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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2020)
NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11 City of Hermiston Morrow County breaks ground on new government building in Irrigon receives award for innovation By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR By ANTONIO SIERRA STAFF WRITER Construction on the North Morrow County Gov- ernment Center in Irrigon is offi cially underway. Morrow County and Irri- gon offi cials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Oct. 16, for the new building, located at the corner of Second and Main streets in Irrigon. County Administra- tor Darrell Green said it was exciting to fi nally have the project under- way. The approximately 13,000-square-foot building will bring together a num- ber of offi ces and services that were previously spread through several buildings in Boardman and Irrigon. “They’ve been kind of scattered all over north county,” he said. Some of those services include the Morrow County Sheriff’s Offi ce, the assis- tant district attorney, vet- erans services, the justice court, transportation and Lori Roach Photography/Contributed Photo Morrow County offi cials break ground on the new county government building in Irrigon on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. planning. While the county seat in Heppner will serve as the main offi ces for offi cials, such as the county commis- sioners, they will also be able to meet with residents in the northern part of the county at the new building. Green said the “substan- tial completion” date for the building is currently expected to be Aug. 27, 2021, after which inspec- tions, landscaping, parking, furnishing and other fi nish- ing touches are expected to wrap up about Nov. 24, 2021. Board of Commission- ers Chairwoman Melissa Lindsey said she was excited for the benefi ts not only to the county, but also to Irrigon. “It will be a beauti- ful project for their Main Street,” she said. Dorran arrest to be reviewed by Sherman County By ALEX CASTLE STAFF WRITER Due to a potential confl ict of interest, Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Pri- mus has passed along the arrest fi le for Dan Dorran, a candidate for county commis- sioner who was arrested Dorran Sept. 26 on an accusa- tion of driving under the infl uence of intoxicants, to the Sherman County Dis- trict Attorney’s Offi ce. “Considering he was in the midst of an election and potentially could become a county commissioner, I have actually asked another district attorney’s offi ce to review this fi le for us to make charges,” Primus said. Primus has the author- ity to deputize individuals to prosecute cases on behalf of Umatilla County, which he has done in this case with Sherman County District Attorney Wade McLeod. “A lot of times in East- ern Oregon we do this for each other, we kind of step in and assist when there are confl ict-type cases,” Primus said. McLeod and the Sher- man County District Attor- ney’s Offi ce declined to comment when contacted by the East Oregonian on Thursday, Oct. 15. Law enforcement and offi cials have been mum on details about the arrest. The Umatilla Police Department cited and released Dorran on Sept. 26 after he was involved in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 730 and 395. Umatilla police didn’t publicly release any infor- mation about the arrest until the Walla Walla Union-Bul- letin reported a story on Oct. 1, and referred ques- tions regarding details of the arrest from the East Ore- gonian to the district attor- ney’s offi ce. Dorran released a state- ment taking responsibility for the incident that called his actions following a golf outing “foolish,” but he declined to answer further questions. A public post on the Facebook page for Big River Golf Course in Uma- tilla indicated that Dorran was a participant in a golf tournament hosted at the course Sept. 26. Dorran has stayed in the race for Umatilla County commissioner despite the arrest. Voters can choose between him and local Three Percenter HollyJo Beers on their ballots on Nov. 3. Pat Maier, who fi n- ished third in the May pri- mary for county commis- sioner, has also launched a write-in campaign. 2020 HIGHLANDER HYBRID Both Hermiston and Pendleton were recog- nized by the League of Oregon Cities for innova- tion at its annual confer- ence on Oct. 14. Hermiston won the league’s Good Gover- nance Award for its Cap- ital Improvement Plan website. The city turned its plan into a web- site that provides real- time updates on infra- structure projects going on throughout the city, including costs. “By turning the 200- page document into a user-friendly website, residents can learn about the unseen work of utility upgrades, expected time- lines of major projects, and upcoming work that may close roads or affect utilities,” a league press release states. “The site also acts as a library of past projects as new work is planned.” The site can be found at hermistonprojects.com. Pendleton was also rec- ognized, for its work on the Pendleton Unmanned Aerial Systems Range by receiving the league’s Award for Excellence. The League of Oregon Cities is an organization that offers the state’s 241 incorporated cities legis- lative services and train- ing, among other services. Hermiston City Manager Byron Smith was elected to the board of directors during the league’s annual conference on Oct. 15, held virtually this year. Turning 65? 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