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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2018)
October 26, 2018 T he C olumbia P ress Letters to the Editor Balensifer always answers questions As a 50-year resident of Warrenton, I can confidently say that our city has been fortunate to have some of the finest leadership in the county, and Henry Balensifer has been central to the current progress we are experiencing in our city. He is a strong advocate for business and has successfully worked with local, state and national lawmakers to keep Warrenton moving forward. Whether it’s at a weekly Mayor’s Coffee meeting, regular City Commission meeting or just a phone call, I have always had any concerns or questions answered by Mayor Balensifer, or any of the other commissioners, in a timely manner. Please join me in voting to re-elect Henry Balensifer as Warrenton mayor. Christine Bridgens Warrenton Balensifer stands for transparency An important and illumi- nating issue has emerged in the race for the mayor of Warrenton This issue is the relocation of the city library. The charge of lack of trans- parency, leveled by candi- date John Washington, in the process of relocation is simply false. City Commis- sioners held public meetings over a two-year period before the new library opened at its present location. The library board also held an open meeting that saw a packed house of both Ham- mond and Warrenton citi- zens. If Mr. Washington had cared to attend any of these meetings, he would have seen, firsthand, transparency on display. Henry Balensifer has an ac- curate understanding of the problems and processes of city government. His tenure as mayor has been of truth and transparency. He should be re-elected. Diane Collier Former member, Warrenton Community Library Board Differences in candidates is vast This letter is in response to Mr. Washington’s complaint No. 5 (on his flyer). The difference in the two candidates for mayor of the City of Warrenton are strik- ing. Henry Balensifer as the current mayor has been ex- emplary in his determination to provide transparency for all citizens of the city. John Washington’s com- plaints often center around the issue of transparency. One such complaint specifi- cally concerns the executive sessions of the commission- ers. Mr. Washington charges that the city commissioners and the city manager, with the compliance of the city at- torney, are using these ses- sions to conceal what they are actually doing. Mr. Washington further states that he, if elected may- or, would convince the city attorney that these executive sessions should stop. Typically, however, elected officials (i.e. the mayor) do not decide when or whether to hold executive meetings as this is the duty of the city manager and staff. Mr. Wash- ington fails to understand either the scope or the limita- tions of the office he seeks. Furthermore, contrary to another of Mr. Washington’s complaints, the press is and always has been, welcome at these sessions. 9 Public safety calls Henry Balensifer, because of his excellent service to the City of Warrenton, de- serves our support in his bid for re-election to the office of mayor. Lori Beth Kulp Warrenton Land variance begs for scrutiny On Sep. 4, the city of War- renton received a formal pro- posal from Pacific Seafood to create a new type of housing adjacent to the Columbia River to be used only by the seasonal transient employees of this company. The two-stage project would require a land zoning variance along with a major modification to the Warren- ton building code. On Oct. 19, The Columbia Press printed the limited in- formation available to the public for this proposal. This is another non-trans- parent Warrenton govern- ment process used to conceal from the voters what is about to happen in their city. The news article stated there will be a meeting in No- vember to discuss the zoning variance. It did not state if there would be a vote at that time on the zone variance. Creating a totally new type of housing for Warrenton, which is the implied goal of this proposal, is a citywide is- sue of great interest to a large number of voters. We need a public meeting where voters can voice objec- tions to this proposal without the maximum three-minute time limit the mayor allows. It is necessary for newspa- pers to report these public objections at least two weeks before a final re-zoning vote so newspaper readers are ful- ly informed. Scott Widdicombe Warrenton Continued from Page 2 peace officer, failure to carry and present a license and driving while suspended. • Speeding, 12:06 p.m. Oct. 14, Ridge Road at soccer fields. Driver cited for going 70 in a 45 mph zone. • Speeding, 12:06 p.m. Oct. 14, Ridge Road at Southwest Ninth Street. Driver cited for going 69 in a 45 mph zone. • Drunken driving, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14, South Main at Alternate Highway 101. Jose J. Tellez, 21, of Keizer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, failing to install an interlock device and recklessly endangering another. He was booked at Clatsop Coun- ty Jail, where his blood-alcohol content was recorded at 0.19 percent. • Traffic stop, 9:10 p.m. Oct. 14, South Main Avenue at Harbor Drive. Inty Fernando Merca- do, 33, of Seaside was cited for criminal failure to carry and present a license and for driving while suspended, failure to carry registration and failure to carry insurance. • Possible criminal mischief, 7:44 p.m. Oct. 16, Pacific Drive and Heceta Street. Pickup truck on a gravel road sprayed a woman’s vehicle with rocks. • Two-vehicle noninjury col- lision, 10:06 a.m. Oct. 18, Walmart parking lot. • Traffic stop, 9 p.m. Oct. 19, Ensign and Discovery lanes. Driver cited for driving while suspended. • Speeding, 6:38 a.m. Oct. 20, Highway 101 at Ensign Lane. Driver cited for going 61 in a 45 mph zone. • Speeding, 11:15 p.m. Oct. 20, Highway 101 at Harbor Drive. Driver cited for going 60 in a 45 mph zone. • Speeding, 11:35 p.m. Oct. 20, Ensign Lane at Southeast 19th Street. Driver cited for going 61 in a 45 mph zone and for driving while suspended. f ire and SerViCe CallS • Smoke, 12:45 p.m. Oct. 16, 0-100 block Skipanon Drive. • Possible illegal burn, 10:53 p.m. Oct. 16, 400 block Pacific Drive. • Structure fire, 1:04 a.m. Oct. 17, 33200 block Sunset Beach Lane. • Smoke from structure, 5:09 a.m. Oct. 17, 33200 block Sunset Beach Lane. • Fire alarm, 4:33 a.m. Oct. 20, 900 block Cedar Avenue. m ediCal CallS • Male having seizures, 1:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 1800 block Southeast Ensign Lane. • Male with knee pain, 2:07 p.m. Oct. 15, 800 block Iredale Street. • Female child choking, 6:09 p.m. Oct. 15, 1200 block Third Avenue. • Disoriented male, 1:46 p.m. Oct. 16, 500 block Harbor Place. • Male who fell and hit head, 4:24 p.m. Oct. 16, 1600 block Southeast Ensign Lane. • Female fall patient, 5:56 p.m. Oct. 16, 1100 block South Main. • Female with stomach ache and insomnia, 8:59 a.m. Oct. 17, Clatsop Behavioral Respite Center. • Male lying beside road, 11:36 a.m. Oct. 19, Highway 101 at Camp Rilea. • Male lying beside car, 11:52 a.m. Oct. 19, 1700 block South- east Ensign Lane. • Distraught female, 6:08 a.m. Oct. 20, 33200 block Sunset Beach Lane. • Suicidal male with knife, 10:57 a.m. Oct. 20, Par Road and Sun- set Beach Lane. • Male with swollen feet and legs, 3:51 p.m. Oct. 20, 200 block Tyee Street. • Intoxicated female, 4:29 p.m. Oct. 20, 90900 block Hwy 101. • Suicidal male, 1:05 a.m. Oct. 21, Clatsop Behavioral Respite Center. • Female who took six Excedrine, 1:28 p.m. Oct. 21, Clatsop Behav- ioral Respite Center. • Female who’s weak and unable to move, 7:45 p.m. Oct. 21, 1100 block South Main Avenue. • Male with possible overdose, 7:46 p.m. Oct. 21, 0-100 block East Harbor Drive.
