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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 8, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQWednesday, May 8, 2024 -- NINE Board of Commissioners story continued -Continued from PAGE SEVEN for a building of that size. Jensen then raised con- cerns regarding the expense of connecting waste water to the city. It brought into question whether the coun- ty would be willing to cover the full cost of approxi- mately $235,000 associated with this endeavor. Jensen brought up the possibility of relocating the fairgrounds, stating, “We do have interest by the Port to meet with the fairgrounds and the Rodeo about possibly moving the fairgrounds there. This is very preliminary but would be quite the change for the Mill site.” Jensen’s propos- al would involve placing the fairgrounds on one side, while still allowing for in- dustrial development along the west side where coil and the chicks currently reside. While still in the early stages of discussion, Jensen believes that such a move could bring about positive collaboration and impact for the region, stating, “If we could work out with the Port and with the city of Heppner about possibly getting that infrastructure in place, there might be some good collaboration and impact for having facilities and development.” Commissioner Drago inquired about the antic- ipated cost and duration of the geotechnical and environmental testing. Eurl responded explaining that they couldn’t determine the H[DFW¿JXUHVXQWLOWKHWHVW- ing had commenced. The cost and timeline would KHDYLO\ UHO\ RQ WKHLU ¿QG- ings. Taking the discussion further, Jensen proposed a solution to narrow down the potential sites by iden- tifying two of the most suit- able options. He suggested organizing a public meeting to gather valuable feedback from the community. How- ever, Jensen expressed a personal recommendation to the board, stating that while the fairgrounds site could be a viable choice, it faced challenges concern- ing parking availability. Jensen highlighted the Kinzua Mill site South. He expressed enthusiasm about its potential suit- ability, provided that no VLJQL¿FDQW HQYLURQPHQWDO impacts were discovered. However, he cautioned that it was imperative to obtain approval from a represen- tative of the state within the next week. Jensen em- phasized the importance of securing their endorsement before dedicating resources to extensive environmental testing, as it would be dis- heartening if the representa- tive ultimately disapproved of the site. According to Sykes, the chief justice of Oregon has already given his approval after a walk-through of the proposed site. Additional- ly, Jensen claims to have spoken with Representative Greg Smith, who is willing to advocate for additional funding if necessary. Be- fore presenting to the state, Sykes wants to ensure the unknown cost is minimized. Jensen suggests one option to improve parking at the fairgrounds site is to excavate on the other side of the creek. He states that the school has been contact- ed regarding the bus barn area, and they currently have no plans to relocate it but are willing to work with them. Jensen proposes reach- ing out to the state for fund- ing, utilizing the impact reports they have obtained. He suggests seeking feed- back from Judge Hill or the Chief Justice, and sub- sequently presenting the ¿QGLQJVWRWKHFRPPLVVLRQ This could be done through either a public hearing or a special session allowing for public input. Jensen also highlights the importance RI FRQ¿UPLQJ 5HSUHVHQWD- tive Greg Smith’s continued commitment to assisting in case additional funds are required. Sykes expressed his desire to expedite the de- cision-making process re- garding two potential sites. His primary concern was to address the public’s dis- satisfaction with the lack of community input thus far, as this frustration has been a driving force behind an ongoing recall campaign. Sykes emphasized the importance of transpar- ency and honesty, stating, “All I want to do is just tell the public, be honest with them, these are unknowns we don’t know. That’s all I want, you know it’s shown that they want to be in- volved in this process and they are very, very upset about the way it was done, that they feel they haven’t gotten enough input, we all know that, right to our faces, very angrily.” Recognizing the pub- lic’s distress, Sykes stressed WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH RI LQYROY- ing the community in the decision-making process. By addressing the uncer- tainties surrounding costs and unknown factors as- sociated with a particular site, Sykes believed that seeking public input could help alleviate concerns and build a stronger consensus. “We all know what’s going on with the recall and this is a big part of it. So, I think just going to have the public meeting and tell the people, these are the unknowns. We don’t know what the site here is going to cost, what do you want?” Commissioner Drago posed an important ques- tion regarding the selection process for potential sites. He inquired whether there would be multiple meetings or just one. Jensen respond- ed, stating that the decision rests with the