july21 2016
www.vernoniasvoice.com
School Board Approves
Bond Resolution
The Vernonia School
Board approved a resolution
at their July 14, 2016 meeting,
that would submit a new bond
measure on the November
8, 2016 election ballot. The
School Board approved the bond
measure language by a vote of
5-0.

Resolution 1617-01 will
ask the voters in the Vernonia
School District to approve a
general obligation bond in the
amount not to exceed $6.8
million. The bonds would mature
in 26 years with an estimated tax
rate of approximately $0.24 per
$1,000 of assessed value.

According to the Notice
of Bond Election approved by the
School Board, a major portion of
the funds raised through the sale
of the bonds would be used to
pay off existing debt and there
by free up resources for general
operations. The current debt
from school campus construction
is approximately $4.7 million.

If voters approve the
bond the District will also receive
up to $2.7 million in matching
funds from the Oregon School
Capital Improvement Match
program; if the District fails to
pass the bond those funds would
be diverted to another school
district.

If passed bond proceeds
and matching grant funds are
expected to fund the following
additions to the Vernonia and
Mist school campuses:
• four new classrooms, including
a new art room
• a welding/metal shop building
• playground equipment at Mist
and Vernonia Schools
• additional solar panels
• a football field, track, stadium,
and parking facilities
• lights for the new baseball and
softball fields on the campus
• a cross country/fitness/nature
trail
• an indoor walking track in the
large gymnasium
• repairs to the Mist School
interior and exterior, including a
roof, gutters, siding, gym floor,
classrooms, and mechanical
systems
• security/surveillance systems
at Mist and Vernonia
• improved technology
• install a well and irrigation
systems
• enhanced lighting systems,
• other site improvements,
furnishings and equipment
reflecting the spirit of our community
Meet the Newest
Vernonia Police Officers

The Vernonia Police
Department has two new of-
ficers.

Officer Cody Pesio
was sworn in to the Depart-
ment in late 2015 and recently
returned from Police Acade-
my training after gradu-
ating on May 13.

Officer
Eric
Shafer is Vernonia’s
newest officer after just
joining the Department
in early July.

Officer Pesio is
originally from Colum-
bia County and served
as a Reserve Officer for
the City of Clatskanie
for 18 months before
joining the Vernonia
Department as a full
time officer.

Officer Shafer is
from Washington County
and served as a Reserve Of-
ficer with the City of North
Plains for 18 months, then
joined their department full
time where he was employed
for six months before becom-
ing a member of the Vernonia
Department. Officer Shafer
graduated from Police Acad-
emy in March of 2016.

Officer Pesio is 26
years old and married. In his
spare time he likes to hunt and
fish and take part in other out-
door activities.

Officer Shafer is 23
years old and is engaged to be
By Leanne Murray

When it comes to housing,
Community Action Team (CAT)
helps Columbia County residents in a
multitude of ways. One very creative
program called SHARP helps low-
income families and individuals buy their
first home. SHARP stands for Self-Help
inside
4
new county
law librarian
5
explaining
code enforcement
9
life saving award
16
voices in my head
it’s been a good experience so
far.”

“I’ve been getting
out and meeting people and
having conversations with
people,” says Officer Shafer.
“I think it’s a really good at-
Officer Eric Shafer and Officer Cody Pesio
married. In his free time he
enjoys weight lifting, shoot-
ing, hiking, climbing and any-
thing else outdoors.

“Vernonia has been
really good to me so far,”
says Officer Pesio. “Every-
one seems really friendly and
seems willing to help if you
ever need anything. All in all,
Community Action Team: The First 50 Years
Part 4: Home Sweat
Equity Leads to Real Equity
free
VERNONIA’S
volume10  issue14
mosphere here and I like the
bond with the community. I
think this is going to be a re-
ally good community to work
for.”

Please join Vernonia’s
Voice in welcoming the two
newest members of our Police
Department to our commu-
nity.
Acquisition Rehabilitation
to neighbors when they saw
Program, a program that is
the terrific transformation.
fairly rare in Oregon. Because
Everyone wins.
it is funded through the US

Once a household meets
Department of Agriculture
eligibility requirements and is
(USDA), Rural Development
approved by the USDA, CAT
Department it is available only
helps the potential homeown-
in small rural communities.
ers find the property that best

SHARP is unique
suits their needs. From there,
because homeowners invest
CAT’s construction supervi-
their own time, talents and
sor helps identify and priori-
energy into the house before
tize the necessary projects and
they even move in; that’s the
the wish list projects, creating
sweat equity. The homes that
a scope of work. By consider-
qualify for the program need
ing the order in which projects
Jessica and Jason Smith earned sweat equity in their
repairs or upgrades so the St. Helens home by participating in CAT’s SHARP program. need to be completed, they cre-
new owners provide at least
ate a work calendar and jump in
and running. Since then, nine households
30 hours of labor each week until those have completed the program and several right away. Examples of repairs that are
projects are done. Over the course of more are currently mid-project.
typically done include replacement of
what typically takes about three months,
One of the first families to the roof, cabinetry, flooring, windows,
homes and lives are transformed in complete the process lives in St. Helens. and furnace. Other projects might in-
powerful ways.
Jason and Jessica Smith renovated a clude painting, deck repairs, and adding

In 2002 CAT introduced a dif- vacant house that had significant needs, insulation. Some projects require the ex-
ferent type of self-help program that but a lot of character. The Smiths have pertise of certified contractors like elec-
helped people purchase and build new been in their home for almost a year tricians or plumbers. However, the vast
construction homes. It was a collabora- now. During the process they worked majority of the work is done by the new
tive effort with multiple households in- hard to keep their existing obligations owners and their friends and family, with
volved that created a powerful sense of of full-time jobs and two young children technical support and oversight provided
ownership and community pride. But while adding in a huge amount of extra by CAT’s construction supervisor. CAT
with the housing market crash in 2008, work. The Smiths are quick to say they even loans them the larger tools like a
CAT proposed programmatic changes to never dreamed they could own a home, table saw. According to Beverly Danner,
work with existing properties in need of much less one with so much room, a CAT’s Community Investment Director,
rehabilitation rather than to build new yard and a garage. They appreciate the the structure must have “good bones.”
ones.
opportunity SHARP afforded them; they In other words, it needs to be structur-

By 2014, the amended self-help couldn’t have done it without it. Their ally sound enough so that the renovation
program now known as SHARP was up investment also provided encouragement
continued on page 9