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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2020)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 HermistonHerald.com EasternOregonMarketplace.com UPDATES Tax relief available for local businesses hit by COVID-19 HERMISTON HERALD The Oregon Depart- ment of Revenue is reminding businesses that have been demon- strably affected by COVID-19 that relief is available for the Corpo- rate Activity Tax. The deadline to make estimated payments for the second quarter is July 31. According to the department, it will honor “a business taxpayer’s good-faith efforts to comply with the CAT and not assess penal- ties if they document their efforts to comply, including how COVID- 19 has impacted their business.” The news release stated that the busi- nesses should make a good faith effort to pay but will not be penal- ized if they fall short because they don’t have the fi nancial ability to make the estimated payment. They should be able to provide documen- tation of their inabil- ity to pay or estimate payment, and registra- tion for the Coropo- rate Activity Tax is still required within 30 days of reaching $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity in a calendar year. The Corporate Activ- ity Tax was instituted by the Oregon Legis- lature in 2019 to help fund education through the Student Success Act. It taxes business activity in excess of $1 million per year within Oregon for all business types. For more information visit oregon.gov/dor/ programs/businesses/ Pages/corporate-activ- ity-tax.aspx, email cat. help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005. Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Masked shoppers leave Walmart in Hermiston on Monday, July 6, 2020. The state of Oregon put in place a mandate last week requiring people in indoor public spaces to wear a mask. Time to mask up Hermiston businesses encounter a mix of compliance, resistance By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR W hile masks have been encouraged by public health experts at orga- nizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, they are now mandatory in Oregon. Local business owners say some people have given them trouble over their request to mask up, but most customers have been understanding. When announcing her require- ment that Oregonians mask up while in indoor public spaces, such as grocery stores, laundro- mats and workplaces, Gov. Kate Brown said enforcement would be through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Oregon Liquor Control Com- mission, with penalties for busi- nesses that don’t comply. “For businesses that refuse to comply, OSHA and OLCC staff are empowered to take adminis- trative action, including issuing citations, fi nes, and Red Warning Notices if necessary,” she stated. Staff photo by Ben Lonergan A sign advising of the mask requirement adorns the front door at Neighborhood Books and Gifts in downtown Hermiston. “I HIGHLY BELIEVE IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN GET MORE MASKS TO MORE PEOPLE AT A VERY LOW COST IT COULD POSSIBLY INCREASE USAGE.” — Krystal Dunagan, store manager of Rue 21 in Hermiston A Red Warning Notice can cause a business to be closed until the “hazardous condition” identi- fi ed by OSHA — in this case, a lack of masks helping protect employees and customers from COVID-19 — is resolved. Jessica Narain, manager of the Hermiston Denny’s and the Best Western hotel next door, said someone from the OLCC did visit Denny’s on July 3 to check if the restaurant was in compli- ance. She said the inspector sat at a table and observed for a while, and was “satisfi ed with our new procedures at work.” She said so far they have only had a small handful of issues with guests who didn’t want to wear a mask when asked to do so. She said those who say they have a medical condition that makes it too diffi cult to wear a mask are asked to briefl y hold a napkin over their mouth as they pass by others’ tables on the way to their own. “People understand and they get it,” she said. Krystal Dunagan, store man- ager of Rue 21 in Hermiston, said in response to a Facebook post by the Hermiston Herald about the mask requirement that a few peo- ple didn’t want to wear a mask out of principle, but she was also seeing some customers say they simply didn’t own a mask. She said she gave out the ones she had on hand and had requested more. “I highly believe if there is See Masks, Page A10 Umatilla housing boom continues By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Staff photo by Ben Lonergan A concrete mixer pours a foundation at a housing development along Powerline Road in Umatilla on Monday, July 6, 2020. INSIDE A3 Hermiston residents respond to revelations about racist letter A6 Hermiston Family Aquatic Center adjusts to new rules for COVID-19 In 2019 Umatilla City Manager David Stockdale predicted the city would see about 100 new homes a year for the next fi ve years, and so far that prediction is on track. “Similar to a year ago, we con- tinue to see not only those num- bers, but even more than that,” he said. Hayden River Estates, Cher- yl’s Place and Vandelay Mead- ows — subdivisions by Columbia Basin Development each contain- ing 26 homes — are in various A7 Planning commission to discuss homeless shelter zoning phases of construction currently on the south side of Umatilla. Lots are also being sold for new home con- struction at Riverwood Estates in McNary. Stockdale said the city is work- ing with a developer on a master plan for a larger subdivision, and with another developer on a plan for more than 100 new condos that would run between $98,000 and $145,000. “We’re talking to several other interested home builders right now, and I know those home builders See Boom, Page A10 A9 Bendixsen law fi rm will stay in the family
