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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2019)
146TH YEAR, NO. 206 DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 ONE DOLLAR Madeline Williams and Signe Rickenbach watch as the Astoria Column is illuminated by a new LED lighting system. Colin Murphey The Daily Astorian Astoria Column seen in a new light The Daily Astorian T he Astoria Column’s new lighting system was put through its paces Monday night, merging from one color combination to the next for an audi- ence that included c ity c ouncilors and other community leaders. A new LED lighting system was recently installed allowing for a greater array of lighting effects and colors. The display on Monday followed a City Council meeting where the Friends of the Astoria Column, the group that maintains the city’s landmark, presented an annual report. The group drafted a lighting policy for the Column earlier this year and it was City will help fund housing project A loan for Eagle Point By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian A major apartment project above North Tongue Point is getting some help from the city. The Astoria City Council unani- mously approved a $130,000 low-inter- est, 10-year loan to developer Cary John- son’s company Monday night. The loan will help the developers construct the off-site sewer improvements and water infrastructure necessary to move the 22-lot Eagle Point subdivision forward. Mayor Bruce Jones said the loan received his full support. One of the City C ouncil’s goals for the next two years is to help efforts to increase the city’s hous- ing supply . “This is exactly what this does,” he said . The subdivision could add as many as 120 to 150 apartments to the city’s stock. The sewer and water lines required for the project will serve the subdivi- sion’s lots and also be available to other users in the Tongue Point area, where there is the potential for future housing development. The loan money comes from the city’s Dairy Queen Fund, a revolving loan fund intended for business development. “This is exactly the sort of thing when people are asking the city, ‘What can (the City Council) do about the diffi culty in housing in the city?’” City Councilor Tom Brownson said. One example is how the city worked with Innovative Housing to support the Portland nonprofi t’s efforts to buy the former Waldorf Hotel next door to C ity H all and turn it into affordable housing. Another way the city can help is to loan money . “We’re helping the devel- oper move forward,” Brownson said. “… So we’re going to provide market-rate housing because we need housing in all levels.” approved by the City Council in March. Under the new policy, the Column will no longer be lit for causes. Instead, it will be lit with colored lights for federally rec- ognized holidays and to celebrate days sig- nifi cant to the city’s history and heritage. Jewell keeps health center hope alive County was going to withdraw over opposition By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian The Columbia River Maritime Museum has received $300,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charita- ble Trust to help build a model boat sailing pond and park on the site of the former North Coast Auto Service. The museum purchased the for- mer auto dealership and mechan- ics shop in 2017 and demolished the building to make way for the Depot Commons. The park will Columbia River Maritime Museum JEWELL — The Jewell School Board on Monday narrowly affi rmed its support of a school-based health center in a bid to keep Clatsop County from pulling out. County health staff had secured a grant worth $60,000 a year to operate a health center on the rural campus starting next school year. The health center would offer primary care , alcohol and drug counsel- ing and mental health services. The county left out reproductive health services to avoid the controversy that sank a similar proposal in the Astoria School District in 2013. But Michael McNickle, the county’s public health director , recently announced the county would withdraw from Jewell because of a perceived lack of support. The health center has repeatedly been opposed by school board members Brian Meier and Michael Stahly, who have raised concerns over safety, cost and gov- ernment intrusion. Bryan Swearingen, the school board chairman, and b oard members Ginger Kaczenski and Michael Wammack have supported the center as a way to encourage preventative care and reduce absences. Superintendent Steve Phillips has also come out in support. Last month, the school board voted 4-1 to have parents decide whether their children could be seen at the health cen- ter. Meier was the lone opposition, rais- ing concerns over language in the policy options. McNickle has focused on opposition by Meier and what it could mean about the community’s perception of the health center. “We don’t want to have that level of distrust,” McNickle said. “I fi gure this anger must be coming from somewhere. It puts me in a diffi cult position when my provider says she’s not comfortable being out there.” McNickle has remained open to mov- ing forward with the health center if the school board is supportive. Phillips , hopeful the school district can salvage the project, called for a discussion Monday to get the school board’s consensus before reporting back to the county. See Pond, Page A5 The Columbia River Maritime Museum is planning a park with a pond for sailing model boats at the site of the former North Coast Auto Service. See Jewell, Page A5 Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Astoria will provide a loan to help the developers behind an apartment project at North Tongue Point. Grant to help Maritime Museum pond A $300,000 gift from the Murdock trust By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian
