict’s stance, Jensen said, FRXQW\ VWD൵ DUH UHYLHZLQJ proposals for interim ser- vices. “The problem is, we need to get the plan,” said -HQVHQ³:HKDYHH[SUHVVHG this to the health district since October, November. :HQHHGWRJHWDSODQ¿UVW then we can reach out to providers.” Jensen also said that the health district insisted on an exclusive contract and “were not budging” on the the 90-day deadline. ³:LWKWKRVHWZRWKLQJV it puts us in the situation we’re at right now,” Jensen stated. “From the get-go, we’ve asked for patience— ZHMXVWQHHGWR¿[WKHSODQ and then we’ll work through the providers. “Morrow County Health District is uniquely positioned to provide the best service for the county,” KH DGGHG ³:H KDYH QRW asked them to terminate.” Jensen again laid the tension at the feet of the health district, saying MCHD had created a sit- uation the created uncer- tainty for its employees and county residents. He also said that he had reached out to the Irrigon and Heppner fire chiefs and had attended a MCHD board meeting. “The main players, we are reaching out to,” he said. He also said that con- sidering multiple coverage areas within the county was nothing new but said past ASAs had had up to four areas, one of which was served out of Hermiston. He said that, logistically, the county doesn’t need three or four areas, but “geographically and polit- ically,” they are necessary. “You can’t have an am- bulance up in Boardman covering for Heppner,” he said. He also said that MCHD ambulances had served Morrow County for more than 30 years as a largely volunteer service, but that had changed in the last three years when they switched to 24/7 paid VWD൶QJ “It makes sense to make it exclusive when it is free or they’re doing it as a service,” Jensen stat- ed. “As soon as a provider suddenly says, ‘County, we need money,’ then it should go to a fair and represen- tative consideration of all providers.” Jensen said the county has not requested contracts or proposals because the ASA in not in place. He also said discussions with AMR had not included personnel, but only the leasing of am- bulances and equipment. ³:HDUHQRWORRNLQJWR have MCHD provide am- bulances because this is a sticking point for them, and we’re looking at providing from outside sources.” He said the intent is still to have the interim plan to the public by Feb. 21. “I want to get to a reso- lution on this,” he said. 177 N. Main P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 Chris@sykesrealestate.net ),9(+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ:HGQHVGD\)HEUXDU\ 38%/,&127,&( -Continued from PAGE FOUR er of forestland or the rep- resentative of an owner of forestland, at least one member must be an owner of grazing land or the rep- resentative of an owner of grazing land. Forestland LV ODQG GH¿QHG LQ 256 526.005 that lies within an Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Protec- tion District within Mor- row County. Grazing land LV ODQG GH¿QHG LQ 256 526.324 that lies within an Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Protection District within Morrow County. Interested mem- bers will be appointed to a four-year term and may be reappointed to any num- ber of terms. Letters of interest must be received by Monday, February 19. Please submit letters to Valerie Ballard, vballard@ co.morrow.or.us or by reg- ular mail, Morrow County Board of Commissioners, P.O. Box 788, Heppner, OR 97836." Published February 14, 28, D൶GF ,1 7+( &,5&8,7 COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUN1Y OF MORROW Probate De- partment In the Matter of the Estate of: THOMAS L. MOORE, Deceased. Date of Death: October 15, 2023. No. 23PR10173 NOTICE TO INTEREST- ED PERSONS. Notice is given that the undersigned has been appointed and has TXDOL¿HG DV WKH SHUVRQDO representative of the estate. All persons having claims against the estate are re- quired to present it, with proper vouchers, within four months after the date RI ¿UVW SXEOLFDWLRQ RI WKLV notice, as stated below, to the personal representa- WLYH DW .XKQ /DZ 2൶FHV 267 N. Main Street, P.O. Box 428, Heppner, Ore- gon 97836, or they may be barred. All persons whose ULJKWV PD\ EH D൵HFWHG E\ the proceedings in this es- tate may obtain additional information from the re- cords of the court, the per- sonal representative or the attorney for the personal representative. PERSON- AL REPRESENTATIVE: 'DWHG DQG ¿UVW SXEOLVKHG February 7th, 2024 perience of outside consul- tants regularly engaged by the consultant under con- sideration C. Labor & Equipment Availability D. Method of Approach Copies of the Request for 4XDOL¿FDWLRQV PD\ EH obtained from Morrow County, P.O. Box 428, 365 : +Z\ /H[LQJWRQ 2UHJRQ 9500, spointer@co.mor- row.or.us. Complete pro- posals will be accepted at the same address until 4:00 p.m., March 7, 2024. Published February 7, 14, D൶G 127,&( 2) 6+(5- ,))¶66$/( On March 7, 2024 at the hour of 11 am at the Lobby Doors inside the Morrow County Court House, 100 N Court St, Heppner, OR 97836, the defendant’s interest will be sold, subject to redemp- tion, in the real proper- ty commonly known as: 595 SE 13TH STREET, IRRIGON, OR 97844. The court case number is 22CV37958, CAR- RINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plain- WL൵DQG7+((67$7(2) .(11(7+5(/:$5' 7+( 81.12:1 HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF .(11(7+5(/:$5' MARY KATHERINE PERINE; SARA NOLAN; 7$=,((/:$5'.(,7+ 0$57,1 (/:$5' 0,&+$(/$ (/:$5' AKA SHAYLA (/:$5' 6(&5(7$5< OF HOUSING AND UR- BAN DEVELOPMENT; AND ALL OTHER PERSONS OR PARTIES 81.12:1&/$,0,1* ANY RIGHT, TITLE, LIEN, OR INTEREST IN THE REAL PROP- ERTY COMMONLY .12:1 6( 7+ STREET IRRIGON, OREGON 97844, Defen- dants. The sale is a public auction to the highest bid- der for cash or cashier’s check, in hand, made out to Morrow County Sher- L൵¶V2൶FH)RUPRUHLQIRU- mationon this sale go to: http://oregonsheriffssales. org Published January 31, Feb- UXDU\ D൶G 4c The Morrow County Heritage Museum & Ag- ricultural Museum will hold their Annual Board Meeting February 20 at 7:00 PM at the Heritage 0XVHXP QH[W WR WKH OL- EUDU\ 7RSLFV GLVFXVVHG will be work and displays completed in 2023 and the ongoing work at the Agri- cultural Museum. Published February 14, D൶GF FENCING Fencing Lancaster Fencing LLC is looking to gain some local FOLHQWHOH :LWK RYHU \HDUVH[SHULHQFH,DPFRQ¿- dent I can deliver 100% cus- tomer satisfaction. Check out my website to see pic- tures of completed projects I've done and customer reviews. Contact Nathan @ 360-953-1318 Lancasterfencingllc.com Licensed & Bonded 9-7-TFN ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. 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