city news
At the August 18, 2014 City Council
Meeting:
CDBG Public Hearing- The City held
a Public Hearing to hear testimony
about a plan to apply for a Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) for
construction of a new Senior Center
and Food Bank facility. The City of
Vernonia is eligible to apply for CDBG
funds in 2014. The funds can be
used for public facilities and housing
improvements, primarily for persons
with low and moderate incomes. Susan
Wagner, representing Community
Action Team (CAT) which has been
hired as the Project Development
Manager for the Senior Center and Food
Bank, is preparing the request to apply
for funds and explained the process to
the Council. Wagner told Council they
would apply for $2 million in CDBG
funds and assured the Council that a
joint project between the Senior Center
and Food Bank was an allowable project
under CDBG. Deadline to request to
be considered for an application is
September 30. Three citizens, Pat
Ray, Sandy Welch and Jack Harvey all
testified in favor of applying for funds
for the Senior Center/Food Bank. Jim
Tierney, Executive Director of CAT,
also testified in favor of the project and
spoke at length about the process for
applying, the timeline for the project,
why the project would benefit the senior
citizen community and the details of the
project. Tierney told Council that the
project plan calls for two projects, a $2.1
Vernonia City News...
million dollar project for construction
and $700,000 to do street improvement
and other ancillary requirements of
the development project which are not
covered by CDBG funds. Tierney said
additional funds would need to to be
raised for the project. Tierney noted
that the Senior Center has been losing
$10,000 per year but told Council part
of the development plan would include
setting aside a reserve for operations for
the first several years to ensure the entity
can function successfully. No citizen
testified against the project. Three
citizens, Tobie Finzel, Brett Costley, and
Bill Langmaid, all testified as neutral,
but questioned the business model and
financial ability of the Senior Center
to remain solvent. Costley suggested
the funds might be put to better use if
applied towards the city’s Wastewater
Upgrade Project and reduce the debt
for the City by $2 million. Council has
already approved requesting to apply and
agreed they would take no further action
until they have received an approval to
officially apply for the funds.
NOTICE OF POSITIONS OPEN
MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF VERNONIA
City Moves Forward With Water
Meter Checks- Council held a discussion
and agreed to continue having members
of the Public Works Committee verify
all water meters in the city system. The
hope is to have the project complete
by the end of September. Councilor
Donna Webb expressed concern that
the volunteers are not receiving enough
instruction and direction. Council agreed
to have the Public Works Committee
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:
County Jail for Offensive Littering
and Public Indecency.
• August 12, 2014 – Report of a
Motor Vehicle Crash on Bridge St.
near N. Mist Dr.
• August 14, 2014 – Report of a
Domestic Dispute in the 400 Block
of Rose Ave.
◦
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.
TRAFFIC CITATIONS
• August 1, 2014 – Issued a traffic
citation for Violation of Posted
Speed Limit on North Mist Dr. near
Elm St.
• August 2, 2014 – Issued a traffic
citation for Violation of Posted
Speed Limit on North Mist Dr. near
Elm St.
***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
D
Vernonia
Dental
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
e rm
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7 PM:
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
City Closures are scheduled for:
Monday, September 1, 2014
Labor Day
.
Dr
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FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES
IN AND AROUND THE
VERNONIA AREA
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Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
5
Public Works Monitoring Water
Levels- Mayor Mitchell informed
Council that Public Works Foreman is
monitoring the water gauge at Rock
Creek and will inform Council if there is
a need to request voluntary reductions in
water use by citizens. Water levels were
adequate at the time of the meeting.
August 1-15, 2014
ARRESTS/REPORTS TAKEN
• August 1, 2014 – Arrest on an
outstanding arrest warrant.
• August 2, 2014 – Report of a
Motor Vehicle Accident Bridge St.
near Riverside Dr.
• August 4, 2014 – Report of Theft
of Prescription Medications from
the 900 block of Riverside Dr.
• August 4, 2014 – Arrest for
Menacing/Harassment/Disorderly
Conduct at Hawkins Park.
• August 5, 2014 – Report of
Criminal Mischief on Bridge
St. between Madison Ave. and
Jefferson Ave. (Vehicle Damage)
• August 7, 2014 – Arrest and
transported to the Columbia
2014
discuss it at their meeting on August 26 th Topics From the Floor- Mike Pihl
and move it forward.
told Council he looked at two trees of
concern in front of the new Spencer
Mayor
Reads
United
Way Park. Pihl said one tree was healthy,
Proclamation- Mayor Josette Mitchell and one tree is not healthy and should
read a proclamation, proclaiming be removed. Pihl also told Council he
September 2014 “United Way of will be doing some logging on private
Columbia County Fund Raising Month,” property on Louisiana Avenue and that
and urging all citizens in the community the City should consider logging trees
to support activities and efforts of the on adjacent property they own to avoid
United Way of Columbia County.
issues with blowdown.
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Police Blotter
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622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881
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