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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2000)
V Open house and workshop set at Vernonia airport INSIDE: An open house and work shop will be held at Vernonia Airport on April 26 from 3-4:00 p.m. The airport committee and an airport planning consultant will discuss potential improve ments at the facility. The public is invited to bring ideas to the discussion. The city has contracted with David Miller, of Century West Engineering, to conduct a ba sic airport planning analysis and develop an airport layout plan drawing for the airport. The city does not currently have such a drawing, or any other site plans. Miller will also conduct a site inventory at the airport to deter mine the configuration and condition of existing facilities. The workshop will be held at that time so interested individu als can provide input into the planning process. Proposed improvements will be priori tized after the workshop and depicted on the airport layout plan. The airport is not currently included in the federal National Plan of Integrated Airport Sys tems, therefore, it is not eligible for federal funding through the Federal Aviation Administra tion’s (FAA) Airport Improve ment Plan (AIP). The evaluations and draw ings done by Miller will conform to FAA standards for format and content if, in the future, the city decides to pursue federal funding for the airport. In addition to the physical evaluation and planning, Milhr will prepare a five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This will include individual pro jects and a prioritization of the projects by need. This evaluation and CIP is intended to help local decision makers in recognizing which projects would be most feasi ble and which projects may eventually help lead to eligibili ty for federal funding through the FAA. No, No, NMFS! See Ike.... pg. 2 Special library plans...... pg. 6 BHS Dance Team...... pg. 11 Easter Cantata... pg. 12 BULK RATE U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 37 Vernonia, OR 97064 Voi. 15, No 7 “ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Boost for downtown A pril 5, 2000 Hearings pack the council chambers Two public hearings prior to a March 20 council meeting re sulted in another capacity crowd for the Vernonia City Council. The subject of the first hear ing, a proposed ordinance lim iting vehicle weight on residen tial streets, brought out many truck drivers and others in volved in hauling logs, gravel and related materials. Their ini tial testimony made clear that they are, understandably, con cerned with restrictions that might interfere with the way they earn their living. The draft ordinance had been available prior to the hearing but some of those who spoke apparently hadn’t read it. Once the draft was read, most of those who spoke realized The first loan ever made by Columbia Pacific Economic Development Distict (ColPac) that their concerns had already went to Dan and Heidi Brown, owners of Hardwood Originals. The Browns will use the been addressed. Before a final loan to complete the building they have under construction on Bridge Street. The loan draft is presented to the coun derived from a $1-million USDA Rural Development Services loan to ColPac, which is cil, city staff and truck drivers now available as a revolving loan fund for small business growth and development in will meet in committee to work rural Columbia, Tillamook and Western Washington Counties. Enjoying the boost to out some details. Vernonia’s economy are, from left, Lynn Schoessler, director of USDA Oregon Rural De The second hearing dealt velopment; Heidi Brown, Mike Sykes, president of the ColPac board of directors and with a planned development Vernonia City Administator; Dan Brown, Tony Hyde, Columbia Co. Commissioner and overlay in a general residential ColPac director; Georgia Reese, loan specialist for USDA Rural Development Services; zone in the area of Rose and Mike Avent, ColPac director and Rainier Councilor; Sue Cameron, Tillamook Co. Com Maple Avenues. missioner and ColPac director; Jeff King, ColPac executive director. The current zoning allows multiple residences such as apartments and duplexes. The planned development overlay More than 40 people attend portation, telecommunications, the funds to go to GIS develop requested by Garth Page ment. The group endorsed would include owner-occupied ed the regional forum of the and training. Northwest Oregon Regional One of the more important making an application for re townhouses on lots smaller Partnership in Vernonia last projects discussed was pro gional GIS funds from the De than 5,000 sq. ft. Each two townhouses would also have Friday. In addition to represen gress on a regional Geograph partment of Revenue. After welcoming the group, one wall in common, so they tatives from various agencies ic Information System (GIS). in Columbia, Clatsop, Tillam Columbia, Clatsop and Tillam Columbia County Commission could not meet set back re ook and Western Washington ook Counties are in different er and former Vernonia Mayor quirements. Conditions placed on the Counties, there were represen phases of GIS development, Tony Hyde, who chaired the tatives from state agencies. but are sharing information as meeting, turned it over to overlay by the city include com The meeting was held in the much as possible in order to Shirlee Daughtry for a brief pleted infrastructure, streets minimize the financial burden presentation on the Scout Cab and sidewalks before any stick- Scout Cabin. The Northwest Regional of developing this very expen in rehabilitation. Friends of the built construction can begin. Citizens speaking against Scout Cabin also served re Partnership works together in sive system. the development were general The Oregon Department of freshments. order to maximize the ability of The forum will convene ly opposed to having multiple rural areas to stay informed re Revenue instituted a $1.00 fee residential development in the garding subjects such as trans on recording documents, with again in September. Vernonia hosts regional forum FREE neighborhood. At the April 3 meeting of the council, the ordinance for the planned development overlay was approved. The council em phasized that the overlay ap plied only to Phase I of the de velopment and that the devel oper would have to return to the planning commission and the council with each phase. An ordinance annexing the old Miller Cedar Mill property was also approved. There had been no objections to that an nexation at the prior hearing. Nuisance abatement was discussed at the March 20 meeting, with Country Kitchen owners Betty and Dave Vaughn. Police Chief Jim Wal ters said that lumber and sid ing, an old metal trailer frame, and debris need to be moved immediately. He mentioned several other improvements re quired by ordinance, but the council chose to give the Vaughns 30 days to take care of only the immediate viola tions, and erect a fence so garbage and a trailer contain ing tools are out of view. Mayor Art Parrow appointed Brent Costley, Don Wallace and Sharon Parrow to the Planning Commission. Also appointed were Agnes Wuest, Denny Peters, Dale Webb and Dale Fisher to the Bike Committee. In other business, the coun cil approved letting the Ne halem River Watershed Coor dinator use the area of the old city hall that was formerly used by the police department. They also approved continuing talks to see if an agreement can be reached for use of the old city hall for a classroom and stor age for the Youth Corps. The next council meeting will be April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers.
