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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2016)
4 letters to the editor/community bulletin board may5 2016 Readers Lend Their Voices... To the Editor, In the May 17 election, Measure 5-251 would create a new tax supported transportation district. While I believe that Columbia County is in dire need of stable funding for transportation, I do not believe that this measure is worthy of our votes. I have two primary con- cerns which led me to that conclusion. First, the actual mechanisms, charter, and/or by-laws describing how the new transportation district would operate are not available for review because they do not exist. After seek- ing more information, I’ve found (after much research and contact with CC Rid- er and the county) nothing that exists be- yond the information in the Voter’s Pam- phlet, the county and city resolutions calling for the creation of the district, and the request for ballot title filed with the election department. The plan seems to be to get the measure passed and to then figure out the details. I find this lack of transparency and preparation discon- certing. As it is impossible to know what would actually be created, I will vote no. Second, by state law, the board of directors for this new transportation district would be elected at large and not by district. That is, there is no guarantee that there will always be a representative on the board from the Vernonia area. As we do not know what we are actually voting on and we do know that we are guaranteed local representa- tion, I urge voters to join me in voting no on 5-251. I sincerely urge the county to come up with a transparent and complete plan before asking for new tax dollars in the future. Brett Costley Vernonia To the Editor, Tony Hyde has proven 20 years of history properly managing our Coun- ty. “Keep it simple” …Tony Hyde for Columbia County Commissioner posi- tion 3. Proud Columbia County Resi- dent... Mike Pihl Vernonia To the Editor, As many already know our building 736 Bridge Street is for sale. We have only a few months to sell it in order to make our plans happen so the price is well below what we feel it is worth. Our life in Vernonia has been wonderful, we have raised our four kids, (and a few of their friends, we call our own), made so many friends and added to our family many we will always stay connected with. We have decided to move to Eastern Idaho. Our plans are to sell the building first, then list our house on Lone Pine. We will take the next few months to complete all necessary with our house. The property and home are beautiful and we feel very blessed to have had the op- portunity to buy it. But it is “stuff” and our family is so much more important. Someone will be very happy with it. We will continue to operate our business as usual and complete the weddings we have scheduled through the summer. We will be liquidating thrift shop over the months unless someone comes forward with an offer to purchase the business. It is profitable. As for Vernonia Florist, we have worked very hard to make this business known and profitable. We plan to sell it. We will train with the intension of in- cluding all equipment, website, reputa- tion and clients. We will complete the weddings we have booked personally if the sale happens before Oct 1. If we do not have any interested in purchase of the businesses we will liquidate as nec- essary. We cannot promise that business can stay in the building unless you pur- chase that too... buyers may have other plans for the space. The building can be made into 2 seperate retail spaces and rented out along with the 4 bdrm apart- ment upstairs that is currently rented. This is a great investment. Yes it is in the floodplain, yes it flooded in 2007. We lifted what we had and since the walls and floors are block and con- crete we were able to hose out and had minimal replacement of drywall. All electrical is lifted above flood area. The blessing we had during the flood was dozens of complete strangers came in the door and cleaned, and had us back in business in a week. People care. We have always had help in any concern the water brought us. We are not moving be- cause of that. Clean up and move on. It is nature and a short lived mess. The rest is blessing. Let us know if you have any questions about the businesses or build- ing, and house. We will be busy planning but happy to answer. Keep us in your prayers please that buyers come along to make this transition as easy as possible. Thank you Vernonia for sup- porting our family for 21 years. Columbia Humane Society Featured Pet I am an owner surrender io ihe shelier. My owner was no longer able io care for me and had io bring me in. I'm probably going io need someone who can help me shed a few of my exira pounds. Siop in and meei me ioday, I won'i disappoini you. My adopiion fee is $145.00. Web: www.columbiahumane.org 2084 Oregon Street St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: 