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a) Willow Creek Baptist Church- Request
to use City Park July 19-23. City Manager Breazeale explained
that the Baptist Church was requesting the use of City Park on
Main Street for vacation bible school between the hours of 9:00
AM to 12:00 Noon, between July 19 and July 23rd. The Public Works
Department is aware of the request and have no problem with this
schedule. The watering and mowing schedules can be accommodated
to allow this use. Breazeale stated that he would recommend approval
of this request. Councilor Robinson stated that they used the
park last year and it all worked out well. Mayor Jepsen stated
that they had indicated a desire to do some community service
while in town and could sweep sidewalk and gutters if they so
choose. MOTION by Councilor Robinson to approve the request.
SECOND by Skip Matthews. MOTION CARRIED. b) OEDD - Special Public Works Fund
Award. Breazeale reviewed a correspondence from OEDD stating
that the City has been approved for a $10,000 Technical Assistance
Grant for the Water System Master Plan. A contract should be
arriving soon for signatures. c) Heppner Chamber of Commerce -
Celebrate Heppner. Bob Kahl was present to represent the Chamber
of Commerce and request that the City sanction the event. Mr.
Kahl mentioned that there were two letters in the packett. One
from Claudia Hughs asking that the City adopt the event again
this year. The City had adopted the event last year and everything
went well. The other issue was the table of activities at the
event which was from the Merchants Committee. Bob reviewed the
list of events and stated that there was not much need for staffing
from the City. One area that the City would need to be involved
in is the closure of the highway for the activities proposed
for Main Street. The highway would be closed from 3:00 PM until
6:30 on the 30th. Mayor Jepsen stated that for the Highway closure
we would need to get a permit from ODOT. Mr. Kahl explained that
some of the events were sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce
and would not need to be covered by the City insurance. These
would include the dunk tank and the raffle drawing, blood pressure
checks would be sponsored by the hospital. MOTION by Skip Matthews
to support the Celebrate Heppner activities. SECOND by Tim Van
Cleave. MOTION CARRIED.
A) Oral communications not on the
agenda. None Received B) Enterprise Zone Application -
Greg Sweek, County Assessor, was acting as enterprise zone manager
until the County hires an economic development person. Mr. Sweek
reviewed the application that Morrow County had submitted earlier
to encompass the Kinzua mill site. That effort was unsuccessful
due to the competition for the five zones available. The legislature
has opened up ten new zones and will most likely offer five of
the zones this fall. The County Court is interested in pursuing
the Kinzua site as well as any other site in the Willow Creek
Valley included in a Willow Creek Enterprise Zone. One of the
issues is whether to include the Hotel/Motel option in the zone
description. The County is also trying to determine the interest
of the cities in including areas within the enterprise zone for
the application. The County would like to have an application
ready for submission for the Fall application. OEDD has stated,
according to Greg, that the Willow Creek Valley would virtually
be assured of having the application approved. Mayor Jepsen asked
if the zone could include Lexington since one of the areas identified
for industrial development by the Willow Creek Valley Diversification
Study was the Lexington Airport property. Greg answered that
it could include area outside of the Lexington city limit, but
the City of Lexington has stated that they do not want to have
the city included within the zone. Lexington has indicated to
Greg that they would support what Heppner and Ione would like
to do but that they do not want to participate. Some area around
Lexington would have to be included in order to extend the zone
between Heppner and Ione. The maximum length of the zone between
points is 12 miles, and a site around Lexington would be required
to stretch the zone. Mayor Jepsen asked what is the maximum length
for the time in the enterprise zone. Greg answered that the enterprise
zone designation lasts for a maximum of ten years. However, if
an industry lands in the zone on the last year, they still get
the three year tax exemption even though the zone is being dissolved.
Mayor Jepsen stated that if the City of Heppner is not included
in the enterprise zone, it would not be able to offer tax incentives
for the development of a motel, for instance. Greg confirmed
that that would be the case. He also clarified that once the
zone is created and property included, it is out of the City's
hands to provide the tax incentive. The qualifying business would
be able to take advantage of the tax benefits whether or not
the City desired it. Where a business meets the statutory requirements
for tax exemption within an enterprise zone, the cities and the
County have no say in the approval process. If the company were
to request a longer time for the exemption, the local governments
have some negotiating authority over infrastructure and other
issues before the extension of time is granted. Bill Kuhn mentioned
that Heppner Economic Development Council had identified a desire
for a destination hotel in Heppner and the inclusion of the City
within an enterprise zone may be quite desirable. Bill asked
Greg if OEDD wanted a larger zone than just the Kinzua site.
