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.
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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
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