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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2017)
June15 2017 www.vernoniasvoice.com reflecting the spirit of our community School Board Begins Review of Proposed Bond Expenditure Priorities Board sets two dates for public meetings on June 22 and 24 At the regularly scheduled June 8, 2017 School Board meet- ing, the Vernonia School Board began the process of reviewing the proposed expenditures autho- rized by voters with the approval of the $6.8 million school bond on May 14. The approved school bond, which will include $2.3 million in matching grant funds through the state’s Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching fund, included a list of potential projects the funding would be used for. The School Board re- viewed a list of 13 potential proj- ects prepared by District Superin- tendent Aaron Miller at the June 8 meeting. The Board agreed to host two public meetings to allow input on priorities and hear about pos- free VERNONIA’S volume11 issue12 sible expertise from their patrons. Those meetings were scheduled for Thursday, June 22 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, June 24 at 1:00 pm at the Vernonia Schools Library. The District cannot add any new projects to the list, and can only use the funds for projects approved by voters in the bond measure. Recently re-elected School Board Chair Brett Cost- ley noted that he expects the bond expenditure priorities to be on the agenda on all upcoming School Board meetings. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 13 at 6:00 pm in the Schools Library. The list of potential proj- ects are as follows: 1. Pay off $4.5 million in con- struction debt 2. Repairs, maintenance, heat- ing/cooling system, playground equipment and security system at Mist School 3. Welding Shop Vernonia’s Voice turns 10! See pages 3 and 9 for photo highlights 4. Playground equipment at the Vernonia Schools 5. Classroom and sports storage areas, and a trophy case 6. Vernonia Schools security up- grades 7. Vernonia Schools energy up- grades 8. Cross Country/Fitness trail 9. Technology upgrades 10. Art classroom 11. Track and football field 12. Solar Panels 13. Four classrooms Superintendent Miller told the Board that the bond will be sold in mid-July and funds would not be available until late fall, but the state matching funds would be available sooner. Miller said he hoped to begin some re- pairs at Mist School this summer. The Board agreed that paying off the $4.5 million debt would be the top priority, followed by the repairs at the Mist School. Columbia Century Challenge Comes to Vernonia Annual bike ride starts in Vernonia this year on June 17 Cycle Columbia County will hold their sec- ond annual Columbia Cen- tury Challenge bicycle ride on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The one day event starts and ends in Vernonia’s Spencer Park, and will take about two hundred riders around the county to enjoy the scenic beauty, country backroads, and unique communities of Columbia County. The Columbia Cen- tury Challenge will once again showcase both a Centu- ry Plus, a 119 mile loop with 6,500 feet of elevation gain, and a Metric Century Plus, an 86 mile loop with 4,000 feet of elevation gain. They have added an additional route op- tion this year – a 40 mile ride with 1,700 feet of elevation gain that will feature 55% of the ride on forest logging roads, including the Crown- Zellerbach Trail. Organized by a local team of cycling enthusiasts and graduates of the Ford inside 7 good ol’ days 10 adventist health 11 vhs grad tribute 16 my fair lady court Institute Leadership program, all committed to Columbia County communities, the ride is fully supported with rest stops approximately every 15 miles. This year the ride starts and ends in Vernonia and will visit the communities of Mist, Clatskanie, Rainier, St. Helens, and Scappoose. All proceeds will be driven back into Columbia County to strengthen bike friendliness, cycling safety, and access (e.g. infrastruc- ture like bike racks, signage, trail improvements, etc.) with the goal of reaping the well- documented economic ben- efits of bike tourism and the health benefits of bicycling! The Columbia Cen- tury Challenge was named 2 nd Best Bike Ride by ORbike. com in 2016, the inaugural year of the ride. Bill Lang- maid, Vernonia’s representa- tive to the Challenge, said “It’s too easy to just cruise right through town. A bike is the perfect vehicle to permit visitors the time to soak up the friendliness, beauty, and historical significance of Ver- nonia and Columbia County.” State Investigates Ethics Complaint Against Mayor The Oregon Government Eth- ics Commission has announced they will investigate possible government ethics law violations by Vernonia May- or Mario Leonetti. Following a preliminary re- view the Ethics Commission released a report, prepared by state investiga- tor Michael Thornicroft dated May 15, 2017 and released on June 2. The re- port stated “...Mr. Leonetti, who owns a restaurant in Vernonia, may have had a potential or actual conflict of interest in discussing the regulation and siting of food cart vendors and may have failed to handle the conflict as required by ORS 244.120.” The complaint was filed by a citizen on April 17, 2017 following the citizen’s request to place a food cart owned by them on a specific piece of property owned by the City at 490 Bridge Street, next to the Bridge Street Mini Mart. An original complaint, filed by the same individual that included additional accusations against other members of the Vernonia City Council, was rejected by the Ethics Commission upon initial review as having “no mer- it.” The complaint alleges that Mayor Leonetti, who owns Mariolino’s restaurant on Madison Avenue, partici- pated in discussions and decisions re- garding placement and costs associated with food carts at City Council meet- ings on February 13, March 13, March 20 and April 3 without announcing a conflict of interest when discussing the issue. The request to place a food cart was withdrawn by the citizen be- fore any decision was made by the City Council on the issue and prior to the March 20, 2017 City Council meeting. At that meeting the City Council voted against placing any food carts at the re- quested location, but agreed to move forward with preparing a different site for food carts at the Corner of Bridge Street and Grant Avenue, the site of the former Health Clinic, less than a block away from the originally requested site. The Ethics Commission report notes that at a meeting on March 6, Leonetti did state he had a conflict of interest, which is reflected in the City Council minutes from that meeting. At the February 13 meeting Mayor Leonetti acknowledged owning a restaurant and other Council members referenced his ownership, but Leonetti failed to officially announce any conflict of interest. According to the report, minutes and audio recordings continued on page 6