Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2011)
community news A Message From the Vernonia Health Center We would like to take this opportunity to address recent questions that have surfaced in the community. We hope a review of the history and where we are to date will answer these questions. As you all know, we were flooded in 2007 and in previous articles we informed you that the Vernonia Health Center building is mandated to move out of the flood plane by Dec. 2012. In the pursuit of that mission, we have found that unfortunately there are no funding opportunities available for a new facility given our current operating partnership. In order to maintain the high level of services this community needs, we have had to pursue other sources of funding available to us, including the basic primary business partnership. In looking at the opportunities available, we requested the aid of the Governors Office, Oregon Solutions, O.P.C.A (Oregon Primary Care Associates), Oregon Office of Rural Health, Senators Betsy Johnson, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Representatives David Wu, Brad Witt, and Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde. Senator Johnson graciously made the introductions to the Coastal Family Health Center which has been a successful medical clinic practicing the past 8 years under the guidance of CEO Jim Coffee, MPA. After meeting with Mr. Coffee and looking at all available opportunities, the Vernonia Health Center Board of Directors weighed pros and cons and it was obvious that it would be in the community’s best interest to apply for approval of our new partnership with Coastal Family Health Center. The partnership with Coastal Family Health Center brings with it, the following: • New funding opportunities to move the clinic out of the flood plain. • Expansion of clinic hours to meet the needs of the workforce, to include the potential of evenings, weekends. • Continue to provide quality services to the insured and underinsured, and non-insured. • Expanded dental and mental health services. • Acceptances of all major insurance carriers. • Transportation to and from appointments. • Expanded opportunity of physician recruitment and long term retainment. We will be notified of the approval or denial of this application by the end of this year 2011. Coastal Family Health Center and Providence Health and Services are working diligently together to ensure a smooth transition including joint hiring of clinic staff. You will probably notice some new faces at the medical center as the transition unfolds. The employees hired through this process are anticipated to make the transition to the new partnership with Coastal Family Health Center. The health board is currently working in partnership with the City on development of the Rose Avenue project as the new medical center location. We look forward to keeping you informed as new information materializes. “The mission of the Vernonia Health Center is to participate, as far as circumstances may warrant, in any activity designed and carried on to promote the general health of the community with highly qualified primary and preventive health care services and a professional medical staff; to do so without concern of individual’s financial situations.” the “I can’t believe it’s mine” home The perfect mortgage from will make you feel right at home. the “make room for more” home U.S. Bank Home Mortgage is committed to providing you with a mortgage loan that is right for you. We take the time and care to guide you through the mortgage process, so you can trust you’re making the right move. Put the strength of one of America’s leading home mortgage lenders to work for you. Because there’s no place like U.S. Bank. the “you and me at last” home Vernonia Branch 905 Bridge Street 503-429-6271 usbank.com | 888-831-7524 Mortgage loans subject to credit approval. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Mortgage loans offered through U.S. Bank National Association. ©2011 U.S. Bancorp. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. june14 2011 Greetings From Salem: Bill to Protect 9-1-1 Funds Stopped Representative Deborah Boone House District 32 This session I sponsored HB 2741, designed to protect money in the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications account, and while it received wide support from the Oregon Emergency Management, Public Safety officials and organizations, 9-1-1 centers and dispatchers, it still died in the House Judiciary Committee. For the past 30 years, Oregonians have paid a 75 cent surcharge on their monthly phone bill for emergency communication services. This financial support is critical to the operation of our local Public Safety Answering Points, or 9-1-1 centers. While 60 percent of the revenue collected from the surcharge is returned to local jurisdictions, this money funds only 25 percent of their operations. The majority of the 9-1-1 center operations are paid