8
city news
september
2009
Vernonia City News...
At the August 3, 2009, City Council Meeting:
Brent Thompson Sworn In as Police Reserve Officer--
Interim Police Chief Mike Kay introduced Brent Thompson,
the first Reserve Officer to be sworn into the city’s reinstated
program. Thompson is a 2007 graduate of Vernonia High
School and is currently enrolled in the Criminal Justice
program at Western Oregon University. Mayor Sally
Harrison assisted with the proceedings.
City Makes Amendment to Sub-Grant Agreement-- The
City of Vernonia made an amendment to the Sub-Grant
Agreement with Community Action team, Inc. The original
agreement was for program and grant management services
related to Community Development Block Grant D08017,
and the amendment made the agreement retroactive from the
original signing date of April 27, 2009, to October 23, 2008.
Mayor Thanks Library Staff-- Mayor Sally Harrison
expressed sincere thanks to Librarian Nancy Burch, the
Library staff and local police for their work during the heat
wave that hit Vernonia during July. Library staff established
a cooling center at the Library, allowing local residents to
escape the 100+ degree heat. About thirty residents made
use of the facility on the first night.
Council
Approves
Workers
Comp
coverage
for
Volunteers-- City Council passed a Resolution that annually
updates Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage for city
volunteers.
Council Discusses Alarm Permit Fees-- Interim Police
Chief Mike Kay presented information for City Council to
consider that would put in place a requirement for homes and
businesses with burglar alarms to have a permit and would
institute charges for false alarms. Council asked Chief Kay
to return with additional information.
At the August 17, 2009, City Council Meeting:
New Police Chief Takes Oath of Office-- New Vernonia
Police Chief Frank Grace was sworn into office by City
Administrator Bob Young.
Mayor Accepts VCLC Committee Resignation-- Mayor
Sally Harrison accepted the resignation of Kate Laird from the
Vernonia Community Learning Center (VCLC) Committee.
After the reading of the letter, Council recommended that
staff convene a workshop with the VCLC Committee in the
near future to discuss VCLC operations.
Mayor Makes Appointment to Public Works Committee--
Mayor Sally Harrison, with Council approval, appointed
Sam Poetter to the Public Works Committee.
City
Attorney
with Council About Audience Participation-- City
Attorney Jeff Bennett made a presentation to Council and
discussed protocols for Topics From the Floor and audience
participation during council meetings. After a review of
current procedures and options, Bennett reminded Council
that personnel issues are the responsibility of the City
Administrator, and recommended that Council not discuss
those issues in open Council meetings.
Council Approves Funding for Columbia County Rider--
Council approved funding in the amount of $3,500 to
Columbia County Rider for Community Service Funding.
Police Report Jamboree Was a Success From Law
Enforcement Standpoint-- Police Chief Frank Grace
reported that Police spent a total of 260.5 hours on patrol
during Jamboree, of which 108 hours were donated by
outside agencies. Chief Grace reported that only three police
reports were generated during the weekend, and only two
adult arrests were made.
Mayor and Administrator Thank Lenaerts-- Mayor
Harrison and City Administrator thanked Seth Lenaerts
for his work for the city this past year. Lenaerts has been
a participant in the RARE program, which provides recent
college graduates the opportunity to work in small cities in
Oregon to assist with projects. Lenaerts has worked with
city staff on planning issues during his year in Vernonia.
Consults
FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
PURSUANT TO 44 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 9.12, THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HEREBY GIVES FINAL
NOTICE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER #11988. NOTICE IS GIVEN FOR THE
FOLLOWING PROJECT:
Project Description: The project will involve the elevation and/or
acquisition & demolition of single family residential houses and other structures
located in the floodplain. All of these structures are located within the city of
Vernonia, Oregon or its outskirts. Many of the houses are located on Alder
Avenue, Cherry Street, Elm Street, Heather Lane, Jefferson Avenue, Mist Drive,
Adams Street, Riverside Drive and north Mist Drive in Vernonia. Federal funding
assistance to either elevate or acquire and demolish/remove these houses is
provided through two federal funding assistance programs: Flood Mitigation
Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Due to extensive
awareness of this effort, the limited impact on the community and the overall
beneficial effect of this action, the initial notice has been combined with this final
notice for Flood Mitigation Assistance funding. Hazard Mitigation Assistance
funding is available on a competitive basis for houses and structures damage
during the federally declared disaster FEMA DR 1733 OR. This is the final public
notice for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. The Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program initial public notice was published in The Chronicle and Sentinel-Mist on
January 19 and 26 and February 2 and 9, 2008.
Program: Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, FY 2008 and FY 2009
and DR-1733-OR Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Statement of Why Action is Located in Floodplain: The project
action involves both the elevation and the acquisition & demolition of residential
structures currently located in the floodplain within the City of Vernonia and
surrounding areas.
Significant Facts: Structures funded through the Hazard Grant
Mitigation Program or the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program will be
individually evaluated for elevation or acquisition/demolition to determine which
method is most reasonable and effective for that structure. Demolition of houses
will be from willing sellers, where the acquired properties will be dedicated in
perpetuity to uses that are compatible with open space, recreation, or wetland
practices.
