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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2019)
city news june6 2019 5 Vernonia City News... At the May 20, 2019 City Council Meeting: includes required liability insurance by the lessee of $1 million. Council Approves Water Curtailment Ordinance – After some confusion, Council voted 4-1 to approve Ordinance 921, which revised and streamlined the current ordinance for water curtailment measures. The updates included bulk water curtailment at level 4 and sets a timeline for changing the level of curtail- ment. Prior to the final vote Councilor Bruce McNair made a motion to repeal the current Ordinance, which effectively ended any water curtailment options by the City. Council voted to approve the motion 3-2, with Mayor Hobart, and Councilors McNair and J.R. Allen vot- ing in favor. Following the vote, Mayor Hobart recessed the meeting. Follow- ing the return to the meeting Councilor McNair said he doesn’t agree in prin- ciple with water curtailment measures and Mayor Hobart said he was confused about what he voted on. Council then voted to reconsider McNair’s motion which failed by a 2-3 vote with Council- ors Dale Webb, Susan Wagner, and Ho- bart voting against it. Council then voted to approve the first reading of Ordinance 921 by a 4-1 vote, with Councilor Allen voting against it, and Councilor McNair saying he was voting yes with protest. Council Approves Traffic Restriction Plan in Spencer Park – Based on a recommendation from the Parks Com- mittee, Council unanimously approved a plan to restrict vehicle traffic flow in Spencer Park. The Parks Committee expressed concern about damage to the park, as well as safety to park users. The plan calls for the installation of a gate and bollards which would restrict traffic on the track, and provide four parking spaces for unloading and handicapped access. Council approved spending up to $800 to implement the plan. Council Approves Funds for Play Structure – Council voted 4-1 to ap- prove Resolution 6-19, for the re-ap- propriation of Parks Funds, transferring $10,000 from a reserve fund to opera- tional materials for the purchase of a new play structure for Anderson Park. Councilor Webb voted against it. Council Approves Funds for Cem- etery House Work – Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 7-19, transferring $4,800 from contin- gency to contract services. The City received a bid from Robert Watts Con- struction for grading, concrete removal, and gravel at the house next to the Me- morial Cemetery the City owns and is planning to sell. City Moves Forward with Sale of Cemetery House – Following a Public Hearing at which there was no public testimony, the Council voted unani- mously to proceed with the process to list and sell the house the City owns next to the Memorial Cemetery. Council au- thorized staff to spend up to $600 to ad- vertise the listing. The City will list the property with a minimum acceptable of- fer of $95,000. Council Approves Hanger Lease – Council voted unanimously to approve a revised lease agreement for City owned hangers at the Vernonia Airport, which The Vernonia Transfer Station is scheduled to be open on the 2 nd and 4 th Saturday January - October June 8 & 22 July 13 & 27 Dates and times are subject to change due to weather Council Approves Vacation of Alley – Following a Public Hearing at which there was no public testimony, Council unanimously approved a request to va- cate a portion of the alley between State Avenue and the unbuilt East Avenue, J Street, and I Street. The request for vacation was made by Jake and Kathy Wolfe because a house was unintention- ally built in the alley right-of-way and the owners intend to sell the property. City Administrator Report – City Ad- ministrator Josette Mitchell told Council she had met with Five Star Construction, who submitted the low bid to build the new Senior Center/Vernonia Cares facil- ity, in order to find cost savings in the project. Mitchell told the Council there is still a gap between funding and the cost, which she believes can be filled with foundation grants. Mitchell told the Council the opening of the Archie Dass Dog Park on May 18 was a success, and said the City still needs to finalize the gravel parking area and install garbage cans. Mitchell told the Council she is continuing to work with the Vernonia High School Project Based Learning class to install an informational sign at Spencer Park that would be used by the City, School District, and Fire District. Mayor Proclaims EMS Week – Mayor Rick Hobart read a proclamation declar- ing May 19-25, 2019 as EMS Week. Mayor Names Smith Citizen of the Month – Mayor Rick Hobart named Trish Smith, a Metro West employee, volunteer with the Vernonia Ambulance Association, and volunteer with the Ver- nonia Rural Fire Protection District, as the May Citizen of the Year. Topics From the Floor – Brady Rom- tvedt asked the Council to replace the play structure at Anderson Park. At the June 3, 2019 City Council Meeting: Council Sets Camping Fees – After Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, June 17, 2019 Monday, July 1, 2019 City Closures are scheduled for: Thursday, July 4, 2019 Independence Day Holiday Dates and times subject to change discussing the issue with members of the