city news
At the September 19, 2016 City Coun-
cil Meeting:
Topics From the Floor – Brett Costley,
Chair of the Vernonia School Board ad-
dressed the Council and encouraged all
Vernonia voters to support the School
Bond.
David Sterner brought forward
a plan for placement of a food cart he
would like to operate on City property
across the street from Spencer Park.
Council suggested he work further with
city staff on the location of the business.
Council Discusses Staff Appreciation
– At the request of Councilor Bruce
McNair, Council discussed providing
staff with a reward for their improved
performance. McNair suggested an ad-
ditional paid day off from work this year.
“During the last ten years that I’ve been
involved in the City business I noticed
a marked improvement in the City staff,
especially in the last few years,” said
McNair. “Given the budgetary restric-
tions we have, it’s my proposal that we
give them something to show our appre-
ciation for their hard work. The change
in the culture of the staff across the board
has been fantastic. And this won’t cost
us anything.” McNair attended a staff
meeting on September 28 to inform staff
of the Council’s decision to give them an
extra day off on October 21.
Council Approves Travel Trailer Per-
mits – Council approved applications
for Inhabiting Travel Trailer Permits
Vernonia City News...
submitted by Dawn Scott on a property
at 915 2 nd Avenue, and for James Wan-
less on a property where he is building
a new home. Initially Councilors Mike
Seager and Bruce McNair suggested
that Council not approve any more In-
habiting Travel Trailer Permits until
Council reviews the ordinance on this
issue at a workshop in October, but were
overruled by Councilors Kim Tierney
and Jill Hult, along with Mayor Randy
Parrow, who agreed that the City has
current rules overseeing this and should
continue to follow them until the Coun-
cil makes a change.
Council Approves Contract Amend-
ment – Council approved by consen-
sus an amendment to the contract with
city engineering firm Tetra Tech for the
Waste Water Treatment Plant project that
includes an additional scope of work to
prepare an evaluation of ammonia treat-
ment the City plans to add to the project.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council that staff has begun removing
selected trees from the downtown corri-
dor as part of the plan to replace the trees
with something more suitable.
Mitchell told Council the City
has received final engineered plans for
the picnic shelter that will be constructed
at Spencer Park from lumber salvaged by
the City from Washington Grade School.
At the October 3, 2016 City Council
Calling All Artists
and Cultural Activists!
2017 Cultural Coalition
Grant application now online
The Columbia County Cultural
Coalition (CCCC) is pleased to an-
nounce that funding for the grant year
2017 is available for projects and events
that advance the culture, art and heritage
of Columbia County. Grant application
forms and guidelines are on the CCCC
website
www.columbiacultural.org/
forms. Applications should be submit-
ted to Kannikar Petersen at kpetersen@
akaandesign.com by Friday, November
18, 2016. Grant awards range from $500
to $2,000. Eligible applicants are either
501(c)(3) non-profits, government agen-
cies, or individuals/groups that have
501(c)(3) sponsorship.
The CCCC is made up of vol-
unteers from Clatskanie, Rainier, Scap-
poose, Vernonia and St. Helens. Their
mission is to fund projects and activities
in the arts, local heritage and the human-
ities. The priorities of the Cultural Plan
include protecting existing cultural as-
sets, helping people experience a variety
of venues, and increasing access to, and
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
October 8 & 22
November 12
December 10
Dates are subject to change
due to weather
participation in, cultural events.
The coalition has awarded close
to $100,000 since 2005 with funds al-
located by the Oregon Cultural Trust
(OCT). Established in 2001, the OCT
is a public/private partnership that
makes annual grants to county and tribal
groups. The OCT website, www.cultur-
altrust.org, contains information about
its programs and the matching gift tax
credit available to donors.
The CCCC has supported pub-
lic art and performances, historical res-
toration, community events and other
projects across Columbia County that
have enhanced people’s lives.
Help finding non-profit spon-
sors and/or completing the application
is available. They would be happy to an-
swer any questions. Please contact Cici
Bell at cicibell@juno.com.
Three positions on the Vernonia
City Council (Mayor and two
Councilors) will be open for the
General Election in November.
