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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2025)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Heppner City Council Jan. 13 Port cleared to start flood mitigation at mill site -Continued from PAGE ONE New Heppner City Council member Joe Armato. - Contributed Photo Dane Maben from Anderson Perry engineering firm. - Contributed Photo “I would suggest we just put that in their hopper so we don’t miss that dead- line,” he said. Maben said a draft mas- ter plan would take about a month after the council’s selection of projects, so the final master plan should be ready for presentation in February. Meanwhile, the council decided to move forward with an application to Safe Drinking Water. In other business, Hep- pner resident Janet Greenup asked the council to enforce city code regarding garbage and obstruction on side- walks. The maintenance and upkeep of sidewalks are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, but there are city codes addressing the condition of the sidewalks. “I think it’s very im- portant because, growing up here, it didn’t used to be that way,” said Greenup. “Everybody cared what the property looked like. Any- more, not that many do.” Sweeney told her the city intends to be more involved in code enforce- ment and she “should see a change.” In his report, Heppner City Manager John Doherty said deputies have been working on various code enforcements and that he had handled several com- plaints. He also viewed properties with code com- plaints and viewed progress on previous violations. Heppner Fire Chief Steve Rhea reported that Heppner Fire Department sent its new tactical tender with HFD lieutenants Sta- cy Lauritsen and Katilyn Zinter to help with the fires in California. As of Jan. 13, they arrived in Beaumont, CA and were waiting for assignment. December activity for the fire department included three lift assists, one con- trolled burn, two non-injury motor vehicle accidents, a mountain rescue with EMS and the sheriff’s office, a split propane tank at the museum and a garbage truck fire, for a total of 14 calls for December and 210 calls for the year. The fire department had 205 calls last year. Rhea also said they received reimbursement for the Pilot Rock and Battle Mountain fires, which was split between the city and an auxiliary account to pay for training. Heppner Public Works Director Chad Doherty reported a busy month that included installing water meters, filling potholes and putting down gravel during a minor snow event. John Doherty report- ed that the city received payment for the Chase St. properties. He also told the council that the city has been locked out of the SAM.gov website since before former city manager Kraig Cutsforth’s departure. Doherty said he has been working hard to regain access, since the city cannot receive payments from federal agencies while it is locked out. “It is the biggest pain in the behind,” he said. “They’re not accepting the documentation that the City of Heppner is the City of Heppner.” Doherty also said he met with Morrow County Planning Director Tamra Mabbott, property owner Kyle Robinson and Dawan Hert of the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) re- garding annexation and Rural Growth Boundary revisions. More meetings are needed before further developments can be made. Doherty also had a call with Eva Henes regarding Oregon iSector, to discuss Heppner’s opportunities for developable properties and infrastructure improve- ments for housing devel- opment and access to state funds. In other business, the Heppner City Council: -received a written re- port from Morrow County Sheriff’s Office detailing 239.5 deputy patrol hours, 70 traffic hours and 72.5 investigation and follow-up hours in the city, one death investigation and one felo- ny arrest; -ratified appointments to city committees, boards, commissions and positions; -adopted the revised 2024 Morrow County Multi-Jurisdictional Nat- ural Hazards Mitigation Plan; -adopted the City of Heppner’s goals for 2025; -renewed a lease with Dickenson Chiropractic; -granted an animal per- mit for four hens. Heppner mill site. - Contributed image The Port of Morrow has in that area. However, that’s taken a tiny step forward in only the flood area along the getting the old Kinzua mill creek. The rest of the Hep- site in Heppner ready for pner mill site is also still not cleared for building. development. That had been a major At the Port’s last com- mission meeting Jan. 13, stumbling block to siting POM Chief Operating Of- the Morrow County Cir- ficer Mark Patton reported cuit Court building on that that the Dept. of Envi- property. The flood plain mit- ronmental Quality (DEQ) approved the Port to move igation, however, will be forward with flood mitiga- the first step toward future tion along Willow Creek. development at the site. The mill site, officially The DEQ required the Port to conduct soil sam- known as the South Morrow ples to ensure there were Industrial Park, is approxi- no harmful chemicals or mately 130 acres about a other problems with the mile north of Heppner. The Heppner property. Those property is zoned General reports came back good, Industrial. The site is already Patton said. POM is now cleared to home to Blue Mountain do all flood mitigation work Manufacturing, the Oregon State University extension office for Morrow County and the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles. Also at the meeting, Port staff asked commis- sioners to consider a 15 percent increase on water rates. The increase was re- quested because water in- come to date is lower than last year, but expenditures are slightly higher. POM Chief Financial Officer Eileen Hendricks proposed an immediate increase with the under- standing that it would be increased again for the next fiscal year. The Port is also anticipating the need for additional staff. Put the Brothers to work for you • Office and Business Printing • Signs, Banners, and much more Chris Sykes Andrew Sykes WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription 177 N. Main P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 Chris@sykesrealestate.net Broker Chris Sykes 541-215-2274 Sold! 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