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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2010)
city news july13 2010 Vernonia City News... At the June 21, 2010, Vernonia City Council Meeting: Council Authorizes Mayor to Sign Contract with City Administrator • Interim Pro-Tem-- Council authorized Mayor Sally Harrison to sign a contract with ColPac Professional Services for Bill Haack to serve as City Administrator, Interim Pro-Tem with the City of Vernonia. The contract requires the city to pay ColPac $500/month to cover living expenses for Haack. Council Appoints Haack as Budget Officer-- Council voted to appoint City Administrator, Interim Pro-Tem Bill Haack as Budget Officer for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011. The previous Budget Officer was former City Administrator Bob Young, who is no longer working for the City of Vernonia. Council Adopts 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Budget-- After hearing no comments from the audience during a public hearing, council voted to adopt the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Budget. The total budget appropriates $3,756,725 in anticipated requirements and resources and levies the tax rate of $5.8163/$1,000 of assessed value. Property tax levies were anticipated to raise $584,000. Before deliberations on the budget, City Administrator, Interim Pro- Tem Bill Haack read a revised Budget Message. In the Budget Message, Haack noted that the city, in an effort to enhance oversight, has established an Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Budget Committee which will meet monthly with the City Finance Officer and the City Administrator to prepare a monthly report for City Council. Haack offered the following additional points of interest: • The budget eliminates the Chief of Police position as of September 1, 2010, and reduces funding of the City Administrator to a half-time position paid from Water and Sewer revenue streams. • The General Police Department budget was reduced by $75,000. • The Library budget was reduced by $4,000. • The Parks Department is budgeted to see a reduction from one (1) FTE to one or more part-time FTE in 2011 of this budget cycle. • Enterprise Funds (Water and Sewer accounts) are being used to fund one half-time City Administrator with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2011. The Streets budget is reduced and will allow only six street cleanings, no tree trimming, no holiday decorations, and no Christmas lighting. Use of Streets funds is not allowed as a component of any project. In addition, the Streets funds will pay the final payment on the 2000 street project (allowing an additional $62,000 to be budgeted in the 2011-2012 budget cycle). Police Department Establishes New Protocols-- Effective June 17, 2010, the Vernonia Police Department has established new protocols with regards to community service requests, subpoena delivery and routing of traffic citations. In a report prepared by Chief Frank Grace and presented by City Administrator, Interim Pro-Tem, Bill Haack, the new policy states that members of the Vernonia Police Department will not recommend, suggest, advocate for or give advice to defendants on requesting community service in lieu of fines or other outcomes resulting from a criminal incident. The new protocols also state that the Vernonia Justice Court will email subpoenas to all police personnel, giving notice of the date, time, case information and who is expected to appear. The new protocol gives instructions for confirming receipt of the subpoena within the department. The new protocols also state that all code violations/infractions will be routed to the Vernonia Justice Court and that all misdemeanor cases will be routed to Columbia County District Court. The Vernonia Justice Court may route Vernonia citations to another court when it is in the best interest of the judicial system, the defendant or professional standards. VERNONIA BEAR CREEK Available for pick up in Vernonia 10K/5K RUN/WALK Bonofiting Vornonia Caros Food Bank Sat. August 14th at Anderson Park • Organic Compost • Planting Mix • Bark Dust • Rock Available by appointment phone 103-429-1104 cell 103-471-1442 areas,” read Harrison from a prepared statement. “The committee’s goal is to promote the alumni’s support for the rebuilding of the Vernonia school system while providing a nostalgic walk down Memory Lane,” continued Harrison. Harrison stated the committee expects as many as 2,500 visitors for the events and was told by Committee member Janelle Thomas Cedergreen that there may be as many as 3,000 visitors. Tierney Reinstated to Public Works Committee-- City Council reinstated Jim Tierney to the Public Works Council Establishes Public Records Committee. Policy-- Council adopted Resolution 2910, A Public Records Request Fee Agenda Item Moved to Executive Schedule which establishes the City Session-- Council agreed to move an Recorder as the official custodian of item from the open session agenda to public records for the City of Vernonia. an Executive Session. The item was The resolution states that the city shall concerning the extension for four years charge a public records fee and if the fee of the current collective bargaining is greater than $25, the City will inform agreement with AFSCME Local 1442-2. the requester of the amount. All requests for public records must be submitted in Class Reunion Expected to Draw writing using the forms prescribed by 2,500 Visitors-- As a member of the the City Recorder and must be signed by committee that is organizing what is the requester and include current contact being called the “Worlds Largest Class information. No fees were changed in Reunion,” Mayor Sally Harrison asked this Resolution. for the cooperation of the City with help for police patrols, parking and sign Actions Following Executive Session-- permits, and city picnic tables. Harrison After returning from Executive Session, stated that the event is scheduled for Council approved moving forward with Sunday, August 15, 2010, and will be negotiations for acquisition of property held on the current school grounds, with reflected in documents presented by legal the middle school serving as registration council. In a separate matter, Council headquarters. “We will be making use also directed legal council to generate of all the school grounds with activities a negotiation strategy with regards to in the gym, tours of the grade school and numbers and duration. bus tours to the new school site, Pioneer Museum, Scout Cabin and Downtown Robert J Watts Construction, Inc NEW 5 Registration begins at 7AM Races begin at 8AM http://www.signmeup.com/66420 CCB#16 68 11 Local Properties For Rent Vernonia, 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath, approx 1800 sf 4th bedroom could be bonus, gas stove, fireplace and heat, 2 car garage, large deck overlooking 1/2 acre lot, $1150/month, 1563 Heather Ct Sponsors: ® West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc. ® A TouchstoneEnergy C ooperative Vernonia, 2 bdrm, 1 bath, duplex, completely remodeled kitchen & bath, new carpet & paint, garage, w/d hookups, $650/month, 182 Bridge St. Over 13 acres, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, approx 1800 sf, well maintained ranch style home, fireplace and wood stoves, great well water, 4 car open bay garage, green- house, year-round creek, $1175/month, 21046 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy. 3 bdrm, beautiful wood floors throughout, living room has woodstove, large kitchen, gas heat, fenced yard, garage. $895/mo. 1305 Grove St. VIP Property Management, Inc. 503-784-9560 V&V Leaihers Blue House Café Vernonia Denial Vernonia True Value Senaior Beisy Johnson Vernonia Coffee Roasiers Vernonia Firsi Bapiisi Church