Alternatives Considered: (1.) Acquisition of the structure and
subsequent demolition (2) Relocation of the structure outside the floodplain. (3.)
Elevation of structure. (4.) Do Nothing
Applicability of State/Local Floodplain Standards: The project action
conforms to all applicable State/Local floodplain standards.
Affects to the Floodplain: The project will be conditioned
(construction/grading limited to the “non-flood season” and use of Best
Management Practices, BPMs, to minimize erosion and sedimentation, control
pollutants, and maximize habitat improvements) so it will have minimal short
term affects to the floodplain or from flooding. For structures that are elevated,
the houses will remain in the same location and, therefore, be subject to future
flooding. However, the elevations will be designed and utilized to minimize
affects from flooding per applicable flood reduction techniques and compliant
with adopted flood ordinances. The design criteria will account for forces related
to flow velocity and debris impacts and no encroachment into the floodway will
occur.
Responsible Official: Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program
Bill Haack, Columbia County HMGP Coordinator
1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064
503-429-5291 ext. 105
Further information and specific structures to be elevated, including any
pertinent maps can be obtained by contacting:
Dan Brown - Principal, Columbia County Flood Relief
PO Box 388, 850 Maple Street • Vernonia, OR 97064
(503) 429-4948
ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE RESPONSIBLE
OFFICIAL WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OF THE START OF THIS
PUBLICATION NOTICE.
Vernonia Chooses New Police Chief
Frank Grace has been selected as actually led the parade with Administrator
Vernonia’s new Police Chief, replacing In- Bob Young. “After the parade, Young intro-
terim-Chief Mike Kay. The announcement duced me to many community members as
was made by City Administrator, Bob Young. we walked along Bridge Street, meeting and
Chief Grace retired last October after over 30 greeting, including dining at the Lion’s food
years in law enforcement, most recently as tent. It offered me a great opportunity to say
the Police Chief of Gladstone, Oregon. He hello to people from all walks of life who call
will be serving the community of Vernonia as Vernonia home.”
a “Part-time Chief,” working an average of
As the Police Chief, Grace said that
twenty hours per week.
he plans to focus on enhancing law enforce-

“In order to keep the current offi- ment practices already in place by working
cers, the City felt it was better to find a retired and learning from the professional group of
Chief who wanted to
officers, volun-
keep involved in law
teers, and city
enforcement,” stated
personnel
that
Administrator Young.
make up the
“This Chief will be a
Vernonia Police
mentor to our younger
Department. “I
police force, as well as
feel fortunate to
adding his many years
be working with
of experience to our
the City Admin-
force.”
istrator and Ser-
Chief Grace
geant Mike Kay,
has experience in se-
who served as
curity, corrections, pa-
Interim
Police
New Police Chief Frank Grace is sworn
role and probation, and
Chief.
I
want
to
in by City Administrator Bob Young.
law enforcement. He
move us forward
served local police departments in Califor- with business practices that will take the Po-
nia, as well as Cannon Beach and Gladstone. lice Department to the next level of provid-
He has a B.A. in Criminal Justice, an A.A. in ing community law enforcement services. I
Law Enforcement, and has begun working on invite the citizens of our community to stop
his Masters at San Jose State University.
by and say hello.”
He was the Program Administrator
Sergeant Mike Kay filled the posi-
for Multnomah County Parole and Probation. tion as Interim Chief since last October when
He also worked in security for Riedel Inter- the former chief resigned. “He has done a
national, Inc. He is an ATV, motorcycle and terrific job for us,” Young remarked. “He is a
scooter rider “coach,” and was the Homeland valuable asset to the department, and will be
Security and Emergency Management Man- of great assistance to the new Chief as he gets
ager for the City of Gladstone.
acquainted with the community.”
“His broad range of experience will
Choosing a new Police Chief was
be invaluable to us in our community,” stat- one of Administrator Young’s first major
ed Young. “We are a community that has to decisions. He has only been on the job in
have law enforcement “generalists” because Vernonia for two months. Young came from
of our size and location. Chief Grace can as- Bonney Lake, Washington, where he served
sist in further training for the officers, as well for eight years as an elected Mayor. He also
as take care of the administrative duties of served as the acting City Administrator for
the department, leaving the officers to spend six of those years. Following those eight
more time on the street and in the commu- years, he went back to Graduate School and
nity.”
received his Masters of Public Administration
Chief Grace said, “I am excited to from the University of Washington, graduat-
have joined the city team of employees work- ing in December of 2008. “Vernonia is an
ing to make a positive difference in Verno- exciting town that is rebuilding itself follow-
nia.” As an active motorcyclist, Chief Grace ing the devastating flooding of December,
visited Vernonia many times over the years as 2007. I am looking forward to working with
he traveled the roads between Astoria and the such talented staff, such as Chief Grace. We
Portland metro area. “I have stopped many can only look forward as we work together to
times for fuel and refreshments in Vernonia.” continue building one of Columbia County’s
He was able to participate in the an- great cities.”
nual Vernonia Jamboree last weekend, and