The Columbia Press
July 22, 2022
Sidewalk plan in line for federal funds
The Columbia Press
Warrenton’s plans to build
sidewalks along Main Avenue
from downtown to the high
school got another boost this
week.
Funding for the pedestri-
an route was included in
House Resolution 8294,
which appropriates funding
for transportation, housing,
agriculture, energy, veterans
and other services. The leg-
islation now moves on to the
Senate.
City officials had been dis-
couraged, unsure how and
when the project would be
fully funded. At the last city
commission meeting, leaders
were forced -- due to inflation
and unexpected challenges --
to scale back a small step in
the sidewalk plan that had re-
ceived state funding.
“Over the last couple
months, we started to hear
from
Congresswoman
Bonamici’s office that our
project would be included in
the funding request,” Public
Works Director Collin Stelzig
said Wednesday. “So this is
very good news.”
The Main Avenue/OR 104
Pedestrian Route is slated to
receive $1.26 million, which
would complete the city’s
project and include bus stop
improvements,
pedestrian
and wheelchair access, and
the addition of a crosswalk in
front of the high school.
Under the rules of the House
Appropriations Committee,
members of Congress each
can submit up to 15 commu-
nity project funding requests
for consideration during the
fiscal year 2023 appropria-
tions legislative process.
Ten of the 15 projects sub-
mitted by U.S. Rep. Suzanne
Bonamici, D-Ore., made it
into the resolution.
The Warrenton project is
the only one on the list for
Clatsop County.
“I’m grateful that the House
approved funding I request-
ed for 10 community projects
that will make our communi-
ties stronger, safer, and more
equitable,” Bonamici said in
announcing the bill’s passage
in the House.
“These projects, submit-
ted by Oregonians, will help
meet community needs while
strengthening our economy,”
she said. “I will continue
working to get the funding
for these projects over the
finish line in the Senate.”
Business & Development Tidbits
City approves 22-year lease for cell tower at marina
The city of Warrenton has
approved a 22-year lease ex-
tension for a cellular tower on
Warrenton Marina property.
The current lease with Crystal
Communications, which owns
the Cingular Wireless tow-
er, was to expire in December
2024. The company requested
an extension.
Every property the city leases
has come under scrutiny in the
past few years as current city
commissioners have bemoaned
the below-market deals ap-
proved in the past. Most proper-
ties have been appraised recent-
ly; at least two have been sold.
The 3,000-square-foot parcel
at 825 N.E. First Court, cur-
rently is rented to Crystal for
$666 per month.
The new lease, which was
unanimously approved July
12, includes a one-time fee of
$10,000 plus $900 per month
with a 3 percent increase every
year beginning April 2026.
Head Start
Speaking
of
city-owned
properties, city commission-
ers are expected to finalize the
disposal of two properties on
Tuesday.
The Head Start building in
Robinson Community Park
and the old Hammond Town
Hall both are on the agenda.
Commissioners will decide
whether to ask voters to ap-
prove a gift of the taxpay-
er-owned Head Start building
to the nonprofit Community
Action Team. The structure is
valued at more than $100,000
and, by city charter, requires a
vote of the people.
They’re also expected to ap-
prove an agreement giving
the old town hall to the Fort
Stevens VFW post. The struc-
ture has been appraised below
$100,000 and the city will re-
tain ownership of the land.
While neither item includes
a public hearing, residents can
express their opinions at the
start of the meeting, which be-
gins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City
Hall, 225 S. Main Ave.
Pier 2 repairs
The entrance to Pier 2 at the
Port of Astoria will be rehabili-
tated and resurfaced sometime
before the end of 2022.
Port commissioners voted
unanimously this month to
take on the project, which is
part of a larger rehabilitation at
the pier, because wear and tear
from vehicle traffic and weath-
er have caused considerable
erosion, according to Joe Tadei,
port maintenance director.
The project is expected to cost
$41,500 and will be completed
by Bayview Asphalt of Seaside.
Flood Valley closes
Flood Valley Taphouse next
to the Shilo Inn has closed.
“Unfortunately, there have
been many challenges from
COVID, coastal flooding, snow-
storms, supply chain issues,
and lack of staff,” owner Chris
Rohr wrote on the restaurant’s
Facebook page. “This isn’t the
end of Flood Valley, just the be-
ginning of the next road to our
destination.”
3
988 crisis line goes live
There’s a new emergency
phone number for people
in crisis: 988.
Just as 911 is an easy-to-re-
member number for crime
and medical emergencies,
the 988 line connects peo-
ple with behavioral health
crisis support.
The 988 Suicide and Cri-
sis Lifeline went live Satur-
day, July 16. It allows peo-
ple to call, text or chat with
trained crisis counselors.
The three-digit number is
available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
The line was established
by Oregon Health Author-
ity to improve access to
crisis services in a way that
meets the country’s grow-
ing suicide and mental
health-related crisis care
needs, according to OHA
Director Patrick Allen.
“Too many people in Ore-
gon don’t have easy, quick
access to the support and
care they need when facing
a mental health crisis,” Al-
len said. “While fully imple-
menting a transformative
crisis care system will take
time and further invest-
ments, the launch of 988 is
a sound first step.”
It’s for callers who have
thoughts of suicide or self-
harm, substance use, or any
other kind of behavioral
health crisis.
People can also dial 988
if they are worried about a
loved one who needs crisis
support.
The 988 dialing code con-
nects callers to the existing
National Suicide Preven-
tion Lifeline, a network
of local crisis call centers
throughout the country. In
Oregon, 988 call centers are
operated by Lines for Life
statewide, and Northwest
Human Services in Marion
and Polk counties.
988 call services are avail-
able in English and Span-
ish, along with interpreta-
tion services in more than
150 languages.
Texting and online chat
(available at 988lifeline.
org) are available only in
English.