city news
may16
2019
Vernonia City News...
At the May 6, 2019 City Council Meet-
ing:
Old Hours: Sat 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
New Hours: Sat 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Council Approves Transportation
Service District – After a lengthy dis-
cussion, Council approved Resolution
05-19, agreeing to join other communi-
ties to form a Columbia County Trans-
portation Service District. The approval
of the resolution allows County Com-
missioners to move forward with a tax
levy on property value, to be approved
by voters, to fund the CC Rider public
transportation system that would include
service for Vernonia. Several Council-
ors expressed concerns about the level of
service the Vernonia community would
receive. Council approved the resolu-
tion by a 4-1 vote, with Councilor J.R.
Allen voting against it.
Council Approves Open Air Market
Space – Council approved a request by
the Vernonia Open Air Market for use
of City owned property at the corner of
Bridge Street and Grant Avenue (former
site of the Vernonia Health Center) to
hold the Open Air Market on Saturdays
from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm from May 18
to September 28, except for Jamboree
weekend.
Council Approves Change to Library
Hours – Council approved a recom-
mendation from Library Director Shan-
non Romtvedt for a small adjustment
to the hours the Library is open to the
public. Romtvedt told the Council she
has been tracking library hour use with
a door counter, said staff has been ob-
serving busy and slow times, and has
compared open hours of other libraries
in Columbia County. She recommend-
ed, and Council approved, the following
changes to hours:
Old Hours: Tues, Thurs 1:00 pm opening
New Hours: Tues, Thurs 12:00 pm open-
ing
Council Tables Decision on Airport
Hanger Lease – Council tabled a deci-
sion on revisions to their Lease Agree-
ment for rental of hangers by the public
at the Vernonia Airport. In question are
changes staff was asked to make to in-
clude storage of non-aircraft items. The
draft lease staff presented contains a $1
million liability insurance requirement.
Council asked for staff to provide more
information on the costs for liability in-
surance. The vote to table the decision
to approve the draft lease was 4-1, with
Councilor Susan Wagner voting against
the decision.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council the low bid contractor for the
construction of the Senior Center/Food
Bank was Five-Star Builders, although
the initial bid was still about $500,000
over the proposed budget. Mitchell said
Police Blotter May 1-12, 2019
Reports Taken/Arrests
• May 1, 2019 Report of Curfew Violation
• May 11, 2019 Report of Criminal Mischief
II and Theft III near Missouri Avenue
• May 11, 2019 Arrest for Driving Under
the Influence and Reckless Driving near
Nehalem HWY North
Citations/Other
• May 2, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended near Grant Avenue
• May 2, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended and Failure to Carry Proof of
Insurance near Texas Avenue
• May 3, 2019 Cited for Violation of the
Basic Rule 70/55 mph near Nehalem HWY
South
• May 3, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured
near Weed Avenue
• May 4, 2019 Cited for Violation of the
Basic Rule 75/55 mph near Nehalem HWY
South
• May 4, 2019 Cited for Violation of the
Basic Rule 72/55 mph near Nehalem HWY
South
• May 6, 2019 Cited for No Insurance near
East Bridge Street
• May 11, 2019 Cited for Switched Plates
and Driving Uninsured near Adams Avenue
• May 11, 2019 Cited for Violation of the
Basic Rule 74/55 mph near Nehalem HWY
South
• May 12, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry
Proof of Insurance near Nehalem HWY
South
Vernonia Police Department responds
to calls that do not always end in Arrest,
Report, or Citation. 5/01/2019 through
05/13/2019 VPD had 184 calls for service.
she has met with the contractor and to-
gether they are identifying additional
cost savings. She said the project may
need some foundation grant funding to
be completed.
Mitchell told the Council the
Archie Dass Dog Park will celebrate its
Grand Opening on May 18.
Mitchell told the Council there
are still five memorial trees left in Spen-
cer Park for purchase.
Mitchell told the Council a pub-
lic hearing will be held on May 20 for the
sale and bid process for the City owned
house next to the Memorial Cemetery.
Mitchell told the Council the
City will host the annual Memorial Day
Ceremony at the Memorial Cemetery on
Monday, May 27 at 11:00 am. She said
assistance is needed to put up the large
flags at the cemetery on Wednesday,
May 22 at 7:00 pm.
Council Schedules Work Sessions –
Council scheduled the following work
sessions:
Council Retreat and Communication
Follow-up – May 14
Streets Inventory/Transportation Im-
provement Plan – June 5
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Rick Hobart
reported on the Council Retreat with
facilitator John Morgan, in which the
Council met on Friday and Saturday,
April 26-27 to work on goal setting.
Hobart said the workshop was “produc-
tive.”
Topics From the Floor – Richard Stein
expressed concern over safety in Spen-
cer Park due to vehicles driving in the
park and presented a proposal to provide
a City managed golf cart to assist park
users with mobility issues.
Gary Meyer discussed concerns
about the required liability insurance for
renters of hangers at the Vernonia Air-
port.
Steve Whiteman told the Coun-
cil the Parks Committee would like the
Council to find a way to fund a play
structure for Anderson Park, and said the
Parks Committee would bring a recom-
mendation to the May 20 Council meet-
ing.
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
The Vernonia Transfer
Station is scheduled to be
open on the 2 nd and 4 th
Saturday
January - October
May 25
June 8 & 22
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, May 20, 2019
Monday, June 3, 2019
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Monday, May 27, 2019
Memorial Day Holiday
Dates and times are subject to change due to weather
Dates and times subject to change
The public is invited to come
honor those who have served,
given their lives, or are still missing
22 nd Annual
Memorial Day Service
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
Proposed Sale of Public Property in the
City of Vernonia, Oregon
When: May 20, 2019 at 7:00 pm for the
City Council hearing
Where: Council Chamber, City of Verno-
nia, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR
Why: Sale of City-Owned Property 2080
Bridge Street
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the
Vernonia City Council, will conduct a
public hearing for the sale of City Owned
Property - 2080 Bridge Street. The
Vernonia City Council has determined
that this residential property is surplus and
could benefit the public most by being sold.
See map on opposite page.
SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held
before the Vernonia City Council on
Monday, May 20, 2019. The hearing
will be held in the Council Chambers of
Vernonia City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street,
Vernonia, OR at or after 7:00 pm, at which
time proponents and opponents of the
proposed Sale will be heard.
A staff report will be available to the
public at City Hall one week before the
hearing, and may be copied for a nominal
fee. Failure to raise an issue in a hearing,
in person or by letter or failure to provide
statements or evidence sufficient to afford
the decision-maker an opportunity to
respond to the issue precludes appeal to the
board based on that issue. Public testimony
is welcome, and written statements will
also be received before the hearing.
The meeting location is accessible to
persons with disabilities. A request for
an interpreter for the hearing impaired
or for other accommodations for persons
with disabilities should be made at least
48 hours prior to the public hearing to
Stephanie Borst at 503-429-5291 ext. 105,
TTY 1-800-735-2900 or at City Hall, 1001
Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
The City of Vernonia is an Equal
Opportunity Provider and Employer.
5
Monday, May 27
11:00 AM
at Vernonia Memorial Cemetery
2080 Bridge Street
with Pastor Sam Hough
from Vernonia Christian Church
Speaker
Paul “Skip” Goodman
Colors Presented By
Aloha American Legion Post No. 104
Plan to arrive early! Limited seating available