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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2014)
city news At the January 21, 2014 City Council Meeting: Vernonia City News... sion projects. Sandlin provided Council with a written report, gave Council some background on the project, and was Mayor Accepts Brown Resignations- available to answer questions. Council With the approval of Council, Mayor was scheduled to hear public comments Josette Mitchell accepted the resignation and consider approval of the plan at their of Dan Brown from the Planning Com- February 3, 2014 meeting. mission and the Emergency Prepared- ness Committee. Council Receives Quarterly Finan- cial Report- City Finance Officer An- Council Approves Employee Request gie Handegard presented Council with Forms- Council approved new internal a quarterly financial report. Handegard office forms for city employees to use to told Council that the intention in all de- request overtime pay and to request time partments is to try to curtail spending off. as much as possible without decreasing service levels. Council Discusses Health Board Lease- Council and Brett Costley, rep- At the February 3, 2014 City Council resenting the Vernonia Health Board, Meeting: discussed the wording of the pending lease agreement for the construction Council Extends Pro Tem Agreement- of the new Health Center. The Health Council approved an extension of their Board is proposing to build the Health agreement with Mayor Josette Mitchell Center on land controlled by the City of to have her continue acting as City Vernonia. Council and the Health Board Administrator Pro Tem. Council also discussed several issues which still need approved a stipend of $3.91/hour for to be resolved in order for agreement on up to forty hours per week to pay for the lease details to be finalized, includ- Mitchell’s childcare expenses while ing: what happens to the land after the she volunteers to fill the vacant City city’s fifty year agreement with the state Administrator position. is over; language that states the City Council must approve all subleases to Council Changes Enterprise providers working in the facility; and Zone Boundary- Council approved how much insurance the facility will be Resolution 3-14 which changes the required to carry. The parties agreed that Enterprise Zone boundary and adds they would meet again on Friday, Janu- the City of Vernonia as a co-sponsor of ary 24, with both legal councils pres- the South Columbia County Enterprise ent, to hopefully finalize an agreement. Zone. The Columbia County Board of Council also proposed a Memorandum Commissioners approved this change of of Agreement between the parties. the boundary at their January 22, 2014 meeting. Inclusion in the Enterprise Council Hears Parks Master Plan Zone allows for tax exemptions for Presentation- Council heard a presen- new development and could increase tation from Jim Sandlin, a landscape employment opportunities, raise local architect with MacKay Sposito. Sand- incomes, and attract investment. lin presented Council with the final ver- sion of the Master Parks and Trails Plan, Council Approves Parks Master which includes options for park expan- Plan- After hearing a presentation from Co-mingle Recycling has Moved! from Waste Management Transfer Station to D.A.D.’s Recycling Cover Oregon Update 2024 Mist Drive Now available Tue, Thr, Sat 10am-5pm D Vernonia Dental an 503-901-1705 16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia Mayor Appoints Rose to Emergency Preparedness Committee- With the approval of the Council, Mayor Josette Mitchell appointed Donald Rose to the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Rose is the Engineer and Operations Manager at WOEC and lives in Troutdale. City Information and Updates Available by Email e rm JOIN THE TEAM! 5 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.” Individuals and families are still able to sign up for health insurance through Cov- er Oregon until March 31. Call Columbia County Public Health at 503-397-4651, extension 2005 to speak with an applica- tion assister. Or, go to the Cover Oregon website www.coveroregon.com or call the statewide assistance number 1- 855-268- 3767 for more information. Terry’s Gym 2014 School Gravel- Council approved a request from Dr. Ken Cox from the Vernonia School District, asking to use crushed rock and gravel that the City has Council Approves Volunteer Policies- stored, in the greenhouse construction Council approved a Volunteer Policy project. Manual, Acknowledgement Form and Agreement which establishes and Council Hears Presentation About explains policies and provides guidance Billing Software- Prior to the regular for city staff and volunteers involved in meeting Council heard a presentation concerning a utility billing software the City Volunteer Program. package from John Vergey of Council Discusses Lease with Health MuniBilling. The proposed package Board- Negotiations continued between would allow the City to save money and the Vernonia Health Board and the time on utility billing. Council concerning the Ground Lease Agreement for construction of the Council Moves Forward With Health Clinic on property owned by the Severance Agreement- Council entered into Executive Session under ORS City. An agreement was not finalized. 192.660(2)(b) To consider the dismissal City Declares Library Equipment or disciplining of, or to hear complaints Surplus- Council approved the or charges brought against, a public declaration of surplus property for officer, employee, staff member. computer equipment at the Vernonia Upon returning to open session it Library. The property will be disposed was the consensus of Council to move forward with the General Release of the of in the appropriate manner. Severance Agreement. DM Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be February 20th. Jim Sandlin of Mackay Sposito at their January 21 meeting, and opening this meeting to public comment, the Council voted to approve Resolution 4-14, approving the Vernonia Parks and Trails Master Plan. The plan was established to guide parks development, help develop budgets and priorities for projects, assist in future grant applications, and establishes goals and objectives for properties within the Vernonia park system. february6 . Dr ri h C s er h to p M . S e ch u 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7 PM: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, February 17, 2014 Presidents’ Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules
