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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2018)
city news july19 2018 5 Vernonia City News... At the July 16, 2018 City Council Meeting: Council Reschedules Greenman Bleachers Work Session – After having to cancel a scheduled Work Session with the Save the Greenman Field Bleachers Committee twice because the City didn’t correctly notice the Public Meeting, Council was informed by a Committee Representative that the Committee could not meet on July 18. Council resched- uled the meeting for July 31 at 6:30 pm. Council Renames Airport Park – Council voted 3-2 to approve a recom- mendation by the Parks Committee to rename Airport Park. The committee had proposed three options for consid- eration. Council chose Nehalem River Park & Campground as the new name. The Parks Committee suggested the change in an effort to make the park sound more welcoming, to help attract more visitors, and increase revenues to help with developing and maintaining the park. Councilors Bruce McNair and Mike Seager voted against the change; Councilors Susan Wagner, Jill Hult, and Mayor Mario Leonetti voted in favor. Council Approves New Personnel Handbook – Council approved resolu- tion 11-18, adopting a new Personnel Policies Handbook for employees. City Administrator Josette Mitchell told the Council the new handbook was devel- oped using a software tool provided by the City’s insurance carrier that allows state laws to be incorporated into the policies and will allow for easier updates in the future. Council Approves Streets Grant Ap- plication – Council approved Resolu- Police Blotter • Reports/Arrests • July 4, 2018 Report of DUII near Rose Avenue • July 8, 2018 Arreste on a Warrant near Bridge Street • July 10, 2018 Report of Restraining Order Violation near North Mist Drive • July 11, 2018 Report of Theft II near Bridge Street • July 12, 2018 Informational report on burning near Maple Street • July 14, 2018 Vehicle impoundment and Driving While Suspended near Maple Street tion 12-18 allowing the City to apply for a Small City Allotment Grant from ODOT to pave City streets. The City’s application calls for resurfacing of A Street from Washington Avenue to State Avenue, and B Street from Washington Avenue across State Avenue to the end. Council Meets in Executive Session – Council met in Executive Session under ORS 192.660 (2)(e) “To conduct delib- erations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real prop- erty transactions.” Public documents distributed during the meeting included a draft Greenman Field Grandstands Ground Lease prepared by the City and a report on Negotiation Options from the Grandstands Committee. The Negotiat- ing Options report concluded that “the [football] field and grandstands need to always be rented as a unit.” The report later noted, “Separating the field from the Grandstands within the fee structure is a non-starter for the committee.” Af- ter returning to Open Session City Re- corder Stephanie Borst announced that Mayor Leonetti would present the agree- ment and staff would update the agree- ment with suggested changes from the City’s insurance company and the City Planning Department. Council took no further action. Council Receives Report on Park Space – Council received a report pre- pared by Ben Fousek from the City Planning Department summarizing City park and open space areas. The report noted that the Vernonia City limits in- cludes an area of 1,085 acres. The City has a total of 172.6 acres of park space, of which 37.65 acres are maintained. The total also includes 53.2 acres in the Mill Site that is zoned Public recreation July 1-16, 2018 Citations/Other • July 3, 2018 Cited for Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance near North Mist Drive • July 7, 2018 Cited for Driving While Suspended, No Insurance, and Defective Lighting near Bridge Street • July 8, 2018 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Rose Avenue Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 07/01/2018 through 07/16/2018 VPD had 122 calls for service. and is not a park or maintained. The City also owns 9.5 acres of flood buyout property which it maintains. Police Department Report – Police Chief Mike Conner said he and City Administrator Josette Mitchell will try to work with ODOT to find an alterna- tive or an exemption to the new stop sign that has been placed at the intersection of Bridge Street and Rose Avenue at the flashing light. Conner explained that ODOT was looking for options to keep drivers from cutting the corner from Bridge to Rose heading south, when they discovered that state statute requires a stop sign be placed anyplace there is a stop line. Councilor Bruce McNair complained that the stop sign could pose problems for large loads that need to get a travel permit, and may force expensive detours. Conner told Council that two new officers, Michael Walter and Abbie Hanson are scheduled to attend Police Academy starting August 13. City Administrator Report – City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell told Council that three general contractor firms and many subcontractors attended a pre- bid meeting for the Senior Center/Food Bank project on July 9. Mitchell said Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, August 6, 2018 Monday, August 20, 2018 City Closures are scheduled for: 8-10 am Monday, July 30, 2018 Staff Meeting Noon on Friday, August 3, 2018 Vernonia Friendship Jamboree Dates and times subject to change numerous calls have also come in ex- pressing interest in the project. Mitchell told Council that the City has posted the job opening for the Utility Worker I position. Applications are due July 30 and interviews are sched- uled for the week of August 6. Mitchell told the Council City Hall will be closed on July 30 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am for a mandatory staff meeting to go over the new personnel handbook and inform staff of the budget and plans for the new fiscal year. Topics From the Floor – Scott Laird shared with Council the results of an informal poll on Facebook concerning the proposed renaming of Airport Park. Laird reported that 53 people were in fa- vor of a name change and indicated in comments that they thought a change would better reflect the park and could help draw more visitors. 37 people said they thought the name should stay the same. Laird also took time to thank Don Normand and Linda Christopher- son, who were in the audience, for their help with mowing Spencer Park, and Rick and Linda Hobart, who were also in the audience, for their part in helping clean up planted areas at the Post Office. The Vernonia Transfer Station is scheduled to be open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday January - October 8:00 am - 2:00 pm July 28 August 11 & 25 Dates and times are subject to change due to weather Join this movement NOTICE OF POSITIONS OPEN CITY OF VERNONIA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Election will be held on the 6 th day of November 2018, at which time the legal voters of the City of Vernonia will be entitled to vote for candidates to certain city offices. OFFICES OPEN FOR ELECTION: • VERNONIA MAYOR TWO YEAR TERM • VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM • VERNONIA COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR YEAR TERM Election packets will be available May 30th, 2018 at the office of the City Recorder, 1001 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR 97064. Nominating petitions can be filed no sooner than June 1st, 2018, and filed no later than Thursday, August 23rd, 2018, by 4:00 p.m. with the City Recorder. For more information call Stephanie Borst, City Recorder at 503- 429-5291 ext. 105. The City of Vernonia is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Physical activity is a proven path to a happier, healthier life. Creating health together. colpachealth.org M @columbiapacificcco A CareOregon Company Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Look for our next issue on August 2.
