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VOL. 145 NO.21 8 Pages
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Heppner raises fees, approves employee incentive
By Andrea Di Salvo
Money was top-of-
mind for the Heppner City
Council at its May 12 meet-
ing as the council voted to
approve increases in fees
and utilities and create an
employee longevity incen-
tive, along with raising the
stipend for the Heppner
Fire Chief and assistant
fire chief.
The city will imple-
ment a 3.2 percent utility
fee increase effective July
1 of this year. The base
rate for water usage for
city water (0-2499 gallons)
will increase from $30.27 to
$31.24. Usage increments
will see a similar increase
of between one and two dol-
lars—$40.63 for 2500-4249
gallons, $50.02 for 4250-
6134 gallons and $59.52 for
6135-7500 gallons.
Sewer rates will rise
from $46.78 to $48.28.
The average water and
sewer bill with water us-
age less than 7500 gallons
will range from $83.49 to
$113.18. Usage over 7500
gallons will be billed an
extra $1.14 per 100 gallons.
For several years, the
city has implemented small
yearly increases to avoid
the consumer sticker shock
of five- or 10-year increas-
es. Like everything else,
the cost to provide utility
services continues to go
up—the increase reflects
the average 2024-2025 in-
flation rate of 3.2 percent.
Heppner City Manager
John Doherty and Heppner
Public Works Director Chad
Doherty recommended the
rate increase based on Con-
sumer Price Index (CPI)
calculation tool provided
by the Oregon Association
of Water Utilities (OAWU).
The rates are based on those
from the U.S. Bureau of La-
bor Statistics, which began
tracking the CPI for water
and sewage maintenance
in 1952.
Along with the utility
rate increase came an in-
crease in permit and appli-
cation fees. John Doherty
said that the cost of ev-
erything involved in those
things had gone up with
recent inflation. Such costs
include administration,
mailing and public notifi-
cation costs, among others.
He also suggested high-
er fees might urge appli-
cants to take the process
more seriously and attend
planning commission meet-
ings.
Conditional use permit
applications, variance per-
mit applications, special
land use permits (flood
hazard development) and
minor land partitions will
all carry a $300 fee. Noise
permits will cost $20.
The new fees took ef-
fect immediately.
Perhaps the most inter-
esting financial discussion
was the city’s new attempt
to improve employee reten-
tion through an employee
longevity incentive.
John Doherty pointed
out that some employee
classifications don’t have
the opportunity for wage
increases except for cost-
of-living adjustments.
Doherty said he looked
at the incentive as some-
thing that would recognize
service, boost morale and
help with retaining em-
ployees.
The incentive, which is
for hourly, non-exempt em-
ployees, will be in addition
to each employee’s hourly
wage and will be calculated
at 10 cents an hour times the
number of years’ service.
For instance, an em-
ployee who has worked for
the city one to two years
will receive an extra 10
cents an hour. An employee
who has stayed with the city
12 years will earn an extra
$1.20 per hour in addition
to their base wage.
The incentive won’t
exceed 40 hours a week
and will be for straight time
only—for instance, it won’t
be subject to overtime cal-
culations.
The new incentive is
designed to recognize the
dedication of long-term
employees and encourage
valuable staff to stay work-
ing for the City of Heppner.
John Doherty said the
incentive would cost the
city roughly $7,200 the first
year. After that, it would be
an additional $1,320 per
year if all the current em-
ployees stay with the city.
The personnel commit-
tee discussed the idea be-
fore passing recommending
it to the council. The coun-
cil unanimously passed
a resolution adopting the
change to the personnel pol-
icy manual. It takes effect
with work hours beginning
July 1 or after.
In other business, the
council approved a three-
year extension to a contract
the city has with Willow
Creek Park District to pro-
vide maintenance for the
park district’s facilities.
In return, the park district
will pay the city $9,250
per quarter for a total of
$37,000 yearly.
The council also ap-
proved the purchase of a
utility box for the city’s
2018 Ram pickup for
$13,702.
The next meeting of the
Heppner City Council will
take place June 9 at 7 p.m.
at Heppner City Hall.
2025 East-West Shrine Game selections
celebrated at Heppner Masonic Lodge
The Heppner Gazette will
be closed Monday, May
26th for Memorial Day
Please send in all your stories and ads by Friday, May
23rd. Thank you.
