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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2016)
city news Vernonia City News... At the May 2, 2016 City Council Airport Fund in the form of a loan which Meeting: will be paid back by the Airport Fund from the sale of a trailer and in annual Council Hears Report on Sewer payments over the next five years. Feasibility Study – City Administrator Josette Mitchell presented Council with City Discusses Streetscape Trees – the results of an 80 page feasibility study Council discussed the plan to remove prepared by Tetra Tech, for installation and replace the streetscape trees that of a new sewer line and manholes on line Bridge Street. Ben Fousek of the Spencer Hill connecting to California City Planning Department provided a Avenue. The project would reroute and detailed map of the downtown corridor more efficiently handle sewage from for the Council. The trees that were homes on Spencer Hill and also provide originally planted were not the correct infrastructure for the new industrial species and are growing too large development on California Avenue. The and damaging sidewalks and could owners and developers of the industrial potentially damage utilities located site on California Avenue would also under the sidewalks. Six trees have pay to install infrastructure on their already been removed by Public Works property. Cost of the total project would crews. 40 trees remain in the four be over $190,000. Council asked for block stretch. Fousek recommended time to review the report and asked staff no more than three trees on each side to separate the cost for the Spencer Hill of the street in each block and said the part of the project and the California City has identified three species of trees Avenue part of the project. that are recommended as streetscape trees, based on the constraints of Bridge Airport Culvert Replacement - Street. Council is considering whether Council approved the purchase of 200 to cut down trees and replace them with feet of 30 inch culvert to replace the new trees in the ground or replace them culvert that crosses the runway at the with above ground containers. Council Vernonia Airport. Council approved instructed staff to prepare a survey for transfer of the funds needed for the local business owners and invite them to purchase from the General Fund to the a workshop, scheduled for Monday, June 13 at 6:30 pm. City Administrator Report – City Administrator Josette Mitchell updated the Council on several items she is working on. Mitchell told Council that some hairline cracks have appeared in the new DAF building that is part of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Mitchell said the contractor will make repairs and then do a test to confirm the fix. Mitchell also told Council the goal is to have the Webb Way Linear Trail reopened by the end of May. Mitchell told Council staff had compiled some preliminary figures on the impact to water and sewer revenues if all six customers that took an application replaced their water meter with a smaller meter. Staff estimated reductions in revenues of $1,734 in water usage, $814 in water loan charges, $4,599 in sewer usage, and $10,600 in sewer loan charges. Staff told Council that they plan to review water and sewer revenues annually since fees are now based on consumption, and any needed adjustment to rates would be made at that time. may5 2016 5 Mitchell told Council they received two Statements of Qualification for the Grant Administration for the Rose Avenue Project and four Requests for Proposals for Engineering for California Avenue and said staff would be determining who to award the two contracts to in the next week. Staff and volunteers completed clean up and landscape projects on Make Vernonia Shine Day at Dewey Pool, the Vernonia Library and at Airport Park. Mitchell told Council that staff and Mayor Randy Parrow met with David Smejkal, Bob Smejkal, Douglas Wolf, and Sharon Bernal to discuss required improvements to fix the Nickerson Ridge Estates subdivision and allow the City to being issuing building permits. Mitchell told Council they are waiting to hear back from the owners. Mitchell told Council there is still firewood for sale at Airport Park for $40 a pickup load. Anyone interested should contact City Hall. Council Enters Executive Session – Council entered into Executive Session under ORS 192.660 (2)(d) To consider information or records that are exempt continued on page 13 An Opinion: Election 2016-Big Decisions continued from page 3 he supports veterans’ needs, living wage jobs and economic development. A small business owner, he has proposed several ideas for economic stimulus, like creating a county wide ordinance to allow property owners to build “mother- in-law suites” and encouraging the Port of St. Helens to sell property in order to help bring new industry to the county, but otherwise he seems to agree with the status quo on most current county business. Unfortunately, none of these candidates, with all their differing opinions and ideas, has really done or said enough to make me feel comfortable endorsing them, and I am still deciding who I will vote for. County Commissioner Position 3 Tony Hyde, Alex Tardif If Alex Tardif was running for Position 1 I would vote for him in a heartbeat. He is young, smart, and passionate with a good understanding of finances and has an outsider’s view of how governments function. A professional tax consultant, he has a keen eye for analysis and management and brings energy and many fresh ideas to the table. He says Columbia County needs transparency, accountability, and new leadership. Unfortunately, his lack of boots-on-the-ground governmental experience and the possibility of two new Commissioners taking office at the same time are causing me to hesitate. If Tardif doesn’t win this election I hope he will find a way to become more involved in Columbia County government - serving on the Budget Committee where his finance experience would be a real benefit, or some other place where he can work closely with the Board of Commissioners, because he has a lot to offer this county. Tony Hyde says the county has weathered the economic downturn and is bouncing back thanks to his continued leadership. I agree when he points to expanding local businesses and the new Oregon Manufacturing Innovation District in Scappoose as signs of the county’s successful economic development policies. Port Westward provides a huge opportunity to bring new industry to the county and Hyde has been key in the expansion and recruitment Monday, May 16, 2016 Monday, June 6, 2016 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, May 30, 2016 Memorial Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules The Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 7:00 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 and entrenched position at the top of the county heiraarchy raise concerns. But with the ongoing and new development and potential for growth at this time, I feel the county needs experienced leadership who can navigate and negotiate on our behalf. This may be Hyde’s last run for public office and I think he has earned an opportunity to continue his work on behalf of our citizens. Vernonia Police Blotter April 1-30, 2016 REPORTS • April 6, 2016 Report of an Abandoned Vehicle near Lakeview Dr. • April 7, 2016 Arrest on a Warrant near Texas Ave. • April 7, 2016 Arrest on a Warrant near Grant Ave. • April15, 2016 Report of Criminal Mischief on Weed Ave. • April 18, 2016 Outside Agency Assist on Noakes Rd. CITATIONS/OTHER • April 6, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended/Uninsured • April 14, 2016 Cited for Driving Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: there. His connections at the state and federal level have been invaluable. His hometown connection to Vernonia also make him an asset to this community. Hyde has been serving as a County Commissioner for 20 years and the thought that it might be time for some new and fresh ideas has resonated with many voters. Tardif appears to some to be just the answer to Hyde, whose perceived connections to big business While Suspended • April 20, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended • April 21, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended • April 28, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended • April 28, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 04/01/2016 through 04/30/2016 VPD had a 178 calls for service NOTICE OF POSITIONS OPEN CITY OF VERNONIA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Election will be held on the 8th day of November 2016, at which time the legal voters of the City of Vernonia will be entitled to vote for candidates to certain city offices. OFFICES OPEN FOR ELECTION: VERNONIA MAYOR TWO YEAR TERM VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM Election packets are available at the office of the City Recorder, 1001 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR 97064. Nominating petitions can be filed no sooner than June 1, 2016, and filed no later than Friday, August 26, 2016, by 4:00 pm with the City Recorder. For more information call Stephanie Borst, City Recorder at 503-429-5291 ext. 104. The City of Vernonia is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