Greg stated that is correct. OEDD looked more favorably on the
other applications that were submitted due, in part, to the larger
areas of the other zones. Bill Kuhn suggested that although there
is a downside from a tax standpoint, all of the City of Heppner
should be included within the zone along with the Urban Growth
Area to allow development. Councilor Matthews asked if there
were any restrictions on the type of business that could take
advantage of the zone. Greg stated that retail business would
not qualify. The hotel/motel option is the only non industrial
type of business that would qualify. To meet the requirements
to extend the tax exemption beyond the standard three years,
the industry would have to meet some requirements like their
average pay has to be 150% of the County average pay. The question
of whether a dairy would qualify was asked by Councilor Matthews.
Greg stated that he was unsure and would check on that. Greg
stated that the designation of the additional zones and the time
for submitting applications was in the hands of Oregon Economic
Development. The Governor has signed off on the zones and Art
Fish with OEDD said that the applications would be taken this
fall, perhaps as early as August. Greg was hoping to avoid a
last minute rush like during the last application. Councilor
Jerri Sly asked for clarification of the zone and size restrictions.
Greg explained that the County would have to provide a legal
description of the property included in the zone. Individual
parcels could be included within the zone connected only by roadway.
The individual parcels could be no further apart than twelve
(12) miles. The maximum area within the zone could be no more
than twelve (12) square miles. Greg explained that the zone boundary
may be amended, however it is a good idea to include all likely
or desirable property within the zone to avoid the time constraints
and staff time involved with amending the zone. Mayor Jepsen
stated that he understood that the chance to locate in an enterprise
zone was one of the incentives to locating the Tillamook Creamery
in Boardman. The mayor stated that he felt that the entire City
should be included within the zone. City Manager Breazeale stated
that he felt that providing the incentive of the enterprise zone
was important to keeping Heppner and the Willow Creek Valley
competitive with other communities which have the advantage of
being on a major transportation corridor. Greg Sweek stated that
the enterprise zone would only apply to commercial or industrial
zoned property. Breazeale asked if the description could include
property not so zoned, to allow for potential land use changes.
Greg answered that was certainly possible. The zone could include
all of a city or urban growth area if desired. Mayor Jepsen asked
if Greg was looking for a recommendation from the City Council
for the area to include in the zone. Greg stated that would be
desirable to have direction from the Council to expedite preparing
the application. City Manager Breazeale stated that he would
agree with Mr. Kuhn that the City should request that the enterprise
zone encompass everything within the Urban Growth Boundary of
the City of Heppner. Such zone should include the Kinzua mill
site also. MOTION by Kay Robinson with a Second by Tim Van Cleave
to request that the County application for the Willow Creek Valley
Enterprise Zone include at least the Urban Growth Boundary of
the City of Heppner along with the Kinzua mill site. MOTION CARRIED.
C) Liquor License, John Goshner
John Goshner was present to explain his request for changing
of the current license do to the formation of a corporation.
The renewal application is for Bucknam's Tavern. Mr. Goshner
was also requesting to obtain a Class A Dispensers License. According
to Mr. Goshner, the rules regarding the license have been changed
and Bucknam's would qualify for all of them. No opposition had
been expressed by anyone to the license renewal or change. Police
Chief Rathbun stated that he had no concerns regarding the operation
of the establishment. MOTION by Skip Matthews to recommend the
approval of the license applications. SECOND by Jerri Sly. MOTION
CARRIED. D) Sheila Dahlman and Ken Roberts
- Hospital Remodel. Ken Roberts, Architect, gave a presentation
to City Council regarding the proposed plans for the hospital
remodel and expansion. Ken explained that the hospital was making
presentations to the public to explain the plan and gather letters
in support of the plan. These letters of support will be helpful
in obtaining funding for the project. One of the main goals of
the remodel is to make the hospital more efficient. To do this
they need to get all of the nursing home on one floor. Presently,
the nursing home is downstairs, and the main hospital is on the
second floor. The administration is mingled with the emergency
room and patient area. This layout is inefficient. The remodel
would place the administration in the basement and move the nursing
home patients to the second floor. The entrance to the basement
would be opened up and make an inviting entry to the hospital.
