vernonia’s
voice
community
august
2008
A Conversation with Tony Hyde
By Scott Laird
Columbia County Commissioner and Vernonia resident Tony Hyde is one of the
hardest working people in the County. He has been extremely active in the county
flood recovery effort for the last eight months. He was appointed by Governor Ku-
longoski as Co-convener of the Oregon Solutions Vernonia Schools Project that is
working to find a new site and funding for a new school campus for the local dis-
trict. He sits on over twenty boards and commissions, many of them based on eco-
nomic development. He is one of the most knowledgeable people anywhere about
the timber industry, and he has been active in organizing and running the Vernonia
Logging Show for the past thirty years. Although he is supposed to be in the middle
of a re-election campaign, how could he possibly find the time to campaign?
Vernonia’s Voice recently sat down with Commissioner Tony Hyde to talk about
the condition of the logging industry, cuts in county funding and running for re-
election in the middle of recovery from a major disaster. The following are excerpts
from that conversation.
“We have some real problems in the logging industry all happening at once. Mills
are shutting down at the same time as the slow down in the housing industry has hap-
pened. It’s having a real ripple effect. Boise Cascade and Longview Fiber are cutting
back on production. We have to try to find ways to turn that around. The logging
industry is hurting right now. These are tough times, no doubt about it, so we need to
be looking at alternative uses.”
“I think the industry can be more viable. I am still encouraged. We can find ways to
utilize what we have. We are on the edge of finding ways to make ethanol from forest
by-products - wood chips, grasses, things not used - and turn them into energy. There
are some really good possible uses there.”
“There is also the idea of Carbon Sequestration which can be a way to really quantify
the value of trees. We have issues with warming in the environment, that is a fact, and
we are releasing carbon into the system in a number of different ways. When forests
burn, they release carbon. There is also a release of carbon when we let our forests
rot. When we harvest trees, there is no release of carbon. It is valuable to have forests,
but we also have to manage them. We need to promote that trees are carbon-eating
machines. That can be a way to stimulate the industry.”
“Fifty-two percent of our state lands are in federal ownership, and the loss of federal
timber funds has not only hurt Columbia County, it’s hurt a number of other counties.
And it may have a domino effect throughout the state. We are facing a real crisis. We
are losing fifty-eight dollars per student statewide with the failure of congress to re-
authorize the Secure Rural Schools program. That means Columbia County is losing
twenty-three percent of its discretionary budget. We will be able to forestall the inevi-
table this year by using some one-time funding we have from the sale of assets. But
we are still on death row; we just got ourselves a stay of execution.”
“A number of counties are facing insolvency. The counties are the delivery point for a
majority of state services including Health and Community Services, Public Safety and
Judicial Services, Economic Development, Transportation, and Land Use. The counties
are already carrying a heavy burden. There are no easy answers without funding.”
“The federal government has an obligation to harvest their forests and share that in-
come with the state. That was the plan that was developed - the Northwest Timber
Harvest Plan, or the so-called “Clinton Harvest Plan.” It is a binding document and
was designed to buy us time to figure out other ways to get value from our forests. But
they are sitting on it and letting it rot and burn. Production of 800 million board feet
would be sustainable. Last year they cut 200 million board feet. The Fed’s are out of
compliance, and it is having a direct effect on the counties’ ability to do business.”
“I have been too busy to fund raise this year for my re-election campaign. We have
serious issues in this county. We have flood recovery and mitigation. We need to find
ways to get people out of harm’s way in the event of another event like last year. We
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have infrastructure like water and sewer systems that needs to be replaced or repaired
in every city in the county. And all of this is happening in an election year. But I’m
working to get my campaign in full swing.”
“I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my wife Dana. I call her ‘the county’s
biggest asset.’ And she always reminds me when I start feeling too self-important that
I’m still the one who takes out the garbage and cleans the toilet!”
High School Gym
To Be Back In Business
The first phase of the long process on the road to recovery for the Vernonia School
District and for the community as a whole has already started and should be in full
swing by the time you read this article.
Beginning July 24, 2008, demolition of the high school began! Rod McDow-
ell of Milstead & Associates, Project Manager for Vernonia School District’s current
planned construction projects, said preparation for siting of the modular classroom
building should be complete. The modular, donated by Blazer Industries in Portland,
will be used by fifth grade classes. This modular will be sited at Washington Grade
School. The existing three modular classrooms located behind the high school and
middle schools will be demolished at the same time that site prep is completed for the
donated modular classroom.
Progress also began for demolition of the high school building. The east wing
classroom portion of the school will be torn down first. The structure remaining
will be the stage, gym and shower facilities, along with the existing front office.
This building will be remodeled to serve as a sports center to serve the community
and the school.
It is expected that that the gymnasium project will be up and running, if not in time
for the beginning of school then by the end of September. Mr. McDowell said, “Mil-
stead & Associates is doing everything in their power to get the school buildings open
in time for start of school. We’re focusing on getting the modular in place, and doing
everything we can to meet the District’s and students’ needs, including whatever cost
savings can be worked in, including using volunteers to save the District money.”
Speaking of volunteers, Sally Harrison, Mayor of the City of Vernonia, spoke
at the City Council meeting on July 21, 2008 regarding the opportunity for the com-
munity to be involved in helping the district save money as well as put the gym back
together. Tony Hyde, Columbia County Commissioner, along with Mrs. Harrison, is
working towards setting up a “sheetrock party” for putting up the sheetrock in the
remodeled gym complex. US Gypsum in Rainier donated drywall, not just for the
community members affected by the flood, but for the gym as well! You are invited
to come help put up drywall – no experience necessary – the week of August 7th.
Call (503) 429-4948 and speak with Robb Wilson to get more details about how to
participate. Details can also be found at Vernonia School District, Vernonia City Hall,
Columbia County Flood Relief Center (The Vernonia Community Learning Center),
as well as on their websites, www.vernonia-or.gov and www.vernoniaflood.com.
Flag Thefts A Problem
The City of Vernonia has experienced a rash of flag thefts during recent weeks. The
American flag and Oregon State flags were both stolen from outside city hall. The
American flag was also stolen from Vernonia Lake Park, and a private citizen re-
ported damage to a flag on their property.
Anyone with any information regarding these acts of vandalism and theft should
contact the Vernonia Police Department at 503- 429-7335.
Notice of Public Meeting
Columbia County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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Individual Training Sessions Also Available
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing technical assistance to Columbia County
to facilitate the update of our existing natural hazards mitigation plan to a multi-jurisdictional hazard
mitigation plan. The following jurisdictions have designated steering committees, completed the hazard
screening process, and gathered data to analyze the risk associated with the hazards affecting the people and
property in the following jurisdictions: Columbia County, St. Helens, Columbia City, Scappoose, Clatskanie,
Rainier, Prescott, and Vernonia.
All interested parties are encouraged to attend one of the three informational sessions presenting the results of
the risk assessment. This opportunity for public participation is designed to describe: the planning process to
date; natural and technological hazards identified to occur in your community; people and property at risk
from each hazard; goals your community wants to achieve; and mitigation actions or projects your commu-
nity can implement to reduce or mitigate the risks associated with the hazards.
Date:
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Location:
C911CD
58611 McNulty Way
St. Helens, OR 95051
Times:
10:00 am, 2:00 pm or 6:00 pm
Teresa Williams, NSCA-CPT
Certified Fitness Trainer
503-429-5051 or 503-799-3424
fitnessbytw@netzero.com
Please contact Frank Hupp or Vicki Harguth in Columbia County Emergency Management with any
questions at 503-366-3930.