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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2014)
community news A Few Helpful Tips New WOEC Billing Causes Confusion West Oregon Electric Coop- erative (WOEC) recently changed their billing system, combining two previous billing cycles into one. The change has raised some questions among members. All WOEC bills will now be processed on the 10 th of each month and will be due on the 25 th . According to WOEC staff, bills are mailed from a processing plant in St. Louis. During this past billing cycle, many members did not receive their bills in the mail until Saturday, October 18, giving them just one week to make their payment before being subject to a late fee. When questioned about the small amount of time customers were being given to make their payment on time, WOEC staff explained that the billing information was sent out elec- tronically in the afternoon on Friday, October 10, meaning bills did not get processed on Saturday, October 11 th . Processing of these bills was further delayed because of the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, October 13. WOEC staff made several sug- gestions to help members deal with the new billing schedule. First, members can sign up for Budget Billing, which averages your bills for the past year and allows you to have the same monthly payment every month throughout the year. This makes it easier for customers to plan a budget and always know the amount of their electric bill before their statement ar- rives. WOEC staff made sure to warn customers not to make their payments before the 10 th of the month, as that would be counted as an extra payment but would not go towards the next bill being processed that month and due on the 25 th . Bills are also available for viewing on line at the WOEC web page. Members can sign up as part of the Smart Hub program and receive an email notification when your bill is ready to be viewed on the 10 th . Mem- bers can also pay their bills on line us- ing a credit card through the Smart Hub program. Another way to avoid a late payment is to sign up for automatic payments by bank draft before the 25 th of the month. Senator Johnson Wins “Legislator of the Year” Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) has been awarded the “Legislator of the Year” award from the Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA), the state’s leading trade organization for economic development agencies and professionals. At its annual meeting on October 27, 2014 in Eugene, OEDA President Charlie Mitchell conferred the award to Senator Johnson and thanked her for her dedication to job creation and her focus on economic development. In his comments to the 150 economic development professionals in attendance, Mitchell remarked, “Senator Johnson represents the best of Oregon. Fiercely independent, and a tireless advocate for jobs and opportunity for Oregonians. There’s really no one else like Senator Johnson. She’s in a class by herself.” The Oregon Economic Development Association represents over 110 economic development D DM an e rm D h . r C r h p o is t M er . 7 • Floodvents must allow floodwaters to flow freely. Screens, louvers, or other covers that allow flood waters to flow freely into the enclosed area may be placed over the openings to keep out vermin and weather. But solid covers that do not allow flood waters to flow freely are in violation and may affect you and the city from receiving Flood Insurance. Remove solid covers, styrofoam or other materials from vents. • Lowest Elevation of Machinery or Equipment Service equipment for a building that is below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) has to be elevated or designed to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding. This includes equipment such as, but not limited to, furnaces, hot water heaters, washers, dryers, air conditioners, etc. • A Flood Plain Development Permit is required by the FEMA Code of Federal Regulations for such activities as new construction, reconstruction, rebuilding, placement of manufactured homes, placement of small outbuildings, fences, clearing of trees and other vegetation, placement of driveway culverts or bridges, long term storage of equipment and materials or any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate such as dredging, drilling, excavation, filling, grading, logging, mining, or paving. The Flood Plain Development Permit requirement is intended to allow the City of Vernonia to monitor activities located in Flood Plain Management Area. Application for a Flood Plain Development Permit is a SEPARATE process from the building permit application process. • If you are not elevated: BUY FLOOD INSURANCE! • Avoid storing these products in areas likely to flood: • Fiberglass or Cellulose insulation • Cork, or corkboard • Gasoline, motor oil, weed killer, pesticide, lye, drain cleaners • Linoleum, particle board plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, paperboard, strawboard, masonite paneling • Wallboard, drywall, gypsum, wallpaper • It’s never too early to prepare! Prepare a 72 hour Preparedness Kit for your home and car. Visit the Take 5 to Survive website at http://www. take5tosurvive.com/ for additional information including a step-by-step plan to put your emergency kit together. City Approves Zone Change professionals and agencies throughout the state of Oregon. OEDA’s mission is to advocate for economic development, bring collaboration among economic development agencies to promote Oregon as a place to start or expand a business, and bring best practices and professional development to the state’s economic development professionals. h S c 2014 Flood season is fast approaching continued from front page Vernonia Dental november6 eu 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 plication for the zone change followed a public hearing which was part of the City Council meeting. The hearing in- cluded a staff report from City Planner Carole Connell, a report from the ap- plicant’s attorney Ross Day, and public testimony from citizens. During the public testimony portion of the hearing eight citizens spoke in favor of the zone change, in- cluding Mike Pihl, Sally Harrison, Jack Harvey, Sharon Bernal, Bill Langmaid, Don Wallace, Steve Calhoun and Don- ald Normand. Among reasons given for support of the change were: the interest of making Vernonia a destination; the need for Vernonia to embrace change; preserving the Lincoln School building for its historic value; and the opportuni- ty to create more jobs in the community. Three citizens testified against the zone change, Jim Tierney, Bur- dett Robb and Mark Akers. Tierney suggested the City had other ways to change the property designation instead of a change to General Commercial. Burdett, a neighbor of the property, said he would like the neighborhood to stay residential. Akers expressed that he had a personal disagreement with Bud Dow. Some of the most compelling testimony came from the only person to speak as neutral to the application. Kar- en Michaels, who lives on State Avenue in Vernonia, said she is a member of the family who is considering purchasing the Lincoln School property. Michaels said she is new to Vernonia and that her family is interested in developing a business that includes a Bed and Break- fast and a bicycle shop on the site. She said her sister is a journeyman carpen- ter who wants to preserve the building. She said her family is interested in gar- dening and farming, making cider from fruit, supporting and encouraging eco- tourism, and bringing culture to Verno- nia. City Planner Connell’s report indicated that the Vernonia Planning Commission had previously recom- mended denying the application for the zone change to General Commercial. Connell reported that instead the Plan- ning Commission made a recommen- dation that Council approve a change to a Planned Development PD zone, which must be used in combination with another zone. A Planned Devel- opment PD zone allows the consider- ation of variations in standards based on a specific plan. Ross, the Dow’s at- torney, reminded the Council during his report that the hearing was only to con- sider the request for a change to General Commercial and that Council could not consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation for a Planned Devel- opment PD zone. Connell’s report provided find- ings of fact that mostly agreed with a zone change. The report noted that re- use of the building for lodging and retail could benefit residents and tourists and improve the local economy. The report also stated that the City currently has an estimated .4 acre shortage of commer- cial land and the increase of 1.14 acres would address this shortage. Connell’s report did note that if the zone change was applied, that un- known future uses of the property could have a negative impact on the residen- tial character of the surrounding neigh- borhood. The Dow’s attorney Day told Council during his report that from the time the Dow’s purchased the property, their intention was to save the building and turn it into a destination/Bed and Breakfast. Day reminded Council that continued on page 15
