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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2019)
city news january17 2019 5 Vernonia City News... At the January 7, 2019 City Council Meeting: Newly Elected Council Takes Office – Three new members took their seats on Vernonia’s City Council. City Council- or Dale Webb, Mayor Rick Hobart, and City Councilor J.R. Allen all took the oath of office prior to getting down to business at the first City Council meet- ing of the new year. with the Airport Committee, Councilor Dale Webb will be liaison to the Pub- lic Works Committee, and Mayor Rick Hobart will work with the Library and Senior Center Committees. Councilor Bruce McNair had previously picked the Cemetery Committee. Council Approves Lease Agreement for Grandstands – Council voted to authorize City Administrator Josette City Councilor Dale Webb, Mayor Rick Hobart, and City Councilor J.R. Allen Mayor’s Report – Newly elected May- or Rick Hobart read a statement in which he thanked the prior members of the Council – Mayor Mario Leonetti, and Councilors Jill Hult and Mike Seager for their service to the citizens. Hobart said his life in Vernonia since moving here in 1973 has been “blessed with wonderful family, lifelong friendships, and many memorable experiences.” He said he looks forward to working with the other members of the City Council, and the “hard working and committed staff,” noting the “professionalism” of City Re- corder Stephanie Borst. He said he be- lieves the Council will work together for the citizens of the community. He said after reviewing current City projects with staff that he is hopefully the City will break ground on the new Senior Center/Food Bank this year. Mitchell to sign a lease agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the Intercultural Society of Vernonia (ICSV) for the Greenman Field Grandstands. The agreement will not be authorized until the ICSV can present valid insur- ance coverage for the structure. The lease agreement will be for five years, and can be renewed. According to the lease, improvements to the property, and maintenance are the responsibility of the tenant. McNair Elected Council President – The Council elected Bruce McNair as Council President. The Council Presi- dent presides over City Council meet- ings and assumes the duties if the Mayor is unavailable. Council Approves Expenditure for Art in the Parks – Council approved a rec- ommendation from the Parks Committee authorizing spending up to $200 each for two trash barrels to be vinyl wrapped with previously approved artwork. The decorated trash barrels are part of the Art in the Parks program initiated by Parks Committee member Brittanie Roberts that has the City collaborating on beau- tification projects with art students at the Vernonia School District. Council Authorizes Check Signers – Council voted to authorized Mayor Rick Hobart and Councilor Dale Webb to be co-signers on City checks. Council Members Choose Commit- tee Assignments – Councilors chose the Citizen Committees to which they serve as liaison for the Council. Councilor J.R. Allen will work with the Parks Commit- tee, Councilor Susan Wagner will work The Vernonia Transfer Station is scheduled to be open on the nd 2 and 4 th Saturday January - October 8:00 am - 2:00 pm January 26 February 9 & 23 Dates and times are subject to change due to weather Mayor Appoints Two to Parks Com- mittee – Mayor Rick Hobart, based on a recommendation from the Parks Com- mittee and with approval from the rest of the Council, appointed Kim Tierney and Randy Ward to fill two open seats on the Parks Committee. Tierney is a former City Councilor. ner told the Council his department is investigating a series of crimes during the Christmas holiday. He also told the Council that new officer Michael Wal- ter is scheduled to graduate from Police Academy on January 18. City Administrator Report – City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell discussed the tour of the wastewater treatment fa- cility that members of the City Council and Public Works Committee took on December 29. She told the Council that, while the project is complete City staff are unable to finalize all the financials for the project due to the current federal government shutdown. Mitchell told the Council she would be taking revised construction plans for the Senior Center/Food Bank to the Senior Center Board for approv- al and would then bring them back to Council before going out to bid. Mitchell asked Council if they would like to meet with Chris Havel, As- sistant Director of Oregon State Parks, to discuss the proposal to designate 17 miles of the Lower Nehalem River as a State Scenic Waterway between Henry Rierson Spruce Run Campground and Cougar Valley State Park. Council scheduled a workshop with Havel on Monday, January 14, to hear details of the plan and ask questions. Council Schedules Workshop on Cemetery House – Council scheduled a workshop for Wednesday, January 30 at 6:00 pm to discuss the potential sale of the former caretaker’s house at the Memorial Cemetery, which his owned by the City. Topics From the Floor – Sandy Welch thanked the Council, past and present, for their work on the Rose Avenue Proj- ect and towards getting a new Senior Center/Food Bank constructed. Margaret Wells encouraged the City Council to ask for and get eth- ics training after past issues involving the previous Mayor. Councilor Bruce McNair said ethics training has already been scheduled. She also thanked local EMS for their help during a recent health issue. Next Council Meeting – The next City Council meeting will be held on Tues- day, January 22 at 7:00 pm due to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holi- day. City Council meetings are usually scheduled for the first and third Monday of each month. Police Blotter December 1, 2018 - January 14, 2019 Reports Taken/Arrests • December 1, 2018 Report of Theft I and Theft II near Missouri Avenue • December 1, 2018 Report of Hit and Run near Jefferson Avenue • December 18, 2018 Report of Stolen Vehicle near Spencer Avenue • December 22, 2018 Arrest on a Warrant near Timber Road • December 26, 2018 Report of Theft I near Jefferson Avenue • December 26, 2018 Report of Theft I near Rose Avenue • January 1, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near Bridge Street • January 4, 2019 Report of Hit and Run, Driving While Suspended, and Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver near 1st Avenue • January 10, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near State Avenue • January 13, 2019 Outside Agency Assist on vehicle pursuit Citation/Other • December 16, 2018 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Adams Road • December 20, 2018 Cited for Unlawful use of a Cellphone near HWY 47 South • December 28, 2018 Cited for No Oregon Driver’s License and Violation of the Posted Speed Limit 38/20 mph near Maple Street • January 11, 2019 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 75/55 mph near HWY 47 South • January 13, 2019 Cited for Failure to Display Plates and Failure to Renew Registration near HWY 47 North Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 12/1/2018 through 12/31/2018 VPD had 180 calls for service. 01/01/2019 through 01/14/2019 VPD had 94 calls for service. Police Report – Police Chief Mike Con- Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Monday, February 4, 2019 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, January 21, 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Dates and times subject to change IT’S TAX TIME Call your LOCAL tax preparer R Y O A LL PL P US LLC Edi Sheldon 503-429-1819 edisheldon@gmail.com Licensed tax consultant • Full service payroll Personal & small business bookkeeping • QuickBooks assistance CORPS, S-CORPS, LLC, Partnerships • Personal one-on-one service LTC #29629 - Oregon licensed tax consultant RTRP #P00448199 - designated as a registered tax return preparer by the Internal Revenue Service The IRS does not endorse any particular individual tax return preparer. For more information on tax return preparers, go to www.IRS.gov.