The following persons are running
for City Council:
Two Council positions
(4-year term)
Bruce McNair (incumbant)
Mike Buffum
Susan Wagner
The following persons are
running for Mayor:
One Mayor position (2-year term)
Kim Tierney
Mario P. Leonetti
Meeting:
Council Approves Night Closures at
Parks – Based on a recommendation
from the Parks Committee, and a plan
presented by city staff, Council approved
the first reading of Ordinance 911, which
amended Ordinance 881, limiting hours
of use in certain parks. Shay, Ora Bol-
meier and Hawkins Parks will now be
closed from dusk until dawn; Vernonia
Lake will be closed from 11:00 pm un-
til 5:00 am; Spencer Park will be closed
from 11:00 pm until dawn; and Anderson
and Airport Parks will be closed during
quiet hours to non camping guests from
10:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Topics From the Floor – Susan Wagner
complained about the lack of signage on
Highway 47 heading south at the Green
Bridge and said it is a hazard for motor-
ists. Vernonia Police Chief Mike Conner
said he had spoken to ODOT about the
issue, who responded that, “there have
not been enough fatalities there” to war-
rant any action from them. Conner said
he would investigate further.
Bill Langmaid, representing the
Vernonia School Bond Committee, en-
couraged everyone to vote in favor of
the School Bond. He also introduced
a new community event, the Graveyard
Run, on October 29 at 10:00 am.
Council President Appoints Walton
to Planning Commission - In the ab-
sence of Mayor Randy Parrow, Council
President Kim Tierney, with approval
october6
2016
5
from the Council, appointed Jeff Walton
to the Planning Commission. Walton is
the owner of Vernonia Springs Outdoor
Events Park.
Council Approves Travel Trailer
Permit Request – Council approved
a request from Stewart Grady to allow
Vance and Alicia Hansen to occupy
a travel trailer on his property at 1363
Knott Street for six months.
Waste Water Project Receives Savings
– Finance Director Angie Handegard in-
formed Council that the City will save
$51,699 in annual interest payments by
taking advantage of a lower interest rate
when they close the USDA loan that
helped fund the project this month.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told
Council she was told by HBH contractors
that the owners of the remaining lots
at Nickerson Ridge Estates have not
authorized any work to fix the storm
water drainage issues, which was
supposed to be completed this fall.
Mitchell said she then received an email
from the owners, stating they were, “in
good faith” beginning the plans. Mitchell
expressed disappointment in the lack of
progress. She emphasized that there are
two separate issues, the storm water, and
the conditions of the streets that will
not allow the City to accept the streets
as their responsibility. Mitchell said
fixing the storm water issue will allow
continued on page 9
Vernonia Police Blotter • September 15-30, 2016
REPORTS TAKEN
• September 15, 2016
Arrest on a Warrant near
Heather Lane
• September 16, 2016
Recovery of a stolen vehicle
near Louisiana Ave.
• September 18, 2016
Arrest on a detainer near
Bridge Street
• September 18, 2016
Report of Assault near
Vernonia Lake
• September 19, 2016
Report of possible suicide
attempt
• September 21, 2016
Arrest on a Warrant near
River Street
• September 28, 2016
Arrest on a detainer for
probation violation near
Jefferson Avenue
• September 28, 2016
Arrest
for
Unlawful
Possession of Marijuana,
more than an ounce.
• September 30, 2016
Arrest was made for a
Domestic Harassment and
Disorderly Conduct near
State Street
• September 30, 2016
Arrest on a Warrant near
Weed Avenue
Avenue
• September 25, 2016 Cited
for Violation of the Basic
Rule, driving 71 mph in a
55 mph near HWY 47
• September 29, 2016
Cited for Driving While
Suspended/Uninsured near
Bridge Street
• September 29, 2016
Cited for No Operators
Endorsement near Rose
Avenue
CITATIONS / OTHER
• September 12, 2016 Cited
for Driving Uninsured near
Bridge Street
• September 21, 2016
Cited for Driving While
Suspended/Uninsured and
Expired Tags near Rose
Vernonia Police Depart-
ment responds to calls
that do not always end
in Arrest, Report, or Cita-
tion. 09/15/2016 through
09/30/2016 VPD had 182
calls for service.
Vernonia City Council
Meetings
and Closures
291
A
Street
call Kim
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, October 17, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
City Closure
is scheduled for:
Friday, November 11, 2016
Veteran’s Day
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
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