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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2013)
city news Vernonia City News... At the January 7, 2013 City Council upgrade could move forward. Haack Meeting said he is working with the city engineer to create a plan to modify the headworks Councils Members Are Sworn In- and fix the problem. He estimated that Mayor Josette Mitchell, along with the modification would cost $200,000 to City Councilors Randy Parrow and Kim $300,000. Tierney all took the oath of office at the January 7, 2013 Vernonia City Council City Gets Approval to Use Grant meeting. Tierney had been appointed Funds for New Park Development- to fill a vacant seat and was elected to her City Administrator Bill Haack informed seat in the November elections; Mitch- Council that the City has received ap- ell and Parrow were re-elected to their proval from the Oregon Parks and Rec- seats. All three ran unopposed. Parrow reation Department for an application was later elected by the Council to serve the City made to repurpose grant funds. as Council President. The funds are from the previously ap- proved application for the Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park project. The City will use $46, 874 of those funds to complete a Parks Master Plan and will contract with MacKay & Sposito for those services. The balance of the funds, $175,432, will be used to purchase and install a rest- room facility and covered pic- nic shelter at the Spencer Park replacement park at the old school site. Council voted to approve both these uses. Council Discusses Bicycle Rack and Bike Parking- Mayor Josette Mitchell is sworn into office by Council heard a request from City Recorder Joann Glass as City Councilor the management of the Blue Randy Parrow looks on. House Cafe to place a bicy- Problem with Wastewater Facility Re- cle rack in the courtyard of the Verno- vealed-City Administrator Bill Haack nia Community Learning Center. The informed Council that he recently dis- courtyard is adjacent to the Blue House covered that the wastewater headworks Cafe property. Several citizens spoke was constructed improperly and does against placing the rack in the courtyard. not meet DEQ standards. Haack told Several alternative ideas were discussed Council that the headworks was origi- nally designed for a nine inch flume but was constructed with a six inch flume and therefore has difficulty handling the amount of storm water generated during peak flows. Haack said he was unable to find any documentation that could explain why the facility was not constructed as designed. He noted that City Council Meetings are the problem would need to be corrected scheduled for 7 PM: before plans for the wastewater facility Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures Tuesday, January 22 Monday, February 4 Tuesday, February 19 City Information and Updates Available by Email Citizens who wish to receive meeting information and updates can request to be placed on an email list at City Hall. Please contact Joann Glass at joann@ vernonia-or.gov and asked to be placed on the “Citizen Notification List.” City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, February 18 Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules including the need for an overall bicycle parking plan for the City. Council chose to make no decision. They requested that the issue be sent to the planning commission for review. Council Approves Franchise Agree- ment With LightSpeed Networks- Council approved a request from LightSpeed Networks, Inc. (LSN) for a franchise to construct, operate and maintain a telecommunications network within the City of Vernonia. The term of the franchise agreement is for ten years. LSN proposed to serve the new Verno- nia Health Center as well as provide im- proved bandwidth, internet and network access for businesses, schools, govern- ment and local residents and visitors. Topics from the Floor-George Bell- ingham, representing the Ridge Riders, provided Council with some history of the relationship between the City and his group. Marie Krahn spoke on behalf of january22 2013 5 the Vernonia Health Board and informed the Council on progress her group is making to relocate the Health Clinic to the Rose Avenue site. Ron Wright in- formed the Council that he continues to be concerned about safety and speeding on Bridge Street as it goes up towards the top of Cory Hill and suggested speed bumps be installed. Council informed of Financing for Street Paving-Council was informed by memo that $6,000 for a street paving project on A Street will come from the Operations Materials line item, which has an available balance of $10, 230. Council had previously approved the ex- penditure but had asked for more details about that line item in the budget. Council Appoints Haack as Budget Officer-As part of the City’s required budget process, Council voted to ap- point City Administrator Bill Haack as the budget officer for the City. Vernonia Transfer Station Announcement In order for Waste Management to continue providing Transfer Station services to the community of Vernonia, please note the following changes to the site operations: EFFECTIVE March 9, 2013 • 30 yard Drop Box’s will be removed and replaced with multiple 6.0 yard containers for household waste. • Material exceeding 48” in length will no longer be accepted. • Oversized or bulky waste will no longer be accepted. • The list of prohibited materials by type and quantity are posted at the entrance to the Transfer Station and remain unchanged. • Drop Off for recyclable items at no charge and items that require a fee remain unchanged. Thank you, WM of Columbia County Old, worn out and rusty? Need body work? Call... Meyer’s Auto Body •493 Bridge St• VERNONIA 503-429-0248 For fast cash! 010412 Vernonia Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals Now Open Mon, Wed & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for Appointments 2245 Baseline St., Cornelius (Across from Fred Meyer) 503-530-8119 State Licensed PB-0388 Open everyday at 9 a.m. (503) 429-1612 Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR
