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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2022)
6 City News January 20 2022 Vernonia City News... Council Approves Use of ARPA Funds for Clatsop Sewer Project – Council approved the use of $62,261 in ARPA funds and to hire Pihl Ex- cavation to perform excavation work for the Clatsop Sewer Main Reloca- tion Project. At the January 18, 2022 City Coun- cil Meeting: Citizen of the Month – Councilor Dale Webb recognized Don Hummel and Wendy Livengood as the Citi- zens of the Month for their volunteer work helping clear snow with Don’s plow during recent winters. Council Schedules Work Sessions – Council scheduled a work session for March 9 at 6:30 pm to meet with Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley and discuss his proposal to provide law enforcement coverage for the City, and scheduled a workshop for March 30 at 6:30 to discuss the idea of replanting downtown trees and review surveys submitted by affected property owners. On The Shelves Community Discussion: Environmental Engagement and Sustainability On October 13, 2021, the Ver- nonia Public Library held a community discussion at the Vernonia Grange Hall, facilitated by library employee, Britta- nie Roberts. The discussion topic was environmental issues and sustainabil- ity in Vernonia. This meeting was in ful- fillment of the American Library Asso- ciation (ALA) Small and Rural Libraries grant, awarded to the library in Spring of 2021. The 11 community members in attendance, while weighted towards members with environmental volun- teer experience, constituted a good blend of different ages, experiences, classes, occupations, and education. The ALA grant requires com- munity involvement and discussion of the chosen subject. The topic chosen by the library, environmental engage- ment and sustainability in Vernonia, was an issue that happened to be at the forefront when applying for the grant. The aforementioned commu- nity discussion not only fulfilled grant requirements, but also delivered ideas, information, and perspectives on the topic from community members. The objective of this meeting was to use ideas and suggestions provided to im- prove and expand library services, ma- terials, programs, and events to better promote local environmental engage- ment and sustainability. The October 13 meeting took place in three rounds. Each round ad- dressed a specific question and en- couraged different conversations. In the first round, Roberts broke out the “gathering information” question: Part 1- What environmental issues/concerns do you see affecting our community? Part 2- What sustainability concerns do you see affecting our community? The group had 20 minutes to discuss the prompt, and the ideas Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures Please check the City’s website for details on upcoming City Council Meetings scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, February 7, 2022 Tuesday, February 22, 2022 www.vernonia-or.gov City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, February 21, 2022 Presidents’ Day Dates and times subject to change came flying. Multiple participants identified different concerns with Rock Creek and Vernonia’s water. Other group members identified concerns with local insect populations, illegal trash dumping, fire hazards/wildfire concerns, and effects of long-term population growth, among others. At the end of the 20 minutes, and af- ter reviewing all the ideas and com- ments shared, it was obvious that the top concern identified was Rock Creek, both as a natural waterway and as Vernonia’s source of drinking water. Participants identified numerous wor- ries under this umbrella subject, many referencing the continued dropping of water levels over the past few sum- mers, and increased water restrictions during summer months. Other con- cerns addressed lack of political and legal protections of the Rock Creek water source. With clear community con- cerns identified, Roberts set the group up for the second round. Group mem- bers reviewed a list created during a previous community discussion with local environmental and sustainability organizations. The list identified gaps in knowledge of, and barriers to, the grant topic for Vernonia citizens. The October 13 group was tasked with making additions to the list, and ask- ing questions, or sharing concerns. A specific addition to the list was concern with the City’s official emergency notification system. There was a great deal of discussion and con- cern about a lack of emergency notifi- cation for water restrictions, explicitly for this past summer. There was also discussion of the system being outdat- ed. Another specific addition was a lack of community involvement. There was discussion of how many of the same people serve