The patient access to the hospital would be available through
elevator or stairs from the main entrance. Patients would no
longer have to negotiate steps to access the hospital. A dining
room would be added to the east end where the existing shop is.
The nursing home on the south end would be accessible at ground
level from the east side. The shops would be moved under the
expansion area and ambulance storage would be added under the
nursing home and would be accessed from the West side. The emergency
room would be expanded, and ultrasound and mamography equipment
would be added. The current trend in the industry is to have
more outpatient services and less inpatient service. A pharmacy
area would be added. Handicapped accessible bathrooms would be
added also. Space for the kitchen would be added as would some
common sitting areas. On questioning, Ken stated that there would
be room for four ambulances in the garage below the nursing home.
Because of code restrictions, the new expansion area would be
separated from the old building eleven (11) feet. They would
be connected by an enclosed walkway. There would be a round structure
on the South end of the addition which would be an activity and
dining room. Ken stated that the views from that area are spectacular
and maximum advantage would be taken of that. He stressed that
for the patients in a nursing home, that was their home and should
be as comfortable and inviting as possible. Councilor Rita Hedman
inquired into the possibility of a connection with the proposed
assisted living facility. Mr. Roberts answered that the administrative
connection with the hospital and assisted living facility was
still a consideration. The constraints of the existing site where
the hospital is would preclude the possibility of the facilities
sharing the same site. When asked about the cost of the renovation
and expansion, Ken answered that it was under two (2) million
dollars. The cost includes Davis Bacon Act, twenty percent contingency,
and 1.1 % design fees. He stated that they would be trying to
pursue the total package at once. Mayor Jepsen stated that he
thought the community would support the expansion as the facility
is needed in the area. MOTION by Kay Robinson, SECOND by Jerry
Sly to approve the plans for the hospital expansion. (Sheila
Dahlman entered the meeting at this time.) Mayor Jepsen introduced
Sheila Dahlman, interim administrator for the Morrow County Health
District. She thanked the Council for their endorsement of the
project.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A) Abatement of Nuisance at 220 Willow
Street, Map 2S 26 35BB, Tax Lot #6900. Chief Rathbun asked that
the matter be continued pending work being performed at the property.
The owners have been working on cleaning up the nuisance and
have to travel from California to do the work. The owners are
working with the Chief Rathbun to ensure that the essential work
gets done.
4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHIEF
OF POLICE A) Code Enforcement. Doug
showed a video of property at 280 East Matlock. Doug has been
responding to complaints about nuisance conditions at the residence.
He was asking for Council direction on whether he should start
the formal enforcement procedures. MOTION by Councilor Robinson,
SECOND by Councilor Matthews to start enforcement on clean up
of the property of Phillip Kight, 280 E Matlock. MOTION CARRIED.
B) Activity Report. Chief
Rathbun explained that he has had a number of old cars towed
from the right-of-ways in the City. This was part of the code
enforcement activity. He also reported that Assistant Chief Merle
Cowett may be retiring soon. He is considering joining the peacekeeping
force in Kosovo. Chief Rathbun reported that he is posting an
announcement for receiving a list of people who would potentially
be interested in filling a position of Senior Patrol Officer.
In his opinion, the City is too small for an Assistant Chief.
Should Merle turn in his resignation, he would like to have a
list of potential candidates to fill a position. The new description
for Senior Patrol officer would be second in command and the
position would require a minimum of five years experience. Mayor
Jepsen referred to the activity report supplied by Chief Rathbun
and asked whether the citations reflected the activity relating
to the seat belt enforcement program. Chief Rathbun said that
many of the citations under the program were written by reserve
officers and are not reflected on the activity report which relates
only to full time police officers.
