Newsletter - March 2026

The more you know...Back Flow & Cross Connection

Cross-connections occur when a drinking water line is connected, either directly or indirectly to a potential source of contamination, such as an irrigation system, boiler, fire sprinkler system, chemical tank, or even a hose left in a hot tube and swimming pools.

If water pressure drops due to events like a water main break, firefighting, or high system demand, contaminated water can be drawn back into the public water system. This is known as backflow, which can occur through backpressure or back-siphonage.

Backflow prevention assemblies are installed to protect the public water system. It is important to have your backflow assembly tested before turning on your irrigation system each season to ensure it is functioning properly.

All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least once per year by a certified tester, and the test results must be submitted to the City of Boardman.

Mayor's Message

This message will be about a conversation that I had with Mike Rogoway, an investigative journalist for the Oregonian Newspaper regarding the advantages of having Amazon in our city and county.  There is a lot of discussion and debate over the amount of taxes that Amazon pays or doesn’t pay.  I would like to focus on the positive that Amazon brings to Morrow County.

Morrow County started collecting tax abatements through the Enterprise Zone starting in 2012.  Over the last 14 years Amazon has paid over $81,900,000 to Morrow County.  This is an astronomical amount of money paid directly to the Enterprise Zone and distributed to Morrow County through CREZ.

Let's break this down even farther.  Sponsoring agencies as Port of Morrow, Morrow County, and the City of Boardman are entities that are directly impacted by Amazon and collect the most amount of money paid from the Enterprise Zone.  However, the committee has decided in CREZ II to distribute the money county wide.  Due to that decision all cities and development groups receive funds.

Irrigon has received $10,774,000, Heppner has received $8,434,000, Ione has received $2,732,000, Lexington has received $2,461,000, and Boardman has received $14,906,000.  These funds are calculated by population and area of impact.  That’s just the financial impact.  That doesn’t include the money to fire, police, ambulance, taxing districts, education, bonds, and water consortium.

I am extremely grateful for Amazon being my neighbor in Boardman.  Their financial impact is just too great to pass up.  Hotels are filled weekly, gas stations, food vendors and stores are busy non-stop. 

I ask, where would we be if Amazon wasn’t in our county as a neighbor and good partner?  We all have our own opinion on this question, but this mayor knows we would be worse off without them than with them.

Small Town, Big Dreams.  Let’s grow Boardman together.

Mayor Keefer

Keeping Boardman Clean

Recycling is a simple way to protect the places we love.  By recycling common items like paper, metal, glass, and plastic, we conserve natural resources and use less energy than making products from raw materials.  Recycling also keeps valuable material out of landfills, helping reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

To make recycling count, recycle empty, clean, and dry items and check local guidelines when you’re unsure.

City of Boardman’s Recycling Locations:
Free recycle center located behind City Hall
North Transfer Station 69900 Frontage Lane, Boardman

Animal Control

Please remember to clean up after your furry pets when visiting our public parks. There are baggies and trash receptacles placed throughout the parks for your convenience.  

Also remember to make sure your pets are not in danger of being hit by a vehicle or picked up and transported to The Hermiston Vet Clinic.

As always, we want to see all pets have a healthy and thriving life here in Boardman.