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