city news
april16
8
2015
City Department Updates: March 30 - April 10, 2015
two more water services to install in the
following week. One is located on Clatsop St.
and the other is located on 5th Ave. We have
not had this many new homes being built for
the last couple of years.
• Staff collected routine monthly water
samples and delivered to lab this week.
While in town, water parts were also picked
up. These parts are to replenish inventory
that has been used over the last few months.
Parts include water meters, misc. repair
parts, and meter boxes and lids.
• Vernonia Lake developed a considerable
leak early this week. Staff met with ODFW
to get their opinion on the situation. Staff
installed temporary fencing to keep fish from
escaping and volunteers placed sand bags
around the hole. Staff came back on Sunday
with the help of a local contractor to place
a berm around it to control the erosion then
plugged the leak with a mixture of bentonite
clay and gravel into the hole and create a
plug. The berm placed around the hole has
been left to provide extra protection and has
created a new access point to the lake for
the public.
• On Thursday after the leak was repaired
staff proceeded to turn on the lake pump
only to discover that someone had cut off the
power cord and stolen it. This then required
an emergency call to our electrician. The
repairs have been completed and the lake
pump is back on and refilling lake.
Library
• Circulation Statistics: 1,566 items were
checked out the month of March 2015. By
comparison, 1,410 items were checked
out February 2015* and 2,063 items were
checked out in March 2014. *Error in
February 2015 statistics printed in previous
weekly update
• 7 new members joined the library in March
2015. Welcome!
• Library Director attended the Library Board
meeting on Tuesday, April 7. Members made
a motion to recommend an applicant to the
Library Board at the next council meeting
and reviewed the library budget draft for
2015-2016.
• Library Director has been working with
the Vernonia High School to create ongoing
Community Service opportunities for
students at the library.
• Library staff are implementing a new system
for sorting donations and books withdrawn
from the collection. The goal for the new
system is to make transport and sorting
more efficient for the Friends of the Library
and free up library work space.
• Library Director spent time scheduling
Summer Reading programs and outreach,
contacting local businesses interested in
sponsoring Summer Reading, and publicizing
upcoming programs. Donations are now
flowing in for Summer Reading prizes. Thank
you for your support! Businesses will be
recognized for sponsoring the program in
Summer Reading publicity.
• Per City Council recommendation, the
Library Director sent out a press release to
the Vernonia’s Voice and City website and
Facebook page regarding the new Computer
and Internet Use Policy. The purpose of the
press release is to inform parents about the
following: “Children under 10 years of age
must be directly supervised by a parent/
legal guardian or adult caregiver while
using the computer. Parents/legal guardians
who wish to restrict computer access for a
minor (age 17 or younger) may do so at any
time by requesting a Minor Internet Access
Restriction form.”
City Recorder / Assistant to the City
Administrator
• Attended the IFA/OBDD roundtable
meeting in Clatskanie to give input as to the
City of Vernonia’s priorities related to future
2016-2020 allocation of CDBG funds. Funds
Friends of the Vernonia Public Library
Family:
Minimum:
Membership Dues:
$10.00
Individual:
$5.00
$1.00 plus 2 hours minimum of work in the library
such as these have been used in the past by
the City and are potential funding for future
Vernonia Senior Center/Vernonia Cares
Food Bank.
• Worked with Carole Connell to address
potential land use applications and potential
vacation applications within the City of
Vernonia.
• Developed cost analysis comparison for
modifying VPD surplus vehicle for staff use.
• Developed staff reports and relevant
documentation for City Council meeting April
6, 2015, regarding WWTP participation of
PW Committee members, City Car, and City
Lunch Hour Closure.
• Worked on establishing design/construction
cost related to New Spencer Park restrooms.
• Worked with Dan Brown (Community
Action Team) to finalize documents relating
to demolition of Vernonia Senior Center.
• Developed Press Release for New City
Hall Hours of operation. Beginning Monday,
May 4th, City Hall office will be closed to the
public from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.
• Worked with Vernonia Police Department to
address issue at Anderson Park pertaining to
RV campers lack of payment of park fees.
• Met with developer on requirements for
potential development in Light Industrial
zone and relevant building standards.
City Administrator / Administration
• City Administrator and Police Chief Conner
met with Columbia County Sheriff Dickerson
and Under Sheriff Moyer to share information
about protocols, costs, and coverage and for
a comprehensive initial conversation about
a potential Law Enforcement agreement
between the City and Columbia County.
• City Administrator met with School
Superintendent Aaron Miller to discuss a
potential partnership (City/School) aimed
at developing recreational activities for the
community, while using school facilities.
Given the lack of recreational activities
during the Fall and Winter the conversation
focused on potential recreational programs
that could be of interest to a large number
of citizens, and the potential availability of
school facilities and grounds.
• City Administrator attended International
continued from page 5
City/County Management Association
(ICMA) West Coast Regional conference
in Portland. 150 City Administrators from
Oregon, Washington and California were in
attendance.
• We have recently discovered some
vandalism/graffiti in the restrooms at
Vernonia Lake. The Police Department has
been informed and is investigating.
• Demolition of the old Senior Center is
complete.
• The City Administrator met the Parks
and Recreation Committee’s Chair (Scott
Laird) to discuss vision and maintenance/
improvements projects to different city
properties (parks, cemetery, parking facilities,
empty city lots, etc.) throughout the city.
These are, for the most, small maintenance
improvement projects (one to two days
completion time) to improve the quality of our
facilities, and to prepare our facilities for the
summer season, while welcoming residents
and tourists and offering a beautiful and
improved experience.
• The City Administrator met with County
Commissioners and the Director of Land
Development Services (Todd Dugdale) to
discuss County potential interest in being of
assistance to City of Vernonia with Planning
and/or Building functions. Following the
resignations of the City Planner (Carole
Connell), the City is in the process of
reviewing options to discharge the planning
tasks. Conversations are also being held
with other municipalities that would be willing
to enter into a strategic partnership and
share the planning functions. Also met with
Scappoose City Manager (Michael Sykes)
to discuss Scappoose’s potential interest in
being of assistance to City of Vernonia with
Planning functions.
• Our new (and first) Parks and Rec.
Superintendent began work. James
McMahon will dedicate most of his time to
Parks issues but is still being of assistance to
the PW department as we are going through
recruitment in order to fill staff vacancies.
Next week we will have a dedicated space for
“Parks and Rec” in our Weekly Departmental
Updates.
Make checks payable to: Friends of the Vernonia Public Library
Mailing Address: 701 Weed Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064
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