Friday, February 11, 2022 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3
Incumbent county commissioners to run for reelection
Thompson,
Kujala and Wev
announce plans
By ERICK BENGEL
The Astorian
Three Clatsop County
commissioners
whose
terms expire after this year
say they intend to run for
reelection in May.
Commissioner
Mark
Kujala and Commissioner
Pamela Wev have fi led their
candidate forms. Commis-
sioner Lianne Thompson
said she plans to fi le hers
later this month.
Kujala, who serves as
the chairman of the Board
of Commissioners, was
elected in 2018 to represent
District 1, which encom-
passes Warrenton, Ham-
mond and a southwest swath
of Astoria. He is the direc-
tor of the Columbia Memo-
rial Hospital Foundation.
Thompson, the board’s
longest-serving member,
was elected in 2014 to rep-
resent District 5, which cov-
ers South County, including
Cannon Beach, Arch Cape,
Hamlet, Elsie, Jewell and a
section of Seaside.
Wev, a land use planner
and economic development
consultant, was elected in
2018 to represent District 3,
which covers central Asto-
ria and Miles Crossing, Jef-
fers Garden, Fort Clatsop,
Lewis and Clark, Olney,
Youngs River, Green Moun-
tain and parts of Walluski.
Kujala said he chose to
run again because he feels
the commission has unfi n-
ished business that he
would like to see through to
completion.
Two high-profi le proj-
ects underway in Warren-
ton are the North Coast
Business Park, a proposed
industrial development near
U.S. Highway 101, and the
new Clatsop County Jail,
scheduled for completion in
the second half of 2022.
Kujala and Thomp-
son said the lack of child
care options in the county
remains an issue they would
like to address. Kujala sits
on a county task force look-
ing at the issue.
The county also suff ers
from a housing scarcity that
impacts all income levels.
Wev is the commis-
sion’s representative on
the board of the Northwest
Oregon Housing Author-
ity, which manages prop-
erties for people with low-
and- moderate- incomes
in Clatsop, Columbia
and Tillamook counties.
Wev has supported the
establishment of a hous-
ing project, consisting of
more than 40 apartments,
being developed in War-
renton’s Chelsea Gardens
neighborhood.
In addition, the com-
mission is overhauling the
county’s
comprehensive
plan, a document that will
help shape the future of the
county’s
unincorporated
areas and how the county
grows.
The three commission-
ers’ experience on the board
predates the coronavirus
pandemic, a crisis that at
times has displaced other
priorities.
Kujala said that, “as a
commission, I think, we
work well together.” He
said the board, under his
leadership, has worked with
municipalities, nonprofi ts
and other organizations in
the county in a collabora-
tive fashion.
“That was one of my
goals,” he said, “and I think
that’s happened.”
Thompson said the rela-
tionships she has devel-
oped over her nearly eight
years in local government
— including through her
work with the Association
of Oregon Counties and
the Columbia-Pacifi c Eco-
nomic Development Dis-
trict — makes her an asset.
Her message to vot-
ers: “Thank you for honor-
ing me with your trust. I’ve
worked hard for you, and
I hope I’ve worked well.
Let’s carry on and do more
good together.”
In a release announcing
her run, Wev’s campaign
said, “These are uniquely
diffi cult times for Clat-
sop County. With (Wev’s)
reelection, we will bene-
fi t from her vast experience
and leadership to help nav-
igate us through these trou-
bled waters.”
Cannon Beach to borrow to fi nance tourist attraction honoring tribal history
By NICOLE BALES
The Astorian
CANNON BEACH —
The city intends to secure
a loan to redevelop the for-
mer elementary school into
a tourist destination honor-
ing local tribal history.
The City Council autho-
rized the city to borrow
$4.6 million for the project,
which is expected to cost
$5.5 million. Lodging taxes
will be used to pay the loan.
To prevent overborrow-
ing, City Manager Bruce St.
