MORROW COUNTY — Morrow County voters for a fourth time approved the property tax levy that supports the North Morrow Vector Control District’s efforts to control the spread of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office unofficial election results Nov. 5, Measure 25-102 passed 2,065 to 540 votes.

The measure is a continuation of the prior option levy that imposes a tax of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for mosquito-borne disease prevention.

The funding helps improve response time to West Nile virus and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, increase use of aircraft, upgrade available technology, and maintain vehicle and equipment replacements.

The proposed levy will cost the owner of a property valued at $300,000 within the district $30 per year. It will raise approximately $300,000 annually during the four years, for a total of $1.2 million. That estimation is based on the best available information from the Morrow County tax assessor.

The measure was first introduced to Irrigon and Boardman in 2008 and has been renewed every general election since.

The mosquito and vector control district serves 274 square miles of residential, industrial and farmland and more than 3,000 acres of wildlife refuges.

Boardman charter

Boardman voters approved an update to the city’s charter.

According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office unofficial election results Nov. 5, Measure 25-103 was passing 456 to 274 votes.

The city’s charter dates to 1985. The measure replaces the city’s charter with a modern version.

The new charter is based on the League of Oregon Cities Model Charter but keeps provisions characteristic of Boardman.

The modern charter retains the city’s form of government with a mayor and six councilors.

But it makes the following changes:

• Sets additional qualifications for elected officials.
• Clarifies the process for filling council vacancies and breaking tie votes.
• Removes debt limits and requires debt limits to conform with state law.
• Removes city recorder from list of appointed offices.