by local taxpayers. Thirty-five percent of the surcharge goes into the Enhanced 9-1-1 Subaccount to be used for the telephone network, equipment and data maintenance, and future improvements. Emerging technology will allow the provision of a better enhanced emergency response system, but upgrades are expensive, and 7 many will not be made without funding from the Emergency Communications Enhanced 9-1-1 subaccount. Six times the legislature has approved diverting money from this account to the general fund. And while the governor vetoed half of those attempts, in the past decade nearly $20 million has been shifted from the Emergency Communications Enhanced 9-1-1 subaccount to fund other state agencies and programs. HB 2741 would have prevented lawmakers from “sweeping” the funds out of the Emergency Communications Account for other non-emergency communication uses. Because of the financial implications, the Legislative Fiscal Office recommended the bill be assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. There were several pieces of legislation introduced this session to protect different accounts from being “swept” for other programs, and all of these bills were unsuccessful. Oregon Legislators were also unable to approve any bills this session relating the 9-1-1 emergency communications. These included HB 2075, which would have imposed the emergency communications 75 cent surcharge on pre-paid phones. This bill died in committee in mid-March. The last 9-1-1 bill with a chance of gaining approval was HB 2076 to expand the provision of 9-1- 1 service to multi-line and multi-premise phone systems. When this bill was heard continued on page 23 Oregon Cultural Trust Fundraising Challenge at 25% of June 30 Goal “Culture’s not stuffy; it’s what makes life really worth living. Some aspect of Oregon culture touches your life every day and deserves your support. Give! by June 30.” -- Trust Board Chair Norm Smith, on KQEN-AM The Oregon Cultural Trust has achieved 25% of its June 30 fundraising challenge: Oregon cultural supporters have already stepped up with $158,332 of the $630,000 in additional money needed to award a record $1.7 million in grants. Every gift, no matter the size, adds a link to the net of funding and support that Oregon’s cultural community, libraries and historical societies, museums and endangered places, performing arts and arts education programs, heritage trails and historic buildings. Donors can answer the $630,000 challenge now by mail: 775 Summer Street NE, Ste 200, Salem, OR 97301; by phone: 503-986-0088; or online: www.culturaltrust.org. Donors can monitor the challenge at culturaltrust.org, where daily updates are posted to the homepage. Supporters can also follow the campaign on Facebook (Oregon Cultural Trust) and Twitter (ORCulturalTrust). Last summer, the Trust awarded $1.47 million in 102 grants to 57 arts, heritage and humanities nonprofits; 40 county and tribal cultural coalitions and five statewide partners. Those grants, and hundreds of others redistributed by the coalitions and partners, were made possible entirely by Oregonians donating to the Cultural Trust. Yet, in its program for direct funding to cultural nonprofits, the Trust is typically only able to fund one in three applications each year, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. For 2011- 12, the Trust would like to change that, adding to the pool of money available for grants, and, perhaps more significantly, adding to the permanent fund whose growth ensures the future of cultural funding in Oregon. To meet the challenge, the Trust suggests that donors give at a level that reflects the true value of libraries and literacy, history and heritage, creativity and expression in their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities. In some cases, that may mean giving at a level beyond the tax credit limit of $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly, and $2,500 for corporations. Regardless of the amount of the gift, it’s critical that cultural donors make at least part of their calendar year 2011 gift to the Trust by June 30. No other state has a cultural funding program like the Oregon Cultural Trust. It has been ranked with the bottle bill and vote-by-mail as among Oregon’s most forward thinking public policy measures. Since 2002, 21,000 Oregonians have participated in this remarkable program, donating almost $25 million to the Trust, enabling over $9 million in grants benefiting every county and building an endowment that now stands at $15.6 million. The Cultural Trust is another successful – and nationally admired -- example of Oregonians’ interest in citizen participation and decision-making. Donating to the Cultural Trust is an investment that benefits 1,300 cultural nonprofits in every Oregon county. The equation is simple: more donations = more grants. 2011-12 grant awards will be announced by August 1, 2011. More information: (503) 986-0088 or www.culturaltrust.org.