Denis said the city will split
the borrowing into two issu-
ances. The second one could
be made as part of the fi nanc-
ing for a new City Hall and
police station.
The city-owned prop-
erty on Beaver Street — for-
merly Cannon Beach Ele-
mentary School — is about
1.6 acres. St. Denis said the
goal is to create a destination
that honors the Clatsop-Ne-
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
Cannon Beach hopes to redevelop a former elementary
school.
halem Confederated Tribes,
since the site was home to
the tribes’ ancestors.
“In a lot of ways, we’re
trying to emulate what the
tribe did there for a long
time, which is bringing peo-
ple together,” he said.
The city issued a request
for proposals from design
fi rms late last year. The City
Council expects to select a
fi rm by March.
There are two buildings
on the property that need
to be renovated. One is a
7,500-square-foot gym and
the other is a 5,000-square-
foot one-story building with
four classrooms and offi ce
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
From Page 2A
Avenue, Seaside.
7:47 p.m., downed tree, South
Lincoln, Seaside.
6:31 p.m., medical assist, assist
EMS crew, North Marion.
9:16 p.m., removal of victim
from stalled elevator, Avenue
A., Seaside.
Jan. 13
9:50 p.m., sprinkler system
activation due to malfunction,
Broadway, Seaside.
1:53 p.m., smoke detector
activation due to malfunction,
North Marion.
Jan. 14
Jan 3
11 a.m., false alarm or false call,
Park Lane.
12:59 p.m., alarm system acti-
vation, no fi re, Neacoxie.
1:18 p.m., building fi re, U.S.
Highway 26, Hamlet.
1:15 p.m., unauthorized burn-
ing, First Street.
Jan. 15
9:29 p.m., emergency medical
service, Lake Front, Warrenton.
Jan. 4
1:26 a.m., emergency medical
service, U.S. Highway 101,
Warrenton.
1:47 a.m., emergency medical
service, Creekside.
1:44 p.m., fl ood assessment,
South Main, Warrenton.
9:30 p.m., smoke detector
activation due to malfunction,
Briarwood.
5:39 a.m., motor vehicle
accident with no injuries, Lewis
and Clark.
Jan. 18
9:34 a.m., rescue, EMS incident,
U.S. Highway 101, Warrenton.
5:39 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Cullaby Lake,
Warrenton.
Jan. 28
7:05 a.m., medical assist, assist
EMS crew, North Marion.
Jan. 20
12:06 p.m., medical assist, as-
sist EMS crew, Spruce, Seaside.
8:50 a.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101, Warrenton.
5:46 p.m., building fi re, South
Roosevelt, Seaside.
11:35 p.m., outside equipment
fi re, North Marion.
Jan. 10
Jan. 27
7:05 p.m., medical assist, as-
sist EMS crew, North Marion.
Jan. 8
10:54 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101.
2:36 p.m., chimney or fl ue
fi re, confi ned to chimney or
fl ue, Railroad.
4:59 p.m., building fi re, West
Tanana, Cannon Beach.
7:32 p.m., motor vehicle
accident with injuries, U.S.
Highway 101 and milepost
15.5, Warrenton.
10:18 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101.
Jan. 25
6:15 p.m., hazardous condi-
tion, U.S. Highway 101.
Jan 7
3:59 p.m., medical assist, assist
EMS crew, Westlake Acres,
Warrenton.
10:50 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Highway 101.
Jan. 19
11:30 p.m., medical assist,
EMS crew, U.S. Highway 101,
Warrenton.
Jan 9
10:17 p.m., building fi re,
South Roosevelt, Seaside.
Jan. 26
6:23 p.m., medical assist, assist
EMS crew, South Downing,
Seaside.
6:30 p.m., accident, potential
accident, U.S. Highway 101,
Warrenton.
10:10 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Lewis and
Clark, Seaside.
12:35 p.m., building fi re, U.S.
Highway 101, Hehalem.