on multiple committees or in several community volunteer po- sitions due to a lack of community en- gagement. There was concern that this trend would affect any program the li- brary might attempt. Local vandalism was also cited as a drain on commu- nity resources. Finally, facilitator Roberts moved the group on to the final round of discussion. Roberts explained that the final goal of the evening was to gain community input on how to spend the grant money in order for the library to best promote local envi- ronmental and sustainability engage- ment. Before opening the floor to discussion and suggestions, Roberts described the library’s idea for a Li- brary of Things, a new trend for public libraries to check out materials outside of the usual books, DVDs, and audio- books. Vernonia Public Library pro- posed using the grant to start a small collection of things specifically suited to promote and/or provide resources necessary for environmental engage- ment and sustainability. During round three’s discus- sion, participants shared ideas of how the library can increase knowledge and improve community engage- ment. Suggestions included: accurate and up to date preparedness packets for all households; fostering a relation- ship with the Vernonia School District to promote education for students and collaboration with student groups; LEED Certification; training for library staff; training and webinars held at the library on specific environmental/sus- tainability topics; indigenous involve- ment and representation; partner with WOEC to promote and provide energy saving products and information; up to date and accurate flyer with local organization information and contact info.; providing programs and classes such as drought resistant landscap- ing, native planting (with coupons for plants), efficient home gardening, can- ning, and dehydrating food. Specific considerations for the Library of Things included: a pressure cooker, a pressure cooker testing kit, a food dehydrator, canning kit, com- puter camera(s) to allow more op- portunities to attend virtual classes or webinars on the topic, gardening sup- plies (shovel, hoe, rake, gloves, trim- Vernonia Police Blotter mer, weed puller, etc.), a water test- ing kit, a weatherproofing kit (testing for drafts, chemicals, etc.), soil testing kit, and books, DVDs and tutorials on certain gardening, food saving, and/or sustainability methods. At this time, the library has moved forward with scheduling speakers to address different topics of interest brought up in the community discussion. The next step will be re- viewing Library of Things suggestions, prioritizing items to purchase, contact- ing potential partner organizations, and discussing program ideas with OSU extension services. Please mark your calendars with the following up- coming events: Wednesday, March 9, 6:30 pm: Tribal Perspectives on Water with Rose High Bear, Elderberry Wisdom Farm (Salem, OR), Board President Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 pm: In- dividual Action in Sustainability and Environmental Engagement with Jon Biemer, author of Our Environmental Handprints Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 pm: TBA Wednesday, June 8, 6:30 pm: Verno- nia Geology with Dave Taylor, Paleon- tologist and Professor of Geology and Earth Sciences, Portland State Univer- sity Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). Current Hours & Contact Info: Mon, Wed, Fri: 10 am - 5 pm Tues, Thur: 12 pm - 7 pm Sat: 12 pm - 5 pm Outdoor pick-up cart is in service dur- ing all regular open hours. Face cover- ings are required to enter the building. To request an accommodation, please contact the Library prior to your visit. Phone: (503) 429-1818 E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov Website: www.vernonia-or.gov/de- partments/library/ Online catalog: https://vernonia.biblionix.com/catalog/ January 1-18, 2022 Reports Taken/Arrests • January 1, 2022 Report of Disorderly Conduct x2, Reckless Endangering, and Criminal Trespass x2 near Bridge Street • January 10, 2022 Informational Report taken Citation/Other • January 7, 2022 Citation issued for Driving While Suspended, and Driving Uninsured near Lone Pine Road • January 10, 2022 Citation issued for Driving While Suspended, and Driving Uninsured near Scappoose Vernonia HWY • January 10, 2022 Citation issued for Driving While Suspended, Driving Uninsured, and Failure to Install ID near Scappoose Vernonia HWY • January 11, 2022 Citation issued for Driving Uninsured, and Failure to Register a Vehicle near Scappoose Vernonia HWY Vernonia Police Department had 69 calls for service from 01/01/2022 to 01/18/2022. The Vernonia Transfer Station is scheduled to be open on the 2 nd and 4 th Saturday January - October January 22 February 12 & 26 Dates are subject to change
