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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2014)
6 august7 2014 At the July 21, 2014 City Council Meeting: Council Continues Negotiations for City Administrator- Immediately upon convening the regular City Council meeting, Council recessed to Executive Session under ORS 196.660(2)(a) Em- ployment of Public Officers, Employees and Agents. Upon returning to regular session Council instructed staff to make a counter offer to Gian Paolo “Paul” Mammone for the City Administrator position. Later in the meeting Councilor McNair asked Mayor Josette Mitchell, who has been serving as Interim City Administrator with no pay, whether she would be willing to continue in that ca- pacity until September 1, 2014. Mitchell declined to answer the request. McNair later went on record as expressing his disapproval and disappointment with Council’s choice for the new City Ad- ministrator. Council Conducts Business with Just Three Members- Following the Ex- ecutive Session, Councilor Kim Tierney was excused from the meeting for per- sonal reasons. Councilor Donna Webb was also absent from the meeting, leav- ing just three Council members, Mayor Josette Mitchell and Councilors Randy city news Vernonia City News... Parrow and Bruce McNair to conduct Council Approves Draft for Sword business for the remainder of the meet- Property Access- Council approved by consensus a draft proposal agreement ing. between the City of Vernonia and Wil- Mayor Makes Appointments to Com- liam Sword that outlines the protocol for mittee and Board- With consensus Mr. Sword to access his property with from Council, Mayor Josette Mitchell heavy equipment through Anderson reappointed Grant Williams to the Li- Park. The agreement will now go to Mr. brary Board and Quentin Skanes to serve Sword to be signed. as Student Representative to the Parks Council Approves Contract for GIS- Committee. Council authorized the signing of a Per- Council Discusses Crosswalks- Coun- sonal Services Contract with Vernonia cil received a letter from citizen Tim An- Geographic Information Systems for derson requesting that the City of Ver- GIS (Geographic Information Systems) nonia pursue with the State of Oregon project consulting. The contract is not to the installation of a crosswalk across exceed $28,000 and terminates on June Highway 47 at Cougar Street. The rea- 30, 2015. The scope of work includes son for the request is because of safety monthly maintenance of the Vernonia concerns due to new development in the GIS system, providing staff support with area. Council briefly discussed the issue maps, documents and GIS related issues and talked about several options but took and materials and calls for collaboration with the City Administrator to meet the no action. goals of the City. Council Approves Paving Costs- Council approved an estimate from Five Council Discusses Pioneer Cemetery Star Paving, Inc. for $18,720 to extend Line Adjustment- Council discussed a the paving project on Maple Street for proposal from Eddie Broadwell and Lisa an extra block from Jefferson Street to Blos-Johnson to have KLS Surveying Adams Street. The project was already redraw the property lines for the Pioneer scheduled to pave Maple Street from Cemetery on Keasey Road. Broadwell and Blos Johnson own property adja- Jefferson to Weed Avenue. cent to the Pioneer Cemetery at 18300 Keasey Road. According to the Record of Survey the property lines overlap. Broadwell and Blos-Johnson proposed splitting the cost for the line adjustment with the City and then transferring the properties that each own erroneously. • July 31/2014 – Report of Theft Estimated cost is between $2346 and (Gas & gas cans) in the 1800 $2946. Council’s consensus was that Block of N. Mist Dr. they were not interested in the proposal. Vernonia Police Blotter July 14-31, 2014 Arrests/Reports Taken • July 17, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief in the 800 Block of Bridge St. (Ongoing Investigation) • July 19, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief (Vandalism) at Anderson Trailer Park. Report referred to the District Attorney for prosecution. • July 19, 2014 – Arrest on an outstanding Arrest Warrant out of the Vernonia Justice Court. • July 19, 2014 – Arrest near the Vernonia Lake for Violation of a No Contact Order. • July 22, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief (Vandalism) in the 900 Block of Bridge St. • July 31, 2014 – Report of Criminal Mischief (Vandalism) in the 900 Block of 1st Ave. Traffic Citations: • July 4, 2014 – Issued a traffic citation for No Operator License and Driving Uninsured on Bridge St. near Cougar St. Jamboree preliminary stats 08/01/14-08/03/14: 10 Total Arrests • 4 DUII • 4 Arrest Warrants • 1 Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamines • 1 Menacing / Disorderly Conduct/ Harassment • Numerous Traffic Stops/ Violation Citations issued. NOW RECRUITING current EMTs and EMT students for volunteer positions in Vernonia resource and what it takes to make water for public consumption. The class will be taught at Vernonia School District Outdoor School from September 16-19. The employee will be paid by the City for four half days while teaching the class. Council Approves Title Contract- Council approved an extension of a contract with Ticor Title for Real Estate Title Search, Escrow and Related Ser- vices, not to exceed $20,000. The scope of work in the contract relates to flood damaged property buyouts by FEMA and the costs are paid for through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The City is contracted with Community Ac- tion Team to provide flood administra- tive services for these activities. Mayor Josette Mitchell abstained from voting on this item. At the August 4, 2014 City Council Meeting: Council Approves Police Vehicle Purchase- Council approved the purchase of two used Chevy Tahoe police vehicles from the Scappoose Police Department for a total of $40,000. Vernonia Police Chief Mike Conner says the vehicles will come fully equipped except for radios. One vehicle has approximately 18,000 miles and the other just over 30,000. According to Conner the VPD just made their final payment on a Tahoe they already own- that vehicle when new and equipped cost nearly $60,000. Conner says he has been budgeting $12,000 per year for vehicle payments, although he did not anticipate purchasing any vehicles Council Approves Employee Teaching this year and does not have any funds at Outdoor School- Council approved in his budget. Conner told Council he a motion to allow a City Utility II Em- has completed a financing arrangement ployee to teach classes about water as a continued on page 7 NOTICE OF POSITIONS OPEN MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL CITY OF VERNONIA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Election will be held on the 4th day of November 2014, at which time the legal voters of said City will be entitled to vote for candidates to certain city offices. OFFICES OPEN FOR ELECTION: ◦ VERNONIA MAYOR TWO YEAR TERM 2015-2016 Position held presently by Josette Mitchell ◦ VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM 2015-2018 Position held presently by Donna Webb ◦ VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM 2015-2018 Position held presently by Bruce McNair Election packets are available at the office of the City Recorder, 1001 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR 97064. Original nominating petitions can be filed no later than August 22, 2014, by 4:00 p.m. with the City Recorder. No faxes accepted. For more information call Joann Glass, City Recorder at 503-429- 5291 ext. 106. Find out how you can become an emt For more information call 503-429-4600 ***AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE*** Please contact the City Recorder, Vernonia City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064 (Phone No. 503-429-5291) at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time if you need an accommodation. TCC users please call Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900. The City of Vernonia is an equal opportunity provider