503-397-4353 Email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org Ben, Lisa, Curtis, Stephanie, Austin and Jesse Edgar To the Editor, I feel compelled to write and voice my support for County Commis- sioner Candidate Alex Tardif. Coming up on 30 years old and having spent a majority of my life in the area, I continue to grow genuinely con- cerned about the lack of new leadership. I would love to see someone bring new, fresh ideas and be involved in making important decisions about the future for my generation, in this county. It’s time my generation had a voice in local gov- ernment. I am so happy to have a candi- date like Alex Tardif. Born and raised in Scappoose, he was a very active and involved student athlete, then went on to work his way through college. I’ve heard his ideas, seen his work ethic and I know he understands the importance of this elected position. I firmly believe that Alex Tardif is the best choice for this role. I will be casting my vote for Alex and I encourage all young members of our great community to con- sider the opportunity they have to do so. Shaun Stewart Scappoose To the Editor, It has been my privilege to know and work with Tony Hyde since Febru- ary 1996. I have seen Tony interacting with crisis managers, bureaucrats, elect- ed officials and ordinary citizens. He has shown himself to be smart and fair- minded in the handling of day-to-day County business. Further, Tony’s can-do attitude has naturally led him to create a deep engagement with state and federal officials. This hard work and foresight has benefited all of the citizens of Co- lumbia County in the form of increased state and federal investment in Colum- bia County. This is even more true for those of us living in the Nehalem Val- ley. I cannot overstate the importance of Tony’s voice in bring County and state government into alignment to help the owners of flooded homes and business- es. Tony is one of Oregon’s leaders in pressuring federal land holding agen- cies to pay a fair share contribution to local governments, like Columbia Coun- ty, in compensation for costs associated with these federal lands. Those of us concerned about law enforcement and roads should recognize this movement Upcoming Events Friends of the Banks Public Library Plant, Book, and Art Sale - Friday, May 6, 2:00-7:00 pm, Saturday, May 7, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm at Sunset Park, 12765 NW Main St., Banks. Spring Fair and Plant Sale - May 7, 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the Ver- nonia Schools. Vendor booths and 800+ certified organic to- mato plants. Presented by the Vernonia Community Garden. Annual Camp 18 Logger’s Memorial Dedications and Logging Exhibition - Saturday, May 7, 10:00 am at Camp 18 in Elsie, OR. Admission is free. Second annual Spring Tea Party - Saturday, May 14, 1:00 pm at the Cabin in Vernonia, 901 Park Dr. Hosted by P.E.O. 9th Annual Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, May 21, 7:00 am-noon at the Vernonia Fire Station. Payment by donation only. Benefits Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters and Vernonia Ambulance Assoc. Garage Sale May 21-22 to benefit 4th of July fireworks. Pet Fair - Saturday, May 21, 10:00 am-3:00 pm at Creatures Pet Shop parking lot, 998 Bridge St. This is a fundraiser for Bailey’s Pantry. Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Annual Meeting - Saturday, May 21, 4:00 pm at the Vernonia Grange, 375 North St. Presentation: Working with Weyerhaeuser by John Souder, OSU Assistant Professor. Jr. Salmon Auction - Thursday, May 26, 7:00 pm at the Vernonia Schools Commons. Supports school arts and Hands-On Art programs. as an attempt to fix a serious structural problem with the finances of rural coun- ties. This is real leadership. To be successful a County Commissioner must be hard-working, pragmatic, resourceful, knowledgeable, articulate and fair. Tony has all of these continued on page 14 HOW TO SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Vernonia’s Voice welcomes and requests your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please include your name, address and phone number, limit your letters to 300 words or less. Vernonia’s Voice reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted. We will print letters space permitting. Deadline is the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Email: scott@vernoniasvoice.com or mail to: Letters, PO Box 55, Vernonia, OR 97064. Notice of Budget Committee Meeting A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Columbia County 4-H & Extension Service District, Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, will be held at the OSU Extension Service office, 505 N. Columbia River Hwy, St. Helens, OR. The meeting will take place on May 11, 2016 at 12:15 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 10, 2016 at the OSU Extension Service office, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.
