city news
october5
2017
5
Vernonia City News...
At the October 2, 2017 City Council
Meeting:
Council Approves Water Leak Policy
– Council approved the first reading of
Ordinance 915, which amends Ordi-
nance 895, and establishes rules and
regulations pertaining to requests from
customers to adjust water use billing
following the discovery and repair of a
water leak that is the customer’s respon-
sibility. The new ordinance allows city
staff to adjust a customer’s bill based
on the following criteria: if the repair is
made within one to ten days customer is
eligible for 50% credit for excess use;
if the repair is made within 11 to 20 days
customer is eligible for 35% credit for
excess use; if the repair is made within
21 to 31 days customer is eligible for
25% credit for excess use.
Topics From the Floor – Sharon Ber-
nal provided an in depth history of the
dispute between the City and the devel-
opers at the Nickerson Ridge Estates
subdivision and suggested that the City
needs to take care of the issues, especial-
ly the drainage problems, on behalf of
the current homeowners. She asked the
Council to address the discrepancy in
information concerning the current law-
suit filed against the City that is asking
for building permits to be granted – Ber-
nal said the Council returned from Ex-
ecutive Session at one meeting and said
they were not disputing the lawsuit and
would comply with the court order to is-
sue building permits but under protest,
and then two weeks later said they were
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
going to contest the lawsuit.
Michelle Moline updated the
Council on her business and property
at the Lincoln School and the progress
she is making to survey the lot lines,
install good neighbor fencing, and deal
with drainage issues on the property that
impact neighbors. She thanked the City
for their cooperation in trying to help her
deal with the issues.
Scott Laird told the Council
he was unhappy with their decision to
table the vote on the ordinance regard-
ing smoking in parks and to send out a
community survey on the issue, because
they did not make clear how the results
of the survey will be used as part of their
decision, and because a lot of time and
effort had been spent by the Parks Com-
mittee, city staff and the Council them-
selves to draft an informed compromise
ordinance.
Terry Lindauer told Council
they need to find a way to fix the drain-
age issues at Nickerson Ridge Estates
and make it a priority for the homeown-
ers in the subdivision. He suggested the
Council re-appropriate funding already
approved for other street and drainage
projects in the City.
Randal Harvey told the Council
she is unhappy with the business at Lin-
coln School and suggested the Council
reconsider the commercial zoning desig-
nation for the property.
City Administrator Report – City Ad-
ministrator Josette Mitchell updated the
Council on the Wastewater Treatment
Plant and said the last of the bio domes
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
from 8am-2pm
City Closures
are scheduled for:
October 14 & 28
Monday, October 16, 2017
Monday, November 6, 2017
Friday, November 10, 2017
Veterans Day Observed
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
Dates and times subject to change
have been delivered.
Mitchell told the Council that
progress is being made on the Spencer
Park Picnic Shelter thanks to many com-
munity volunteers. The next work party
is scheduled for October 14 when deck-
ing material, plywood, and metal roof-
ing, along with a rooster weather vane,
will be installed.
Mitchell said the Council will
discuss the future of the Greenman Field
Grandstands at a workshop on October
16.
Mitchell said streets paving
work is now scheduled for October 9-13
and that neighbors have been notified.
Mitchell told the Council that
ODOT has scheduled engineering and
inspection work on the Mile Bridge (the
Green Bridge over the Nehalem River
on Hwy 47 on the north end of Verno-
nia) for 2018 and that repair and con-
struction is scheduled for 2021. Mitchell
said Columbia County officials are in-
volved in the discussion as they might
consider adding the CZ Trail Nehalem
River crossing to the project. Council
instructed Mitchell to ask ODOT if they
can make the bridge repair a higher pri-
ority and schedule it sooner.
Mayor Appoints Williams to Library
Board – Based on a recommendation
from the Library Board, and with ap-
proval from the rest of the Council,
Mayor Mario Leonetti appointed Grant
Williams to the Library Board.
Mayor Asks for Moment of Silence for
Victims of Las Vegas Shooting – On
the day following the mass shooting in
Las Vegas, Mayor Mario Leonetti asked
for the Council and audience to take a
moment of silence in honor of the vic-
tims and their families.
Vernonia Police Blotter • September 18-30, 2017
Reports Taken/Arrests
• September 26, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant
near Bridge Street
• September 27, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant
near Bridge Street
• September 30, 2017 Arrest on a Warrant
near Vernonia Lake
Citations/Other
• September 18, 2017 Cited for Expired
Registration and Violation of the Posted
Speed 54/35 mph near North Mist Drive
• September 20, 2017 Cited for Violation
of the Basic Rule 75/55 mph near
Nehalem HWY South
• September 25, 2017 Cited for Driving
While Suspended, Driving Uninsured, and
Violation of the Posted Speed 52/35 mph
near North Mist Drive
Vernonia Police Department responds
to calls that do not always end in
Arrest, Report, or Citation. 09/01/2017
through 09/30/2017 VPD had 264 calls
for service.
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