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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