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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2012)
city news june26 2012 Vernonia City News... At the June 18, 2012 City Council Meeting Council Approves Street Closures and Beer Garden for Jamboree—Council approved a request from the Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show Committee for use of several streets, part of an alley way and a vacant lot during the 56th Jamboree festival on August 3-5. The request included Adams Avenue from Bridge Street to Maple Street, Park Drive, Weed Avenue from Bridge Street to Maple Street on Saturday during the parade, the alley way between the All In Pub and the future Subway for a beer garden, the use of the lot next to Shay Park for a picnic area, the use of the lot at the end of Maple St. for two garbage dumpsters, and the use of the vacant lot across from the former WOEC building for vendor parking. Council also approved a request from the All In Pub to host a beer garden. Police Chief to End Take Home Car Program—Vernonia Police Chief Mike Conner informed Council that he intends to end the ‘Take Home Car Program” for VPD officers in the next few months. Conner cited the fact that his staff is close to being at full force and it is no 5 longer necessary for officers to be on- call and needing to respond from home. Conner stated that the Chief would still take a department vehicle home and be the responding officer. partners in the project, including ODOT, NW Natural, Frontier Communications and West Oregon Electric Cooperative, all reported that city staff did “an exemplary job” on the project. Haack Commends Public Works Workers-- City Administrator Bill Haack commended the work of the Public Works Department during a 300 hour project to replace over 400 feet of water line along Bridge Street and Missouri Avenue. The line replacement was required as part of the roadway improvement project near the new school campus. Haack noted that all Council Approves Ordinance Banning All Smoking at Dewey Pool—Council approved Ordinance 882 establishing a no smoking area around the swimming hole. The new ordinance includes language that prohibits the use of all tobacco products including nicotine delivery devices such as e-cigarettes in the area. Vernonia to Receive EPA Brownfields Funding EPA grants expected to help “breathe new life” into former industrial sites The City of Vernonia, will receive a $200,000 Community-Wide Assessment Environmental Protection Agency Brownsfield Grant which will be used to inventory brownfield sites throughout the city, perform environmental site assessments, and conduct community outreach. EPA Brownfields Grants fund site assessments and site cleanups, supporting local efforts to clean up contamination or otherwise make land useable for housing, community space or commercial development. EPA also provides often cash-strapped communities a much-needed boost to bring abandoned lands back into productive use. According to Vernonia City Administrator Bill Haack, the City of Vernonia will receive $100,000 for hazardous substances and $100,000 for petroleum assessments. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory brownfield sites throughout the city and conduct up to three Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory brownfield sites throughout the city and conduct up to three Phase I and two Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans as well as conduct community outreach activities. The City will enter into a grant agreement with EPA and establish a revised multi-year work plan that will inform the City and EPA on the plan to allocate resources. The City will establish a community based ad hoc committee to facilitate community input. The EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Meet Your Police: Shawn Carnahan continued from front page “It’s been a rough stretch,” says Carnahan. “Conner and I really worked together--it was a real team effort between the two of us, because we had to make it work.” Carnahan is obviously happy to have the two new officers on staff and will be working with them as their Field Training Officer. Both new officers are expected to be available to take shifts on their own starting this summer. “They are both doing real good,” says Carnahan. “Matt is a little older than Brent and so he obviously has some more life experience, and you can see that in the way he talks with people. That’s not a knock on Brent—it will come for him.” Upcoming Vernonia City Hall Closures and City Council Meetings City Hall will be closed: Wednesday, July 4, 2012 Upcoming City Council Meetings are scheduled for: Monday, July 2, 2012 Monday, July 16, 2012 Dates and Times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules Need body work? Time to call Meyer’s Auto Body Meyer’s Auto Body 493 Bridge Street, Vernonia. 503-429-0248 Carnahan has also been pleased working under Mike Conner as the new Chief. “He’s an eleven to work for,” says Carnahan. “He is by far one of the best bosses I’ve worked for and it’s a real privilege to work for him.” Officer Carnahan is also assisting Chief Conner with some administrative duties. Currently he is in charge of the vehicle fleet--taking responsibility for vehicle maintenance. He is also in charge of evidence for the department. The next step for Carnahan in the VPD would be a move up to Sergeant. Currently the department does have that position, although currently it is not filled. “In a small department you want to have goals for people to meet, because if you don’t you end up with a high turnaround rate, and we don’t want that,” says Carnahan. “I hope that someday I can be considered for that position.” Carnahan is forty-two years old and currently resides in Scappoose with his wife and son, who is eighteen, a step son who is fifteen and his seven year old daughter. Carnahan says he started collecting Hot Wheels and other miniature cars for his son when he was young and it has continued to be a hobby for him, with a focus on public safety vehicles. The walls of his office at the VPD are lined with them. “They are a good conversation piece, they help break the ice, especially when you are interviewing kids,” he says. He and his wife both own Harley Davidson motorcycles and love to spend their free time riding those. Carnahan jokes that during the last year his wife has probably put more miles on hers then he has put on his. He says he also enjoys traveling down to Florence to spend time with his father and grandmother. Need more room? See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks Available Authorized U-Haul Dealer Boxes and Supplies Available We can make your reservation Pick up here or anywhere 58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292 Vernonia, Oregon 97064 (503) 429-7867 10-6 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun
