Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current, March 11, 2020, Image 3

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Hermiston herald., March 11, 2020, Page 3, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextNEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3 Council OKs annexation for subdivision The 20 acres oﬀ Punkin Center Road may see 100 homes, a park By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR The Hermiston City Council voted unanimously to annex 20 acres of land off East Punkin Center for a new subdivision on Mon- day, citing the city’s need for more affordable homes. “I think turning away 100 homes in that area when our number one goal is hous- ing — I think that would be a mistake,” councilor Roy Barron said. MonteVista Homes plans to build a 100-lot, single family dwelling subdivision with a public park and walk- ing trail on the property, which connects to Punkin Center on the north, the cur- rently dead-ended Northeast Sixth Street to the south and Bellavista Court to the west. The annexation was ﬁ rst discussed by the council on Feb. 24, when several neigh- bors showed up to oppose the project. They asked the city council to turn North- east Sixth Street into a cul de sac instead of extending it through the new subdivision as planned because they did not want to see more trafﬁ c through their neighborhood. Others opposed the pro- Staﬀ photo by Ben Lonergan Residents near a quiet section of Northeast Sixth Street in Hermiston have expressed concerns over the extension of their street to help provide access to a 100-home subdivision oﬀ East Punkin Center Road. posed 5,000-square-foot lot sizes as too small, according to the minutes of the meet- ing, stating that larger lot sizes would maintain prop- erty values in the neighbor- hood and ensure that chil- dren living in the homes would have a yard to play in safely. Some neighbors also expressed concern that add- ing a public park to the area would also bring additional trafﬁ c to their neighborhood. When the city council voted 4-2 to approve the annexation, however, city attorney Gary Luisi pointed out that city ordinances must either pass unanimously or pass with at least ﬁ ve votes at two separate meetings. On Monday night, when the issue was revisited, a neighbor to the property told the council he wasn’t opposed to a development there but would like to see larger lots required, even if it meant removing the park and trail from the plan. Luke Pickerill and Steve Wilson of Monte- Vista Homes were on hand Monday night to encourage the council to approve the annexation. They pointed out that 5,000 square foot lots are allowable in the R-3 zone where the prop- erty is located. They said the R-3 zone also allows for multi-family apartment complexes, meaning roads in the area were designed to be able handle far more den- sity than they’re proposing. City planner Clint Spen- cer clariﬁ ed that the plat for the project, outlining its design, had already been approved by the planning commission, based on the commission’s determination there was adequate access to the subdivision. The city council was merely deciding on whether to annex the land into the city. The houses are planned for somewhere around $260,000 — a lower price point than recent subdivi- sions. Pickerill said fami- lies right now are wanting to move to Hermiston but are being forced to settle in a nearby town because they can’t ﬁ nd something in their price range. “Families come through, and I’m hearing all the time that there are not homes they can afford,” he said. Councilor John Kir- wan was inclined to agree with Pickerill. He said peo- ple want housing “the way it used to be” in Hermis- ton, with one-acre lots in city limits, but that just isn’t ﬁ nancially feasible for developers anymore. Barron agreed, saying he wanted to see more families in Hermiston be able to ﬁ nd homes they could afford and be proud of. He also said he was bothered by some of the comments at the Feb. 24 meeting, including the “neg- ativity” expressed about having a park in their part of town and allowing extension of Sixth Street to relieve trafﬁ c on Punkin Center. “If Sixth Street is not punched through, that makes it harder for other citizens,” he said. Mayor David Drotz- mann reminded every- one that a few years ear- lier, companies were telling the city they didn’t want to locate in Hermiston because they were concerned there wasn’t enough housing to support the workforce they would need. The city made increasing housing one of its top goals, and had meetings with housing developers and other stakeholders to ﬁ nd out what was holding them back. Developers said the cost of land was the num- ber one barrier, he said, and so the city reduced lot size requirements to help devel- opments pencil out. “All the work we’ve done over the last few years is coming to fruition in this project,” he said. Councilors Jackie Myers and Manuel Gutierrez both expressed concern over the safety of increasing trafﬁ c on Punkin Center, and said they wanted the city to work with the county on improv- ing safety there. But Myers also said she understood the need for more housing in the area. Although both had voted against the annexation in February, they voted in favor of it on Monday, along with councilor Doug Prim- mer, who had been absent previously, giving the ordi- nance the unanimous vote it needed to pass. Health ofﬁ cials continue to provide COVID-19 updates that they can offer lifesav- ing care to those who need it, when they need it. Num- ber two is we need to protect the elderly and the medically fragile because it is increas- ingly clear that those indi- viduals are at high risk of serious complications and death.” That high risk is illus- trated by the death toll so far in the United States — as of Tuesday, 22 of the coun- try’s 28 deaths are in Seat- tle, where the virus spread in a nursing home. Worldwide, about 118,000 cases have been diagnosed, with 4,264 deaths. While people are asked to be cautious in helping to slow the spread of COVID- 19, health ofﬁ cials have emphasized that people should not panic or resort to prejudice. Joe Fiumara, director of Umatilla County Health Department, said they have been hearing reports of prej- udice against people of Asian decent and against members of the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation based on unfounded fears they may be more likely to have the virus. He reminded peo- ple that COVID-19 does not target people of any certain race, ethnicity or country of origin, and people should not make assumptions about someone’s health status based on those factors. “Viruses don’t care where By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR After a Umatilla County resident tested positive for COVID-19 last week, pos- itive cases in Oregon have jumped to 15, with ﬁ ve of those cases hospitalized. All but one of the 15 cases is a “presumptive