SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 25, 2025
MCHD severance figures remain unclear
Salem advances
-Continued from PAGE ONE erate payment within the details, the documents do
groundwater bill aimed zette-Times
first year, but the maximum not provide specific dollar
requested the
payout is limited to 12 figures for severance, ac-
figure from both
at ‘pollution hotspots’ correct
months of compensation.
crued wages, vacation time
individuals, but they have
Morrow County responds to
bill with concerns
By Andrea Di Salvo
Oregon legislators
are advancing Senate Bill
1154, a sweeping proposal
to overhaul how the state
responds to groundwater
pollution, despite concerns
at the local level.
The bill, introduced in
February and backed by
Governor Tina Kotek, aims
to establish clear thresh-
olds for contamination and
coordinate multi-agency
responses in affected areas.
SB 1154 would allow
the state to automatically
designate “groundwater
management areas” when
contaminants like nitrates
exceed safe levels.
Morrow County Plan-
ning Director Tamra Mab-
bott told the Morrow Coun-
ty Board of Commissioners
(BOC) last month that a
technical working group
has been meeting with the
governor’s staff for the past
several months to provide
input on various aspects of
the bill.
While the bill may con-
tain some well-intentioned
steps to solve issues such
as the nitrate pollution in
North Morrow County,
some aspects of the bill
concern local stakeholders.
Mabbott said that, as
written, the bill wouldn’t
affect the Lower Umatilla
Basin Groundwater Man-
agement Area (LUBGW-
MA). However, that could
change.
SB 1154 would affect
future designations, as well
as impacting the implemen-
tation of programs in the
LUBGWMA.
It also authorizes en-
vironmental inspections,
local advisory commit-
tees and infrastructure sup-
port—especially in rural
zones—while restricting
new development that the
state says might worsen
pollution.
Supporters, including
environmental groups and
public health advocates like
Oregon Rural Action, argue
the bill is essential for pro-
tecting communities where
drinking water has become
increasingly unsafe.
“This is a public health
crisis in slow motion,” said
one supporter from the
Oregon Environmental
Council.
However, the bill fac-
es opposition from rural
property rights advocates
who warn it could give state
agencies too much author-
ity, including the ability to
inspect private wells and
septic systems.
Critics also object to
new limits on land-use
decisions, calling them an
overreach into local control.
With that in mind,
Mabbott crafted a letter for
the BOC’s approval, which
outlined several concerns
Morrow County had with
the bill as drafted.
Among those concerns
were funding sources, need
for dedicated staff, worries
over the exclusion of the
Department of Land Con-
servation and Development
(DLCD) in the process, se-
vere restrictions on feedlots
of any size, and metering
on wells. Top of mind was
the desire for more local
input, which the original
bill didn’t stress enough,
Mabbott said.
“We’ve all seen over
the past few years how
state agencies, and even
federal agencies…get really
involved in policy making
and rules without any direct
input of local government,”
said Mabbott.
The Morrow Coun-
ty BOC agreed with the
concerns and unanimously
approved the letter as a
response to the bill. The
Port of Morrow has so far
remained neutral on the bill.
SB 1154 originated as a
100-page document. After a
public hearing June 19 and
a work session June 23, it
has emerged as a 44-page
document.
Some of the concerns
put forward by Morrow
County and other critics
seem to have been ad-
dressed, such as the inclu-
sion of the DLCD, while
others seem to have been
overlooked.
SB 1154 left the House
Committee on Rules Mon-
day with a recommendation
to pass and was scheduled
for further House hearings
earlier this week.
Mueller named to George
Fox University dean’s list
Leah Mueller of Irri-
gon was among those who
earned dean’s list recog-
nition at George Fox Uni-
versity for the spring 2025
semester.
Traditional undergrad-
uate students must earn a
3.5 grade point average or
above on 12 or more hours
of graded work to earn a
spot on the dean’s list.
Mueller is a sophomore
majoring in biology.
George Fox University
is a Christian college classi-
fied by U.S. News & World
Report as a “Best National
University.”
More than 4,000 stu-
dents attend classes at
George Fox, which offers
more than 60 undergraduate
academic programs, accel-
erated online degree pro-
grams for working adults,
six seminary degrees and
15 master’s and doctoral
degrees.
Holly Rebekahs plan picnic
and bingo this Sunday
Are you ready for a
picnic?
In conjunction with
it monthly Bingo, Holly
Rebekah Lodge will be
serving a picnic lunch on
June 29 starting at 3 p.m.
For only $5, they will be
serving a hot dog, baked
beans, potato chips, and a
Dixie cup.
Following lunch, at
approximately 3:30 p.m.,
Bingo will commence. For
another $5, a person may
purchase a packet of Bingo
cards good for 15 games.
People of all ages are
welcome to come to one
or both events. Come and
enjoy the fun and food,
and just maybe you will go
home with a prize.
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not provided it as of now.
In response to a public
records request asking for
salary amounts, MCHD
responded that the request
was received, and records
are being prepared. While
there is no doubt the request
will be filled, it had not been
as of press time Tuesday.
Both women’s separa-
tion agreements have been
made public, and the Ga-
zette-Times obtained copies
through a public records
request with MCHD.
Roberts’s package in-
cluded 12 months’ worth of
her current salary, including
any scheduled salary in-
crease, to be paid bi-weekly
over a 12-month period
with the option for Roberts
to accelerate the payout for
a lump sum of the remain-
ing severance amount at
any time and for any reason.
Additional compen-
sation included employee
benefits for the 12-month
term regardless of whether
the acceleration was used—
five percent contribution to
Roberts’s 401a retirement
plan, Tri-County Ambu-
lance Association member-
ship, LifeFlight member-
ship, accidental death and
dismemberment insurance,
long term disability insur-
ance, and medical, dental
and vision insurance ben-
efits at no cost to Roberts.
She is also to receive
the balance of any hourly
wage accrued through the
last day of employment
and unused vacation time
accrued through the last
day of employment, though
vacation and sick leave do
not accrue after her employ-
ment ends.
Mahoney’s package
was similar, but she re-
ceives 18 months of to-
tal compensation for her
Chief Operating Officer
salary along with Chief
Financial Officer supple-
mental compensation, to
be paid bi-weekly over an
18-month period. Mahoney
also has the option to accel-
Mahoney also received
a performance bonus of
$50,000 for her 28 years
of service, wages and un-
used vacation time accrued
through her resignation date
of June 13, 2025, and 18
months of employee ben-
efits, regardless of whether
the acceleration option is
exercised. Benefits include
employer retirement contri-
butions and family medical,
dental and vision insur-
ance. As with Roberts’s
agreement, vacation and
sick leave do not continue
to accrue after Mahoney’s
resignation.
An extra detail in Ma-
honey’s separation package
includes a nine percent
yearly compounded interest
rate to be applied if MCHD
stops severance payments
without Mahoney’s con-
sent.
However, with all these
or benefits, as these depend
on the employee’s cur-
rent salary, any scheduled
increase, hours worked,
accrued time and benefit
costs.
Since the severance
agreements obtained by
the Heppner Gazette did
not specify a total amount,
the Heppner Gazette cannot
verify either Wimer’s claim
or Roberts’s and Mahoney’s
assertion that the amount is
inaccurate.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Town of Lexington Burn Ban
The Fire Chief of the Town of Lexington is imposing
a closed season for the Town of Lexington for open
burning effective Monday, June 16, 2025, until
further notice. The ban includes all burning barrels
and open burning.
Home of the Lexington Jack Rabbits!