Jamboree Committee who were in attendance, Council voted 5-0 to approve a flat rate of $100 per team, or $1,600, for the softball tournament to use Spencer Park for camping during Jamboree. The softball tournament will also pay a $450 facilities fee to the City for use of the ball fields. Council Approves Second Reading of Water Curtailment Ordinance – Council approved the second reading of Ordinance 921 by a 3-2 vote, revising water curtailment measures in the event of water shortage emergencies. Coun- cilors Bruce McNair and J.R. Allen vot- ed against the Ordinance. Council Approves Plan for Bench, Cover at Spencer Park – Council ap- proved a plan presented by Rick Ho- bart, to construct a bench and a 10’ x 24’ shelter in Spencer Park at the site of the Washington Grade School Monument. Hobart, the current Mayor, declared a conflict of interest, and did not partici- pate in the discussion, which he turned over to Council President Bruce McNair, except to answer questions about the project. Hobart is using lumber recov- ered from the Washington Grade School deconstruction to build the bench and shelter, and said he expects it to be com- plete by fall 2019. Mayor Appoints Wheelock to Parks Committee – Based on a recommenda- tion from the Parks Committee, Mayor Rick Hobart appointed Jason Wheelock to the Parks Committee. City Administrator Report – City Administrator Josette Mitchell told the Council she is still working with the contractor for the Senior Center/Food Bank regarding cost reductions, and is looking for foundation grants to make up the funding gap. Mitchell said new playground equipment has been ordered for Ander- son Park, and said when installed, the play area will be moved inside the camp- ing loop near the covered picnic area. She said the goal is to have it installed by July 4. Mitchell said the Intercultural Society of Vernonia is planning a free family event at the Greenman Grand- stands for 4 th of July. Mitchell informed the Council that production crews for the upcoming Disney movie The Water Man would be filming around Vernonia during the week of June 3. The film is about a boy who sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers. The film is directed by David Oyelowo and stars Rosario Dawson, Maria Bello, and Alfred Molina. Council Schedules Communica- tion Workshop – Council scheduled a follow-up workshop for Monday, July 7 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm to discuss com- munication within the Council and with staff. Mayor’s Report – Mayor Rick Hobart thanked everyone for their help in host- ing the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Memorial Cemetery. Topics From the Floor – Ernie Smith told the Council that the Jamboree soft- ball tournament brings as many as 500- 1,000 people to Vernonia, which benefits the Jamboree as an event, helps the ven- dors, and increases traffic in businesses. He encouraged the Council to work with Jamboree and the softball tournament to set reasonable camping fees at Spencer Park. Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1 st and 3 rd Thursday. Look for our next issue on June 20. Vernonia Police Blotter May 13-31, 2019 Reports Taken/Arrests • May 15, 2019 Report of Vehicle Impoundment near River Street • May 16, 2019 Report of Found Property • May 19, 2019 Report of Outside Agency Assist • May 20, 2019 Report of Vehicle Impoundment near Nehalem HWY South • May 26, 2019 Report of Reckless Driving near Nehalem HWY South • May 28, 2019 Report of Criminal Mischief near 1st Avenue • May 30, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near East Bridge Street • May 30, 2019 Report of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle and Theft II near East Bridge Street Citations/Other • May 13, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Washington Avenue • May 15, 2019 Cited for No Insurance near Nehalem HWY South • May 18, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Bridge Street • May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Violation of the Basic Rule 72/55 mph near Nehalem HWY South • May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured near State Avenue • May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured near Cougar Street • May 21, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance and Violation of the Basic Rule 70/55 mph near Nehalem HWY South • May 21, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance near Nehalem HWY South • May 22, 2019 Cited for Driving Outside of Restrictions near East Bridge Street • May 22, 2019 Cited for Failure to Display Plate and Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance near Weed Avenue • May 26, 2019 Cited for Ordinance Violations near 1st Avenue • May 27, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Timber Road • May 27, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance near Lone Pine Road • May 27, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured and Violation of the Basic Rule 73/55 mph near Nehalem HWY South • May 28, /2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Riverside Drive • May 30, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance near Grant Avenue Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 5/13/2019 through 05/31/2019 VPD had 308 calls for service.
