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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2018)
june7 2018 VERNONIA’S volume12 issue11 free reflecting the spirit of our community “Save the Grandstands” Project Moves Forward Community group presents plan to City Council The local effort by community members to repair and restore the histor- ic grandstands at Greenman Field took another big step forward when the group presented their Business Plan to the Ver- nonia City Council on May 21, 2018. Stacey Pelster, Rachel Organ, and Janice McGuire represented the group of citizens that have come to- gether to renovate the grandstands and generate revenue to maintain them in the future. The grandstands were part of the Vernonia School campus and served as a covered seating for high school football games and other school activities. Fol- lowing the flood of 2007 and the relo- cation of the school campus, Greenman Field became the property of the City of Vernonia, who has leased the sports fields back to the Vernonia School Dis- trict. The School District is currently in the process of constructing new sports facilities at their new campus and will no longer have need of sports fields at the old campus, now called Spencer Park. Last year the City closed the use of the Greenman Field Grandstands after it was discovered that the roof trusses were failing and the structure inside 6 vernonia sk8 park 8 the end of an era 9 vhs graduation tribute was deemed unsafe. The City Coun- cil voted to demolish the grandstands after they determined the cost to repair them and make them structurally safe was prohibitive. A group of interested citizens organized and asked the Council to de- lay the demolition and allow them the opportunity to find a way to save the grandstands. The Council suggested the group form a nonprofit to operate and maintain the facility and gave the group until the end of the fiscal year to show progress in developing a realistic proposal. The Business Plan presented to the Council states the mission of the group is “...to restore, preserve, and maintain the Greenman Field Grand- stands, and to provide event opportuni- ties not only for locals to experience, but also to generate new potential reve- nue in Vernonia, while at the same time contributing to the history and promot- ing the community heritage of unity.” The proposal identifies a fiscal partnership with the Intercultural Soci- ety of Vernonia (formerly the Chamber of Commerce) to achieve nonprofit sta- tus. The group said they intend to raise the funds needed to restore the grand- stands through donations and business support. The Business Plan included a Spencer Park Memorial Trees Get Planted The City of Vernonia has plant- ed 20 new trees at Spencer Park. The trees are being funded by donations from the community and are purchased as Memorial Trees. a member of the Vernonia Parks Com- mittee, who wanted the park to include some shade trees and places for people to sit and enjoy the open space. The City purchased three varieties of trees - Valley Forge Elm, Sun Valley Maple, and Pacific Sunset Maple - which were chosen for the 10 trees have already been pur- chased and 10 more are available. The trees were planted around the new pic- nic shelter, the playground, and the ball field. 10 trees line what will eventually be a paved pathway, linking the park- ing/picnic shelter area with the snack shack and a future paved picnic plaza. The idea for the Memorial Trees was initiated by Steve Whiteman, varied colors they offer in the fall. City Administrator Josette Mitchell said the City will be purchas- ing and installing plaques for each Me- morial Tree. If you are interested in learning more about the Spencer Park Memorial Tree project, please contact City Hall at (503) 429-5291. Citizens can still purchase trees from the City proposed budget for restorations and re- pair of $121,500. Ongoing maintenance and op- erations will be funded through revenue from organized events and vendor fees. The possibility of a business sponsor with naming rights was also proposed, with interest being expressed by Peter- son CAT, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Parr Lumber. According to the group, poten- tial events include high school home- coming and alumni games, local sports tournaments, Jamboree events, concerts, running events, and the possibility of bringing an event related to the Pacific Northwest Sportsman Show to Vernonia. The Business Plan calls for the creation of excess revenue beyond the costs of maintenance that would help fund the construction of a new grand- continued on page 15 Dates Change for Beaver Creek Bridge Closure Full road closure on High- way 47 will begin on August 6 The 60-day closure to replace the Beaver Creek Bridge on OR 47 south of Vernonia is now slated to start on August 6 to accommodate the town’s biggest event, the Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show on Au- gust 3-5. The contractor working for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) was originally scheduled to replace the bridge starting on July 9. The shifting of the start date to August 6 ensures that the closure will not affect travel during Vernonia’s biggest event on the first weekend in August. To accomplish the work, a full 24-7 closure of OR 47 is still planned from August 6 to early October with lo- cal access maintained and a detour us- ing Timber Road. The bridge is located between Vernonia and Staley’s Junction (U.S. 26 and OR 47) at milepost 70. The Beaver Creek Bridge is an old, narrow bridge that is in poor condition and in need of frequent re- pairs. The plan now is to remove the old bridge starting on August 6 and re- construct a new one in its place. The newly constructed bridge is expected to be ready for traffic on October 1. The work includes: • Constructing a work isolation area and removing the existing bridge • Constructing pile foundations, abut- ments and bridge super structure • Installing drainage and storm water facilities, and paving • Installing a retaining wall Local access will be main- tained from McDonald Road south to the bridge site and from Johnson Road north to the site. A detour for thru traf- fic is Columbia County’s Timber Road that connects OR 47 (at milepost 64.5) with U.S. 26 (at milepost 38). ODOT is working with Columbia and Washing- ton counties to get the road ready for the detour. Some work on the project has already been completed including clear- ing and tree removal from around the bridge and work site. There may be ad- ditional work required prior to the full closure which may include single lane closures, flagging of traffic, and some minor delays. Variable message signs placed along OR 47 and U.S. 26 will be used to warn travelers of any traffic control changes and delays caused by construction. For the latest information on the project, please visit http://www.or- egon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project- details.aspx?project=17522.
