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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 1997)
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Editors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen (503) 429-9410. ' ' Opinion Scout Cabin gets a reprieve for repairs It was obvious at the last Vernonia City Council meeting that the “Scout Cabin” in Hawkins Park gen erates good memories for many of Vernonia’s long time citizens and that they are adamant that the cabin be renovated and put back in use. Most of the people who spoke...Bill Sword, Elroy Miner, Robb Wilson, Jeff Patterson, Dale Webb, Sharon Parrow, Shirlee Daughtrey and Corey Col burn...though not all “old timers”, were eloquent in their defense of the role the building has played and/or could play in the future. The compromise developed by the council is a good one: It. allows the building to be renovated if enough people are willing to work on the project and, at the same time, allows the City to maintain the necessary control over how the job will be done. One tactic used by a few supporters of the renova- tion is, however, counterproductive. They want to blame “newcomers” for the decision to raze the build ing. That can only make people wonder who let the building fall into its current state of disrepair...old timers? Obviously, what matters isn’t how long people have lived here, but how much they care about the commu nity and how hard they are willing to work in order to achieve common goals. This may prove to be a prime example of how com promise (ie„ consent reached by mutual concession) brings about satisfactory, even desirable, results. Who knows, if the Scout Cabin project is success ful, maybe the picnic shelter and the horseshoe pits will be renovated. Hawkins Park could be a great site for family or organization picnics - if enough people care. By Rep. Tim Josi Oregon Representative, Dist. 2 been successful — a listing was avoided. HIGHWAY DOLLARS: The biggest disap pointment of the 1997 legislature was our in The 1997 legislative session is over. We ability to increase the gas tax. This may sound finished at 5:30 Saturday morning, July 5th, like good news at first glance but we have not after a 20 hour marathon session that started infused new money into our transportation at 9:30 the morning before. On the way home, system since 1991. It takes about a penny- I felt a sense of relief. Although each week at per-year increase just to keep up with inflation the capitol was challenging and enjoyable, and population increases. For this reason, we leaving my family every Monday morning for are about a billion dollars behind schedule the last six months was hard to do. with highway and bridge maintenance pro This legislative session, on a personal lev jects. By comparison, Idaho spends twice as el, has been very productive. I ushered thir much as Oregon on their highway system. teen bills successfully through the legislative Washington and California spend twice as process and into Oregon’s state statutes. One much as Idaho. of my bills actually removed a law that re For three legislative sessions the “no new quired needless regulation and expense for taxes” theme has prevailed. Too much time owners of certain sewage treatment facilities. was spent bashing ODOT and not enough Here are three of the most important issues consideration given to putting more dollars the legislature faced: into our highway system. Twice, during this SCHOOL FUNDING: For the first time in legislative session, the House sent a trans six years, schools will be funded at a level portation package to the Senate and both which should preclude teacher layoffs for most times the bills did not receive the necessary school districts in Oregon. Oregon schools Another example of sensible compromise is a deci votes. In the end, Oregon’s economy will suf have faced budgetary cuts since 1990's Mea fer as our roads continue to crumble. The sion last night by the West Oregon Electric Coopera sure 5 tax limit cut into their chief source of price tag to fix our roads is high now. When tive Board of Directors to approve a resolution that au money, the property tax. State government these roads reach a certain level of deteriora filled in much of the gap with income tax rev thorizes the co-op to continue helping the City of Ver tion, the cost to fix them is much, much higher. enues, but the money never has been enough nonia pursue a zero-interest loan from rural develop The fiscal hole the legislature has created, by to keep up with inflation and student enroll ment funds that can be accessed only through a rural not acting prudently since 1991, will be much ment growth. electric co-op. The city is seeking the funds as part of deeper in two years when the legislature re Schools will receive $4.15 billion in income a financial package for its greatly needed, new munic convenes. tax revenues for operations for the next two ipal building. years and another $50 million in classroom The directors have mandated that any assistance to I want to finish by saying that being a legis grants for next year. Voters will be asked to the City must be accomplished with absolutely no cost lator has been a very gratifling experience. authorize $150 million in state-financed bonds to its ratepayers. That is certainly appropriate and is a for schools which would then be available in Having the opportunity to represent over fifty- position the city council not only understands, but en the 1998-99 school year. thousand people at the state capitol is a dorses. tremendous opportunity. I will always be grate COHO SALMON: Faced with a threat by ful to the people in my legislative district for It hasn’t been very many years since the City and the Federal Government to list the main runs electing me. Being a State Representative is a WOEC were at loggerheads over electric rates, fran of coastal Coho Salmon as an endangered wonderful, challenging and, for the most part, chise fees and just about everything else, generally species, the legislature committed $30 million fun experience. trying to place blame on someone else for their re to a salmon recovery plan. Almost half of the spective financial problems. m oney needed fo r the effort to clean up Rep. Tim Josi may be contacted at: It is good to see those barriers removed because streams and restore habitat will be paid for by 6740 Baseline the timber industry. The aggregate industry Bay City, OR 97107 progress for either entity will, in the long run, become also volunteered to help and will be paying for Phone/Fax: (503) 377-2111 progress for the whole area. about $1 million of the effort. So far we have E-Mail: Repjosi@oregoncoast.com WOEC directors approve move that may help City • «
