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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2008)
06 vernonia’s voice october city news 2008 CityNews... City Council September 2, 2008 Council Adopts Hiring Standards and Recruitment Pro- file for Administrator... Council adopted the Recruitment Profile created by Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson which will be used during the search for a permanent City Administrator. The profile es- tablishes standards, criteria, and policy directives and lists the desired qualifications of an ideal candidate. The salary for the position is $70,000. Applications must be received by October 6. It is anticipated that an appointment will be made before the end of the calendar year. Council Hears Presentation on 9-1-1 Operating Fund Re- newal... Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Administrator Sally Jones made a presentation to the Council regarding a request to renew its operating fund which will appear on the Novem- ber 4 ballot. The proposed Operating Levy rate will remain the same, 29 cents per $1,000 assessed value. Jones gave Council a history of the Columbia 9-1-1- Communications District and explained improvements and upgrades that have been made to the system and facilities. The renewal is for five years. Columbia 9-1-1 Communications provides emergency dispatch services for fire, medical, and police personnel and handles approximately 230 calls a day, 85,000 a year. Council Extends D.A.D.S Recycling... After receiving an update from D.A.D.S. Recycling owners Sandy and Allen Deweber, Council again extended the dead- line for the business to move off of city property. D.A.D.S. is attempting to relocate out of the flood zone. Council ex- tended the deadline to December 31 and is allowing D.A.D.S. to accept scrap metal again. Council Declares Surplus Property... Council declared items acquired by the Vernonia Police De- partment in the normal course of business to be surplus so those items can be properly disposed of. Council Discusses Rate Increases... Council discussed the possible increase of rates for water, sewer, out of town library cards, monthly parks fees, monthly rates at Anderson Park, and nightly rate at Anderson Park. The Public Works Committee has recommended increases of $7.00 on the base rate for water consumption, and $16.00 per month for sewer. The out of town Library card rate would in- crease by $10. Monthly rate at Anderson Park would increase from $400 to $600; the nightly RV space would increase by $2.00. Council directed staff to set up a work study session. to raise homes higher than was originally anticipated. Par- row also mentioned the possibility that FEMA would probably increase funding available for buyouts and that the cap of $90,000 would be lifted. Parrow stated this information was not official and was for informational purposes. Mayor Accepts Police Chief Resignation... ”It is with a heavy heart that I have to accept your resigna- tion,” said Mayor Sally Harrison, after reading a letter of res- ignation from Vernonia Police Chief Mathew Workman. Chief Workman has taken the position of Police Chief for the city of Warrenton, beginning October 1, 2008. “You have set the standard high for anyone who will replace you,” said Harrison in thanking Workman for his service. Interim City Administra- tor Jim Johnson has begun the search for an interim Chief of Police and suggested waiting to hire a permanent replacement until after the new City Administrator position has been filled. Council Approves Street Closure for Salmon Festival... Council approved a request from the Salmon Festival Com- mittee to close Park Drive beginning 6:00 PM Friday, October 3rd, until 12 noon Sunday, October 5th, to accommodate fes- tivities associated with the annual Salmon Festival. City Council September 15, 2008 Council Adopts Supplemental Budget... After a hearing to discuss changes to the current budget and to hear testimony from citizens, Council adopted a Supple- mental Budget. Because of increases in revenues in the General, Capital and Community Projects, Water, Sewer, Sewer Rehabilitation, Streets and Pathways and Streets SDC Funds, and because of the need for expenditures of new ap- propriations, the city was required to approve a Supplemental Budget for fiscal year 2008-09. Changes included proceeds from the sale of the Old City Hall building on Bridge Street for $64,961; reimbursements from FEMA in the form of a grant for $160,100 to the city for donated labor and materials dur- ing the December 2007 flood; grants for street repairs for $342,000 for damages that occurred during the flood; grants from FEMA to repair damage to the City wastewater Treat- ment System for $741,000; and grants to update the sewer facility plan and for Phase II design for $1.2 million. Councilman Parrow reports Possible Changes in Flood Relief... Councilman Randy Parrow reported that during a recent Flood Unmet Needs Committee meeting, it was discussed that FEMA is considering