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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1999)
Local musicians in Youth Symphony.... pg. 5 Open House at health center .................... pg- 6 VHS sports awards......... pg. 8 Vernonia Cares kicked off its canned food drive Nov. 13 and will collect canned goods and cash donations through Dec. 5, the last day of the Vernonia Christmas Bazaar. Pictured left Voi. 14, No. 22 Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley’ Novem ber 17, 1999 Firefighters take aim at district problems Crafty helpers... Movers and shakers of the annual Wauna Charity Craft Bazaar, held Nov. 13 in Clatskanie, are, left to right, back row: Kay Christ, Jack Frach, Donna Kent, Melody Frach, Sharon Buchberger and Frank Buchberger. Front row: Lisa Szczurek, Cami Meadows, Karen Sampair, Brad Frach. This year’s Bazaar benefits Vernonia Cares. City says “yes” to wheels park A “Wheels” park for skate boards, rollerblades, bicycles and other wheeled forms of ac tivity, took a big step closer to reality when the Vernonia City Council approved the use of some city-owned property for that purpose. After a presenta tion by youth working on the project, at their Nov. 22 meet ing, the council dedicated prop erty across Rock Creek from Hawkins Park for a wheels park. The city purchased the prop erty with federal flood mitiga tion funds following the 1996 floods and cannot allow con struction on the site. It can be used for a park, however, and is large enough to accommo date recreational activity. Sanks news .............. pg. 11-12 to right are Lisa Edgar, Director, and members of the Board of Directors Bill Yeo, Tammy Smith, Linda Naeve and Kelly Murphy-Shaw. Councilor Gayle Shriver asked the council to reconsider a hearing proposed to review the city’s ordinance prohibiting bike riders on downtown side walks. Shriver said she had been talking with citizens about the ordinance and felt the hear ing was unnecessary. The council decided to continue with the proposed January hearing. City Administrator Mike Sykes discussed several pro posed capital improvement projects that may be submitted for funding in the next SCERT (State/Community Economic Revitalization Team) process. The following projects, which have not been prioritized, may be submitted: Improvements to the water system to upgrade the main transmission line on N. Mist Drive and add a reservoir. • A feasibility study for a se nior citizens center and an as sisted living complex for the el derly. • Development of an airport master plan. • Infrastructure improve ments at Anderson Park for a new shower/restroom facility and new RV/camper hookups. • Improvements to the sewage pump station on N. Mist Drive and the gravity main along the old mill site. The council also agreed to work with the Vernonia Area Chamber of Commerce and Please see page 3 Some elements of a serious breakdown in trust between the administration and volunteers in the Vernonia Rural Fire Pro tection District appeared to be somewhat healed following an emergency meeting of the board of directors last night, Nov. 16. It became obvious at the di rectors’ November 9 meeting that dissension...among volun teer firefighters, Fire Chief Paul Epier and members of the board of directors...is a major threat to the stability of the dis trict. The board had scheduled an executive session to hear vol unteers’ complaints about Ep ier but, in an unusual move, the chief asked that the session be kept open so everyone in volved could express their con cerns and hear what each of the others said. The board complied with his request. Complaints ranged from ma jor concerns about the safety of equipment that firefighters say isn’t being properly maintained and could endanger the lives of firefighters, to relatively petty stone-throwing about who is supposed to clean the bays or mow the lawn. Other complaints were aimed at members of the board of directors - Lyle Barker for overstepping his authority and Steve Roberts for ignoring the safety line at a fire scene. More serious complaints were aimed at Roberts, too, with two volun teers - Mario Leonetti and Tim Bamburg - saying they either had, or will, talk with their attor neys about remarks attributed to Roberts. Eleven different volunteer firefighters commented on the situation, some bitterly, others in a more conciliatory fashion, stressing the need to resolve the problems without minimiz ing the seriousness of the situ ation. There are lots of complaints about lies, rumors and mainte nance, said Jeremy Woodall. “We’re volunteers and should n’t have to deal with this.” “Two years ago, it was like the Partridge family around here,” said volunteer Mindy Cavinee, “Now it’s like the Bundy family.” After listening to the firefight ers, Epler apologized, saying he didn’t mean to hurt anybody. “I spend more time with you than with my family.” He added that, while a rebuttal would be self-gratifying, it wouldn’t have much value. Former fire chief Steve Weller, who listened through out the meeting, pointed to the obvious lack of communication among all involved and “strong ly” suggested that the district find a resource for conflict res olution. At last night's meeting, Roberts apologized to Leonetti for remarks that questioned the honesty of both Leonetti and his son. Roberts said he was not the source of the rumors but had repeated what some one else said. In a private discussion be fore last night’s meeting, for mer volunteer Holly Vaughn and Chief Epler reached agree ment about allegations that Vaughn was responsible for some money missing from the station. Epler said the allega tions were unfounded and Vaughn expressed satisfaction with his statement. Vaughn is now employed by Metro West Ambulance and still works out of the Vernonia Fire Station. Please see page 3
