06
vernonia’s
voice
september
city news
2008
CityNews...
City Council August 4, 2008
Council Agrees on Goals and Priorities for Up-
coming Year...
The Vernonia City Council approved a list of goals
that it identified through a survey presented to them
by Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson. Among
the priorities identified were: to complete a six-year
financial forecast for the city general fund; create a
water storage basin plan to reduce flows in winter
and increase flows in summer; develop a storm drain-
age plan for the city; update the wastewater facili-
ties plan then proceed with design work; implement
sludge removal from wastewater treatment lagoons;
actively participate in the Oregon Solutions School
Siting Committee; look at replacing the fourth police
officer position; replace and repair police equipment
including installing each car with video recording
system; and researching funding sources to aug-
ment police programs.
Council Agrees to take Recommendations from
City Committees for Rate Increases...
Council agreed to have City Committees make rec-
ommendations for rate increases and additional fees
for city services in their areas. During the budget pro-
cess last spring, the Budget Committee had recom-
mended fee increases and additional fees in order to
Vernonia Needs You!
alleviate growing budget shortfalls and to help make
capital funds more self supporting. Council decided
to have the Committees make fee change recom-
mendations before enacting any changes. Rate in-
crease will be discussed at a pubic hearing on Sep-
tember 15th.
Streets scheduled to be included in the repairs are
Weed Avenue, Maple Street, Adams Street, State
Street, Heather Street, the intersection at Mist Drive
and Birch Street, and Washington Street.
Council Agrees to Salary for Administrator
Search...
Council agreed to a salary of $70,000 to be used in
the recruiting profile in the search for a new perma-
nent City Administrator.
Council Agrees to Create Resolution for Police
Officer Training Fees...
Council directed Interim City Administrator Jim John-
son to create a draft resolution that would institute a
Police Officer Training Fee assessment on Vernonia
Justice Court fines. The resolution would determine
the fee amount. This resolution was to be up for dis-
cussion at the September 2nd City Council Meeting.
Council Accepts Design for Dirt Jump Park...
Council approved a schematic design for a Dirt Jump
Park that will be one element of the Vernonia Bicycle
Skills Park project. The design was submitted by
Alta Planning and Design and had received approv-
al by the Vernonia Parks Committee. The design
includes a series of dirt jumps, a dual slalom course,
a pump track area, and a technical skills area.
Council Approves Street Repair...
Council approved the award of a bid for $132,810.50
to S-2 Contractors for street paving repairs caused
by flood damage. FEMA will pay 75% of the costs,
and a special public works grant from the State of
Oregon has been secured for the remaining 25%.
By Cindy Ball
As many of you know, I am the newest of the City Councilors. For those of you who
don’t know me, I am both a former City Councilor and past Mayor of Vernonia. I became
interested in emergency response before I moved to Vernonia, taking my first CERT class
in 1994. When I first joined City Council 10 years ago, I knew we needed to be self-suf-
ficient due to our remote location. My initiation into Vernonia emergency response began
when I worked with Fire Chief Epler to revise the city’s emergency plan. I learned a lot
during that process, and what I learned convinced me that we could never have too many
emergency responders and volunteers.
During the flood of 2007, I was amazed to see so many people turning their backs on
their own needs and stepping forward to help others. The staff from the Vernonia Police De-
partment (VPD), Fire District, and City Hall, as well as many individuals who placed them-
selves at the disposal of Incident Command, worked together for “the greater good.” There
have been many public thanks to all the emergency responders. I echo those thanks.
Now for the pitch: In spite of the many volunteers that give so freely of their time,
Vernonia could use more of you.
The Vernonia Rural Fire District (VRFD) is recruiting volunteers. The sign on the
front of the fire hall has been there for several months. Ask your friends who are firefighters
why they volunteer. While you might hear about the great uniforms they get to wear or the
excitement, the likely response will probably have to do with wanting to help others.
Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Association (VVAA) would love to have more mem-
bers. The VVAA volunteers provide emergency medical help twenty-four hours a day.
For those of you who may be intrigued by this idea, you can arrange a ride-along and get
firsthand experience. Metro West Ambulance offers classes locally for First Responder and
Basic level EMT. Financial aid is sometimes available for tuition and books.
