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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2016)
city news december15 2016 5 Vernonia City News... At the December 5, 2016 City Council Meeting: Council Sets Deadline for Downtown Tree Removal – Council voted to ap- prove the removal of all trees in the downtown corridor along Bridge Street. Council directed staff to remove the trees by April 1, 2017 and install pavers in the empty tree wells by October 31. The vote was unanimous, with Council- ors Mike Seager, Bruce McNair and Jill Hult, along with Mayor Randy Parrow all voting in favor, and Councilor Kim Tierney abstaining. The Council has not made a decision about whether to re- place the trees. Council Discusses New MOU with School – Council discussed creating a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Vernonia and the Vernonia School District for the leasing of Greenman Field and other ball fi elds. Following the 2007 fl ood and the School District’s move to a new campus, all the playing fi elds at what is now called Spencer Fields became the property of the City of Vernonia. The City and the School District created a lease agree- ment where the School District would continue to use and maintain the Green- man Field Stadium and the baseball and softball fi elds on the lower half of the property, while the City now controls the newly constructed soccer and softball fi elds. Following the failure of the com- munity to pass the recent school bond, which would have contained funding to construct a new sports stadium and track at the new campus, the School District is considering options. One option that was discussed was creating a new, long- term agreement for the continued use of the football stadium, returning control of the softball fi eld to the City, and de- veloping a regulation track at Greenman Field, which would remove the current baseball fi eld from use. Council took no action. The possible changes in the lease agreement were referred to the Parks Committee for review. implement a plan to provide all residen- tial customers with roll cart garbage cans to replace customer’s own garbage cans. (See full story on front page.) Council Tables Discussion About Marijuana Taxation – Council held a discussion about imposing a 3% tax on locally sold recreational marijuana. Council reviewed a sample ordinance prepared by their legal counsel but made no decision and tabled the discussion. (See full story on front page.) City Administrator Report – City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell updated the Council on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Mitchell told the Council the City has received fi ve architectural bid proposals for the Senior Center project. The bids were scheduled to be reviewed and scored on December 8 by represen- tatives of the City Council, Senior Cen- ter, Food Bank, City Staff and City En- gineer. Mitchell reported that the City has received a response from Da- vid Smejkal concerning the Nickerson Ridge Estates development. According to Mitchell, Smejkal said the engineer they are working with had been out of the offi ce due to health reasons but is back to work and would be completing a preliminary scope of work and cost es- timate for repairs to the development in the next few weeks. Once the estimate is prepared the developers will be required to post a performance bond which will guarantee the repairs are made. Mitchell said she would be sign- ing the paperwork for the acquisition of the Photo Solutions property and that demolition of the building would com- mence shortly. Mitchell reminded the Council and community that the Waste Manage- ment transfer station will be open on De- cember 17. Mitchell reminded Council that they have cancelled their December 19 th meeting. The next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Council Reviews Public Works Rec- ommendations – Council reviewed and discussed several recommendations from the Public Works Committee relat- ed to the water meter replacement pro- gram, the annual re-assessing of water and sewer rates, and water loan over- payments. (See full story on front page.) Council Accepts Canvass of Votes from Election – Council voted to adopt Resolution 08-16 and accept the Canvass of Votes for the November 8, 2016 Elec- tion for the position of Mayor and two City Councilor positions. The Oath of Offi ce will be administered to the newly Council Gives Support to Waste Management Proposal – Council gave their support to a proposal by Waste Management representatives to Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures elected offi cials at the January 3, 2017 meeting. The City of Vernonia received the following certifi ed results from the Columbia County Clerk: Mayor Kim Tierney 481 Mario P. Leonetti 546 Write In 12 Council (Vote for two) Susan Wagner 543 Mike Buffum 402 Bruce McNair 559 Write In 18 mission and approval from the rest of the Council, Mayor Randy Parrow ap- pointed Brad Zichterman to the Planning Commission. Topics From the Floor – Brett Cost- ley thanked Mayor Randy Parrow and Councilor Kim Tierney for their service to the community and the City. Both are leaving offi ce and this was their fi nal City Council meeting. Parrow chose not to run for election after 10 years on the Council. Tierney was defeated when she chose to run for Mayor. Council Approves Amendment for Sewer Debt Payment – In a housekeeping move, Coun- cil approved an amendment to Resolution 07-16 establishing payments for the debt service for the bond for the wastewater upgrade project. Council Chooses New Com- mittee Liaison Assignments – The three remaining Council members chose their Committee Liaison assignments for the up- coming year. Councilor Bruce McNair will become the liaison to the Public Works Committee and will remain the liaison to the Cemetery Committee. Council- or Mike Seager will become the liaison to the Parks Committee. Councilor Jill Hult will become the liaison to the Emer- gency Preparedness Committee. Spots remain open on the Airport Committee, Library Board, and Senior Center which will be fi lled by incoming Mayor Mario Leonetti and Councilor Susan Wagner. Mayor Appoints Zichterman to Plan- ning Commission – Based on a rec- ommendation from the Planning Com- Elected Offi cial Training – Newly elected Council members Susan Wagner and Mario Leonetti were encouraged to attend an Elected Offi cials Training ses- sion hosted by the League of Oregon Cities. The training is free and will be held in Cannon Beach on January 12. Councilor elect Wagner said she is al- ready registered and Councilor McNair said he would also be interested in at- tending. Police Blotter • December 1-12, 2016 REPORTS/ARRESTS • December 4, 2016 Arrest for Disorderly Conduct near Bridge St. • December 5, 2016 Report of Theft near North St. and Washington Ave. • December 6, 2016 Arrest on a Warrant near HWY 47 South CITATIONS/OTHER • December 1, 2016 Cited for Violation of the Posted Speed Limit on HWY 47 South • December 2, 2016 Cited for Violation of the Posted Speed Limit near N Mist Drive and Cherry St. • December 8, 2016 Cited for Driving While Suspended, No Insurance, and Expired Tags on HWY 47 North Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 12/01/2016 through 12/12/2016 VPD had 108 calls for service. Need more room? The Vernonia Transfer Station is open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays in December December 17 Dates are subject to change City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: (No meeting December 19) Tuesday, January 3, 2017 City Closures are scheduled for: Noon on Friday, December 23, 2016 Monday, December 26, 2016 Christmas Holiday Monday, January 2, 2017 New Year’s Day Holiday Dates and times subject to change See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks available 58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292 Vernonia, Oregon 97064 (503) 429-7867 10-5 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun
