city news
At the July 18, 2016 City Council
Meeting:
Council Approves Salary Increase for
City Administrator – Council met in
Executive Session prior to the start of the
regular City Council meeting under ORS
192.660 (2) (i) Performance Evaluation
of Public Officers and Employees.
Council recessed the Executive Session
and then reconvened it following the
conclusion of the business on the regular
agenda. After meeting in Executive
Session Council returned to Open
Session and voted unanimously to renew
their contract for one year with City
Administrator Josette Mitchell and also
gave her a 5% increase in salary.
Council Discusses Nickerson Ridge
Estates Agreement – City Administrator
Josette Mitchell presented the Council
with a draft version of an agreement
between the City of Vernonia and David
Smejkal, Robert Smejkal and Douglas
Wolf, the owners of vacant lots at the
Nickerson Ridge Estates subdivision.
According to the agreement, the owners
began development of the subdivision
in the late 1990s, which was approved
by the City of Vernonia contingent upon
several conditions being completed prior
july21
2016
Vernonia City News...
5
to sign-off. The development was not fiance Sierra Vidad. His seven month old had a cash carry forward of $41,140
completed and the project was dormant son, and his mother and father were also more than forecasted. Councilor Bruce
for several years. The owners began in attandence.
McNair pointed out a large carry forward
selling lots in the last few years,
in the Water Account and suggested
but the subdivision remains out of
the Council re-examine the current
compliance with City standards
water rate structure.
and there have been issues for
City Administrator Report – City
current homeowners with water
Administrator Josette Mitchell told
run off. The agreement between
Council that the City is awaiting a
the parties would establish the
response from DEQ on how to pay for
conditions that must be met
monitoring wells they are requiring
by the owners, including the
the City to install as part of the Sewer
installation of a storm water run-
Upgrade project.
off plan that includes additional
Mitchell told Council clean-
catch basins, before the City will
up on the private property adjacent
Officer Eric Shafer received the Oath of Office
allow the sale and development
from Mayor Randy Parrow on July 18.
to California Avenue is set to begin.
of any additional properties. The
Council Approves
Water
Bill Once a No Further Action letter has been
agreement will require the owners to
Forgiveness – Council approved received the City will post a Notice of
submit a performance bond to guarantee
a request from Jimi Kolesar for Award to DL Design Group to begin
the completion of the work. Council
forgiveness of a water bill after a leak engineering plans for development of
approved the draft as presented, which
was detected and fixed on a property she California Avenue.
Mitchell said would be completed from
owns at 895 Alabama Avenue. When
Mitchell told Council that
the City’s standpoint and eventually
the leak was repaired it was discovered the City has hired Jacob Eyrrick as a
submitted to the lot owners for their
that the system failure was in the section temporary seasonal employee to help
input before it is finalized.
that is the City’s responsibility. Council with parks maintenance.
New Police Officer Takes Oath of approved a credit of $220, the full
Topics From the Floor – James Larry
Office – Vernonia’s newest police overage amount, for the account.
Collins of 334 B Street asked Council
officer, Eric Shafer received the Oath
Council Receives Finance Report – for help with a citation he received for
of Office from Mayor Randy Parrow.
Council received an end-of-the-fiscal parking his truck with a camper in the
Shafer’s badge was pinned on by his
year report from Finance Director street. Collins said he is a renter and
Angie Handegard. Handegard reported the property does not have a driveway
that several accounts ended the year to park his vehicle. City Administrator
with a higher cash carry forward than Josette Mitchell said she would delay
anticipated and several accounts ended any fines and look into the issue wth the
like the Police protect public safety,
the year lower. The General Fund City Planner.
Code Enforcement protects the health,
welfare, livability standards, and land
use regulations. The ordinances that are
being enforced are set forth in several
The Vernonia Police Department (VPD) would
ways: by the elected officials of the City
like to inform the public that anyone missing a
of Vernonia, by the State Legislation,
and by Oregon Statutes, and have been
bicycle should check with VPD. The VPD will
in place for over 30 years.
be disposing of all bicycles in their possession
It has become obvious that
on August 12, 2016.
many citizens are not aware of these
rules and that many individuals feel
they live in the country (rural area)
and should not be harassed by a Home
NOTICE OF POSITIONS OPEN
Explaining Code Enforcement
By Iwalani Leininger
Vernonia Police Department
Code Enforcement
Code Enforcement… many just
cringed, some just got angry, and others
were happy to see their neighbors clean
up their property.
Code Enforcement is the
prevention, detection, investigation and
enforcement of violations of statutes
or ordinances regulating public health,
safety and welfare, public works,
business activities and consumer
protection, building standards, land-use,
municipal affairs, and neighborhood
livability standards (http://www.orcea.
org/what-is-code-enforcement/).
What does that really mean
to the average citizen? It means that,
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
continued on page 6
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, August 1, 2016
Monday, August 15, 2016
July 23
August 13 & 27
September 10 & 24
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Monday, September 5, 2016
Labor Day
Dates are subject to change
due to weather
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
Police Blotter July 1-15, 2016
ARRESTS/REPORTS TAKEN
• July 3, 2016 Arrest for Violation of
Release Agreement near Stoney Point
Rd.
• July 12, 2016 Report of Theft III on Rose
Ave.
• July 12, 2016 Report of Harassment on
Bridge St.
• July 14, 2016 Citationfor DUII near
Bridge St. and California Ave.
CITATIONS/OTHER
• July 2, 2016 Citation for No Operators
License near East Bridge St.
• July 4, 2016 Citation for Driving While
Suspended near Weed Ave.
• July 11, 2016 Citation for Failure to
Maintain Lane on Rose Ave.
Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest,
Report, or Citation. 07/01/2016 through 07/15/2016 VPD had 135 calls for service.
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.
START RIGHT. START HERE. SM
Summer
is here!
Green Mountain Grills & Pellets in stock!
Water Toys • Lawn Chairs
Camping Supplies • Coolers
Batteries • Sporting Goods
Family owned & operated for over 45 years
834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
