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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2017)
10 community march16 2017 Construction on Senior Center and Food Bank Center had been working on plans to relocate since the fl ood that damaged their building in 1996. “My very fi rst responsibility as Executive Director of Vernonia Cares, when I was fi rst hired, was to attend a ‘building meeting’ to discuss a new facility for both Cares and the Seniors,” said Welch. “That was in 2001, so I’ve been working on this for over 16 years.” In 2010 planning for a shared building began again when the City of Vernonia and Oregon Parks traded land in exchange for maintenance of the State Parks Lin- ear Trail coming into the City of Vernonia. The newly acquired land south of the new West Oregon Elec- tric Co-op building would be owned by the City and was identifi ed for use by social service agencies. “The goal was to have this space be used as a social services hub that was located on high ground,” said Vernonia City Administrator Josette Mitchell in a recent interview. “The Senior Center was the fi nal FEMA buyout of our local so- cial services and this will complete the move of all our social services to high ground so citizens can ac- cess them during all times of the year, and especially during emergen- cies,” said Mitchell According to Mitchell, because of previous uses on the site and concerns about possible contamination, the City acquired a Brownfi elds grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and completed required testing on the site. The City received clearance, paving the way for future development of the prop- erty. Due to the complex nature of food bank and senior services, a CDBG specifi cally designed for a shared facil- ity was the best option to fund the devel- opment and construction. “The City ap- plied for the CDBG because municipali- ties are the only ones who are allowed to apply,” explains Mitchell. “We were able to apply for $2 million, which was the maximum amount, because this was a joint facility, and we were awarded that in December of 2015.” Both Welch and Mitchell feel Mariolino’s Pizza & Grill Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner Ice cream - cones, shakes & sundaes Daily Specials Family owned and operated for over 40 years. 721 Madison Avenue, Vernonia Marie Krahn (503) 429-5018 continued from front page fairly confi dent the project can be com- pleted as designed within the budget they are working with, although fi nal costs are never assured until bids have been secured and construction is underway. “From the bid we received six months ago, this design was going to work,” said Welch. “Of course, it can cost more the Donations that were made to Vernonia Cares after the fl ood specifi - cally designated for a high ground lo- cation have been held in a restricted fund. These are now pledged to the new building project. The money the seniors received from FEMA are similarly re- stricted and pledged. Because the 1996 fl ood also affected the Senior Cen- ter, its board began to raise funds for a new location. Those monies are also being applied to this project. Both groups are working together to make the new single building, divided by walls internally with separate entrances, as operationally effi cient as possible. There will be a walk-in cooler and freezer, sepa- rated in the center by a metal gate, shared by both entities to save en- ergy costs of running many home- sized units. Dishes, tables, chairs, kitchen equipment and other items have been stored at various senior board members’ homes and other locations around town to reduce the cost of outfi tting the new center. Through a competitive bid pro- cess, the joint boards selected archi- tectural fi rm Scott|Edwards Associ- ates. The exterior will have simi- lar features to the Vernonia Health longer you wait to build, so now we are Center and the West Oregon Electric Co- looking for real numbers.” operative headquarters building to har- While the project is being de- monize the design of the area. The two veloped for use by the Vernonia senior boards recently approved the fl oor plan, citizen community as well as the local and a competitive bidding process will food bank, ultimately, the building is the be underway soon for the construction city’s project. “The City of Vernonia phase. All phases of the project require owns the land and will own the building, approval by the State’s CDBG oversight and the two agencies will be co-tenants,” staff to ensure that all rules are being says Mitchell. Mitchell says both groups followed. A representative from Com- will sign a lease agreement, similar to munity Action Team, the county’s aging the agreement the City has with Verno- services coordinator, will oversee the nia Health Center, and will pay a mini- project, especially in the construction mal fee each year for use of the building. phase to ensure strict adherence to cost Both groups will be required to pay for controls. The City has also contracted their own utilities and will also contrib- with a grant administrator familiar with ute to a maintenance reserve account for the myriad of CDBG requirements to upkeep of the building. help assure compliance. As is true with any federal grant, Both organizations are looking the “free money” comes with many forward to being on high ground in spac- strings attached. The senior center will es that fi t their operations better. “This only be allowed to serve people 60 and is pretty exciting,” said Mitchell. “The older for its fi rst fi ve years of operations seniors have been waiting a long time and cannot house a thrift store open to and Vernonia Cares has been preparing the general public. The Vernonia Se- to evacuate every time there is a threat of niors’ thrift store, Bargains on Bridge high water and are ready to be in a place Street, is the primary source of opera- where they can set up their shelves and tional funding. It will remain in its city- not worry about fl ooding.” leased space at least for the next fi ve to six years. 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