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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2011)
opinion april26 2011 An Opinion: The Wheels on the City Go Round and Round... By Scott Laird Everyday I see more proof that current Interim City Administrator Bill Haack is the right person to lead Vernonia forward for the next year, and hopefully longer. Right now, the Vernonia City Council is in the midst of a search for a permanent City Administrator— Haack, who has a contract through June 30, 2011, had offered back in January to remain on the job for at least an additional year; Council chose to pass on Haack’s offer and voted 3-2 to start a search. Fortunately, Haack has applied for the position and will hopefully be in the final mix of candidates that Council chooses to interview. Haack has shown continued dedication to our city, proving day in and day out that he has the knowledge, ability, desire , temperament, and the respect of staff, community members and city partners to run and lead this city. He has continually proven his worth with his ability to find funding and grant sources, give meaningful and insightful answers to questions, identify ongoing problems and find creative solutions, and view the city and its issues with long-range vision. Mostly he has shown a commitment to helping Vernonia through a tough time and kepp us back on track. H e r e are just two brief examples of Haack’s commitment to Vernonia: At the Vernonia Parks Committee Meeting, Haack informed the members that he had met with a group of citizens and with a biologist from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss Vernonia Lake. Haack said the City was invited during that meeting to apply for grant funding for the Lake— probably for some new fishing docks. Haack told the Parks Committee the grant was due in a couple of weeks and he would need some help rounding up information to complete the application in such a short time-frame, but that he would get to work on it in the next few days. Haack agreed to tackle this unplanned project to improve the City of Vernonia— while already in the middle of a budget process, after already completing a massive grant request on behalf of Parks to complete the new Spencer Park, and while getting ready to be interviewed by Council so they can decide if they might want to hire someone else for the job starting July 1 st . Volunteer Position Do you want to get involved, volunteer and use your talents? The Vernonia Public Works Committee needs a secretary for taking notes and typing minutes from meetings. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM This is a nonvoting position. For more information contact Joann Glass at 503-429-5291. The other example I wanted to share was on Saturday, April 16 th, during Make Vernonia Shine Day. There was Haack, and his wife Shelly, working to clean up around Vernonia Lake, giving up a part of their weekend to help the citizens of our community. These are just two small examples, among many, of the way Bill Haack shows he cares about, and is invested in this community. Speaking of the Budget Process, I just wanted to give kudos to Vernonia City staff, especially Finance Manager Angie Handegard and Interim City Administrator Bill Haack for the great job they did preparing the City Budget this year. Because they took the time to consult with all department heads and asked for input from the City Committees, there have been less questions and disagreement as the City Budget Committee has discussed the Budget so far. The process has mostly been moving along smoothly and straight forward so far, with a few expected bumps. Also, hats off to Budget Chair Catherine Helmer who has done a very good job of managing the process and has taken her role seriously. The Budget Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, April 29, and May 6, starting at 4:00 P.M. at the VCLC building. The public is welcome to attend and there will be an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the April 29 meeting. At the April 18 Vernonia City Council meeting, a report was given about a Rave Party held just outside Vernonia city limits, (see stories on pages 5 and 15). Columbia County Sheriff Deputy Troy Caldwell was present at the April 18 meeting to give details about the event. According to Caldwell, because of the size (an estimated 850 people were in attendance), the Sheriff’s Department was unable to break up the dance party due to a lack of manpower and resources. Which brings up Measure 5-210-- Sheriff’s Stable Funding, which will be on the election ballot for May 17, 2011 (see story on front page). Columbia County voters are being asked to pass a levy for 62 cents per thousand of assessed value; in return, Sheriff Jeff Dickerson has C edar M ist S tudios designed a program that would, among other things, add six patrol deputies to increase support and back-up to local law enforcement and reduce response times to emergency calls; adds three investigators to follow up and solve crimes; and provide a dedicated deputy to the Nehalem Valley area for forty hours a week and twenty-four hour patrol coverage in the county seven days a week, (right now, there are four hours every day when there is no deputy on duty). I know it will be a difficult decision for many of us right now to vote to tax ourselves, but this is necessary and we need to show support for what has become an eroding law enforcement presence in Columbia County. Please join me in supporting Measure 5-210 on May 17. And so we come around full circle. At the April 18, 2011, Vernonia City Council Meeting, Council scheduled a workshop with the League of Oregon Cities representative, Jenny Messmer, to begin discussing the applications that have been received for the Vernonia City Administrator position. Bill Haack has proven in the year he has worked here as Interim, and the two previous years as Economic Recovery Director, after the Flood of 2007, that he is competent, talented, smart, respected, and above all, dedicated. Let’s hope Council chooses to do the right thing and give current Interim Bill Haack fair consideration for the job. Deborah Steffen is a reg- istered yoga instructor and certifi ed hypnotist serving Vernonia for over 5 years. Located 5 miles from Vernonia at 20960 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy. Hypnotherapy • • • • Stress/Pain Management Weight Loss Stop Smoking Self Confi dence... Yoga • Tues & Thurs 9-10AM • Mon & Weds 4:30-5:30PM 503-429-2103 CedarMistStudios.com 3 Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Chip Bubl Mackenzie Carr Dr. Carol McIntyre Sean Pickner Sonia Spackman Photography Kristina Halvorsen Scott Laird Copy Editor Dennis Nicks Want to advertise? Contact: ads@vernoniasvoice.com Have an article? Contact: news@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com All In Pub & Eatery Home of the 2 1/4 lb. “All In Burger” LIVE MUSIC Friday May 6 The Bar Pilots Friday, May 20th Junkyard Dogs Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia THE BIRK 7-10 PM All Dates “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 Live Music at the Birkenfeld Country Store “Sinners club” Classic Rock Sat, 5/7 Special Guest Sat, 5/14 “Christie Snow Band” Rockin’ Blues BirkFest2011 August 12-13 Sat, 4/30 Café open Wed-Sun 9am-6pm, Serving Breakfast & Lunch Dinner on music nights Closed Mon-Tue Grocery & Liquor Store Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-2pm 11139 Highway 202 (503) 755-2722
