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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 2015)
NORTH COAST THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 3A Warrenton signature drive falls short Residents will still try to make September ballot By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Res- idents who want to restrict the Warrenton’s ability to transfer assets such as Tan- sy Point have so far fall- en short in their signature drive for the September ballot. The proposed charter amendment would require double majority voter ap- proval before the city trans- fers or disposes of assets worth $100,000 or more. The Warrenton Property Protection Committee filed 450 signatures of registered voters in February to qual- ify for the September bal- lot. But the Clatsop Coun- ty Clerk has found that the committee failed to meet the threshold — 411 signa- tures — because 101 of the signatures are invalid. Ken Yuill, who is lead- ing the committee’s effort, said the committee would attempt to gather the neces- sary signatures by the June deadline to make the Sep- tember ballot. “We are going to pro- ceed until we get enough,” said Yuill, a senior utility technician in Astoria who serves on the Warrenton Planning Commission. Mayor Mark Kujala and others have opposed the charter amendment, arguing that the City Commission should have discretion over city assets. While the ballot question grew out of a debate last year on Tansy Point, the charter amendment would also apply to city assets such as garbage WUXFNV ¿UH WUXFNV RU HTXLS- ment for water systems. Double majority voter ap- proval means that more than 50 percent of eligible voters would have to participate in the election and that a major- ity would have to vote in fa- vor of the asset transfer — a steep hurdle. Last year, the City Com- mission considered a land swap with Warrenton Fiber involving 43 acres the com- pany leases from the city at Tansy Point. The company offered 20 acres off Dolphin Avenue and a promise to build the city a new Public Works facility. Yuill and Gil Gramson, a former Warrenton may- or and city manager, were among several residents who objected to the land swap, contending that the land — donated by the Carruthers family in the 1970s to avoid condemnation by the Port of Astoria — is valuable and should remain in city hands. The City Commission de- clined to move forward with the trade, but Kujala has said the city might be open to a proposal for Tansy Point in the future. Crafard hired as new Clatsop County clerk By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian Valerie Crafard, former clerk of the Clatsop Coun- ty Board of Commissioners, was hired as Clatsop County clerk Monday. Crafard replaces former Clatsop County Clerk Maeve Kennedy Grimes, who was ¿UHG LQ 'HFHPEHU DIWHU VKH was placed on paid adminis- trative leave Oct. 20 follow- ing two errors on the general election ballot. Crafard has served as in- terim county clerk since Oc- tober. “I have every confidence in Valerie’s ability to lead and manage the County Clerk Department,” County Manager Scott Somers said in a news release. “She has performed at a commend- able level during her interim appointment as county clerk. The county is very fortunate to have attracted and re- tained someone of Valerie’s caliber.” Crafard joined the county in June 2006 and has worked as clerk of the Board of Com- missioners and as a human resources assistant. Previous- ly, she worked in human re- On the record Criminal mischief • At 7:05 p.m. Sunday, Astoria Police arrested Katherine Ann Marzolo, 46, Los Angeles, for third-de- gree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass at 1188 Harrison Ave. DUII arrests • At 7:25 p.m. Friday, As- toria Police arrested Leroy Peter Adolphson, 66, Astoria, IRU GULYLQJ XQGHU WKH LQÀX- ence on the 300 block of Al- ameda Avenue. • At 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mary Mar- tha Foust, 46, for DUII at U.S. Highway 101 and East Pines Drive in Gear- hart. • At 11:24 p.m. Sunday, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Of- ¿FH DUUHVWHG *UHJRU\ 6LPRQ Cisneros, 37, for DUII at U.S. Highway 101 and Ave- nue S in Seaside. Valerie Crafard sources management and ad- ministrative support positions ZLWKYDULRXVSULYDWH¿UPV She has a bachelor’s de- gree in management and or- ganizational leadership from George Fox University. Somers said last month 10 people applied for the po- sition, and four were inter- viewed last week. The county clerk is the record keeper for the county and administers public re- cords, archives, legal record- ings, passports and marriage OLFHQVHV7KHRI¿FHDOVRRYHU- sees elections and voter regis- tration, and coordinates prop- erty tax appeals, according to the county. ERICK BENGEL — EO Media Group An excavator prepares to drop felled trees and brush from the east side of U.S. Highway 101 into the back of a truck. The equipment belongs to Trails End Recovery, a Warrenton-based company. ODOT fells up to 55 trees in Cannon Beach Project intended to improve highway safety, neighbors upset ager for the Warrenton Sec- tion of District 1. A year ago, the department CANNON BEACH — The marked for removal approx- Oregon Department of Trans- imately 200 dead and dying portation cut down and hauled trees in danger of collaps- away about 55 trees from U.S. ing onto the highway. When Highway 101, between Can- 2'27 LGHQWL¿HV ³KD]DUG non Beach’s north entrance and trees,” “we’re obligated to take Sunset Boulevard, on Monday. care of it,” Werst said. Most of these trees had begun to “We have a responsibility to lean perilously over the highway maintain the right of way,” he and, ODOT argued, may pose a said. “And some people don’t threat to drivers. want it maintained to the level Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., that we would like to have it ¿YH2'27HPSOR\HHVDQGWKUHH maintained.” contractors from Trails End Given that ODOT has little Recovery, a Warrenton-based choice but to eliminate the wor- timber recycling company, re- risome trees — and could be moved