a new study that would model dif- ferent flood scenarios and that the official flood map is being held up. Parrow stated there could be a recommendation From Your City Councilman By Councilman Randy Parrow Greetings Citizens and Friends of Vernonia. I came across some quotes the other day I would like to share: They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin, 1755, to the Pennsylvania State Legislature My freedom is more important than your good idea. - Bumper Sticker The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms. The possession of unnecessary implements makes difficult the collection of taxes and dues and tends to foment uprisings. - Toyo- tomi Hideyoshi, dictator of Japan, August 1588 Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. - John F. Kennedy It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place. - H.L. Mencken True Terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country - Kurt Von- negut Jr. Council Discusses Ora Bolmeier Park... Council had requested staff prepare background information on Ora Bolmeier Park. A discussion was held that addressed language in the deed that requires the city to use the park exclusively for public purposes. Council was interested in knowing what happens when the city can’t maintain property that has been given to them. City legal council discussed this deed restriction with Council. No decision was made. There was also a discussion about tree maintenance after neighbors raised concerns that some trees in the park might need to be thinned. Staff was asked to prepare information about possible long term management of city owned timber and general maintenance of the park. Council Adopts New Ordinance for City Administrator Position... Council adopted Ordinance 854 which rescinded Ordinance 678 and established new language for the position of City Administrator. The language in the new ordinance was pre- pared by Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson as part of the recruitment process for the new City Administrator. Council Adopts Resolution in Support of 9-1-1 Funding... Council adopted a resolution in support of the renewal of op- erating funding for the Columbia County Communication 9-1-1 funding levy that will be on the November 4th election ballot. Council Holds Work Session on Rate Increases, Hearing Scheduled... Council spent time in a Work Study Session reviewing pro- posed rate increases to Water, Sewer, and Parks rates and fees. A hearing was planned that is scheduled to take place before the October 6 City Council Meeting. There’s also an interesting article on the internet called “The Downfall of Democracy”. The address: http://www.apatheticvoter.com/Article_DownfallDemocracies.htm. Might be worth a min- ute or two to investigate. I’m not saying it is right or wrong…just interesting. It is election time on the national level. Once again we get the TV ads of mud slinging, back and forth, back and forth, you did this, you did that…and blah, blah, blah! I get so sick and tired of it. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and everyone has a skeleton or two in his or her closet. Get over it, politicians! When are you going to deal with the issues? War, Poverty, Real Estate Scandal, Banking Scandals, Erosion of Freedoms, or my personal favorite right now, “We can film and record you, but you can’t film and record us!!” It almost sounds like a police state, huh? It is also election time on the local level. One candidate for Mayor (there were two last time), three candidates for City Councilor (two positions to fill)…why aren’t there more? It seems that every time there is a controversy everyone shows up…but not in the planning stages. We can’t think of everything, every scenario, every consequence of every action. We need your input, your thoughts and ideas, we need you to come to public hearings, and we need you to be involved in the planning. You need to ask us why we are seeking office, what is our vision for Vernonia. You need to be involved…this is your town, too! So, it’s not too late to get involved…write your legislators, Congressman and Senators, run a write in campaign, apply for a position on one of the many city commissions or committees, you can make a difference, you can make your voice heard…JUST GET INVOLVED!! 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 : Our Customers are King! U.S. Bank prides ourselves on customer service. That’s why we want to serve our customers a royal appreciation celebration! We appreciate your business and loyalty as a customer and want to show you the royal treatment. Please join us for fun, food, and prizes on: October 15th 10am - 5pm Free Life Insurance Quotes & Free Financial Review Vernonia Office (PD-OR-3146) 905 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 503.429.6271 direct 503.429.7373 fax 800.872.2657 24-hr service usbank.com Member FDIC. 060523 Stop by and join the fun! Vernonia City Council THURSDAY, October 9TH @ 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