LOCAL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
Hermiston reinstates cash contribution to SHIP project
Mayor thanks the city,
the city council and
property owners for
working together
By ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Herald
The Hermiston City
Council voted unanimously
to approve a plan that rein-
stated the city’s cash contri-
butions to new infrastruc-
ture at the South Hermiston
Industrial Park.
Mark Morgan, assistant
city manager, explained the
situation last week.
The city in 2019 estimated
new infrastructure for SHIP
would cost about $3 million,
Morgan said. A grant from
the U.S. Economic Develop-
ment Administration would
cover half the cost, Umatilla
Erick Peterson/Hermiston Herald
Hermiston Mayor David Drotzmann, on Monday, April 11, 2022 compliments the Hermiston City
Council for responding to complaints from South Hermiston Industrial Park property owners.
County would pay $50,000
and property owners at the
industrial park would be
on the hook for about $1.4
million.
To ease the burden on
property owners, the city
off ered $250,000. Total cost
to property owners would be
closer to $1.16 million.
Construction,
though,
proved to be less costly than
expected. The fi nal price for
the project was under $2
million.
As the city saved on the
project, it extended sav-
ings to the property own-
ers. One lot, for example,
which would have owed
$39,673 would only be pay-
ing $30,619 under a revised
plan. The total cost to all the
property owners would have
been $947,734.
At the March 28 city
council meeting, the city
proposed removing its
$250,000 contribution. This
angered property owners
who showed up at the meet-
ing and argued this was an
unfair breach of promise.
City councilors agreed
with the property owners
and voted unanimously for
the creation of a plan to rein-
state the $250,000 from the
city and reduce costs to the
property owners.
Morgan shared the new
plan on April 8. The plan
reinstated the city’s prom-
ised
contribution
and
reduces costs to property
owners to a total $697,734.
The
aforementioned
lot, which was previously
expected to pay $30,619
will only have to shell out
$22,542 under the latest
plan. The Port of Umatilla is
the largest benefi ciary of the
latest adjustment; it stands to
save $91,185.
At the April 11 meeting,
the Hermiston City Council
approved the new plan.
After the vote, an email
from a couple of property
owners was read. It states sat-
isfaction with the new plan
and gratitude to the city for its
work in developing the park.
David Drotzmann, Herm-
iston mayor, expressed his
approval, too.
He said that this exam-
ple showed how well the
system works. When people
speak, government listens
and responds, he said.
Smith spearheads $1.5 million for construction center
Hermiston Herald
The Hermiston School Dis-
trict received an investment from
the Oregon Legislature in a local
pre-apprenticeship construction
center in Eastern Oregon, accord-
ing to a press release from Greg
Smith, Oregon Representative,
District 57. This center is intended
to support a wide range of trade
craft opportunities for students.
The $1.5 million general fund
capital construction appropriation
during the 2022 Legislative Ses-
sion will create a bridge between
the current career technical educa-
tion (CTE) off erings and BOLI cer-
tifi ed pre-apprenticeship programs,
according to the press release.
“Investing in CTE programs
will make sure all students have a
pathway to a career or further edu-
cation following their K-12 edu-
cation,” Tricia Mooney, Hermis-
ton School District superintendent,
said.
“Rep. Greg Smith has been a
vocal advocate for these programs
and we’re thrilled to be able to add
new opportunities for students,”
she added.
The press release goes on to
praise the Hermiston School Dis-
trict for being “a leader in innovat-
ing CTE programs for K-12 stu-
dents” and states “the center will
expand opportunities for students
in western Umatilla County and
Morrow County.”
“Providing pre-apprenticeship
training allows high school stu-
dents to try out skills and trades to
fi gure out what they like and then
fi nd a tangible pipeline from their
education directly into careers with
family-wage salaries and opportu-
nity for growth,” Smith said.
Mooney will work with Smith
to establish an advisory commit-
tee that will oversee the construc-
tion of the center, as well as an
advisory committee that ensures
the program meets the needs of the
local and regional workforce.
Boardman corn grower wins national contest for 300 bushel yield
Hermiston Herald
The National Corn Grow-
ers Association named the
winners of its annual Corn
Yield Contest on March 23,
with Eti Ena of Boardman
placing fi rst in his class and
other area farmers recog-
nized as well.
“This is quite an honor,”
Linda Lambur, contest man-
ager, said.
There were 7,213 entries
representing 47 states for the
contest, which judged yields
from 2021. It is the 58th year
of the contest.
Lambur
said
Ena
received special distinction
for having a yield of nearly
300 bushels per acre with his
Pioneer P1185AM hybrid.
Though this yield is less
than the average of other
national winners, over 376
bushels per acre, Ena’s yield
was much higher than the
projected 2021 U.S. average
of 177.
“(Ena) is over 100 bush-
els over the national aver-
age, which is very good for
Oregon,” Lambur said, also
noting Oregon is “not a huge
corn-growing state.”
The NCGA press release
that announced Ena’s award
explained the purpose of
the contest, quoting Low-
ell Neitzel, chair of NCGA’s
Member and Consumer
Engagement Action Team.
“The National Corn Yield
Contest provides a special
two-fold opportunity —
contribute to the knowledge
that will help corn farmers
thrive in the future while
enjoying good-natured com-
petition and comradery with
their peers today,” Neitzel
stated in the press release.
“At its core, NCGA shapes
dynamic,
change-driven
farmers, from the grassroots
activists speaking up on pol-
icy issues to the dedicated
farmer leaders who lead our
organization.”
The press release invites
people to join the NCGA,
which represents nearly
40,000 members, and take
part in the 2022 contest. More
information is at ncga.com.
HIV isn’t
just a big city issue.
More than half of Oregonians with HIV
live outside of Portland, often in suburbs and
small towns like this one.
Envelopes • Boxes • Packing Materials
Postage Stamps • • • Rubber Stamps
MONEY ORDERS & BILL PAY STATION (CASH ONLY)
- Utility Bills, Credit Cards, Mortgage, Auto Payments, etc -
Full Service
Packaging & Shipping
USPS Certified, Priority,
Express Services
Mailboxes
Package Receiving
Mail Forwarding
• Notary
• Copies
• Public Fax
• Laminating
• Computer Scanning
Printing + Email
242 E. Main St., Hermiston (Back Entrance on Hurlburt Ave)
DEBIT Mon-Fri 10am-5pm • Sat 10am-3pm
CARDS
541-567-6351 • Fax 541-567-7672
FREE EVENT
MORROW COUNTY
SUICIDE AWARENESS WALK
Saturday, April 23 • 10am
Boardman Marina Park Shelter
We invite everyone to walk with us and
show your support to those who have
been affected by suicide or suicide
ideation. Veteran or non-veteran, we
welcome everyone!
Call to register for this free event and get a
t-shirt on the day of the walk. Call
541-256-0400, leave your name & phone number.
We only have a limited supply of t-shirts - please register early.
Sponsored by Morrow County
Veteran Services, Oregon Dept. of Veteran
Affairs, Community Counseling Solutions,
Walla Walla VA Medical Center and
other community partners
Good neighbors chip in to get the job done. And we’ve got
work to do on HIV prevention. People in rural Oregon are
more likely to get a late-stage diagnosis, and a lack of HIV
treatment may harm your health, or your partner’s. Detected
early, HIV is more easily managed and you can live a long,
healthy life. Getting tested is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Learn more and find free testing at endhivoregon.org