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.