6 city news may7 2015 City Department Updates April 13 - May 1, 2015 Police Department-VPD • April 9th, 2015 – April 15th, 2015 – The total number of Calls for Service and Officer initiated activity was 50. • April 16th, 2015 – April 29th, 2015 –The total number of Calls for Service and Officer initiated activity was 87. • All VPD staff attended “Crisis Intervention training.” This training was free and a majority of Columbia County Law Enforcement What’s Happening at the Vernonia Library with Stub Stewart Interpretative Park Hosts Friday, May 8, 10:30 - 11:15 am 6:00 - 7:30 pm Opportunity for writers with all levels of experience to get together, write, and get feedback. Library Clean-Up Day Book Group Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Interested in volunteering for a project (weeding, tree and bush trim- ming, raking, etc)? Please contact Shannon Romtvedt (503) 429-1818 or shannonr@vernonia-or.gov. Refresh- ments provided for volunteers. May 25 (Book Group will meet even though the Library is closed for Me- morial Day) Last Monday of every month, 5:30 pm Selection for May: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Guns in America: Exploring the Second Amendment Storytimes Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 pm Discussion led by Reed College pro- fessor, Pancho Savery. What special circumstances made the freedom to own guns important enough to merit its own amendment? Oregon Humanities Conversation Project program hosted by the Friends of the Vernonia Public Library and the Vernonia Library Board. Baby and Toddler Time Movie Night at the Library Special Hours and Closures Thursday, May 14, 6:00 pm, Rated PG-13. Relax with a movie and popcorn at the library. Call or visit the library for movie titles. Tuesday, May 19 Open 12:00 – 8:00 pm for Election Day (The Library is an Official Ballot Dropsite) Monday, May 25 Closed for Memorial Day (Open for Book Group only at 5:30 pm) Stamp Club May 7 1 st  Thursday of every month, 4:30 - 5:30 pm Open to all ages! Come join us for some stamp learning, collecting, trading, and all around fun! Writer’s Group April 21 3 rd Thursday of every month, Fridays, 10:30 – 11:15 am Stories and activities for children up to 5 years old. Public Works • Public works spent some time on training including review of water and sewer maps, learning more on the wastewater collection system and extra Water Plant training. • Staff set up the portable pump at the sewer lagoons. This pump is run every year to lower the water level in the lagoons to make room for storage during the summer. The current wastewater permit only allows wastewater discharge from November 15 to May 16. When the new wastewater system is built we will be able to discharge all year round and this process will not have to be done. • The lake pump is back online. • The Lake and Anderson Park restrooms continue to be targeted for graffiti. Library Hours & Contact Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday, Thursday: 1:00 - 7:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Closed Sundays Phone: (503) 429-1818 E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov Library • Library Director continued to finalize programs, publicity, and outreach plans for Summer Reading this week. A full program Vernonia  Dental e rm Drive Thru Espresso & More Preschool Storytime • The first budget meeting was held. The Budget Committee received the proposed budget and heard the Budget Message from the City Administrator. Brett Costley was elected to chair the committee with Susan Wagner as Vice Chair. For a copy of the proposed budget contact Angie at financial@ vernonia-or.gov or stop by City Hall. • The advertisement for bids for the WWTP project has finally been published and contractors are already responding to the ad. We are scheduled to open bids by the end of May. • Finance Director prepared a short summary of the current sewer debt owed by the City for the Public Works Committee meeting. The committee and staff are working together to come up with the best option for restructuring the way we charge for sewer usage. • Finance Director had begun reviewing city contracts that are coming up for renewal (security, merchant services, etc.). • Finance Director met with Council, City Administrator and Police Chief to go over staffing options for the Police Department. An additional officer will be proposed in the upcoming budget cycle. • Internal posting for Public Works Department closed on Wednesday, April 15th with one applicant. Congratulations to Kari Johnson on her new position. She has been working as a temp since last May. an  Ongoing Programs Mondays, 10:30 - 11:00 am Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and bubbles! For ages 0 - 3. Older sib- lings welcome. Finance Route 26 Diner $1.00 off Sunday Brunch 503- 324-0985 47700 NW Sunset Hwy, Banks . Dr r h C   list will be ready by mid-May. • Attendance for Preschool Storytime and Baby and Toddler Time is starting to go up with our new schedule. Baby and Toddler Time is every Monday, 10:30 AM and Preschool Storytime is every Friday, 10:30 AM. • Betty Huser, Columbia County Clerk, came to the library on Thursday to swear in library staff. Staff has to be sworn in every election to be an official ballot dropsite. The library will be open 12 – 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, May 19. • The library hosted the Oregon Humanities Program “The Power of Play: Promoting Health and Creativity” Tuesday, April 21. We had a small crowd but it was a great discussion with some fun activities. Our next Oregon Humanities Program will be on Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 pm “Guns in America: Exploring the 2nd Amendment.” • The library will be having a special outdoor clean-up day on Saturday, May 16, 10 AM – 2 PM. Refreshments provided. Volunteers will be weeding, trimming, raking, power washing, and more. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Shannon Romtvedt at the library (503) 429-1818 or e-mail shannonr@vernonia- or.gov. • The library hosted “Penny’s Puppets” in honor of National Library Week on Wednesday, April 15, 6 PM. 38 attended the show (21 kids). Sponsored by Friends of the Vernonia Library. Parks • The Parks Superintendent James McMahon is focused on major parks clean up and maintenance. Anderson Park needed plenty of TLC after the winter. • Mowing grass is a daily operation. • Maintenance on parks equipment has also been a main focus. • Given the ongoing series of problems at our public facilities restrooms (stealing toilet paper, breaking paper and towel dispensers, etc. we are increasing the wattage over the men’s bathroom at Anderson Park to assist the security system to provide better/sharper pictures and images for better recognition. City Recorder/Administration • Check the City website at www.vernonia-or. gov for updates: • City Hall began new hours starting Monday, May 4th, 2015 and will be closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30pm. • Materials for New Spencer Park perimeter fence have been ordered. New Spencer Park will have a grand opening celebration Saturday, August 8th, 2015, during the Vernonia Friendship Jamboree celebration. • City Recorder affirmed a new Planning Commissioner (Brian Cole) with the Oath of continued on page 16 D Special Preschool Storytime agencies attended. The training provided some additional tools/ways to successfully deal with people in crisis or mentally ill. • VPD has focused on identifying nuisance violations. Several residence took advantage of the “Vernonia Clean Up” weekend and corrected some of the violations. VPD is still working with several residences to correct other problems. DM Administration/Utility Billing • As of May 1, 2015 the outstanding balances on active accounts are as follows: 90 days $39.55, 60 days $292.64, 30 days $1,859.75 • Late fees will be applied and shut off notices will go out May 18, 2015. Shut offs will be on May 30,2015 • Utilities clerk added 7 new water/sewer accounts to our billing system. • 3 Mechanical permits were issued. h p o is t M er   . h S   c eu 622 Bridge Street    Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880  --  fax (503) 429-0881 Accidents happen That’s why it’s so important to have the right auto coverage for your vehicle. COUNTRY offers a wide variety of plans to choose from, and a variety of ways to save on your premium. Let us help you build a tangible plan for financial security. Sheryl Teuscher Rainier 503-556-0186 sheryl.teuscher@ countryfinancial.com Issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company ® , Bloomington, IL 012015-02362AC