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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 4, 2018)
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 NEWS Port of Umatilla adopts budget By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN STAFF WRITER The Port of Umatilla Commission adopted its 2018-2019 budget this month, capping what man- ager Kim Puzey said had been a positive year at the port. The commissioners approved a budget of $5.6 million. Puzey said there were no major changes to the budget, but there has been some growth despite having a major disadvantage. “Geography is our big- gest challenge,” Puzey said, noting that the port is sit- uated on basalt, which he said makes it expensive to develop. He said the construction of data centers on port prop- erty has been the biggest driver of growth. “There are good pros- pects for future data centers — that’s a once-in-a-gen- eration economic develop- ment opportunity for the region,” he said. Puzey said while the way data centers are counted can be variable, he counts five on port property, and said more could be developed. STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS In 2004, the Port of Umatilla installed a new $3.8 crane at the facility on the Columbia River outside of Umatilla. The port has also tapped into some other opportuni- ties for economic develop- ment, Puzey said. He said a business out of Portland has an option to purchase 160 acres to construct solar arrays. Puzey said he has spent much of his energy in the past two years working with a water user group comprised of local farm- ers. The group is leasing a portion of the port’s water rights in order to use some of the water for agricultural purposes. He said the port antici- pates $200,000 in revenue from that group this year, and $400,000 from them in the following year. “That’s water infrastruc- ture we didn’t previously have,” he said. The port’s budget is divided into seven differ- ent funds: general, con- tainer dock, marina, grants and appropriations, strate- gic reserve, water rights and regional water. The port commission adopted a general fund of $3.1 million. That num- ber includes an estimated $832,000 that will be col- lected in taxes. The port dis- trict levies a tax of $0.015 per $1,000 assessed value on its constituents. The marina fund remains open, but the port has not operated a marina since September 2013, and will close the fund in 2019. The port’s container dock fund is $464,862. Cargo shipping is divided into three main categories — bulk, break-bulk and con- tainer. Puzey said the Port of Umatilla imports bulk prod- ucts like fuel, and exports wheat, another bulk product. “We have been import- ing molasses this year, han- dling log exports, and serv- ing several customers with refrigerated containers, thus increasing revenues above what we projected,” Puzey wrote in the budget message. He said container ship- ping is now nonexistent at the Port of Umatilla, a trend at almost all Pacific North- west ports. Puzey said one of the port’s biggest challenges is still working toward the transfer of Umatilla Army Depot property. “That’ll help a lot,” he said. He said overall, he has been pleased with the growth of the port in recent years. “We’re doing quite well in grants and appro- priations,” he said, noting that the port is the fiscal agent of a $1 million grant to the Hermiston Cham- ber of Commerce. The port also received $2 million in the transportation package from the 2016-2017 legisla- tive session, and that money will become available in 2019-2020. Puzey said the port bud- get has continued to increase annually. He said things were largely as he expected while creating the budget for next fiscal year. “I have a good grasp of where we are,” he said. “I didn’t have any huge disap- pointments or surprises.” WORSHIP COMMUNITY Larson bids farewell to fire district By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN STAFF WRITER Reta Larson marked the last day of a 31-year career doing what she’s always done — working. Often the first face peo- ple see when they walk into the Umatilla County Fire District Station 21 office, Larson has kept the depart- ment running as executive assistant and board clerk. Wednesday was her last day. “I should have ripped up her resignation letter,” said fire chief Scott Stanton with a smile. “She’s been like my right-hand person. It’s crys- tal clear how integral she is to the department.” Larson will stay on as the UCFD board clerk, Stanton said. Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, Larson and her hus- band moved to Hermiston in 1986 for his job. When the job didn’t work out, the two found themselves unem- ployed, so Larson started looking for a job. She ini- tially applied next door, as a dispatcher for the police department. “The chief called me and said, ‘You didn’t get the job, but the job you really want is next door.’ They sent my application over, and they hadn’t even opened this job yet,” Larson said. She started out with tasks Reta Larson recently retired as UCFD’s executive assistant after 31 years with the department. like filing and correspon- dence, eventually mov- ing into ambulance billing. Her role has evolved over time into a more managerial position. The longest-serv- ing full-time employee for the department, Larson has seen four fire chiefs, and some major changes to the way fire services operate in the area. “I got hired back when the fire district was still part of the city of Hermiston,” she said. The department separated from the city in 1998, and in 2016, passed a bond that allowed for the creation of Umatilla County Fire District 1. She said being pres- ent for the first transition in 1998 made it easier when the district was trying to pass the bond. “We learned from that transition,” she said. “Some things I knew that didn’t go so well from that helped us be ahead of the game this time around.” Stanton cited Larson’s years of background with the department. “The amount of expe- rience and institutional knowledge she has — that’s the part that will be irre- placeable,” he said. She said throughout her time with the department money has continued to be the biggest challenge. “That’s always the chal- lenge with fire departments — you’re always too busy for the workload with the personnel you have.” But she said she has been impressed with the way the department is able to do its job efficiently, and praised the people she works with. “It’s been an awesome 31 years,” she said. Larson said she plans to stay busy with her eight grandchildren, and spend time on her farm with her horses. “I don’t really know yet, and that excites me,” she said. Do you drive along Interstate 84 or I-82 in eastern Oregon? What do you think about travel safety along these routes in wintertime and throughout the year? Would you like to know what safety enhancements the Oregon Department of Transportation has planned for these freeway sections? If so, please visit our… I-84 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON-LINE OPEN HOUSE at http://openhouse.oregondot.org/i-84-safety-improvements The site will be active through July 13 We hope you will take a few minutes to learn what we are planning and to get involved by providing your feedback and comments. At this on-line Open House site you’ll find information about… 1. Past Improvement Projects: Earlier enhancements constructed to help improve safety and operations along the I-84 corridor. 2. Corridor Management Plan: This planning study identifies and prioritizes the next strategies that will improve safety and operations along the interstate system. 3. Snow Zone Safety Improvement Project: A variety of devices along I-84 between Pendleton and La Grande will be installed in 2019-2020 to improve safety and operations during adverse winter weather conditions. 4. Ladd Canyon Freight and Culvert Improvement Project: A third eastbound climbing lane and other upgrades are being added in 2019-2020 through the Ladd Canyon area. 5. Meacham Maintenance Station: This outdated facility is being replaced. The new compound will improve response times, efficiency, and save equipment and energy costs. 6. Comments and more information: Take a short survey and provide feedback. This is your highways system and we greatly appreciate your input. Questions about the site can be directed to ODOT Project Leader Sean Maloney 541-823-4025, or by email at sean.maloney@odot.state.or.us. Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” First Christian Church NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 567-3013 Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston 541-567-8441 “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” Worship Gathering 10:00 am Children’s Church 10:00 am First United Methodist Church 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Seventh-day Adventist Church LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm Hermiston Jr. Academy 1300 NW Academy Lane, • Hermiston www.hermistonlmbc.com The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday ...............................English 7:00 am Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm ...............................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am ..........................Bilingual 11:00 am ..............................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce..............................567-5812 To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