A) Activity Report. Public
Works Director Dave Winters was not present. City Manager Jerry
Breazeale stated that Mr. Winters had left a written report of
department activities. The report stated that the water main
extension on Skyline Drive has been completed and is in now in
operation. Public Works personnel have been checking the St.
Patrick's Senior Apartments to ensure that the light bulbs are
replaced as they go out. Two youths have been hired under the
CAPCO program for the summer. A hole in the alley behind the
Senior Center had opened where an old coal chute used to be.
Public Works people have repaired the hole. The pipe and materials
have been ordered for the extension of an 8 inch water main to
the fairgrounds. The materials are being purchased by the County
of Morrow and the Fairboard. The County is digging the trench
and City crews will do the installation. The main will extend
from Stansburry Street to the new arena. The extension was necessary
to provide adequate water for the fire sprinkler system. The
benefit to the City is that the main can be extended further
along Highway 74 and looped back into the main on Fairview Way.
This will solve a pressure and flow problem for the residents
on Fairview Way. Breazeale also reported that the noxious weed,
dalmation toadflax, has appeared on the old swimming pool property.
Our crews have removed it and will be keeping a watch to ensure
that it does not return. Breazeale explained that dalmation toadflax
is on the Morrow County "A" list. Councilor Robinson
asked for clarification of the weed. Breazeale stated that it
resembles a yellow snapdragon and is very prolific. Because it
is quite attractive, people may not recognize it as a noxious
weed. Well 3 is back in service. All City backflow devices have
been tested. Two devices were found to be defective and need
to be repaired. The next step is to have the private devices
tested. Two new valves have been installed on the 8 inch main
on Riverside Ave. These valves were installed with the line live
and under pressure. Breazeale explained the process used to install
the valves. Breazeale reported further that a drainage problem
at Gilmore and Willow had been solved by the repair of a collapsed
drain line. Councilor Skip Matthews asked whether the water supply
for the fairgrounds was from the creek or from the City system.
Breazeale answered that they were using City municipal water.
The fairgrounds does have a well which is highly productive and
they have indicated that the City could use it as a source of
supply, if that would be desirable. This potential water source
will be included in the water system study to be conducted soon.
Bob Kahl asked if there would be a fill point for fire tank trucks
on the line main extension. Breazeale answered that there would
be a fire hydrant installed near the end of the line at the arena
which could be used for filling trucks and also to pressurize
the fire sprinkler system. B) Utilities Commission Meeting.
City Manager Jerry Breazeale reported that the Utilities Commission
had its first meeting on June 29th. A copy of the draft minutes
had been distributed to all the Councilors. Discussed was a proposed
main line extension policy for the extension of water and sewer
mains. The policy would require mains to be extended at property
owner expense when requests for new service are received from
property owners not adjacent to an existing main. Extending mains
rather than permitting service lines to be extended would provide
long term benefits to both the City and the land owner. The land
owner would receive better service at potentially reduced cost
with the capability of obtaining fire protection. The City would
benefit from having orderly development and the potential to
provide service to additional customers. The only disadvantage
according to Breazeale, was that in some cases the initial cost
of the extension may be prohibitive. The City could provide a
program by which property owners extending mains could be reimbursed
a portion of their cost for extending the main from future connections
to the main. The Utilities Commission was recommending that this
policy be pursued. Also discussed was the "Neighborhood
Enhancement Team", a conceptual plan which would allow volunteers
to do projects to enhance the appearance, safety, and systems
of the City. Volunteers under the program would be covered by
City liability and worker's compensation insurance. The participants
would also have access to City equipment for use on City approved
projects. The use of equipment would be as established under
administrative policy, and to operate major equipment like backhoes,
participants would have to take a training course and be certified
competent by the Public Works Director. An example of projects
that could be done under such a program, according to Breazeale,
was the replacement of damaged sidewalks. The "Neighborhood
Enhancement Team" could remove and dispose of old and damaged
sidewalks, set forms and prepare the subgrade, and pour and finish
the concrete. The adjacent property owner would be expected to
pay for the cost of materials such as gravel for subgrade and
the concrete. Such a program would lessen the burden for adjacent
property owners, reduce liability for the property owner and
the City, and would make the City more attractive and welcoming
to visitors and residents. Jerri Sly stated that this would free
up Public Works crews from having their time taken up by numerous
small projects that may be desirable but should be the responsibility
of the property owner. Breazeale stated that Public Works Department
personnel would not be able to volunteer to work under the program.