about 30 trees, 8 or more held legally liable for accidents inches in diameter. About two- that occur by leaving them alone thirds of those trees came from — Steidel said he hopes ODOT the highway’s east side. Another approaches the ongoing project 20 to 25 smaller “brush” trees as “an annual maintenance pro- were also cleared. gram” rather than an all-at-once 7KHVWXPSVZHUH³ÀXVKFXW´ endeavor. to make them even with the Costs ground and then covered with Originally, the department forest material to disguise them. The roadway was “groomed planned to remove 70 trees this clean,” Public Works Director month, Jablonski, Werst said. But with a maximum of Dan Grassick wrote in an email. “If you didn’t know the work $10,000 to spend on stage No. was done today, you would be 1 of the project, ODOT decided challenged to know any trees to reduce the number of trees removed this year, Grassick and were actually removed.” Eventually, ODOT may Mayor Sam Steidel explained. The entire project cost plant new trees in that stretch of highway corridor, where about $7,300, Werst said, adding that 5,000 trees currently stand, Bill the combined crew cost about Jablonski, manager of ODOT $760 per hour. Trails End Recovery will District 1, said previously. sell the 40 to 60 tons of felled ‘Hazard trees’ WLPEHUIRUDSUR¿WKHVDLG7KH Because the trees were in a company will then give ODOT state right of way, ODOT could a $400 to $600 discount on the legally remove them without ¿QDOELOO ¿UVWREWDLQLQJDFLW\SHUPLWDF- Whether ODOT still intends cording to state law. to remove all 200 trees, even if ,W ZDV WKH ¿UVW URXQG RI it happens over a longer time a tree-thinning project ex- frame than expected, Werst pected to take several years. could not say. However, ODOT will not re- Former Mayor Mike Morgan turn for further thinning until said he hopes ODOT is “willing next year, according to Kevin to only take out the trees that are Werst, the department’s trans- absolutely needed, and not work portation maintenance man- toward a goal of any sort.” By ERICK BENGEL EO Media Group ERICK BENGEL — EO Media Group Kevin Werst, right, ODOT’s transportation maintenance manager for the Warrenton Section of District No. 1, and Don Miller, left, transportation maintenance specialist with ODOT, eyeball how they’re going to eliminate certain trees on the west side of U.S. Highway 101. “We’re trying to keep clean- up and damage to a minimum. We know that the folks around here are real sensitive to the project,” Werst said. “I under- stand the sensitivity.” Jablonski could not be reached for comment. ‘Wait a minute’ Watching the trees come down in front of his home, Ed Johnson, who lives on Elkland Court, said, “I’m not very happy about how this has played out.” Though the loss of more than 50 trees is preferable to losing 70, Johnson said he had expected Will Caplinger, the city’s arborist, to weigh in on the issue before the thinning took place. Last year, when ODOT in- formed Cannon Beach of its tree-thinning plan during a public meeting, the city said they would pay Caplinger to independently review the targeted trees. But when it appeared that ODOT would not follow through with the plan, the city chose to save its money and dropped the indepen- dent review idea. Johnson said that, if ODOT wanted to spend its limited funds on a project that would EHQH¿W &DQQRQ %HDFK WKH GH- partment should have invested in seismically upgrading the woodpile bridge over Ecola Creek. Ideally, the bridge should have taken precedence over tree thinning, he said. And, as long as trees were getting cut, the raw timber, he argued, should have been placed in the creek as “woody debris” to help restore salmon habitat, rather than given to Trails End Recov- ery to sell on the timber market. Above all, Johnson said he wished there had been more opportunities for public partici- pation and citizen involvement. “Yeah, this is (ODOT’s) high- way. (These are) their trees, in a sense. But this is a public issue that some people are very con- cerned about,” he said. “Anytime you start cutting down trees in Cannon Beach, somebody should be saying, ‘Hey, wait a minute — do we need to do that?’” A ‘real drag’ With some of their buffer now gone, Johnson’s neighbors Kirsten Massebeau and her hus- band, Phillip Massebeau, said they are concerned about loud- er highway noise and stronger winds hitting the mature trees that surround their property. “Not to mention the road is not as pret- ty when you’re coming down through Cannon Beach any- more,” Phillip Massebeau said. “We know there was noth- ing we could do about it, but it would have been nice to at least have some say,” he added. “It’s a real drag.” W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 M a rch 24 th CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT CLASS Oregon – Utah - Valid 34 States 1p m o r 6 p m Early Childhood Health & Education Clinic For Clatsop County Kids SIGN UP TODAY! FREE For all 3-5 year olds, regardless of income April 14, 2015 The Astoria Armory 1636 Exchange St., Astoria April 22, 2015 Seaside Convention Center 415 First Avenue, Seaside Best W estern : 5 5 5 Ha m b urg Ave, Asto ria O OR/Utah–valid R/U ta h— va lid in in WA W A $80 $80 or o r Oregon O reg o n only o n ly $4 5 $45 | Firea rm Tra in in gN W @ gm a il.com w w shauncurtain.com w .Firea rm Tra in in gN W .com ~ shauncurtain@gmail.com 36 0-921-2071 360-921-2071 Don’t Miss CAA’s St. Catrick’s Day Open House HUMPHREY Early screening is an important step to successful learning. Your child will receive the following exams and screenings: ~ Physical ~ Hearing ~ School Readiness ~Speech ~ Nutrition ~Vision ~Dental ~Immunization Call your local elementary school or Head Start center for an appointment by April 7 for the Astoria clinic or April 15 for the Seaside clinic. Limited transportation help is available upon request. se habla espanol. Sponsors are NW Early Learning Council, NW Educational Service District and Clatsop Kinder Ready. Major health & education groups of Clatsop County are partnering to make this clinic possible. Noon to 4 pm