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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2016)
city news At the March 7, 2016 City Council meeting: Council Holds Public Hearing on Sewer Rate Adjustment – Council held a Public Hearing on proposed changes to the current structure for sewer rates. During the hearing there were no com- ments in favor or against the proposed changes. Scott Laird provided neutral testimony and thanked the Public Works Committee for their hard work in pre- paring the information for the hearing. Later in the meeting, Council instructed staff to prepare an ordinance to adopt a new sewer rate structure. (See full story on front page.) Council Approves Parks Fee Increas- es – Based on a recommendation from the Parks Committee, Council approved changes to the parks fee schedule, which provides slight increases to most camp- ing fees and brings fees in line with other regional park facilities. The new park fees will be part of a new Master Fee Schedule that Council will be asked to adopt at their March 21 meeting. Council Approves High Water Mark Sign – Council approved a request by the Army Corp of Engineers to install a high water mark sign for the 2007 flood at the corner of Bridge Street and Wash- ington Avenue as a way to remind peo- Vernonia City News... ple that floods do occur in this area. This sign project is an initiative of the Silver Jackets, an interagency group that looks for solutions to flooding issues and to increase flood preparedness awareness. Installing the sign helps with the FEMA community rating system and earns the City points toward lowering flood insur- ance rates. Vernonia’s commitment to put healthy options within reach of all residents through the HEAL Cities Campaign by supporting the local Open Air Market farmers market, increasing bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and safety, and providing healthy programs for City em- ployees. the water used during the spring, summer and fall sea- sons when customers will be using water that does not go to the treatment plant. The City initially hired FCS Group to perform a sewer rate study in 2013 to determine the necessary rates required to support the proposed wastewater treat- ment plant upgrade project that is currently being con- structed, along with the funds required to operate the utility service for the community. Following the initial study it was determined that the data used in the study was inaccurate and an extensive ground truthing project was undertaken by the City to determine the exact number of utility connections in the City system. In addition, the City decided to split fixed and variable costs to calculate income needed to operate the system. Oregon’s Presidential Primary: May 17 (including local and County elections) You can find a voter registration card at Vernonia City Hall, Vernonia Library or county elections office. You can also ask the Columbia County Last day to register by mail: April 26 elections office to mail you a card: 230 Strand St., To register to vote online or to update your voter St. Helens, OR 97051 registration go to: (503) 397-7214, (503) 397-7266 fax, http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/voteinor.aspx Office Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (M-Th) REPORTS TAKEN • March 4, 2016 Arrest on a Warrant near Scappoose Vernonia HWY • March 5, 2016 Arrest on DUII and cited for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured • March 4, 2016 Report of Found Property CITATIONS / OTHER VIOLATIONS • March 13, 2016 Cited for Speed Racing near Bridge St. Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 03/01/2016 through 03/14/2016 VPD had 51 calls for service. 5 fund for the project. An account has been set up at U.S. Bank to accept donations. Fire Chief Presents Levy to Council – Chief Dean Smith of the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District (VRFPD) told Council a bond levy has been placed on the May 17 election ballot to raise fund- ing so VRFPD can hire a Training Cap- tain to be responsible for working with volunteers, and responding to calls when on duty. Smith said a second paid re- sponder is necessary due to a shortage of volunteers and department burn out. He said staff and 12 volunteers responded to 548 calls for service last year. Smith told the Council that if a Training officer is hired VRFPD could try to recruit ca- dets to help cover volunteer shifts. continued from front page In February 2016 FCS delivered the results of est the City would pay over the life of the debt service. Instead the Council chose to keep the current a second rate study, using the new data from the ground truthing project. The second rate study outlined the debt payment schedule and agreed to revisit the refi- number of connections, the amount of the annual debt, nancing option once the current construction project is the amount of annual revenue/expenses, and the subse- completed. Council is scheduled to discuss approval of a quent fees needed to operate the system and to repay debt. This is the rate study the City is now using to final version of the ordinance that will include the new rate structure at their March 21 meeting. create the new rate structure. In addition the City considered an option to refinance the current debt payments, which would NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING have lowered current rates but would have extended A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Vernonia, Columbia County, the number of years needed State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, to pay back the debt and in- will be held at the Cabin in Vernonia, 901 Park Drive, Vernonia OR 97064. The meeting will take place on April 12th at 6:30pm crease the amount of inter- Upcoming Election Info March 1 - 14, 2016 2016 Hydrants Not Providing Enough Pres- sure on Knott Street – City Adminis- trator Josette Mitchell told Council that a test of fire hydrants had revealed that a hydrant on Mist Drive provided 1,130 gallons per minute (gpm) of pressure, but that the hydrant at 1359 Knott Street only provided 800 gpm, and the hydrant at the Nickerson Ridge development only provided 700 gpm. Mitchell told Council that based on those test results, Council Forgives Water Fee for Ridge any new development in the area would Topics From the Floor – Mike Buf- Riders – Council approved a request by need to include fire suppression sprin- fum told Council that he agrees with the Ridge Riders equestrian group to for- kler systems. the Time, Place, and Manner Ordinance give a bill for water usage that occurred regulating marijuana businesses the City in December 2015 from a broken pipe at Lions Club Presents Pool Restoration is proposing. He said he would like to the horse arena. The Ridge Riders had Project – Rick Hobart, representing the be able to sell glassware in his store and shut off the service but the City failed Vernonia Lions Club, made a presenta- was told there are no rules restricting to lock the meter and someone tried to tion on the Dewey Pool Project to the him from doing so. turn on the water service, resulting in Council and explained the Lions plan to Amanda Rose Sicard, represent- 102,000 gallons leaked due to a broken replace the liner and fence at the kiddie ing the VHS leadership class, updated pipe. The meter has since been locked. pool, and to fix the steps and seating area. the Council on activities at the high Hobart told Council the Lions are donat- school, including winter sports, robotics, Council Approves Healthy Options ing $7,500 to the project, and they have band, and student council. Resolution – Council approved Resolu- received $1,700 in donations. Council tion 19-15, which sets forth the City of committed up to $3,000 from the Parks Council Approves Contract for Sewer Feasibility Study – Council approved a proposal from OTAK, the City’s En- gineering firm, to perform a feasibility study for the addition of a sewer spur that could service development on California Avenue and also redirect sewage from the Spencer hill area. Cost is $5,000 and work will begin immediately. Council Moves Forward With Sewer Rate Change Police Blotter march17 Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, March 21, 2016 Monday, April 4, 2016 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, May 30, 2016 Memorial Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message, the Budget Document and to estab- lish the agenda for future meetings. No deliberation will take place at this meeting. An additional, separate meeting of the Budget Committee will be held to take public comment. Any person may appear at that meeting to discuss to proposed programs with the Budget Committee. The meeting for public comment will be on: Date: April 19th, 2016 Time: 6:30 pm Location: Cabin in Vernonia A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 12th, 2016 at City Hall, 1001 Bridge St, between the hours of 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday START RIGHT. START HERE. SM Donʻt wait for the sun! Get your MOWERS tuned up now! Oil Change • Sharpen Blades Filters • Cables • Pull Ropes We pick up & deliver! Family owned & operated for over 45 years 834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
