Vernonia's voice., November 07, 2013, Page 5, Image 5

city news
At the October 21, 2013 City Council
Meeting
Council
Authorizes
Agreement
for Emergency Services- Council
authorized the City Administrator
to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement
with the Oregon Water/Wastewater
Agency Response Network (ORWARN)
ORWARN is a membership group
made up of municipal governments
and special districts that manage water
and wastewater utilities. The purpose
of the network is to provide mutual aid
and assistance in the form of personnel,
equipment and material and other
services to utilities that have sustained
damage.
Council Authorizes MOU to Complete
California Ave.- Council directed staff to
draft a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with Casey Mitchell and Brad
Curtis committing all parties to work
towards completion of California
Avenue. The City has been working with
Mitchell and Curtis for over four years
on this roadway improvement project
and the City Council has previously
approved this plan. Chuck Daughtry
from the Columbia County Economic
Team spoke in favor of this MOU.
The plan calls for improvements from
Bridge Street to the turnaround at the
wetland. The project would encourage
development of industrial property and
the relocation of Photo Solutions, Inc.
Mayor Josette Mitchell, wife of Casey
Mitchell abstained from the vote.
Vernonia City News...
Understanding (MOU) committing the
City to process stored materials by July
2014. The City of Vernonia has stored
brick and asphalt that was salvaged from
the demolition of the school campus
on private property owned by Casey
Mitchell. Mayor Josette Mitchell, wife
of Casey Mitchell abstained from the
vote.
Council Approves
IFA Grant
Application- Council approved the
application for a grant from the Oregon
Business Development Department-
Infrastructure
Finance
Authority
for planning for the development of
California Avenue. Mayor Josette
Mitchell abstained from the vote.
Council Votes to Wait on Biosolid
Removal- Council voted 3-2 to wait
to begin the removal of biosolids from
the wastewater lagoons. Council had
the choice of starting the project in late
October or waiting until spring of 2014.
Councilors Bruce McNair and Donna
Webb, along with Mayor Josette Mitchell
voted to wait; Councilors Randy Parrow
and Kim Tierney voted to go forward.
Monday, November 18, 2013
City Closures are scheduled for:
Veterans Day
Monday, November 11th
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 28
Staff Day
Friday, November 29
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
The Public is Invited to
City Parks Master Plan Open House
November 14th, 2013
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, November 22nd, 7pm
Vernonia Community Learning Center (VCLC)
939 Bridge Street
Come watch VHS Alumni take on the
2013 Varsity Volleyball team at the
VHS gym. Donations accepted. All
proceeds benefit the Zack Rumboltz
Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Come learn about the updated Master Park Plan for Vernonia. This will
include Vernonia Lake, Anderson Park, New Spencer Park, Mill Site
Marsh and more. Give your thoughts and ideas about what you would
like to see included in this plan for the future of Vernonia’s Parks.
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Vernonia 
Dental
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503-901-1705
16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia
5
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
Alumni Volleyball
JOIN
THE TEAM!
2013
Center and Vernonia Cares Food Bank.
According to all parties involved, the Council Discusses Several Issues-
project is moving forward according to Council discussed several issues
schedule.
including a proposed dedication for
a right-of-way on Alder Street, the
Council
Supports
Housing extension of the South Columbia
Rehabilitation Program- Council County Enterprise Zone to Vernonia, the
heard a presentation from Susan Wagner possibility of logging some trees from
of Community Action Team who asked a few City properties in order to fund
Council to sign an Agreement in Support a timber harvest plan for City owned
of the Northwest Oregon Regional property and the General Fund Budget.
Housing Rehabilitation Program. By Council took no action on any of these
signing the agreement residents of issues.
Vernonia are eligible to apply for housing
rehabilitation revolving loans that assist Council Meets in Executive Session-
low income homeowners repair their Council recessed to Executive Session
homes.
and met under ORS 192.660(2) (h) Legal
Council. Council did not take any action
Topics From the Floor- Casey Mitchell following the return to Open Session.
complained to Council about the dangers
of leaving California Avenue open. He
asked Council to block access to the
road, which he says is being used to
dump garbage, for high speed driving
and parties. Council instructed staff
to implement a plan to block the road
at Vernonia Lake and the wetland area
City Council Meetings are
within one month.
scheduled for 7 PM:
Biosolids Removal- Council discussed
Council Allows Changes to Police the removal of biosolids from the sewer
Contract- Council approved changes to lagoons. City Administrator Bill Haack
the Police Union contract which changed brought Council a proposal to begin
the “Health and Welfare” section of the removal at a cost of $785,000. Council
contract.
had previously voted not to begin
until spring 2014. Council asked for a
At the November 4, 2013 City Council workshop with staff and members of the
Meeting:
Public Works Committee to look at all
the information before they make a final
Council Hears Update on Rose Avenue decision about how to move forward.
Council Authorizes MOU to Process Project- Council heard an update on the
Materials- Council directed City Staff progress on the construction of the new
to draft and sign a Memorandum of Vernonia Health Clinic, Vernonia Senior
Terry’s
Gym
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622 Bridge Street    Vernonia, OR 97064
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