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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2017)
city news september7 2017 5 Vernonia City News... At the August 21, 2017 City Council Meeting: Council Approves Streets and Storm- water Projects – Ben Fousek from the City Planning Department presented a comprehensive list of proposed streets and stormwater upgrade projects. Fousek said that, following the completion of the streets inventory and a discussion with Council, staff determined priority proj- ects and will work with the Public Works Committee on a five year plan for future projects. Council approved the projects which include: paving and stormwater upgrades to 5 th Avenue between Bridge and Nehalem Streets, 4 th Avenue north of Nehalem Street, Clatsop Street between Rose and 2 nd Avenues, Clatsop Street east of Rose Avenue and Ruth Avenue, and Polk Avenue; upgrading stormwater drainage on G Street and East Avenue; and upgrading the street on Old Bridge Street. Total cost of the paving portion of the project is estimated at $72,900 and will come from the Street Fund. Cost of Stormwater upgrades is $5,415 and will come from the Stormwater SDC Fund and the Street Fund. The project also includes upgrading Louisiana Avenue and B Street, which will be paid for with pending ODOT grant funds. Council Discusses Smoking Restric- tions in Parks – Council continued to discuss a proposed ordinance that would restrict smoking in City Parks. The or- dinance would create smoke-free zones near play areas and sports fields in some parks, create designated smoking areas in other parks, and make some parks completely non-smoking. Council will continue their discussion at the next City Council meeting. Council Hears Request for Water Ser- vice – Council heard a request from Gor- don Jarman for the City to provide water service to a property he owns on Noakes Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, September 18, 2017 Monday, October 2, 2017 Dates and times subject to change Road where he is in the process of build- ing a home. He said he needs proof of water service to receive building permits from Columbia County. Council ap- proved moving forward with the instal- lation of a main water line in the area which could potentially serve 20-30 cus- tomers, although installation will take up to one year to complete, and authorized City Administrator Josette Mitchell to write a letter to Columbia County on be- half of Jarman. Staff suggested Jarman install a temporary water line until the project is complete. Council Discusses Placement of Seis- mic Equipment – Staff presented a pro- posal from the Pacific Northwest Seis- mic Network at the University of Oregon to place seismic monitoring equipment at the Vernonia Airport. City Admin- istrator Josette Mitchell told Council the City’s legal counsel has reviewed the agreement. Councilor Mike Seager asked that the Airport Committee be al- lowed to review the agreement before a decision is made, and noted that other monitoring equipment at the airport is not being maintained. Council Approves Water Service – Council approved a request for water service to the Thompson residence on Mellinger Road. City Administrators Report – City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell told Council that she has been working with engi- neers to amend some design elements to the ammonia bio domes treatment por- tion of the Wastewater Upgrade Project, which will provide significant cost sav- ings. Mitchell said there is a November 8, 2017 deadline for the bio domes to be installed. The Vernonia Transfer Station is open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday from 8am-2pm September 9 & 23 October 14 & 28 Dates and times are subject to change due to weather Mitchell said the City has re- ceived no correspondence from the de- velopers at Nickerson Ridge Estates. Mitchell told Council an ex- planatory statement had been posted to the City Facebook page concerning the timeline for the Spencer Park Picnic Shelter construction project and the ex- tended closure of the covered basketball court. Mitchell told Council the City has created a “Vernonia Public Informa- tion Officer” Facebook page which will be used to place information on the City of Vernonia page and other pages on the social media website. Mitchell told the Council that the project to reset all pavers along Bridge Street will not take place until the late fall, as contractors are currently unavailable. Mitchell told the Council that, after meeting with School District of- ficials and a structural engineer, it has been determined that the grandstands at Greenman Field are unsafe for use due to failure of one of the beams support- ing the roof. The grandstands are owned by the City and are being leased by the School District. Council scheduled a workshop following their September 18 meeting to discuss options for the facil- ity. Mitchell told the Council that ODFW staff are having trouble getting the Lake pump to operate correctly. Councilor Bruce McNair suggested lo- cal citizens may have useful historical information that could help with the op- eration of the pump system. Council Declares Surplus Property – Council approved a request from staff to declare the following items as surplus property and place them for sale: two Honda 3 Wheelers, nine coins ranging in date from 1886 to 1990. Topics From the Floor – Susan Arm- strong addressed the Council and told them she travels back and forth to Cali- fornia and only lives in Vernonia for part of the year. She currently occu- pies a trailer on a property she owns at 817 Bridge Street, where she rents out the home. Armstrong has been told she needs to follow the City’s process and apply for a permit to inhabit a travel trailer. Armstrong told the Council she does not think she should be restricted continued on page 6 Vernonia Police Blotter • August 15-31, 2017 Arrests/Reports Taken • August 20, 2017 Report of Criminal Mischief near Texas Avenue • August 21, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant near Weed Avenue • August 22, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant near East Avenue • August 23, 2017 Arrest for Burglary 1 and 2 near East Bridge Street • August 24, 2017 Report of Theft II and Fraudulent use of a Credit Card near California Avenue • August 24, 2017 Report of Theft II and Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle near Bridge Street • August 26, 2017 Report of Burglary and Theft II near Maple Street • August 29, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant near Bridge Street Citation/Other • August 15, 2017 Cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance near Madison Avenue • August 17, 2017 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 91/55 mph and Careless Driving near HWY 47 South • August 17, 2017 Cited for Passing in a No Passing near Lone Pine Road • August 18, 2017 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured near Jefferson Avenue • August 19, 2017 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 55/35 mph, Driving While Suspended, and Driving Uninsured near North Mist Drive • August 20, 2017 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 74/55 mph near HWY 47 South • August 24, 2017 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 59/35 near Lone Pine Road • August 26, 2017 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 86/55 mph near HWY 47 South • August 30, 2017 Cited for Nuisance Violations near Rose Avenue • August 31, 2017 Cited for Nuisance Violations near Jefferson Avenue Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 08/01/2017 through 08/31/2017 VPD had 320 calls for service. 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