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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1997)
9 YftsMU/ (JJudôJjnciA dtapfiy Thw QA qjoa I Hazard mitigation plan okayed W hile visiting Vernonia, Santa Claus holds Emily Seibert, who is unafraid of him. Judging from Santa’s expression, her wish is his command. Emily’s parents are Lenel and Kaleen Seibert. WOEC rates steady By Jim Buxton Rate changes are neither foreseen nor intended during 1998, West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC) General Manager Russell Green told the board of directors at the board’s regular meeting, Dec. 16. According to Green, the pro posed 1998 budget includes paying off the balance of a line of credit from the Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), replacing some equipment that has been in service for a long time, realistic budgeting for possible storm damage, and meeting all regular and govern ment obligations. Green sees WOEC continuing on the road to financial recovery. The board passed the budget unanimously. In other business, Opera tions Manager Del McGinnis reported that work on the new Vernonia substation is nearing completion, in spite of the crew’s preoccupation with repairing storm damage. When the facility is ready to be ener gized, it will be allowed to “cook” for a few days to work out any difficulties before the load is applied, sections at a time. A workshop and special council meeting Monday night, on the flood hazard mitigation program in Vernonia, resulted in adoption of a policy that will finally allow the city to get start ed on raising homes in the flood plain or flood way. The purpose of the work shop was to establish a city wide policy to insure fairness in the application of funds from the Federal Emergency Man agement Association (FEMA). A lengthy presentation, dur ing the workshop, by project manager David Feinauer, of Right-of-Way Associates, and city Public Works Director Robyn Bassett, clarified many of the issues involved. Three issues were revised, or need clarification, from the initially proposed policy: 1. Because FEMA has established Nov. 1, 1996, as the starting date for the pro gram (though the major flood was in February, 1996), any work completed prior to that date (ie., elevation of homes that were in the flood plain or flood way) will not be eligible for reimbursement. What is unclear is the status of work that was started prior to Nov. 1, 1996, but was not completed until after that date. Feinauer will seek clarification from FEMA. Because the funds approved to date are inadequate to com plete acquisition and or eleva tion of all existing homes in the flood way, the city will continue pursuit of a second round of funding for hazard mitigation purposes. 2. A change has been adopted for valuation when the city seeks to purchase a prop erty in order to remove dwellings from the flood plain. Value will now be established as the 1995-96 assessed val ue, plus the change, in percent, of market value for the City of Vernonia from 1995-96 to 1997-98. FEMA requires prop erty acquisitions to be volun tary. 3. A cutoff date will be assigned in a pre-application process, one for properties already elevated and one for those intending to elevate. This Ethics committee claims Dewey misused position The Oregon Government Dewey has steadfastly Standards and Practices Com maintained that he did not do mission (GSPC) has found anything illegal and, since that Columbia County Surveyor time,’ has satisfactorily Phil Dewey in violation of state accounted for the funds. regulations regarding use of Patrick Hearn, GSPC direc his position for financial gain. tor, said that Dewey can The case started last sum request a contested case hear mer when the county director ing before a hearing officer, or of finance, Paul Downey, negotiate an agreement. became aware that Dewey Negotiations are underway, was not submitting to the trea according to Hearn. surer the fees collected as a Dewey told The INDEPEN result of his position. County DENT that he would publish a ordinances require the survey statement after consulting with or to turn in all fees collected, his attorney this afternoon. then bill the county for his ser The GSPC investigation vices on their behalf. Most of was initiated by a complaint the money then goes back to from county resident Tim Har Dewey. mon. tv ... will allow the city to set aside funds for a particular job and disburse it immediately after the work is completed. This will work only as long as funds are available, of course. Some other elements of the policy include the following: Because of the shortage of funds, the city will authorize reimbursement of 75-percent of the costs of elevation up to two feet above the 100 year flood level and require property owners to pay the remaining 25-percent. The property own er will have reduced flood insurance premiums after ele vation, which will help reduce the total cost. The city will emphasize ele vation of owner occupied resi dences over those which are rented. (There will be more on this in future issues.) Van strikes log truck, 2 injured Two Vernonia residents were injured at about 8:30 Tuesday morning when their van struck a loaded log truck on Scappoose-Vernonia Hwy. According to Sgt. Fred Ovi- att of the Columbia County Sheriff’s office, a van driven toward Scappoose by Charles Abeyta, 73, crossed over the center line and struck the left rear of a log truck headed toward Vernonia. Abeyta was taken by Life Flight to Oregon Health Sci ences University, where he is listed in fair condition. A pas senger in the van, Beverly Abeyta, 27, was taken by ambulance to Emanuel Hospi tal, where she is reported to be in fair condition with closed head injuries and lacerations. The truck driver, Ronald C. Kennedy, 67, of Longview, was not injured. Both the Vernonia and Scap poose Fire Districts responded to the accident.
