Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current, October 01, 2015, Page 6, Image 6

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    6
city news
october1
2015
Council Considers Additional WWTP Improvements
 
City  Administrator  Josette 
Mitchell  informed  the  City  Council  at 
their  September  21,  2015  meeting  that 
the  city  engineer  for  the  Waste  Water 
Treatment Plant (WWTP) upgrade proj-
ect  is  recommending  a  change  order  to 
the  project  to  include  additional  treat-
ment for ammonia. 
 
According  to  a  letter  sent 
to  the  City  by  Tetra  Tech  engineer 
Gordon  Munro,  it  became  clear  during 
design  and  permitting  of  the  WWTP 
improvements,  on  which  construction 
has  recently  begun,  that  DEQ  may 
require  the  City  to  provide  additional 
treatment for ammonia during discharge 
of  winter  effluent.    The  City’s  current 
permit  does  not  require  treatment  for 
ammonia  but,  according  to  Munro,  the 
new permit that will be formulated at the 
end  of  construction  will  include  winter 
ammonia limits, meaning the City would 
be out of compliance as soon as the new 
permit is written.  
 
Munro  suggested  the  City  take 
the opportunity to include predesign, de-
sign and construction of  a winter ammo-
nia  treatment  system  as  a  change  order 
to the current project and include it in the 
funding package already approved, rath-
er than go back and try to get additional 
funding  after  the  project  is  complete.  
Munro did not provide an estimate of the 
cost for design and construction.
 
What’s Happening at the
Vernonia Library
3 rd Thursday of every month,
6 – 7:30 pm
Oregon Author Visit: Molly Gloss Opportunity for writers with all
Monday, October 26, 5:30 pm
levels of experience to get together,
Special guest author Molly Gloss will write, and get feedback.
be attending Book Discussion Group
to talk about her novel, Falling from Book Discussion Group
October 26
Horses. Call or visit the library to
Last Monday of every month,
reserve a copy of the book.
5:30 pm
Movie Showtimes
Selection for October: Falling From
Thursday, October 22, 6 pm
Horses by Molly Gloss (with special
Thursday, October 29, 6 pm
guest, Molly Gloss)
Relax and enjoy a new movie and
free popcorn. Call or visit the library It’s Always Craft Time at the
Library. Ask at the checkout desk
for movie titles.
about our Craft Box. Activites are
Ongoing Programs
switched out every couple of weeks.
The current WWTP upgrade project will 
raise the dikes around the sewer lagoons 
to  protect  against  future  flood  events.  
It  also  includes  the  installation  of  a 
hyporheic  discharge  system  that  allows 
the city to discharge treated effluent into 
the  river  during  the  summer  months, 
using the ground for final treatment and 
removal  of  ammonia  before  it  reaches 
the  river.  During  the  winter  months, 
when the City sewer system takes in an 
abundance  of  storm  water  runoff,  the 
City  would  discharge  effluent  directly 
into the river.  
 
City  Councilor  Bruce  McNair, 
who  has  been  actively  involved  in  the 
WWTP upgrade project, said he believes 
it is premature to make a change order.  
According  to  Public  Works  Committee 
member  George  Tice,  DEQ  has  been 
discussing  adding  winter  ammonia 
regulations for about ten years and they 
have yet to be implemented, but Tice said 
the new regulations are expected.  Tice 
also  said  the  Public  Works  Committee 
has researched new bio dome technology 
to  treat  ammonia.      City Administrator 
Josette  Mitchell  told  Council  she  has 
had  a  discussion  with  a  company  that 
manufactures  bio  domes  and  they  are 
interested in placing them in Vernonia at 
minimal cost to the City as a pilot project 
in the state of Oregon.  
 
Council made no decision about 
a change order to the project and asked 
staff to provide more information at their 
October 5, City Council meeting.  
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
Upcoming Events
Tabletop Gaming
October 13 and 27, 4 pm
2 nd and 4 th Tuesday of every month,
4pm. For Teens and Adults. New
and experienced gamers welcome.
Primary game will be Pathfinder,
but Game Master’s of other titles
are welcome to bring their game of
choice. Sign up at the library.
Writer’s Group
October 15
Mondays, 10:30 – 11:15 am
Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and
bubbles! For ages 0 – 3.
Older siblings welcome.
Vernonia 
Dental
D
Baby and Toddler Time
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
DM
Storytimes
City Closures are scheduled for:
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Veterans Day Holiday
an 
October 1
1 st  Thursday of each month,
4:30-5:30 pm
Open to all ages! Come join us for
some stamp learning, collecting,
trading, and all around fun!  
The Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Board
of Directors will meet Tuesday,
October 20, 2015 at 7 pm at the
Main Station, 12525 HWY 202,
Mist, OR. Agenda items include
but are not limited to usual order
of business, citizen input, Fire
Chief’s report, financial reports
and any other business needing
to be discussed.
William DeJager
-Board President
Preschool Storytime
e rm
Stamp Club
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, October 5, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Fridays, 10:30 – 11:15 am
Stories and a craft/activity.
For children up to age 5.
Library Hours & Contact
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 – 5
Tuesday, Thursday: 1 -7
Saturday: 10 – 4
Closed Sundays
Phone: (503) 429-1818
E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov
.
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622 Bridge Street    Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880  --  fax (503) 429-0881
Vernonia
Veterinary Clinic
291
A
Street
Small and Large Animals
call Kim
Hunting Season is here!
Lovable service at
a reasonable price
• Bathing
• Haircuts
• Nail Clipping
• Nail Polishing
• Specialty
Shampoos
Archery Equipment - Sporting Goods
Calls - Cammo - Boots - Accessories
Binoculars - Scent Killers - Targets
Family owned & operated for over 45 years
834 Bridge St, Vernonia
503-429-6364
Open
Mon, Wed & Saturday
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call for Appointments
(503) 429-1612
Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470
700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR