community news october19 2017 3 City and Developer Deadlocked on Nickerson Ridge continued from front page Schrader appeared before the Vernonia City Council on three sepa- rate occasions during the summer of 2015, which initiated an investigation by the City of Vernonia into any available documentation and if any improvements were made. Documentation concerning de- velopment requirements that Schrader presented to Council during his initial presentation begins in 1998 and includes the names of City Administrator Gor- don Zimmerman, Public Works Direc- tor Robyn Bassett, and Planning Clerk Kathy Morrison. Tetra Tech was the City Engineering firm at the time; sev- eral memos and documents include the name of Kevin France as the City En- gineer. Several documents dated from 2000 are signed by City Planner Julie Coontz. None of these people are cur- rently employed by the City or the engi- neering firm. A memo from Engineer France to Bassett and Zimmerman dated Sep- tember 18, 1998 lists several comments concerning water and sewer line instal- lation requirements that may not have happened. A memo from France dated December 17, 1998 indicates that un- derground utilities were not installed ac- cording to approved plans. A memo to Bassett from France dated February 29, 2000 discloses that Bassett and France had performed a preliminary review of infrastructure improvements and presented a list of items that needed to be resolved before the City would take responsibility for future operation and maintenance of the improvements. Included in the list is an upgrade from a four inch water line to a six inch line into the development, improvements to the culvert crossing Knickerson Creek, and the installation of compacted fill beneath the westside sidewalk. The Vernonia Planning Com- mission gave final approval for the sub- division on April 20, 2000. City Planner Coontz informed Smejkal of this in a let- ter dated May 4, 2000, but indicates that flows from fire hydrants did not meet the required 1,000 gallons per minute and therefore all homes in the subdivision would require sprinkler systems. There is no documentation on file with the City or Columbia County indicating that any of these requirements or improvements were completed. The eight homes that were built do not have sprinkler systems. about the City’s exposure to potential li- A Final Plat map, giving final ap- ability. She recommended the City not proval for the development, was signed place a moratorium on construction but shortly after the Planning Commission’s rather only approve development that approval. It was signed by City Plan- meets the required conditions of approv- ner Coontz, Engineer France, new City al. Instead the City has declined to issue Manager Michael Sykes, the Columbia any further building permits on any of County Surveyor, the Columbia County the properties in the subdivision. Assessor and all three Columbia County Commissioners, as well as James Sme- jkal. No construc- tion occurred follow- ing the final approval until 2012. Following Schrader’s allega- tions the Vernonia City Council instruct- ed staff, including then City Administra- tor Gian Mammone, to begin investigat- ing what improve- ments, if any, had been done in the last fifteen years since the Terry Lindauer would like to see the City and the developers subdivision had been reach a compromise to fix the infrastructure. approved and if de- veloper Smejkal had complied with all requirements imposed According to City Administrator in 1998-2000. Mitchell all construction permits were In his report to Council at the issued through Columbia County at the July 6, 2015 City Council meeting, time the subdivision was originally ap- Mammone reported that staff was unable proved; the City of Vernonia contracted to locate any additional records, min- with Columbia County to provide build- utes from meetings or any plans for the ing inspection services and Columbia project, and Mammone suggested that County purges all records after 10 years. the required improvements were never The engineering firm hired by Smejkal done. He reported that after contact- also purged records after a set period of ing staff at Oregon Department of State time. Mitchell said that she asked Sme- Lands (DSL) he was informed that Sme- jkal in August of 2015 to provide docu- jkal did not have permits for improve- mentation of final “As Builts” for the ments he made to the land at the subdivi- development. “As Builts” are the latest sion. DSL disclosed that there are two changes on blueprints that show how a violations pending against Smejkal and construction project was actually built as Nickerson Ridge Estates, one concern- opposed to as it was designed. Smejkal ing wetlands violations in connection was unable to provide that documenta- with the rerouting of Knickerson Creek tion. and the second involving the installation “One of the big problems is of an undersized culvert. that there is no verification of any of the At the August 3, 2015 City things the developer did, or did not do,” Council meeting Council was presented says Terry Lindauer. with a memo from City Attorney Alex Sosnkowski addressing whether the City Still waiting should continue to approve construction Terry and Gretchen Lindauer in the development. Sosnkowski noted have regularly attended Vernonia City concerns about storm water run-off and Council meetings for the last year or so. fire hydrant flows and expressed concern Since the issue was originally brought Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Jim Bryson Chip Bubl Tobie Finzel Nick Galaday Shannon Romtvedt Robert Schattschneider Photography Scott Laird Whitley Tolonen Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscription (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com forward in 2015, little progress has been made on resolving the issue of who is responsible for fixing the problems that have been plaguing some residents in the neighborhood. In August of 2016 it ap- peared the City and the Smejkals had an agreement for the developers to install additional catch basins that would have helped with the storm water run-off. But the developers backed out of that deal before it moved forward. Meanwhile the Lindauers have been unable to get their building per- mit for their shop and are frustrated by the lack of movement on both sides that have stalled any progress towards a reso- lution. The Lindauers previously lived on Highway 47 south of Vernonia for almost 27 years on a 12 acre hobby farm. They raised two children there while Gretchen worked for the Vernonia School District in the cafeteria and Terry Cedar Side Inn FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! 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