pos- itive,” meaning the sample tested positive in a state lab but under current Centers for Disease Control guide- lines aren’t ofﬁ cial until they have been veriﬁ ed by a sec- ond test in a CDC lab. One hundred and sixty ﬁ ve tests have come back negative and 52 results were pending as of Monday. Three of those negative tests were Umatilla County residents who had close contact with the resident who tested pos- itive last week. On Monday Oregon State Health epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said the patients involved had not traveled to a region with COVID-19 recently or had contact with a known case, indicating they contracted the virus from people whose cases have gone undetected. “We do think that even though we are reporting 14 cases that this disease is much more widespread in our community,” he said. Guidelines outlined by public health professionals at Monday’s news conference and by the CDC include: • If you are sick, do not leave your home until at least 24 hours after all symptoms, including a cough, are gone. If your symptoms are not severe enough that you would have sought medical care for them in the past, there is no need to visit a doc- tor’s ofﬁ ce now. If you do decide to seek care, call ahead so that the ofﬁ ce can take precautions. • People over age 60 and Contributed by CDC This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the novel coronavirus. people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for serious compli- cations from COVID-19. The CDC recommends people in those categories avoid large gatherings such as sporting events for now to minimize their risk of exposure. • Wash your hands fre- quently with soap and water, or use hand san- itizer with at least 60% alcohol if you’re not able to wash your hands. Take particular care to do so before eating, cook- ing taking in/out contacts or touching your face. Cough or sneeze into a tissue and wash your hands afterward. Sani- tize frequently-touched surfaces regularly. Avoid people who are sick. • Those who are host- ing large gatherings are asked to emphasize in their advertising that no one who is sick should attend, and be prepared to ask people who are sick to leave. Organizers, along with businesses, schools and other gath- ering places, should do what they can to provide hand washing areas and other sanitary measures. • Seek information from credible sources such as public health departments. • Get a ﬂ u shot. It won’t protect from coronavirus, but it will help keep the number of people being treated for the ﬂ u down as medical providers are using resources to treat COVID-19. During Monday’s news conference, Jennifer Vines, the lead public health ofﬁ cer for Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, said while most COVID-19 patients experience mild to moderate symptoms, precau- tions such as “social distanc- ing” help protect the more vulnerable populations. It also helps the outbreak spread more slowly, which can help keep resources such as hospital beds and venti- lators from becoming over- whelmed during a spike in cases. “With no vaccine and no treatment, we have two goals right now,” she said. “The ﬁ rst is to slow the spread of the virus enough to keep our health systems running, so you live, who you are or where you come from,” he said. “They’re equal opportunity.” He also reiterated that unlike some diseases such as measles, merely being in the same room as someone car- rying the virus is not enough to infect someone. Respira- tory viruses like COVID-19 spread when carried through tiny droplets from an infected person to the nose, mouth, or eyes of someone else. Often that happens while standing within six feet of someone while they sneeze or cough. MEDICAL DIRECTORY DENTURES Blue Mountain Denture Center TROY STEWART - LICENSED DENTURIST 1300 6th St., Suite G, Umatilla, OR 97882 2194 Court Ave., Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 519-4696 • (541) 523-4752 Eye Health & Vision Care Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC Optometric Physician 115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130 541-567-1837 Call Today! 541-289-5433 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) www.apd4kidz.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Tax Problems: RESOLVED There are many ways we can tackle IRS or State tax relief together: ✔Tax Levies & Liens Release ✔Resolve Back Taxes ✔Wage Garnishment Release ✔Payroll Tax Negotiation ✔Stop Penalties and Interest ✔Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping Services ✔Tax Debt Negotiation & Settlement COMPREHENSIVE CARE A BETTER WAY TO ORAL HEALTH “Th ey stopped my garnishments in less than 2 days aft er hiring them. Th is saved me $84,276 with the IRS and $13,500 with the state of California. Th ey saved my emotional and ﬁ nancial well-being.” - Wage Garnishment Client Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S, PC Call us now for your FREE tax consultation & evaluation: 844-945-2056 ACCREDITED BUSINESS ® 541.567.8161 • 995 Orchard Avenue • Hermiston www.desertdentalsmiles.com A+ Rating Anthem offers a money-back guarantee designed to help you avoid wasting money on ineffective tax services. We will gather as much information from you as necessary and work with tax authorities to give you the best chance of reducing your tax debt. If for any reason that does not work out, and the government notifies us they refuse to reduce your overall tax liability or monthly payments by any amount, we will gladly refund you the fees you paid for our services in trying to reduce that debt. Money Back Guarantee does not apply to Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Services. Name & Phone Number HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE & ALL YOU CAN EAT SPAGHETTI FEED WITH SALAD & HOMEMADE BREAD DOORS OPEN @ 5PM • LIVE MUSIC @ 5PM • BINGO @ 7PM $20.00 PER TICKET INCLUDES 2 BINGO CARDS Raising money to continue excellent treatment for low income and homeless members in our community suffering from substance use disorders. EORC (EOAF) celebrates 60 years of service this year! Eastern Oregon Recovery Center • 216 SW Hailey Avenue, Pendleton • 541 276-3518 Saturday • March 14, 2020 Tickets can be delivered or purchased at the door. URGENT CARE Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-7:00pm 541-567-1137 236 E. Newport, Hermiston (across from U.S. Bank) LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS! • Adult, Child and Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment • Mental Health and Crisis Services • Confidential and Professional Care LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON 331 SE 2nd St., 595 NW 11th St., 866-343-4473 Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838 Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536 To advertise in the Medical Directory, please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531 or Audra at 541-564-4538