free
august2009
V E R N O N I A’ S
reflecting the spirit of our community
volume3 issue3
vernonia
visitors
guide
page 13
Meet Bob Young
Gary Meyers Preserves a Little Bit of History
Vernonia’s new Administrator is excited to be here and ready to get to work!
By Scott Laird
Vernonia’s new City Administrator, Robert “Bob” Young, arrived from Bonney
Lake, Washington, in late June. Young helped oversee Bonney Lake as its
Mayor and City Administrator when it was the second fastest growing city in
Washington. Bob recently went back to school and received a Masters Degree
in Public Administration from the University of Washington. After a few weeks
on the job, Vernonia’s Voice sat down with Mr. Young to talk about his first
impressions of his new job and town.
Some people have described it as a museum. And in a sense that’s what it
is: a place that collects and safeguards artifacts for society. In this case, it’s a small
but interesting assortment of items that specifically pay tribute to a building, and the
businesses that have occupied it-- and to the heritage of a small rural community and a
way of life.
“I used to sit across the
street in the old drugstore parking
lot with my buddies when I was
sixteen or seventeen,” says Gary
Meyers. “And I used to say to them,
‘one of these days I’m going to get
into that building and do business. I
know I could do it.’ And they’d just
laugh at me. But here we are now.
It just goes to show that dreams
can come true, if you’re willing to
follow them.”
Gary Meyers is the owner
of Meyers Auto Body on Bridge
Street in Vernonia, but this isn’t a story about the auto body business. It’s a story about
respect for the past and a curiosity about what came before. It’s about an interest in
preserving the history of a place, down to the smallest details, and about being able to
share what has been preserved.
Meyers has run his auto body shop for over twenty years in what was once the
Vernonia Auto Company-- a Chevy dealership started in 1935. It was once one of four
car dealerships in town, a reminder of how mighty and thriving this little town once
was. The building was built in 1924; the Chevy dealership closed in 1976. From 1976
through 1987, various auto-related businesses occupied the space. It was even used by
Vernonia High School during the 1981-82 school year for shop classes. Meyers moved
in in 1988.
Meyers began collecting
automobile memorabilia after
the flood in 1996. While cleaning
up, Meyers found the old Chevy
Dealership sign that used to hang
outside the building tucked away
in a corner of a back room. He
cleaned up and restored it and it
currently resides hanging in the
Vernonia’s Voice: How did you end up choosing Vernonia?
Bob Young: When I was applying, I asked, “Where’s Vernonia?” (Laughs) No,
I had looked at the map to see where it was, but I had never been here before. So
the day I came in for my interview
was my first time here. My brother
knew of Vernonia because he was
a State Patrol officer who patrolled
here back in the early 70’s and was
a game warden. And I have been
delighted here. I have found a neat
little city with lots of stuff going on.
I was also looking at a position in
Eastern Washington, but it was a
sleepy little town. Vernonia is
not a sleepy little town. I saw an
opportunity to help a city rebuild
Bob Young is Vernonia’s new City Administrator.
itself from the devastation of the
flooding. I saw a city where I could maybe make a difference, help pull things
together. I saw some good employees that looked like they would be good to
work with. And I’ve found some good people in the community already. So
you’ve got a real jewel out here, and I’m delighted to be here.
Vernonia’s Voice: How did you get into City Administration as a career?
Bob Young: In 1995 or ‘96, I got interested in what was going on in the city
where we lived-- Bonney Lake-- interested in the workings of our city. And I
would go to city council meetings to try to find out what was happening. And
being a warm body who was interested, I soon found myself on the Planning
Commission, where I spent two years. Within six months, I was Chair, because
they found I could run meetings. Then I was asked to run for Council, but before
I could do anything, the head of the council came and asked me if I would run
for Mayor. And I ran and won handily over an incumbent, as a virtual unknown
in the city. When I took over as Mayor, we didn’t have a city administrator,
continued on page 18
inside
2
4th of
July
11
county
fair
16
youth
baseball
continued on page 14
County Budget Is Not Business as Usual
By April Bamburg
It is not business as usual in Columbia County--
or, at least, it will not be in the current fiscal year. From
law enforcement to the county’s planning and building
services and county offices, changes are ahead.
In June, after several months of cost cutting,
scrutiny and negotiation, Columbia County approved a
budget of approximately $20 million for operations in the
current fiscal year.
According to County Commissioner Tony
Hyde, County offices will close for eight furlough days
throughout the fiscal year, from July 2009 - June 2010,
in an agreement with county employee unions. Those
dates are as follows: September 4, November 25 and
December 24, 2009; January 4, March 26, April 23, May
28, and June 18, 2010.
The Columbia County Sheriff, Roads and Parks
Departments will be open on those days, according to a
release from the Board of County Commissioners.
These furlough days, an early retirement program
and a pay freeze for managers and elected officials, may
have saved up to 16 jobs in various county departments.
“We had a choice,” said Hyde, the county’s budget
officer, “We could reduce the budget through furloughs,
a pay freeze and early retirement, or we could lay people
off.”
“The Board chose to retain jobs and provide the
least impact on services to the public,” he said.
The Land Development Services (LDS)
Department, which oversees planning, building and code
enforcement, among other activities, in the unincorporated
areas of Columbia County, took a cut of approximately 35
percent, according to Hyde. “But, their business is down
by 40 percent,” Hyde said. “It is very difficult to find
quality planners. Ramping back up when we have a need
will be difficult, to maintain that level of quality.”
LDS Director Todd Dugdale said that the cut to
his department “is more like 40 percent.” Because of
budget cuts, Dugdale was forced to cut four full-time
employees and two part-time employees. Both of the
part-time employees and two of the full-time employees
were cut from the building program, and two full-time
positions were cut from the planning program-- one
planner and secretary.
“The largest challenge will be maintaining service
at the front counter and with the public,” Dugdale said.
“Historically, we’ve had four in the front office; now we
have three with no planning secretary.”
Dugdale said that there is the possibility for an
increase in activity on the planning and building sides
of his department, related to Measure 37 claims filed in
Columbia County and processed by the state under the
rules of Measure 49, which replaces a waiver of land-
use regulations or the payment of compensation with an approval
continued on page 22