Vernonia’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is another option. In
the past several years, CERT volunteers have worked with the Vernonia Police Depart-
ment, searching for lost people or providing support during city events (Jamboree, KUPL
concert). With an ongoing series of classes in town, you have the opportunity to become
civilian support for our professional responders. Being a member of CERT in Vernonia is
different than most everywhere else. CERT has become useful due to our remote location
and has been called out to provide assistance in other communities.
While I have absolutely no desire to participate in another emergency of any kind, I
am forced to believe that, whether or not I like it, there will be other disasters in my future.
These range from being the first person on scene at a car accident to events like the floods
of 1996 and 2007. I am not a highly trained volunteer, but when there is need I show up.
I have gone on welfare checks, made endless pots of coffee, directed traffic, answered
phones, tracked teams dispatched to incidents, and handed out bottles of water. I help
because I can, and you can, too.
There are volunteer opportunities in a wide range of skill levels. From the Vernonia
School District to the Senior Center, religious or secular agencies — nearly every organi-
zation in Vernonia would love your help. In December, all these agencies went to work
rescuing, feeding, clothing, and sheltering friends and strangers. We could have used more
hands. No matter how many helped, we could have used more.
I don’t volunteer for the high pay (volunteer = no salary) or the fame — certainly not
for the glamour (think 12-hour days and all the chaos you need). I volunteer because
there is need. I volunteer because I can.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteer opportunities in Vernonia,
make a call.
Vernonia Community Emergency Response Team: 503-429-7335
Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Association: 503-429-4600
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters Association: 503-429-8252
City Council August 18, 2008
Council Approves Recruitment Profile for City
Administrator Search...
City Council approved a recommended recruitment
profile to be used during the upcoming search for
candidates for the permanent City Administrator.
Council Gives City Administrator Power to Sign
Closing Documents...
City Council passed a resolution giving the Interim
City Administrator authorization to sign all docu-
ments in regards to the sale of the old City Hall Build-
ing. (See related article)
Vernonia Sells
Old City Hall Building
Property is Sold for $67,000 in a Cash Sale
At a special meeting of the Vernonia City Council on August 6, the councilors
decided to accept an offer from Samuel and Elenora Semerjian to sell them the old
city hall building, located at 919 Bridge Street in Vernonia for a $67,000 cash offer.
According to the Historic Walking Tour of Vernonia, the building was the
Safeway grocery store from 1935 until sometime in the 1950’s. The guide says,
“We believe the first store here might have been Skagg’s United Store in 1924.”
Old city hall also housed the police station and the city’s library.
In recent years the building has deteriorated. The roof leaks, the plumbing has
problems, the electrical systems needs to be upgraded, and the rear of the building
is in need of structural repair work.
The building and land were recently appraised by independent appraiser Jeff
Benham. He valued the property at $85,000.
According to Mayor Sally Harrison, the City decided to accept an offer of less
than the appraised value for a number of reasons. The mayor said the City was
worried about the expense of making roof repairs as winter approaches and Coun-
cilors wanted to get the property back into private hands and back on the tax rolls
as quickly as possible. The sale has the added benefit of filling-up another store-
front along the city’s main street. And, the mayor said, “We’re glad that the new
owners plan on opening a new business and employing more Vernonia residents.”
The transaction should close by the end of August. Within six months the City
will remove the building’s small addition, housing a real estate office, which will
then connect the courtyard behind it to Bridge Street.
If you’d like more information, or to schedule an interview with the Interim
City Administrator, please call 503-429-5291x102 or email jim@vernonia-or.gov.
voice
V E R N O N I A’ S
INVITES YOU TO ATTEND:
“MEET THE CANDIDATES”
An evening of Questions and Answers with candidates for :
Columbia County Commissioner
and
Vernonia City Council
THURSDAY, September 18TH @ 7 PM
at the VERNONIA SCOUT CABIN
Vernonia's Voice wants to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to be informed
before Election Day on November 4 th . That's why we organized this evening with our
local candidates. The format will include opening statements from all candidates, then
questions from a panel of pre-selected Vernonia citizens. An open- house when citizens
can ask questions of the candidates in a more informal setting will follow.
Need more info?- Contact Scott Laird at 503-367-0098 or scott@vernoniasvoice.com