Also discussed at the meeting was renewal of the sewer discharge
permit. One of the requirements on the new permit is to install
a gauging station on Willow Creek. This could be an expensive
and disruptive activity. The City will seek to profile the creek
bank and use depth measurements to determine flow. This would
be less disruptive to the creek bank and would be less expensive.
DEQ will have to approve this plan before it can be implemented.
Another concern under the requirements of the permit is the 85%
removal requirement. This could be difficult under current conditions
where inflow to the plant is at a low concentration for B.O.D.
(biochemical oxygen demand) but this is a requirement of EPA
and it is not likely that the requirement could be changed. The
permit requires additional monitoring for temperature and ammonia.
The permit allows extension of the irrigation season to year
round as long as the golf course can use the water.
A) Resolution No. 373-99 A
Resolution Declaring the City of Heppner's Election to Provide
Worker's Compensation Coverage to Volunteers/Community Service
Workers. City Manager Breazeale explained that the resolution
was requested by City County Insurance to define coverage for
volunteers. Currently coverage is provided for volunteer fire
fighters and police reserve officers. The resolution would expand
the coverage to the Mayor and Councilors and to all City volunteer
workers and community service workers. This resolution allows
coverage to the people who work on any City sanctioned activity
such as the St. Patrick's Committee and Celebrate Heppner. Bob
Kahl, city insurance agent, gave his prospective on the proposed
coverage. Not only would it provide some protection to the City
from potential claims, it is a nice gesture to try to protect
those who give their time for the City. Mr. Kahl explained the
various options available to the City and some of the issues
associated with them. The extra cost for premiums for the proposed
coverage would be approximately $150 per year for an estimated
200 hours of volunteer work. Breazeale explained that the rate
was figured using minimum wage. If a
volunteer suffered an injury that resulted in lost time from
their regular job, their reimbursement for loss of wages would
not be very great. MOTION by Councilor Robinson to approve Resolution
No. 373-99. SECOND by Councilor Rita Hedman. MOTION CARRIED.
B) Resolution Declaring Certain
Property a Nuisance and Ordering Cleanup of Property Belonging
to Alan and Mary Mathews. This matter was tabled pending
satisfactory cleanup of the property. C) Resolution No. 374-99 A
Resolution Adopting the Heppner Community Strategic Plan. City
Manager explained that the reason that the plan was presented
for adoption was to formally recognize the Heppner Strategic
Plan as guiding document for the City of Heppner. The plan was
developed over a period of nine months by a committee of community
citizens with extensive efforts to obtain public comment. By
adoption the Council is stating that the plan will be used to
guide administration and staff in meeting the needs of the community.
MOTION by Councilor Tim Van Cleave, SECOND by Councilor Jerri
Sly. MOTION CARRIED. D) Resolution No. 375-99 A
Resolution Approving Accounts Payable for Payment. MOTION by
Councilor Skip Matthews, Second by Councilor Kay Robinson. MOTION
CARRIED. E) Irish Twin City Selection
of Candidates. Mayor Jepsen referred to the list of candidates
that had been received to be entertained for a possible twin
city for Heppner. The four cities in Ireland that had been submitted
were Abbeydorney, Dingle, Carrick-on Shannon, and Cashil. After
discussion, the city of Carrick-on-Shannon was chosen as the
city to be contacted for a potential twin city. The winning candidate
will be announced at Celebrate Heppner according to Breazeale.
F) Other Discussion (The following
was discussed earlier, but is placed here to conform to the agenda)
Mayor Jepsen asked City Manager Breazeale if he had any thing
else for discussion. Breazeale answered that one of the goals
in the Heppner Strategic Plan was additional housing. He stated
that a survey had been prepared to inquire into the market potential
for a new subdivision in Heppner. He stated that it is important
that anyone thinking of, or desiring to build a new house or
move into a new house, to complete the survey. If sufficient
interest is expressed, a new subdivision would likely result.
If insufficient response is received, potential developers would
probably not be interested in investing in this community.
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