Commission- ers. They could either have separate meetings for the north and south sides of the county, or alternatively, uti- lize online platforms such as Zoom. However, Drago expressed his preference for a comprehensive, open public meeting that allows input from residents across the entire county. In agreement, Sykes emphasized the need to gather relevant informa- tion on the proposed sites in order to present it to the public for feedback. In light of this, it was decid- ed that a public meeting will be held on the 15 th . During this meeting, the Commissioners will present the necessary information, including costs and poten- tial unknown costs, for the Kinzua Mill south site, the fairgrounds, and the Board- man site. This will provide an opportunity for commu- nity members to voice their opinions and preferences. The forthcoming public meeting will take place in Irrigon in the afternoon on the 15th, followed by an evening meeting in Hep- pner. However, Jensen not- ed that the Irrigon meet- ing will primarily involve presentation and public hearing, while the Heppner meeting may include both public deliberations and a ¿QDOGHFLVLRQ The spotlight turned to a new solar energy project in Morrow County. Nathan Strottler and Tanner Gilles- pie, representatives from OneEnergy, an independent developer of grey-scale en- HUJ\SURMHFWVWRRNWKHÀRRU to present their proposal for a ‘Goal 3 exception’ request. OneEnergy, based out of Washington, has a commendable track record of successfully installing solar energy systems across North America. Their ven- tures in Morrow County include the Tower Road project, which was permit- ted in 2018, and the Harp Solar project, also given the green light the same year. OneEnergy plans to install a new solar project approximately 17 miles southwest of Hermiston. This ambitious endeavor is projected to produce a staggering 260,000 mega- watt hours of electricity per \HDU D TXDQWLW\ VX൶FLHQW to power approximately 22,000 average homes. According to Elaine Aldridge, legal counsel for OneEnergy, they received approval from the planning commission for a corre- sponding conditional use permit subject to the BOCs approval. OneEnergy is seeking the approval of the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to use 739 acres of arable land. They are requesting a Goal 3 excep- tion as an amendment to the Agriculture Land Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Aldridge the project exceeds the Goal 3 Acreage Threshold, with more than 12 acres of high-value ag- riculture land and over 20 acres of arable soil. How- ever, the company plans to mitigate the impact on agriculture by transforming the area into an agricultural grazing space for farmers and animals. To ensure the success of this undertaking, OneEn- ergy intends to provide appropriate grazing areas with a suitable mix of veg- HWDWLRQLPSOHPHQWH൵HFWLYH water management practic- es, install secure fencing, and ensure adequate access for grazers and sheep. The company aims to remotely monitor the facility, mini- mizing the need for onsite maintenance. The lifespan of the project is estimated to be 35 years, with room for technological updates. The timeline for the project includes develop- ment and permitting in 2023-2024, construction completion by the end of 2025, and the facility being operational by the begin- ning of 2026. OneEnergy is requesting a Goal 3 excep- tion as an amendment to the Agriculture Land Element of the Comprehensive Plan. During the public tes- timony, Cameron Krebbs, a resident of Boardman, spoke in favor of the ap- plication, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an ecosystem through veg- etation rather than leav- ing bare earth. Similarly, Tim Russ, another citizen, stressed the significance of preserving the land’s condition or improving it when the solar plant reaches the end of its lifespan. The Board motioned to approve the application. Jensen took this time to seek permission from the BOC to move forward with applying for technical study grants to address the nitrate issue. Amidst the discussion, Commissioner Sykes raised a crucial question - which department would be re- sponsible for overseeing this project? Jensen ex- plained that the project falls under the purview of the community development department, with himself and Tamera Mabbott from the Planning Department serving as key players. However, there is no des- ignated department solely dedicated to this endeavor. Sykes emphasized the need for a structured ap- SURDFKUHTXHVWLQJVSHFL¿F details on the department’s size, annual budget alloca- tion, and task delegation. Jensen admitted that while there is a budget allotted for this department, there is no director overseeing its operations. Instead, he relies on collaboration with various department heads, particularly those from the public works department. Realizing the importance of handling this issue ap- propriately, Sykes stressed the necessity of having a dedicated project manag- er. The BOC members, in agreement, passed a motion to authorize the Jensen to apply for the Oregon tech- nical assistance grant for water and wastewater. In a recent update pro- vided by a representative from the public works