city news
march1
2018
5
Vernonia City News...
At the February 20, 2018 City Council
Meeting:
Council Approves Demolition of
Greenman Field Bleachers – Council
voted 5-0 to approve the demolition of
the bleachers at Greenman Field. The
stadium and football field are owned by
the City but are currently being leased
by the School District; according to the
lease agreement the School District is re-
sponsible for maintenance of the struc-
ture. The School District only intends
to use the football field for one or two
more seasons until a new field is con-
structed at the new campus using bond
funds approved by the community in
March 2016. The roof was identified as
failing by a structural engineer this past
summer, and was not used by the School
District during the fall football season;
the bleachers have been secured with
fencing to prevent access and protect
against liability. The City has been un-
able to identify a profitable future use for
the bleachers that would warrant the ex-
pense to fix them, estimated at $150,000.
City Administrator Josette Mitchell said
she intends to discuss sharing the cost
of demolition with the School District.
Cost for demolition has not been esti-
mated at this time.
Council Agrees to Remove Dangerous
Trees in Ora Bolmeier Park – Coun-
cil voted 4-0 to remove all 40 trees in
Ora Bolmeier Park that have been iden-
tified as diseased and pose a danger to
surrounding homes. The trees are locat-
ed in the lower portion of the park and
were examined by a certified arborist in
December. Councilor Jill Hult stated a
potential conflict of interest, as she has
family that live in the neighborhood, and
abstained from the discussion and vote.
Council Approves New Booster Ball
Field – Based on a recommendation
from the Parks Committee, Council ap-
proved a proposal by Vernonia Boosters
Club to construct a new baseball/soft-
ball field at Spencer Park. The Boosters
will pay for the installation. Cost of the
project is estimated by the Boosters to be
about $6,260.
Council Approves Work at Airport –
Based on two recommendations from
the Airport Committee, Council ap-
proved $2,000 from the Airport Opera-
tional Fund to build doors for a hanger
owned by the City that would make the
hanger available for rent, and for build-
ing materials to construct a lean-to for
tractor storage.
Council Approves Extension of Enter-
prise Zone in Scappoose – As a mem-
ber of the Columbia County Enterprise
Zone, the Vernonia City Council was
Vernonia Police Blotter
February 13-26, 2018
Reports Taken/Arrests
• February 13, 2018 Arrest for Theft III
near Jefferson Avenue
• February 14, 2018 Report of Outside
Agency Assist DUII
• February 24, 2018 Report of Negotiating
Bad Checks near Jefferson Avenue
• February 25, 2018 Cited and released
on a Warrant near Rose Avenue
Citations/Other
• February 19, 2018 Cited for Careless
Driving and Violation of the Basic Rule
76/55 mph on Nehalem HWY South
The Vernonia Police Department
responds to calls that do not always
end in Arrest, Report, or Citation.
02/01/2018 through 02/26/2018 VPD
had 157 calls for service.
Barbee Family Benefit and Fundraiser
Matthew Barbee, an 11-year
veteran with the Tigard Police Depart-
ment, was critically injured mid-Decem-
ber in a motor vehicle accident. Matt,
his wife Sherrie, and their three school
age children are members of the Mist/
Vernonia community.
Saturday, March 3 from 5:00 -
8:00 pm at the Vernonia Schools there
will be a benefit for the Barbee Fam-
ily including a Silent Auction, Spaghetti
Dinner (including gluten free and veg-
etarian options, salad, bread, and drink),
Live Music, Bingo, and a Dessert Shop.
Donations are coming in and there will
be prizes/auction items for all ages.
If you are interested in help-
ing with the Spaghetti Fundraiser in any
capacity, please contact Barb Carr at
bcarr@vernonia.k12.or.us.
asked to approve an extension of eco-
nomic benefits and incentives for Pre-
mier Jets, operating at the Scappoose
Airport. Premier Jets applied to extend
a three year property tax abatement for
two additional years and proposes to
invest $4.6 million in their new facility
resulting in the creation of 17 new jobs.
Council approved the request 5-0.
place it.
Council Approves Use of Office Space
– Council approved a request from the
Vernonia Area Chamber of Commerce
to allow the use of office space they uti-
lize in the lobby of the City Hall build-
ing to be used by a new organization,
The Intercultural Society of Vernonia.
Nicole Larke, speaking on behalf of the
Chamber, told the Council the Cham-
ber of Commerce is disbanding due to
lack of interest, and is re-branding them-
selves as the Intercultural Society. Larke
said they are seeking 501(c)(3) status so
they can access grants and will continue
to help organize community events like
the Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt,
July 4 th Celebration, and The Spirit of
Christmas in Vernonia.
Police Department Report – Police
Chief Mike Conner told the Council
that all Department policies have been
updated. He told the Council that his
Department will join other communities
in Columbia County, along with several
other regional agencies, on March 6 as
the new Columbia 9-1-1 CAD system
goes online. The new system will make
it easier for different agencies to com-
municate with each other.
Mayor Appoints Davenport to Air-
port Committee – With approval from
the rest of the Council, Mayor Mario
Leonetti re-appointed Doug Davenport
to the Airport Committee. Davenport
has currently been serving as the Airport
Committee Chair, but his term had ex-
pired.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council that the City has received bids
to repair the Library roof rather than re-
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, March 5, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Monday, May 28, 2018
Memorial Day Holiday
Dates and times subject to change
Mitchell told the Council that
the City is awaiting final approval from
CDBG of the construction contract and
RFP documents for the Senior Center/
Vernonia Cares project. Once all ap-
provals have been received the City can
go out for bid for a construction contrac-
tor.
Council to Discuss Senior Meals Sup-
port During Budget Process – Council
received a request from Senior Center
Secretary Sandy Welch for continued
support by the City for the Senior Citi-
zen Meal Program. The City of Verno-
nia supported the program with $10,000
in funding last fiscal year. Council said
they would consider continuing to sup-
port the program during their 2018-19
budget process this spring.
Topics from the Floor – Steve Calhoun
told the Council he thinks the trees at
Ora Bolmeier Park are an asset to the
community that add to the livability of
the City. He encouraged the Council to
consider keeping public spaces available
for public use and to not cut down trees
in the park.
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is scheduled to
be open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
January - October
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
March 10 & 24
April 14 & 28
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
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