BOARDMAN – The Bank of Eastern Oregon unveiled plans Wednesday for a new $700,000 banking center in Boardman. Gary Propheter, assistant vice president and CEO of operations, said the new facility, covering 35,000 square feet, will be twice the size of the current bank and will include a lending brand as well as retail operations.

Propheter presented the plans at the chamber luncheon at the Port of Morrow. He said drive-through banking will be expanded to include two lanes and a drive-up automatic teller machine and the facility will allow for expansion and growth.

Propheter said the bid process is under way and construction should begin in March, with a targeted completion date for this fall. He said as the branch grows, additional staff will be added.

“We wouldn’t make that kind of investment if we didn’t think it would grow,” he said.

Bob Conner, the new Boardman Chamber of Commerce president, introduced other speakers addressing economic issues during the luncheon.

Michael O’Donoghue, construction manager with Pacific Ethanol, said once the company’s ethanol plant is operational, it will employ 34 additional workers. The plant will be open 24 hours a day, producing 40 million gallons of ethanol each year.

He said with the Portland City Council recently passing an ordinance requiring all gasoline sold in the city to contain at least 10 percent ethanol, there will be a substantial market for the product. He estimates the ordinance, which takes effect July 1, will result in 600 million gallons a year.

O’Donoghue said in addition to the ethanol produced, the plant will market the waste products. Pacific Ag. Products will sell byproducts from the production of ethanol to be used for dairy and feedlots.

Steve Eldrige, general manager and CEO of the Umatilla Electric Cooperative, spoke about the Oasis Project, which would draw more water off the Columbia River. He said additional water would be used for irrigation, critical groundwater replacement and to supplement municipal water needs.

Eldrige said concerns have been raised regarding drawing additional water off the river and how it may impact the environment. Eldrige said Morrow and Umatilla counties’ need for additional water would have no measurable impact.

He equated it with sticking your finger in a glass of water.

“Even though your finger is wet, the impact isn’t measurable,” he said.

Eldrige said Morrow and Umatilla counties use 90 percent of the water taken from the Columbia River, but science hasn’t supported theories that taking the extra water impacts salmon.

Eldrige said the group plans to bring the water issue before the governor and having community support and key democrats on board with the project will help its case.

“We saw this as a true community need,” he said. “They know we represent the entire area. That means a lot.”