de- partment, exciting devel- opments were unveiled for the local community. With plans in motion to improve the fairgrounds area, at- tention is being directed towards the other side of the FUHHN,QDQH൵RUWWRWDFNOH the parking woes, a signif- icant project involving the extraction of approximately 20,000 cubic yards of earth is on the horizon. Multiple companies have been en- listed to undertake the anal- ysis of the site, ensuring a thorough exploration of the possibilities. Furthermore, the repre- sentative mentioned the in- volvement of Corey Swee- ney, the weed management manager, in the upcoming solar project spearheaded by OneEnergy. As weed mitigation plans are being carefully devised, it is ev- LGHQWWKDWH൵RUWVDUHEHLQJ made to harmonize the growth of the solar endeav- or with the surrounding natural environment. In addition to these commend- able initiatives, the opening of the OHV Park is immi- nent, set to be available for public enjoyment before Mother’s Day. WCVEDG awards over $260,000 Monday, May 13, 2024 - Willow Creek Valley Eco- nomic Development Group (WCVEDG) awarded over $260,000 to communi- ty enhancement projects across Heppner, with a total project investment of over $850,000. This grant awards funds to eligible SURMHFWV IURP QRQSUR¿WV municipalities, or special districts. Eligible projects include, but not limited to, recreational programs or projects that serve the public, cultural activities, SXEOLF EHDXWL¿FDWLRQ SURM- ects, existing program en- hancement, and capital improvements. Projects this year in- clude: Heppner playground equipment, food bank box- es, a pollinator garden, Youth Baseball backstop and batting cage, St. Pat- rick’s Senior Center bingo equipment, city-wide cat spay and neuter clinic, Wil- low Creek Country Club equipment, new bathrooms and shop improvements at the Heppner Cemetery, the Heppner Chamber of Com- merce artisan market proj- ect, and capital improve- ments to Willow Creek Assisted Living, Morrow County Health District, and the Odd Fellows. To learn more about this grant and other grant programs administered by WCVEDG, visit heppner- chamber.com/grants, email wcvedg@gmail.com, or call 503-504-8508. Umatilla County BOC votes to take legal action against CDA Reported by Terry Murray of Elkhorn Media Group UMATILLA COUN- TY – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to take legal action against the Columbia Development Authority. CDA Chairman Kim Puzey refused a mo- tion to rescind a 3-2 vote by the board that took eco- nomic development prop- erty from the county and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reser- vation at last week’s CDA board meeting. The county has been a partner in taking local control of the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot land for more than 30 years and has invested in improv- ing the land to use portions of it for economic devel- opment. The controversial vote would allow only the Port of Morrow and the Port of Umatilla to use land for that purpose. Umatilla County Com- missioner John Shafer is the county’s representative on the CDA Board of Di- rectors. Ideally, he doesn’t want to battle it out in the courts even though he says KH¶V FRQ¿GHQW WKH FRXQW\ will prevail. He said it’s vital that the CDA remain ¿YHPHPEHUVVWURQJLIWKH\ hope to attract businesses that are right for all in- volved. “Let’s have a united front going forward,” he said. “Let’s show the de- velopers that, as all families do, we had a disagreement, but we came together in the end.” Shafer said that as things stand now, the coun- W\ZLOOZLWKGUDZLWV¿QDQ- cial support in bringing in- frastructure to the land that used to house the depot. He talked about the history of WKHDJUHHPHQWWKH¿QDQFLDO investment the county has made over decades, and what the future could hold RQWKH.80$&R൵HH+RXU Thursday. Doherty Awarded by OCCA -Continued from PAGE ONE and school, Doherty shared $SULO WK 5HÀHFWLQJ RQ his awe-inspiring journey, he expressed his excite- ment, confessing that he never imagined receiving such recognition. Having completed his associate degree in business administration at BMCC last fall, he aims to obtain his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University. Doherty plans to undertake a course load of 12 credits focused on policy politics and public administration, however, he still requires an additional 80 credits to reach his goal. June 12th PDUNVWKHVLJQL¿FDQWGD\RI his graduation from BMCC, a major milestone in his educational journey. When asked about his ability to manage both work his secret to success. He revealed that, after work, he dedicated several hours each day to completing his schoolwork, including many Saturdays, allowing him to strike a balance without missing out on too many events. Doherty’s drive to make the most of his potential resonates with his desire to increase his earning potential - a goal he believes can only be achieved by continuously seeking opportunities for advancement. As Chadd Doherty re- ceives this well-deserved recognition for his academ- ic achievements, communi- ty outreach, and exemplary leadership, the future seems bright for this accomplished individual. 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