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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2022)
The Columbia Press Celebrating our 100th year • 1922-2022 1 50 ¢ 503-861-3331 August 26, 2022 Vol. 6, Issue 34 Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Several new signs are ex- pected to be installed around town. A metal plaque decorated with a lighthouse will be in- stalled on a large utility box in the middle of Warren- ton Marina’s camping area. The sign thanks volunteers Norm and Brenda Hoxsey for their work beautifying the city and is expected to spiff up the box a bit. A wooden sign will replace a vinyl banner at Warrenton Community Library. And stainless steel signs will be installed alerting visitors to the Warrenton-Hammond Historical Museum across from City Hall. All of the signs are being donated by City Commis- sioner Rick Newton. Also, a small metal sculp- ture was spotted recently atop a stop sign near War- renton Grade School. City leaders approve street, water projects The Columbia Press City Commissioners took on several construction projects Tuesday night, from water lines to storm drains to road work. They also took action against a sit- ting public official. In one of several business items Tuesday, city leaders voted unani- mously to hire Murrysmith Inc., a public infrastructure engineering firm based in Portland, to work on water line improvements. The company will design, obtain per- mits, and manage the bidding process for replacement of a new water line on East Harbor Drive. The line will re- place 6- and 8-inch water lines with an 18-inch water main that will run from Marlin Avenue near the back entrance to Big 5 Sporting Goods and down Harbor to downtown Warrenton. Their design work is expected to cost less than $242,469 and take 11 months. Storm system Warrenton also will have two mea- sures on the ballot: • A five-year library operations lo- cal options levy. Voters will decide whether they’ll pay 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property tax val- ue to pay for library operations. For a house assessed at $300,000, that’s $114 per year. The levy would begin Commissioners approved advertis- ing for construction bids to replace a storm drain and culvert on Iredale Street from Seventh Avenue to the parking area next to Hammond Ma- rina. The debilitated pipe system is about 1,000 feet long and drains a portion of downtown Hammond. City crews have been called repeatedly to re- pair the system, which is made up of different inadequate sizes and types of pipes, according to Public Works Director Collin Stelzig. It is hoped reconstruction will solve localized flooding. Bids will be opened Sept. 15 and work is expected to be completed See ‘Election’ on Page 5 See ‘Projects’ on Page 4 The end of city candidate filing period draws nigh The Columbia Press Those thinking about a run for may- or or city commissioner have until Tuesday to make up their minds. The deadline to file for open seats in Clatsop County is 5 p.m. Aug. 30. In Warrenton, Mayor Henry Balen- sifer seeks re-election to his post. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was run- ning unopposed. Paul Mitchell, a real estate broker and chair of the city’s Planning Com- mission, seeks the Position 4 seat currently held by Rick Newton. Newton has said previously that he would not run to retain his spot on the commission, but might run for the mayor’s position. He had not filed for either seat by Wednesday after- noon.