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About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1981)
Page 2— Vernonia Freedom Thursday May 7,1981 Dog control a county problem reader says To the Editor: Commissioner Sahagian’s accusations that the County Clerk’s office “ sandbagging” has created the failure of the dog control program is patently ridiculous. It underscores abreviated form. 1) The county commissioner shall appoint a three man board of supervisors to issue licenses and enforce all the dog control laws and rule upon all claims against the dog license fund for livestock or poultry •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••O Public Forum ••••••••••••••• our county commissioner's inability to understand and conduct county business. A malfunctioning dog control program is not a new development it’s just getting more expensive. Columbia County’s dog control program is authorized and operated under ORS 609, which amongst many other details, lays out the chain of command and duties as follows in City Council Notes continued from page 1 the lagoon into the Nehalem River is stopped. An answer from IP is expected prior to the next city council meeting in two weeks and many hope some accomodation between all of the parties concerned; IP, the developers and the city, can be reached in time to allow construction on the new facility to begin as soon as possible. In an attempt to bring an end to disagreements over sewer hookups the , city council directed the city attorney to draw up an ordinance declaring a moratorium on new construction within the city. The proposed ordinance would not affect building additions or construction that would not put any new hookups on the sewer system. In addition, the new ordinance will not impose a halt to the use of approved septic systems. The moratorium is expected to be in force until the new lagoon facility is completed and on-line. A bid from Vernonia Control for the assumption of all emergency radio communications for the city was turned down by the council. Mayor Anderegg explained that one of the reasons Central Dispatch costs had climbed was the withdrawal of a number of participants in the effort, thereby raising costs to those remaining. Anderegg said that at the meeting of Central Dispatch officials and representatives from each of the area users it was decided to continue with their services at this time because of higher staffing levels, more complete radio equipment and existing links to law enforcement computers. Anderegg also pointed continued on page 5 ••••••••••••••• killed or injured. (There is an accomodation for the commissioners to fill those positions themselves.) 2) The board may hire an enforcement officer. Salaries of enforcement officers shall be paid entirety from money in the dog license fund They shall be vested with full authority to make arrests and collect fees therefor, to impound all dogs not licensed and do all the things authorized by law, etc. 3) The owner of a dog shall procure, from the County Clerk, a license by paying a license fee. The clerk shall keep a record of such licenses in a special book. All funds shall be turned over to the county treasurer to be kept in the dog license fund. Now, to relate how the program is working based on my observations as a multi dog owner, commencing with the County Clerk’s office. Annually, months prior to the licensing deadline the clerk published large ads in the local newspapers warning of the impending deadling and consequences of missing it. I also receive a renewal notice in the mail for each of my dogs from the clerk’s office. When I arrive to purchase the licenses they pop open the records, tell me the names of my dogs, the status or their rabies shots, wrench the money out of one of my hands, thrust licenses and receipts into my other hand and send me on my way marveling at how quickly and efficiently I handled the whole affair. This year they even set up a table closer to the door to decrease the loitering and shakedown time. Pray tell, what else does Sahagian want? The ladies in the clerk’s office to don sneakers and masks, run us down and roll us for more fees? ORS 609 clearly delegates citing, collecting fines and impounding unlicensed dogs to the dog control officers. The fact that two county dog control officers issued only ten citations becomes more nauseous when compared to the output of the St. Helens dog control officers. How poorly they are doing becomes apparent when one realizes Columbia County is primarily a rural county of VernoniaFreedom Published weekly in Vernonia Oregon, 97064, on Thursdays at 825 Bridge St. Serving The Upper Nehalem Valley. Phone 129-8111. Subscriptions, $8per year. Deadlines for copy and classified advertising: Monday at a pm for the following Thursday's paper. Deadline for display advertising: Friday for normal material and Monday for after-weekend copy. Second-Class Postage Paid at Vernonia, OR 97064, Publication No. 474-690. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Vernonia Freedom, 825 Bridge St.. Vernonia, OR 97064. Dennis Dobson................................ publisher-editor Ann Dobson.......... .. .^............................ publisher-business manager Correspondents: Sandy Welch member about 12,000 mailing addresses. The odds are good that more of those addresses contain two dogs than contain none. That formula would indicate a probable county dog population of 10,000 to 12,000, of which less than one half are licensed. The dog control officers should not be faulted for their lack of diligence. Under 609 it is the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors, or in our case the commissioners, to give the* officers a clear-cut policy and direction and see that they pursue it. The commissioners obviously haven’t done that. I find it intriguing the commissioners would double the enforcement officers during the rapid decline of fee collections to pay them with in accordance with 609., and now Sahagian wants to add two more people. A brief scan of funds expended and budgeted and actions taken by the commissioners in dog damage claims indicates they have reduced the process to an exercise in chiseling. The appalling part of all this is ORS 609 is neither a secret document or difficult to read. The taxpayers have bought the commissioners their own office copy and shell out in excess of $30,000 annually for a county attorney to read for them. And I personally guarantee they know 609 exists. The commissioners management of dog control is in keeping with their apparent policy of ignoring laws, rules or votes that do not conform to their Reliefs or desires. 0h4well, at is only $35,000 to $70,000 of public funds shot down the tube annually. Now who’s sandbagging who? Dan Sprague Clatskanie, Ore. Chamber of Commerce invites business community OPEN CHAMBER MEETING All of Vernonia businesses are urged to attend the next Chamber of Commerce meeting to discuss their reaction to the new industrial development proposal, according to Bill Hansen, chamber president. Hansen stressed that all local businesses are urged to send a representative whether they are chamber members or not. The meeting will be held at the West Oregon Electric building at 1 pm Monday, May 11. After this meeting a special committee of the chamber will develop a resolution on the issue, according to Hansen. Due to the possibly serious impact on Vernonia’s busmess community it is vitally important that all views be heard before the chamber takes a position on the issue, he added. For more information call Hansen at 429- 2355. OF COLUMBIA Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of WILLIAM R. FITZMAURICE Deceased No. 4994 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has been appointed personal representative of the above estate. AU persons having claims against the estate are »required to present them to the undersigned personal representative at Jon S. Henricksen, Attorney at Law, High Rocks Town Center, Suite 47-B 82nd Drive, Gladstone, Oregon 97027, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice. Gary W. Fitzmaurice Personal Representative 13856 S.E. 180th Boring, Oregon 97009 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF MEETING OF COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION Notice is hereby given that on Monday, May 11, 1981 the Board of Equalization of the County of Columbia, Oregon, will meet at the County Courthouse in St. Helens, Oregon, to pubUcly examine the assessment rolls for said County of Columbia, for the year 1981, and to correct all errors in valuation, description, or qualities of land, lots or other property assessed by the assessor. The assessed valuation of homesteads assessed by the county assessor’s office in Columbia County, as entered on the assessment roU for January 1,1981, is 816 percent of the true caSh (market) value of such property. The assessed valuation of all other taxable property assessed by the county assessor’s office in Columbia County, as entered on the assessment roll for January 1, 1981, is 844 percent of the true cash (market) value of such property. It shall be the duty of the persons interested to appear at the time and place appointed. Petitions for adjustment of assessments must be filed with the board not later than Monday, May 18, 1981, except when the filing of the petition at a different time is permitted under ORS 309.026 (for homestead property only), 309.035 or 309.103. Dated at St. Helens, Oregon this 21st day of April, 1981. Henry T. Hudson Columbia County Assessor 4-30, 5-7 State of Oregon I Please renew my subscription to Vernonia Freedom □ । I Please enroll me as a new subscriber to I One year —$8 □ Vernonia Freedomü I I I □ Two years —$15 I □ One year senior citizen — $5 I I Name______ ___ 1 I I I Pi o' ss ‘ I 1 I r, .. o. Send to: Vernonia Freedom or Call 429-8111 I I oZo DHage ot.
