city news
july6
2017
5
Vernonia City News...
At the June 9, 2017 City Council
Meeting:
Council Approves Adjustment to
Ridge Riders Water Billing – Council
approved a recommendation from staff
and adjusted the way the Ridge Riders
are billed for their water use at the horse
arena. Members of the Ridge Riders had
addressed the Council at their June 5
meeting about charges they are receiving
for turning on and off their water service
during the off season, and the amount
they were being charged for usage for a
1½ inch water meter. After investigating
the issue, staff recommended the Ridge
Riders be charged $29.30 for a 5/8 inch
water meter, $9.50 for the water loan
repayment, and $3.00 for water usage
over 2,000 gallons, which Council
approved.
Council
Declines
Utility
Bill
Adjustment – Council declined to
make any adjustment to the utility bill
for Larry Collins, who had requested a
change following a water shut off by the
City for lack of payment. Collins had
requested the change due to unfortunate
personal circumstances, but staff told
the Council that all City procedures had
been followed prior to the shut off.
Mitchell Updates Council on Rock
Creek Bridge Safety Concerns – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell updated
the Council on actions the City has taken
after Leslie Seibert addressed them at the
June 5 meeting. Seibert told the Council
she was concerned about the safety
of the bridge that crosses Rock Creek
on the Webb Way Linear Trail near
Anderson Park, after her son slipped on
the bridge while riding his bicycle and
was badly injured last winter. Mitchell
told the Council that new warning
signs have been installed and that she is
investigating potential cleaning options
that are allowed on a bridge over a fish
bearing stream.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell updated
the Council on several ongoing projects,
including the final steps to complete the
Wastewater Upgrade Project. Mitchell
also discussed replanting along the
Webb Way Linear Trail; the trees there
were removed for the installation of the
Wastewater Project.
Mitchell updated the Council
on the Senior Center/Food Bank project
and discussed plans for storm water, the
ongoing planning review, and the up-
coming notice for bids for construction.
Mitchell told the Council there
has been no correspondence from the
owners of Nickerson Ridge Estates.
Mitchell told Council the
piers for the picnic shelter at Spencer
Park are almost complete and that
volunteers are being recruited to do
the full construction of the shelter, and
updated them on the memorial tree
program that will be planted around the
shelter.
Mitchell updated the Council
on some work at the Airport to replace
a culvert and thanked Councilor Mike
Seager, and Doug Davenport and the
Airport Committee for their work.
Mitchell also told the Council that
the City worked with neighbors at the
Airport to re-gravel a portion of the
road.
Mitchell told the Council
that the City received 19 applications
for the open City Clerk position and
screened them for experience, narrow-
ing the field to seven individuals, who
were invited to be interviewed for the
position by a panel that included the
City Administrator, the Human Re-
sources Director and a City Councilor.
Mitchell later said the City is conduct-
ing a background check on the top can-
didate.
Council holds Workshop on Streets
– Following the completion of their
regular meeting, Council held a
workshop on the condition of streets
Reserve Police Officer Job Announcement
The Vernonia Police Department has openings for Reserve Police Officers. In-
terested citizens can obtain an application and complete job description in per-
son at the Vernonia Police Department. Minimum qualifications include, but not
limited to: must have a high school diploma or GED; must be at least 21 years of
age and be a U.S. Citizen; have a valid Oregon driver’s license; be able to pass
a criminal background investigation; and pass medical and psychological evalu-
ations. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Chief Michael
Conner (503) 429-7335 ext. 110.
within the City limits. Council received
a very detailed data report, including
maps from staff member Ben Fousek,
which provided an inventory of the
surface condition of all streets, and an
analysis to aid the Council and staff in
prioritizing street repairs in the future.
(See full story on front page.)
Topics From the Floor – Tim Anderson,
a member of the City Parks Committee,
expressed concern about erosion to
the stream bank at Airport Park on the
Nehalem River and asked Council to
make this issue a priority.
David Sterner asked if the
Council had any response to the Oregon
Government
Ethics
Commissions
(OGEC) report stating that they will be
investigating a complaint of a conflict
of interest ethics violation by Vernonia
Mayor Mario Leonetti. Council declined
to respond, but City Administrator
Josette Mitchell did address the question
stating that City staff and Council have
been advised by their legal counsel
not to discuss the issue with Sterner
until the OGEC has completed their
investigation. Sterner stated that it could
take up to 180 days for completion of
the investigation and asked the City to
stop listening to their attorney and have
an open discussion with him about his
allegations.
Vernonia Police Blotter • June 13-30, 2017
Reports Taken/Arrests
• June 17, 2017 Report of Theft III near 
Jefferson Avenue
• June 22, 2017 Report of an animal 
complaint on Bridge Street
• June 24, 2017 Arrest for Driving While 
Suspended/Uninsured/Failure to Register 
near Cougar Street
• June 28, 2017 Arrest for Violation of a 
Restraining Order near North Street
Citations/Other
• June 13, 2017 Cited for Violation of the 
Posted Speed 54 mph in a 35 mph near 
North Mist Drive
• June 13, 2017 Cited for Violation of the 
Posted Speed 53 mph in a 35 mph near 
North Mist Drive
• June 13, 2017 Cited for Violation of the 
Posted Speed 70 mph in a 55 mph near 
Nehalem Highway South
• June 13, 2017 Cited for Violation of 
the Posted Speed 70 mph in a 55 mph 
near Nehalem Highway South
• June 22, 2017 Cited for No Oregon 
Drivers License near Alder Street
• June 23, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended and Failure to Carry Proof of 
Insurance near Rose Avenue
• June 24, 2017 Cited for Violation of 
the Posted Speed 53 mph in a 35 mph 
near Nehalem Highway South
• June 27, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended and No Insurance near Bridge 
Street
• June 29, 2017 Cited for Failure to Carry 
Proof of Insurance and Violation of the 
Posted Speed 70 mph in a 55 mph near 
Nehalem Highway South 
• June 29, 2017 Cited for Violation of 
the Posted Speed 73 mph in a 55 mph 
near Nehalem Highway South
• June 30, 2017 Cited for Violation of 
the Posted Speed 76 mph in a 55 mph 
near Nehalem Highway South
Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report,
or Citation. 06/01/2017 through 06/30/2017 VPD had 287 calls for service.
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
from 8am-2pm
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, July 17, 2017
Monday, August 7, 2017
July 8 & 22
August 12 & 26
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Noon on Friday, August 4, 2017
Vernonia Friendship Jamboree
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
Dates and times subject to change
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