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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2014)
city news At the April 7, 2014 City Council Meeting: Council Repeals Substantial Damage Determination-Council voted to repeal the Substantial Damage Determination for property at 658 Madison Avenue. The property was damaged during the 2007 flood. The repeal was made at the request of John Graham, who is the new property owner. According to Mayor/City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell the previ- ous owner fraudulently requested and received a Substantial Damage Deter- mination in 2008. That owner never did the expected repairs after receiving about $12,000 in flood relief funds. The new owners purchased the property in November of 2013. Mitchell said this is only the second time that anyone nation- wide has asked to repeal the determina- tion. The repeal allows the new owners to make repairs and return the home to livable standards. Vernonia City News... Council Discusses Ridge Riders-After recessing to Executive Session, Council returned to open session and discussed the Vernonia Ridge Riders. Council de- termined that City staff needs to meet with Ridge Riders leaders to discuss the fact that a court of law has determined that the lease the Ridge Riders have been operating under is not valid and that a process for how the Ridge Riders use the horse arena, which is located on City owned property, needs to be determined. Council Presented with Budget Sched- ule-Council received the schedule for the upcoming budget process for fiscal year 2014-15. The first meeting will be held on Friday, April 18 at 6:00 PM at the VCLC. The committee will receive the budget message and the proposed budget, elect a Chair and Vice Chair and determine meeting protocol. A Pub- lic Hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:00 PM and public comment will be taken. Subsequent meetings are Council Approves Lease Agreement scheduled for consecutive Tuesdays, as With Health Board-Council unani- needed, starting April 29. All meetings mously voted to approve the lease agree- will begin at 6:00 PM and take place at ment between the City of Vernonia and the VCLC. Additional meetings may be the Vernonia Health Center Board for scheduled as necessary. use of property at the Rose Avenue Proj- ect for construction of the new Health Council Discusses Betterment Distri- Center. bution-Council discussed the need to determine how to issue Betterment Dis- Spencer Park RFP-Mayor/City Ad- tribution funds. Council decided they ministrator Mitchell told Council that will allow community groups to apply the Vernonia School District (VSD) has to be included in the process. Mayor moved forward and published an RFP to Mitchell will return to Council with a finish construction work at Spencer Park draft. without an approval from the City Coun- cil. Approval of the RFP was on the Council Approves Pre-Application for agenda for the March 17 th City Council Rose Avenue Project-Council approved meeting, but Council did not have a quo- a pre-application for a Community De- rum and did not conduct any business at that meeting. Mitchell told Council she met with VSD Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox and discussed changes that were to be made in the RFP before publication, REPORTS TAKEN but that she has not received a final ver- • April 2, 2014 Police responded to sion of the RFP. Council took no action suspicious person in Hawkins Park. since they did not have final version to • April 06, 2014 Police responded to a Burglary, located in the 100 block review. of North St. Investigation currently ongoing. City Information and • April 07, 2014 Police responded to Updates Available by Email a Theft from Vehicle on the 300 block Citizens who wish to receive meeting of Louisiana Ave. Investigation information and updates can request currently ongoing. to be placed on an email list at City • April 10, 2014 Police responded to Hall. Please contact Joann Glass at a Theft of Identity in the 1600 block joann@vernonia-or.gov and asked to of Heather Lane. Investigation still ongoing. be placed on the “Citizen Notification • April 10, 2014 Police responded to List.” 5 es for RV campers are now to camp without hook-ups for $14 or with full hook-ups for $25. The amendment also changed the charge for an extra vehicle in campsites from $3 to $7. Councilor Donna Webb voted against the Resolu- tion. Bleacher Repair-Council took no action on a recommendation from the Parks Committee to partner with the Vernonia Logging Show and spend $1,500 from the Parks budget. The money would be used to repair bleachers that are stored at Hawkins Park and are used by the Log- ging Show and for local youth sports ac- tivities. The Parks Committee proposed that the repaired bleachers could be used at Spencer Park when the new park is completed. Council raised concerns that the bleachers may not be up to current code and could pose a danger to users. Council Approves Mitchell’s Request to Attend Conference-Council ap- proved a request by Mayor/City Admin- istrator Mitchell to attend a Floodplain Managers Conference from June 1-6 in Seattle WA. Cost to the City is $884.85 after Mitchell received $1076.42 in scholarship funds. Council Approves Changes to Park Fees-Council approved Resolution 09- 14, amending Resolution 14-08, Section 2, ‘Parks Fees.’ The amendment elimi- nates the fee for ‘Campsite with electric hook-up only’ at Anderson Park. Choic- Paleck Appointed to Planning Com- mission-With approval from Council, Mayor Mitchell appointed Erika Paleck to the Planning Commission. Mayor Reads Two Proclamations- Mayor Josette Mitchell read procla- mations for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Pre- vention Month. Brown Wins Planning Award Dan Brown will be recognized as a Distinguished Leader as a Community Planner by the Oregon American Planning Association (OAPA). Brown served on the Vernonia Planning Commission for seventeen years, many of those as the Chair of the Commission. He recently stepped down as a Planning Commissioner. Brown will be recognized for his contributions at the OAPA annual conference, scheduled May 29-30. The Awards presentation is during a luncheon on Friday May 30 at the Oregon Convention Center. a Theft of Vehicle on the 100 block of E Street. Investigation is still ongoing. TRAFFIC/OTHER CITATIONS • April 09, 2014 Issued a traffic citation for driving while uninsured. Between Bridge St. and Adams Ave. • April 09, 2014 Issued a traffic citation for Violation of the Basic Rule (70mph in a posted 55mph speed zone). On Nehalem Highway South at mile post 64. Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7 PM: Monday, April 21, 2014 Monday, May 5, 2014 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, May 26, 2014 Memorial Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules an DM D Friends of the Vernonia Public Library e rm . Dr ri h C 2014 velopment Block Grant for the Rose Avenue Project. The pre-application will be submitted by Community Action Team on behalf of the Senior Center and the Vernonia Cares Food Bank. Mayor Mitchell and Councilor Kim Tierney both abstained from voting. Police Blotter April 1-13 Vernonia Dental april17 s r e h o t p M . h S c eu 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 Family: Minimum: Membership Dues: $10.00 Individual: $5.00 $1.00 plus 2 hours minimum of work in the library Make checks payable to: Friends of the Vernonia Public Library Mailing Address: 701 Weed Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064 Name Address City Phone Date State Zip Amount Enclosed $ I am interested in helping with the following committees (optional): Please Circle •Membership •Endowments •Book Sales •Publicity & Public Relations •Fund Raising •Library Services •Finance-Budget-Legal Matters