Catch up on the May Day
celebration pictures page 8.
Lexington May Day parade entry. -Photo By Andrea
Di Salvo
MCHD issues statement
on departure agreements
Morrow County Health
District has issued the fol-
lowing statement regarding
recent departure agree-
ments:
“There has been public
discussion about the depar-
ture agreements involving
two of the district’s chief
administrative leadership
employees. As the agree-
ments state, it was under-
stood and required by the
departing employees that
these agreements be made
public without the need for
public demand or request. It
is important to understand
that the leadership positions
they held are executive in
nature and, for that reason,
departure agreements like
this involve negotiation of
a comprehensive severance
package.
“The length of sev-
erance reflected in those
agreements are considered
standard in the industry
and take into account the
extensive contributions and
accomplishments those em-
ployees made while work-
ing for the district. These
details are also included
in the agreements. Finally,
a release of all potential
claims is also standard in
any severance agreement.
There is nothing unique
about the terms in these
agreements. They are in
keeping with industry stan-
dards and the district’s past
practices.”
Columbia River
Health welcomes Good
Shepherd investment
in Boardman
Heppner players take a minute to pose with their coach
Greg Grant. (L-R) Mason Orem, Greg Grant and Nick Wen-
berg. -Contributed Photo.
A special Shrine game cake was made to celebrate the day.
-Photo by Merlin Hughes
On Sunday evening,
May 18, 2025, the Heppner
Masonic Lodge #69 in Hep-
pner, Oregon, hosted the
annual Shrine player dinner,
a gathering to celebrate the
high school football play-
ers selected for the 2025
East-West Shrine All-Star
Football Game. Set for July
26 in Baker City, the game
marks the 74th year of a
tradition that combines ath-
letic excellence with sup-
port for Shriners Children’s
Hospital. The Shrine dinner
brought together players,
families, coaches, and local
Shriner members for a steak
dinner, a presentation, and
straightforward talk about
the hospital’s mission.
Heppner’s Nick Wen-
berg secured a spot as a
player for the all-star foot-
ball game, with Mason
Orem also from Heppner
selected as an alternate,
while Stanfield’s Jesus
Arellano also earned a place
on the roster. Their coaches,
Greg Grant of Heppner and
Ruben Harris of Stanfield
spoke, praising their play-
ers’ character, discipline,
respect, and dedication to
community above their
athletic achievements. Each
player took the opportunity
to stand and speak, ex-
Boardman, OR—Co-
lumbia River Health has is-
sued a statement saying it is
excited that Good Shepherd
Jesus Arellano from Stanfield (L) and Coach, Ruben Harris Health Care System has
pose for a photo after dinner. -Contributed Photo
officially purchased land in
Boardman.
“For many years Co-
lumbia River Health has
collaborated and partnered
with Good Shepherd Health
Care System to better serve
patient needs,” CRH said
in a press release. “With
the addition of this new
property, the organizations
are poised to strengthen
that collaboration and meet
the demands of a growing
population.”
Sheila Corpus, CEO
of Columbia River Health,
stated, “We view this as a
Cody High in his customary Shriner Fezz hat speaks to the
wonderful opportunity to
players and families. -Contributed Photo
work more closely with
pressing gratitude to their
families, coaches, and the
Shriners for the honor and
opportunity to participate in
the game. It was mentioned
that Grant, who recently
retired as Heppner’s coach,
sent more players to the
Shrine game during his
career than any other coach
in the nation.
The dinner paused for
a presentation on Shri-
ners Children’s Hospital in
Portland, founded in 1924
as the Shriners Hospital
for Children. Born during
the polio epidemic, it was
-Continued to PAGE SIX
Good Shepherd. They have
always been dedicated to
helping us meet the needs
of our patients. Having
them as ‘neighbors’ will be
a game changer not only
for our patients but for the
entire community.”
As future plans for the
newly acquired land unfold,
Columbia River Health
says it looks forward to sup-
porting and complementing
these efforts—ensuring that
local families continue to
have expanded access to
quality care, close to home.
Columbia River Health
is a nonprofit, federally
qualified health center serv-
ing Morrow County and
beyond with primary care,
dental, behavioral health
and preventive services.
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
for more
information