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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2014)
november6 2014 VERNONIA’S volume8 issue21 reflecting the spirit of our community www.vernoniasvoice.com Vernonia Health Center Celebrates Grand Opening The Vernonia Health Board, along with the rest of the Vernonia community, celebrated the grand opening of the new Vernonia Health Center, Carolyn Keasey Memorial Building on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Health Center Board Street and is part of the Rose Avenue Project complex at the south end of town where they can now operate safely. Paleck informed the audience that the new building has been open since late September. She also noted that the Health Center Board is a VRFPD Replaces Apparatus District finds way to purchase used to maximize budget The Vernonia Rural Fire Protec- tion District (VRFPD) has a newer fire engine. The used engine, a 1994 Freight- liner FL70, was purchased from the Banks Fire District and will replace En- gine E451 as the second out engine for VRFPD, according to Chief Dean Smith. “Replacing this old rig was a huge priority for us,” said Smith. “We Members of the Keasey family helped celebrate the grand opening of the Vernonia Health Center Carolyn Keasey Memorial Building. Chairman Erika Paleck was the Master of Ceremonies for the grand opening, welcoming the crowd and introducing the guest speakers. The event was the culmination of several years of intense work on the part of the Health Center Board of Directors and many others. That work specifically involved fundraising in order to move the facility from its previous location on Bridge Street, which flooded in 2007. The new facility is located at 1005 Cougar 501(c)(3) non profit organization which owns and administers the health clinic buildings which provide health care services to the Vernonia community. The previous health clinic building on Bridge Street has now been demolished. Paleck told the audience inside 9 meet the exchange students 11 vhs fall sports report 14 god is my co-pruner 19 halloween parade free directly to the department and the com- munity by making this donation,” ex- plained Smith. A brand new comparable truck would have cost the District $450,000. Smith said the Banks Fire Dis- trict was looking to sell this older rig and had contacted other local departments to see if any had a need. “They were happy to be able to assist a neighboring dis- trict,” said Smith. According to Smith, the Banks Fire District agreed to accept payments on the $20,000 balance. The age and condition of the VRFPD fleet has been a growing concern Jesse Harbour (left) of VRFPD and Cory Coussens of the Banks Fire District with the new Vernonia fire engine. really needed to do something to upgrade our fleet.” VRFPD is purchasing the newer engine for $30,000. According to Smith, the Vernonia Volunteer Firefighter’s As- sociation has agreed to pay $10,000 to- wards the cost. “Our volunteers are giving back for the VRFPD Board of Directors and especially for Smith. According to Smith the VRFPD bought a new engine in 2000, E454, a Freightliner FL80, which serves as the District’s first out engine. The addition of the Freightliner from Banks now gives the District two rigs which are very similar to work on and for parts, as continued on page 3 continued on page 3 City Council Approves Zone Change for Lincoln School Property The Vernonia City Council voted in favor of changing the zone designation on the Lincoln School property from Residential R to Gen- eral Commercial GC at their October 20, 2014 City Council meeting. Council voted 3-0 to approve the requested change. The applica- tion for the change came from prop- erty owners Bud and Sharla Dow. The Dow’s intend to sell the property and were hoping to change the zone designation prior to initiating a sale agreement. The parcel of land is located at 1462 Bridge Street and is 1.14 acres. The two story wood and brick building was built in 1923 and is es- timated to be 10,000 square feet with large front and back yard space. The parcel abuts fourteen neighboring properties. Mayor Josette Mitchel along with Councilors Randy Parrow and Bruce McNair all voted in favor of the zone change. Councilors Donna Webb and Kim Tierney were both ab- sent from the meeting. “I just think we have a unique opportunity and we have a unique building,” said Councilor Parrow during the Council’s deliberations. Mayor Josette Mitchell not- ed that the City is limited in where they can create commercial develop- ment in the future because of flood zone restrictions. “We’re going to have to have spot zoning in the future because there really is no other place for these types of businesses to go.” Council’s approval included a stipulation that the addition of a “building preservation agreement” be drafted and added. It also includ- ed a trip cap of 1,000 average daily trips as well as a deed restriction pro- hibiting adult entertainment. Coun- cil will have to approve a resolution which will prescribe all the details of the zone change. The vote to approve the ap- continued on page 7
