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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2014)
2014 At the May 19, 2014 City Council Meeting: Council Discusses Wastewater Treatment Funding- Council discussed several options for funding the Wastewater Treatment Upgrade project. Council is considering an option to refinance existing loans through USDA at a lower interest rate as well as extending the length of the loan term. Council had several questions about their options and asked for more information at their next meeting. Council Approves Permit for Travel Trailer- Council approved an Application for Inhabiting a Travel Trailer for Roger Smith at 1006 5 th Avenue. Feral Cat Update- Councilor Kim Tierney reported that 260 cats have been spayed or neutered by the Feral Cat Coalition. Tierney has been working to help citizens live trap feral cats in their neighborhoods. Tierney transports the cats to Portland where surgery is performed; she then returns them to the Summer Meal Program Returns The Vernonia Summer Meal Program will be offering free lunches to kids ages 1-18 for the fourth year this summer beginning June 9th! There is no income requirement, no paperwork and absolutely anyone can participate in this program, whether they live in Vernonia or not. Adults are encouraged to come and eat as well as kids. The price for anyone over the age of 18 to eat lunch is $2.50. Lunch is served from 11:30 to 1:00 PM Monday through Friday at Grace Family Fellowship, located at 957 State Avenue. We can always use more volunteers to help in food preparation, serving and site cleanup! If you would like to volunteer, or have any questions about the program, you may contact the staff: onsite, via email at vernoniasummermealprogram@ googlegroups.com or by calling 503.748.9193. To keep informed of program updates and see the menu, please like the Vernonia Summer Meal Program’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ VernoniaSummerMeals. Vernonia City News... neighborhoods where the people who trapped them agree to feed the cats. funding, $51,500, will be used for the Vernonia Street Improvement and Utilities Installation Project, Number A14002. The grant will facilitate engineering for the proposed California Avenue extension. Council Meets in Executive Session- Council recessed and met in Executive Session under ORS 196.660(2)(h) Legal Council. Upon returning to regular session, Council took no further action. Council Approves Water Meter Data Collection- Based on a recommendation by the Public Works Committee, Council approved having the City Administrator create a plan for collecting data on current water meter locations and sizes and any other needed information to establish an accurate sewer rate. At the June 2, 2014 City Council Meeting: Council Starts Refinancing Application Process- Based on a recommendation from the City Public Works Committee, Council voted to begin the application process with USDA to fund the Wastewater Treatment Project. The funding would refinance all current debt the City has through DEQ plus the new debt needed to fund the new construction, for a total of $9,404,000. The loan would be for forty years. Council to Hold Work Session on Sewer Rates- Council took no action on two recommendations from the Public Works Committee and instead scheduled a work session for June 9 at 7:00 PM to begin discussing the equation to calculate water and sewer rates and eventual changes to the Master Fee Schedule. According to the recommendation from the Public Works Committee, the current system for figuring rates is confusing and needs to be simplified. Council Approves Grant Contract- Council authorized the City Administrator to sign a contract with Infrastructure Finance Authority (IFA) for a Special Public Works Grant. The Vernonia Police Blotter Arrests /Reports Taken Block of Bridge St. for Disorderly Conduct II. • May 18, 2014 – Informational Report taken on a Possible No Contact Order Violation. Report will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for Review. •May 20, 2014 – Report of Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card in the 1100 Block of Riverside Dr. Ongoing Investigation. • May 22, 2014 – Arrest in the 1300 Block of Rose Ave for Domestic Assault IV and Strangulation. • May 24, 2014 – Report taken on a Disorderly Conduct that occurred at the Vernonia Subway. Report will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for Review. • May 24, 2014 – Report taken on Disorderly Conduct that occurred in the 800 Block of Bridge St. Report will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for Review. • May 24, 2014 – Arrest in the 500 Block of Bridge St. for Disorderly Conduct and Domestic Violence (Harassment). Suspect was • May 1, 2014 – Report of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle in the 900 block of 5th Ave. • May 2, 2014 – Report of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle in the 400 Block of Bridge St. • May 14, 2014 – Report of Trespass in the 1000 Block of Rose Ave. Suspect was subsequently arrested and transported to the Columbia County Jail for Criminal Trespass II. • May 14, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief (Vandalism) in the 200 Block of Bridge St. (Ongoing Investigation) • May 16, 2014 – Arrest in the 900 Block of Madison Ave on an outstanding Misdemeanor Arrest Warrant. • May 17, 2014 – Death Investigation in the 800 Block of Jefferson Ave. • May 17, 2014 – Report of a Missing Juvenile from the 1100 Block of Ruth Ave. Juvenile was located. • May 17, 2014 – Arrest in the 1000 Vernonia Dental e rm JOIN THE TEAM! 503-901-1705 16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia . C r D h ris er h to p M . S c Council Asks for More Information on Available Property- Council asked the City Administrator to gather more information on a piece of property that was offered for sale. The property is close to the Vernonia Memorial Cemetery. Police Chief Back to Regular Duty- Police Chief Mike Conner reported that he is back to full time regular duty following his recovery from surgery. Council Approves Surplus Property- Council approved Resolution 12-14 declaring a list of property as surplus, including several Epson printer ink jet cartridges, CD albums, a 7 drawer map cabinet and a truck canopy. Topics From the Floor- Bill Sword told Council that he is having issues getting from his property through the Anderson Park Campground. Sword says a road needs to built through the center of the campground. He said he will be contacting a lawyer. May 1-31, 2014 an Terry’s Gym city news D june5 DM 6 u he 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 transported to the Columbia County Jail. • May 27, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief in the 1000 Block of Missouri Ave. (Ongoing Investigation) • May 29, 2014 - Report of Criminal Mischief (Vandalism) in the 200 Block of Bridge St. (Ongoing Investigation) May 31, 2014 – Arrest in the 800 Block of Madison Ave for Violation of Release Agreement. Traffic Citations • May 12, 2014 – Issued a Traffic Citation for Driving Uninsured on Maple St. near Weed Ave. • May 15, 2014 – Issued Traffic Citations for Driving While Suspended / Fail to Carry Proof of Insurance & Registration on Stoney Point Road near Hwy 47. • May 23, 2014 – Issued a Traffic Citation for Violation of the Basic Rule (72mph in a posted 55 Mph Zone) Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7 PM: Monday, June 16, 2014 Monday, July 7, 2014 City Closures are scheduled for: Friday, July 4, 2014 Independence Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules