february18 2016
free
VERNONIA’S
volume10  issue4
www.vernoniasvoice.com
reflecting the spirit of our community
City Ready to Adjust Sewer Rates Cheer Squad Takes
Second Place at State!

There may be some good news, at
least for some Vernonia utility rate payers, in
the near future.

At the February 16, 2016 City
Council meeting Council reviewed and
discussed the wastewater rate study provided
by FCS Group and the Council appears ready
to adopt new sewer rates recommended in
the report. The proposed rate change would
lower rates for customers who use less
water and increase it for larger consumers.
Adoption of the proposed sewer rates has
been recommended by the Vernonia Public
Works Committee.

The City has contracted with FCS
Group to provide water and sewer rate
studies.

A Public Hearing is being scheduled
for March 7 with final adoption of the new
rates scheduled for March 21.

The new rate structure would
calculate the sewer rates on the monthly
utility bill based on each customer’s average
usage, similar to the way water rates are
being charged. Residential customers are
currently charged using flat rates of $36.00
for usage and $57.00 for loan repayment,
for a total of $93.00.

The new sewer rate structure
would use a meter multiplier to calculate
rates for the Sewer Loan repayment portion
of the bill to recover annual debt service;
larger meters that place more demand on
the system would be charged more. The
usage rate would be determined using an
average of water consumption during the
four winter months of November through
February and would include a fixed
charge based on meter size that recovers
70 percent of operating expenses. There
would also be a variable charge based on
usage that recovers 30 percent of operating
expenses. Under this model those who use
more water and place higher demand on
the sewer system would pay more.

The FCS report offered an
example showing that with a fixed charge
based on meter size, the monthly bill for
an average single family residence with a
¾ inch meter using 3,500 gallons of water
would be $55.27 for the loan repayment,
a $23.95 fixed charge based on meter size,
and an $8.09 variable charge, for a total of
$87.32.

The Public Works Committee has
recommended that the loan repayment fee
continue at the proposed rate in the FCS
report until the new sewer facility upgrades
are completed and the new USDA loan
is finalized; it was recommended that the
Council revisit the loan repayment fee for
adjustment at that time. Council is discussing
the possibility of refinancing previous debt
service from past sewer projects with the
potential of reducing monthly fees but
extending the time period needed to repay
those loans. According to City Administrator
Josette Mitchell the sewer upgrade project is
scheduled to be completed in August of 2016.
A Public Hearing ito discuss
sewer rates is being scheduled for
March 7 at City Hall,
1001 Bridge St.
Quality Country Care:
New Adult Foster Home Opens

After many years without a
residential care facility for the elderly
in Vernonia, a second adult foster care
home has opened in the community.

Richelle Roberson has opened
Quality Country Care Adult Foster
Home (AFH) just off East Bridge Street
near Vernonia Lake. The four bed
facility is in a residential neighborhood
in a newly remodeled home that
Roberson, the care provider, along
with her husband Gary, and friend and
business partner Malina Bentley, have
just opened.
inside
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salem update
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writing to
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vhs winter sports
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vrfpd change

“My goal is to open my home
to people and provide a home like
environment,” says Roberson. “I really
want to treat people with respect and
maintain their dignity and help them
achieve their goals and do their best in
their daily activities.”

Quality Country Care AFH
joins Creekside Adult Foster Home as
the only two long term residential care
facilities in the Vernonia community.

G a r y
Roberson
already
owns an adult foster
home in Hillsboro
where Richelle has
worked for the last
two years. “I went
to high school in
Vernonia for a few
years and we love
it out here, so we
decided to move
out here and open
another adult foster
See story on page 11.
people there and they became just like
my family,” explains Roberson. “To me
it’s not even necessarily a job, it’s just
more about helping people.”

Quality Country Care has
three bedrooms - two private rooms
with a shared bathroom and one shared
room with a private bathroom. There
is a large living room, a dining room,
a full kitchen and private quarters for
the caregivers. The entire home is
handicapped accessible.

Roberson says her facility
is a Level 2 home which means they
can provide a broad spectrum of daily
living assistance.

Roberson is aware there is
a need in the Vernonia community
and hopes to provide a place for local
residents where they can stay in their
community and allow their families to
visit as often as they like without having
home,” says Roberson.

A Certified Medical Assistant to travel too far. “We hope to become
(CMA) for the last 10 years, Roberson a part of the community and serve their
is currently enrolled as a full time, needs,” says Roberson.
online student at PCC, working
towards a gerontology degree, with a You can reach Richelle Roberson
goal of someday opening a memory at Quality Country Care AFH
at 503-429-1410 or by email at
care center.

“When I first started working QualityCountyCare@gmail.com.
in an adult foster home setting two
years ago, I just fell in love with the