vernonia’s
voice
community
october
2008
07
Vernonia Town Hall Series Offers Planning Consultant Hired
Information
By Scott Laird
Only a handful of citizens attended the Vernonia Town Hall Meeting on Monday,
September 22.
The Town Halls are monthly meetings organized to help keep Vernonia citizens
informed about flood recovery, school repair, public works, and other topics of vital in-
terest. It is a gathering of city and school officials and an opportunity for citizens to ask
questions and meet with key decision makers.
At the most recent meeting, the audience heard a report from school district Super-
intendent Ken Cox about ongoing repairs to the high school gymnasium and deconstruc-
tion of the east wing of the high school. Cox stated his hope that the high school locker
rooms will be inspected and available for use shortly and that the gymnasium would be
ready for use in some capacity for Homecoming Week, October 13-17. He also men-
tioned that there are about 400 sheets of sheet rock left over that are available for the
community to use.
Jim Tierney and Dan Brown from Columbia County Unmet Needs Committee dis-
cussed their progress in securing funds through grants to assist with raising homes and
possible buyouts. Tierney said both the county and city have each been awarded a
CDBG block grant for $500,000 and their goal is to secure as much as $5 million in
funding to assist flood victims with their homes. Tierney mentioned that a number of
people are moving forward with home repairs on their own. Tierney suggested that these
homeowners are welcome and encouraged to use the staff at the Flood Center as a re-
source. “People can come in and bounce ideas off our construction staff,” said Tierney.
Brown said that they have received approval to begin lift projects. The Committee
has been waiting for the first projects to pass a “Cost-Benefit Analysis” process, meaning
that FEMA needs to see a dollar for dollar value for the cost of a home elevation to the
value of the home. Brown said they are about to begin a group of the first five home lift
projects which were going out to bid.
Tierney discussed buyouts. Letters have been sent out informing people that they
may be eligible, and Tierney mentioned more homeowners than were originally thought
may be considering this as an option. He also discussed that FEMA is reconsidering the
flood map and may work some different scenarios that may increase the required eleva-
tion that homes need to be raised. Tierney said this may make buyouts a more feasible
alternative for some homeowners.
Tierney also discussed the four homes that the Unmet Needs Committee are at-
tempting to build into which homeowners who chose a buyout could move. This process
is moving forward, and they hope construction will begin in October.
Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson and City Engineer Dale Merrill discussed
Public Works projects including street repairs that have taken place, the removal of
sludge from the sewer lagoons that was scheduled to take place at the end of September,
and rate studies for wastewater and the wastewater facilities plan update that will be tak-
ing place.
The next Vernonia Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday October 22 at 7:00 and
is scheduled to be held in the newly repaired High School Gymnasium.
Every hour. Every day.
Columbia 9-1-1 is there
for every one.
Vernonia Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson has announced that he has hired Carole
Connell to be the new Planning Consultant for the city. Johnson accepted Connells’ bid pro-
posal after he and the City Planning Commission interviewed three prospective planners.
Connell has been a public land use planner since 1974 and self employed since 1996. She
is a partner with her husband in Connell PC Associates, Inc., and is presently providing private
consulting to the cities of Gaston, North Plains, Sandy, and Wood Village as well as to Colum-
bia County.
Michael Kay Chosen as Interim Police Chief
By Scott Laird
Vernonia Police Sergeant Michael Kay has been chosen as the Interim Police Chief,
filling the spot vacated by departing Chief Mathew Workman. Vernonia Interim City Admin-
istrator Jim Johnson announced that his decision to name Kay was subject to the city reach-
ing an agreement with the police union that represents Kay. Compensation was also being
negotiated with the union. Kay would assume the role on October 1, 2008 when Workman
leaves to take the position of Chief of Police with the City of Warrenton.
“I’m here to continue to guide the ship,” said Kay in an interview near the end of Sep-
tember. “Chief Workman has done a fine job running this department; it pretty much runs
itself. Our biggest challenge will be lack of manpower and being able to provide the level
of service the people in this community have come to expect while still taking care of the
officers and making sure they get some time off.”
The Vernonia Police Department was reduced from five to four officers this past year
due to budget constraints and will be operating with three full time officers when Chief
Workman leaves.
“We are looking at some options,” said Kay. “Maybe bringing on a part time officer,
or a partnership with the county. But whatever we do, we are going to try to continue with
business as usual.”
“Sergeant Kay has the knowledge of the department to run it effectively,” said Chief
Workman when asked about the appointment. “There will be some challenges with only
three officers. I have told Mike he can call me with any questions.”
The Vernonia Police Department may consider using office volunteers to assist with
filing and to help have a presence in the office. Anyone interested in volunteering should
contact Sergeant Kay at 503-429-7335.
Community Pre-School A Fun Alternative
By Scott Laird
Amy Cieloha started the
Vernonia Community Pre-
School three years ago. It is
registered as a private Chris-
tian school that meets in the
Vernonia Christian Church
on State Street on Tuesdays
and Thursdays and offers
children a chance to social-
ize, play and learn in a caring
and nurturing environment.
“Teacher Amy”, as her stu-
dents call her, set the school
up, starting with almost noth-
ing. “Most of our materials
Teacher Amy Cieloha with a few of her students.
are donated,” she said during
Vernonia’s Voice’s visit on the first day of school in early September. Cieloha was helping
the children learn the routine of being at school. For some of them, it’s their first time in a
structured environment away from home. She said she works throughout the year to teach
them numbers, shapes and letters, to write and recognize their names and addresses, about
calendars and holidays, and “...whatever else is of interest.” The school also has use of the
church gymnasium for play time.
Cieloha has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and is certified in CPR and First Aid.
The Vernonia Community Pre-School costs $70 per month with a one time $25 registration
fee. Students should be at least three years old and must be potty trained. There is a morn-
ing and afternoon session available. For more information you can contact “Teacher Amy”
Cieloha at 503-429-0745.
When you face an emergency, it’s comforting to know
there’s someone you can call who will always be
there, night and day. Columbia 9-1-1 dispatchers are
highly trained to ask the right questions and send help
on its way immediately.
Our 9-1-1 Communications is more than a number to
call. It’s an essential, cost-effective service connecting
people who can help with people who need them.
When seconds count, call 9-1-1 first.
In the last year alone, Columbia 9-1-1 answered more
than 85,000 calls. That’s an average of 233 people call-
ing for help each day. And that’s more than five times
the calls we handled when the District was formed
just 18 years ago.
Your Columbia 9-1-1
Communications District,
serving all of our communities
since 1991.
Columbia 9-1-1 has coordinated dispatching all of the
police, fire and emergency medical agencies in the
county since 1991. Citizens have approved operating
funding for Columbia 9-1-1 to provide this vital
service. The Board and staff take this trust seriously.
P.O. Box 998 St. Helens, OR 97051
Administrative Office: (503) 397-7255
Non-emergency Dispatch:
(503) 397-1521 1-800-696-7795
www.columbia911.com
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