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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2008)
06 vernonia’s voice july city news 2008 CityNews... City Council June 2, 2008 Council Accepts Lease Agreement with CCFR... The Vernonia City Council approved a lease agreement for use of space in the Vernonia Community Learning Center Building. The lease runs through June 30, 2009, for $600 per month. The lease was also retroac- tive and requires payment of $1,400 per month back to January 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008. Council Extends Meter Contract... Council renewed its contract for two years with Meterreaders,LLC, to provide utility meter readings for the City of Vernonia. Council Doesn’t Renew VCLC Director’s Con- tract... Citing budget constraints, Council declined to renew the contract for the Director of the Vernonia Commu- nity Learning Center. Mayor Sally Harrison stated that volunteers have stepped forward to help run scheduled programs. DAD’S Recycling Contract Not Renewed... Council declined to renew a contract with DAD’S Re- cycling, stating that a new permanent location had not been identified and secured. Council gave an ex- tension until July 31, 2008, to move from the current location and asked that DAD’S not receive any more material after June 14th in order to ensure proper clean up and disposal of the current location. Howard Retained as Planning Director... Council has decided to retain Aldie Howard as Plan- ning Director on a contract basis, for a probationary period, and based on positive performance reviews. Howard has previously worked for Vernonia under a contract situation as City Planning Director and had filled in as Interim City Administrator from December 5th through May 31, 2008. City Council June 16, 2008 New City Administrator Takes Over... New Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson showed he was immediately in charge in Vernonia, introduc- ing a new agenda format, new comprehensive, easy to read, and easy to understand staff reports, and providing information about how audience participa- tion during council meetings will be allowed. Councilor Daughtry Resigns... City Councilwoman Shirlee Daughtry turned in her resignation due to personal reasons, effective imme- diately. Mayor Sally Harri- son accepted her resigna- tion “...with a heavy heart” and said the community should thank Ms. Daughtry “lovingly” for her service to Vernonia. Daughtry has served as a Vernonia Councilwoman since 1998. with Brown and Caldwell for engineering for the proj- ect in the amount of $29,093. Council also approved a Resolution declaring an ur- gent need to move the city wastewater facility. In the hope of strengthening the city’s proposal, this Reso- lution would be added to a Community Development Block Grant that the city is currently preparing. New City Committee Pro- Council Authorizes Lot cess Questioned... Line Adjustment Both Mayor Harrison and Council authorized City Councilor Randy Parrow Administrator Johnson to expressed concern about the new Vernonia Eco- Former City Councilwoman Shirlee Daughtry, proceed with a lot line ad- nomic Development Com- with Mayor Sally Harrison, at last years Jam- justment on the old city hall Council mittee and how it is operat- boree parade. Daughtry resigned her position building tax lot. had previously declared the ing. Mayor Harrison said on the Vernonia City Council in June. property surplus and has she would attend the next offered the property for sale for $100,000. Coun- meeting of the committee, and Councilman Parrow stated that he felt the committee had “...gotten away cil asked that the lot line adjustment not include the courtyard area between the building and the Com- from what was allowable.” munity Learning Center as part the sale offering. Airport Committee Raises Concerns... Vernonia Airport Committee President Randall Hen- Sergeant Kay and Kruger Going To K-9 Nation- derson expressed concern that the city was consid- als... ering leasing the Vernonia Airport to a private en- Vernonia Police Chief Mathew Workman announced tity. Mayor Harrison explained that in order to find the Police Sergeant Michael Kay and Canine Officer ways to make the airport financially self supportive, Kruger have secured a place at the K-9 Pro Sport na- all ideas were being considered. A lease agreement tional competition in Dallas, Texas, in February. Pro was one idea that was “only being looked at, at this Sport is a working dog competition that tests dogs time.” Harrison assured the committee that their in- and their handlers in obedience, obstacles, agility, put would be considered before any decisions were speed, strength, and other police patrol work. made. Henderson also requested that a council per- son be in attendance at Committee meetings in the Council Rejects County Public Road Event Ordi- future. Both Mayor Harrison and City Administrator nance... Johnson expressed their intention to attend future Council rejected an ordinance from Columbia County that would regulate how the city can hold and permit meetings. public events that take place on public roads. Public Works Grants Move Forward Council approved a motion to accept an Oregon Council Approves Street Closures... Economic and Community Development Depart- Council approved a request for closure of Madison ment (OECDD) Special Public Works Fund Grant for Avenue on Friday’s from 4-7 PM until October 3, $78,125 for removal of sludge from the wastewater 2008, for the Open Air Market. They also approved treatment facility. This grant will work as a match for a request to close 2nd Avenue on August 9th from a FEMA grant for $234,375 for this project, giving the 11AM- 4PM for a Block Party. city $312,500. Council then approved a contract City Council: By Mayor Sally Harrison The only constant we can depend on is change itself. There have been and will con- tinue to be considerable major changes to our city. Our job is to maintain control of these changes so we wind up with the results we want. One change that has happened lately is Shirlee Daughtry’s resignation from City Council after 10 years of service to her community in that capacity. No one has more lovingly worked for the betterment of her city than Shirlee. My hope is that she will continue to be a drawing force, not only in running the Scout Cabin (Cabin in the Woods), but in other matters where her considerable knowledge and good ol’ common sense can be of use. Thank you, Shirlee We’re also saying goodbye to Aldie Howard as our Interim City Administrator. He was “The Man of the Hour.” When we needed him after the flood, he stepped for- ward and took on the monumental tasks at hand. Our thanks to him for taking Ver- nonia to his heart and starting early and staying late each day to get the job done. Now we have Jim Johnson as Interim City Administrator. He has committed to helping us find that special person to serve as our permanent administrator. In the meantime, it’s a joy working with Jim. We are changing direction when it comes to wastewater and storm water issues. With all the information to which we have recently been made privy, we are finding out that updated “old ways” are the cheapest safest and most eco-friendly ways to deal with waste water. I’m encouraged and excited with the prospects. I promise to keep you apprised of plans. Finally we have changed seasons! What a relief to finally have this winter over and warm weather! That means school is out, and our kids are on bikes, skate boards and fast along our highways and byways. Fluffy and Fido are out and about, too. I’ve also seen does with baby Bambis on the south side of town and also in my own yard. Be aware, take care and drive carefully. But most of all enjoy the summer. Barlow Adventures Plan Your Summer Columbia County Adventure! Create Your Own Adventure... Sand Island Trips River to the Coast Rides Multi Sport Combo Trips-Bike, Kayak, Hike Shuttles Available for Linear Trail Rides- Call for Shuttle Times and Availability. 1-D ay T ting our star $99 at s [Group Discounts] Vernonia 503-429-0762 St Helens 503-397-4900 www.barlowadventures.com