Jan. 17
11 a.m., severe weather or
natural disaster standby, Pacifi c
Way.
12:44 p.m., medical assist, as-
sist EMS crew, Del Ray Beach,
Warrenton.
6:21 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Seabreeze,
Surf Pines.
5:43 a.m., emergency medical
service, Fifer Heights.
8:27 a.m., downed tree, Dell-
moor, Warrenton.
Jan. 24
10:55 a.m., hazardous condi-
tion, Pacifi c Way and Cottage.
9:31 a.m., medical assist, assist
EMS crew, Gearhart Greens.
Jan. 6
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101, Warrenton.
1:26 p.m., detector activation,
no fi re, South Ocean.
Jan. 5
8:34 a.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Hawkins,
Warrenton.
2:49 p.m., authorized con-
trolled burning, Surf Pines,
Warrenton.
7:28 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101 Warrenton.
Jan. 22
2:41 a.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, Lewis, War-
renton.
expects to issue a request for
proposals from architectural
fi rms to build a new City
Hall and police station.
He said the city will likely
be ready to borrow funds
for the project next Janu-
ary. When the city makes
that issuance, St. Denis said
it will include whatever
amount is needed to com-
plete the project at the for-
mer elementary school.
Funding for the rebuild
will likely come from the
prepared food tax approved
by voters in November. The
5% tax is estimated to raise
about $1.7 million a year and
will be split between the city
and the Cannon Beach Rural
Fire Protection District.
After years of back-and-
forth, city councilors agreed
last year to rebuild the City
Hall and police station at
the existing location on
E. Gower Street. The new
building could cost more
than $16 million, and will
also function as an emer-
gency operations center.
The new facility will be
set back slightly and built
over the parking lot, which
sits higher. St. Denis said
the additional height should
protect the building from
some tsunamis.
While the site is in the
tsunami inundation zone for
a Cascadia Subduction Zone
earthquake, St. Denis said
the new building is not nec-
essarily being built to with-
stand that disaster.
City leaders had consid-
ered the city’s South Wind
property as a possible loca-
tion because it is outside
of the inundation zone, but
the 55-acre vacant lot has
proved tricky and expensive
to develop.
“We’re likely to see
smaller earthquakes that can
do a lot of damage here, but
not be Cascadia,” St. Denis
said. “So we want to make
sure we can respond as best
we can if that kind of event
occurs.”
www.eomediagroup.com
8:23 a.m., severe weather or
natural disaster standby, Pacifi c
Way.
Jan. 16
space.
The buildings have not
been used for several years,
according to the city, and
have had limited mainte-
nance for more than a decade.
The city envisions cre-
ating meeting places, a
garden and spaces that
showcase tribal agricul-
ture practices. The Cannon
Beach Food Pantry will
remain. The city also hopes
to have walking trails,
interpretive signs, displays
and planted areas.
When the property is not
being used for visitors, St.
Denis said the space could
be used for community
events.
The city manager said the
design fi rm will be expected
to meet with stakeholders
and understand the goals
before starting the design
process. The City Coun-
cil and the public will have
the opportunity to engage
throughout the process.
Meanwhile, St. Denis
6:42 p.m., medical assist, as-
sist EMS crew, Lewis and Clark.
10:33 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S Highway
101, Warrenton.
Jan. 29
12:34 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S Highway
101, Warrenton.
6:37 p.m., motor vehicle/
pedestrian accident, U.S.
Highway 101.
Jan. 30
4:55 a.m., medical assist, as-
sist EMS crew Dellmoor loop,
Warrenton.
Celebrating
Years
4:38 p.m., building fi re, North
Holladay, Seaside.
10:35 p.m., medical assist,
assist EMS crew, U.S. Highway
101, Warrenton.
Jan. 11
Jan. 23
Local Community
Banking
8:19 a.m., building fi re, 12th
7:06 p.m., medical assist,
BankofthePacific.com