community news
october1
2015
County Moves Forward on Transportation District
The Columbia County Board
of Commissioners voted at their Sep-
tember 9, 2015 meeting to direct staff
to prepare an order to initiate the forma-
tion of a special transportation district in
the county.
The order proposes a tax levy
of $.23/per $1,000 of assessed prop-
erty value for the purpose of providing
stable funding for public transit services
provided by the Columbia County Rider
Transportation (CCRider). The tax levy
would generate $1 million annually. The
Board of Commissioners intends for the
proposed transportation district and the
permanent tax rate to be put before vot-
ers on the May 2016 election ballot.
The Board of Commissioners
has scheduled a public hearing for Oc-
tober 28 to hear comment on the order
to initiate the formation of the transpor-
tation district.
The order was presented to the
Vernonia City Council at their Septem-
ber 21 meeting. Vernonia is within the
boundary of the proposed transportation
district and would not be included in the
district without the consent of the City.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the
drafting of a resolution for the inclusion
of Vernonia.
In May of 2015 the election
ballot for Columbia County included a
measure to increase the natural resourc-
es depletion fee, which would have been
used in part to fund public transporta-
tion. That ballot measure was defeated
by just 375 votes. According to Janet
Wright, Director of CCRider, who pre-
sented the order to the Vernonia City
Council, the Board of Commissioners
believes the closeness of the vote “...
demonstrates that there is substantial
support and a desire for public transit
services in our communities.”
According to the County Asses-
sor, the amount a property owner would
pay on a home assessed at $200,000
would be $46 per year.
According to Wright, the funds
generated if the measure was approved
would be used to leverage match dollars
available through existing grant funds;
maintain operations of current services,
routes, and maintenance of vehicles
and facilities; the possible increase of
demand/response services that were
cut several years ago; and the improve-
ment of services and education of us-
ers on the availability of public transit.
According to Wright, CCRider would
no longer need to ask cities to provide
a Community Contribution for public
transit.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Brad Ely
Bridger Steward
Chase Tolonen
Grant Williams
Photography
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Scott Laird
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Opponents Fill FERC Hearing to Testify
Against LNG Projects continued from front page
and Vernonia’s drinking water. Peach
testified that fraq outs often occur on
stream bed bores of 1,000 feet. The
bore under Rock Creek is proposed to
be 3,000 feet long. Peach also told the
FERC panel that drilling fraq outs have
the potential to increase water turbidity
by a thousand or more percent. She
asked the FERC panel to revisit their
analysis of the environmental impact
and not put U.S. citizens at risk.
• Dan Serres, Conservation Director
of Columbia Riverkeeper, asked FERC
for an extension for providing public
comment, which ends on October
6, 2015. Serres noted that there are
studies referenced in the EIS that are
not complete and are not yet available
to the public and said FERC should
deny the project because Oregon LNG
does not have control of the site where
they intend to construct the shipping
terminal. Serres also noted that the EIS
does not adequately answer questions
about public safety. Serres referenced
that fact that the EIS acknowledges the
City of Vernonia’s concerns about the
project, but does not adequately address
them.
• Vernonia Mayor Randy Parrow
submitted the Resolution passed by the
City Council opposing the project and
raised concerns about potential damages
to Vernonia’s drinking water and the
potential for fire that could lead to the
destruction of the Vernonia community.
• Ted Gleighman, representing
the National and Oregon Sierra
Club, addressed concerns about the
inevitability of a class I earthquake
hitting this region, known for its rugged
terrain and geologic instability, and the
impact it would have on a pipeline.
• Steve Calhoun told FERC of the lack
of high quality potable water, noting that
Rock Creek is a good source of quality
drinking water.
• Rande Bruhn stated that he believes
the draft EIS has “gaping holes” in
the document. He questioned Oregon
LNG’s statements that they would
not follow Oregon Forestry Practices
standards. He also suggested that the
project that includes piping natural gas
from Canada across Washington and
Oregon and then shipped to Asia should
be denied because it doesn’t benefit
Oregonians.
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Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Vernonia Mayor Randy Parrow
Events
• Noni Andersen also spoke about the
potential of landslide hazards in the
region, which the EIS acknowledges,
but does not adequately address.
• Carol Davis spoke about the potential
impact to the people that live in the
region and their way of life if there is a
disaster.
• Jack Phillips stated that he did not
believe FERC was doing their job and
listening to what the people are saying
and are instead listening to rogue
investors chasing short term profits who
destroy the long term environment.
Sun, Oct. 4th - 2:00pm
Texas Hold ‘Em
Sat, Oct. 31st
• Specialty hamburgers
• 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks
• 5 Craft beers on tap
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Free Wi-fi
• Beer & Kegs to go
Halloween Party
Sat, Nov. 7th
Melody Butchers
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Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
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Cedar Side Inn
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Open Mic w/ Matt Bonora
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM
• 503-429-9999
Terry’s
Gym
Saturday, October 24th
Karaoke
Every 2nd & Last Friday
Taco Tuesday
from opening until 9pm
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
Ladies’ Night
every Thursday 6pm-close
• Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas
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THE TEAM!
2245 Baseline St., Cornelius
(Across from Fred Meyer)
503-530-8119
State Licensed PB-0388
Open
everyday
at 9 a.m.
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756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
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