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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2000)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, July 19, 2000 The INDEPENDENT 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. Edi tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: (503) 429-9410, e-mail: noni@vernonia.com jZdU À wul . // Opinion 77*446 flu w r Grant awards are not haphazard accidents The state Recreation Trails Program awarded $70,000 to Vernonia last month, to purchase the re mainder of the Linear Trail extension from Anderson Park to Lake Vernonia. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners al located $35,000 to pave the Linear Trail extension from Anderson Park to Lake Vernonia. The Northwest Oregon Economic Alliance awarded $80,000 to Vernonia last week for infrastructure im provements to the RV sites at Anderson Park. Lucky? No, luck had nothing to do with the suc cessful efforts to fund these improvements. Vision is needed, of course, but vision alone won’t bring results. Planning is absolutely crucial. It is need ed to bridge the gap between dreams and reality. A magnificent vision can be quickly destroyed by failing to consider whether it is feasible. Vernonia’s under standing of outdoor recreation as an element in eco nomic development (and the trail as a practical way to keep bikes and pedestrians off of Hwy. 47) eliminated any dreaminess. Another critical factor in seeking grants is the will ingness of the applicant to demonstrate good faith. So, how does an applicant demonstrate good faith? The old-fashioned way, with money and work. It is sometimes painful to read or listen to requests for funding by an applicant that wants to have every thing supplied. If an applicant doesn’t want to commit funds or labor or materials, the application will usually be unsuccessful. Vernonia hasn’t made that mistake. The city has consistently found a way to provide some sort of match. It sometimes takes creative efforts, but with a good city administration, the commitment is real. Even when the funds involved are public money, the people responsible for allocating it are more comfort able when they see commitment on the part of the ap plicant. That is the way it should be. Thanks, Commissioners and NOEA The Columbia County Board of Commissioners did the right thing when they allocated $35,000 to pave the linear trail extension. Chairman Tony Hyde and Commissioners Jack Peterson and Rita Bernhard de serve a public “Thank you.” Your action is appreciated. Hyde also deserves thanks for his work on the NOEA board. He is one of Columbia County’s three members (Jeff VanNatta and Paul Pulliam are the oth er two.), but this thanks includes all the NOEA board. Council posts need candidates It’s easy to complain about what “they” do; it’s easy to sit around and gripe. It isn’t easy to do the work re quired of an unpaid city council member or mayor and, sometimes, the grief that comes with these volunteer positions is considerable. Nevertheless, these positions are important and they need candidates. If you are interested, stop in at your city hall and get some information. The satisfaction is even greater than the grief. Improvements planned for city’s parks For the past decade or more, the parks in Vernonia have taken a back seat to much greater needs, particu larly water and sewer infra structure improvements. That era is past, according to Pub lic Works Director Robyn Bas sett, and improvements are being started. In 1999, the city’s Parks System Master Plan was com pleted. This required the ef forts of community volunteers as well as city staff. The vol unteer Parks Committee used specific criteria to evaluate each park and provided rec ommendations to improve conditions of current uses and facilities within the sys tem. Specific recommendations resulting from the evaluation, and incorporated in the im provement plan are as follows: Hawkins Park - Beautifica tion of the swimming pool area (this is already well on the way to completion); develop addi tional parking for park users. Airport Park - Clear brush and thin trees on east side of park to provide additional primitive camp sites (Bid has been awarded for thinning trees.); construct fire pits at designated camp sites; repair and provide access to all camp sites; develop a hand pump potable well. Ora Bolmeier Park - Clear specific trees and underbrush to allow more natural light into the park (Bid has been award ed for removing trees.); create viewing locations with bench es; remove stumps at play area to increase the size of the basketball court; provide new play equipment; improve the paths and existing trail system. Anderson Park - Comple tion of Linear Trail Extension from Anderson Park to Lake Vernonia (now funded and should start this year); up grade infrastructure (water, sewer and electricity); build new ADA accessible re strooms with showers, and a multi-use facility including a picnic shelter with cooking fa cilities. (See related article on page one for RV parking im provements.) Shay Park - Construct a shelter for the Shay 102 En gine, remove chain link fence and provide a gathering place with gazebo and benches; erect an information kiosk with the history of Shay 102 and a directory of local businesses. It would also be designated as a memorial park. Lake Vernonia - Expand parking for users; create prim itive camping between the NOEA grants in tri-county area From page 1 $7,500; • Astoria Trolley Barn; $50,000; • Columbia River Crabbing & Fishing Pier, $50,000; • Liberty Theater Thrust Stage, $50,650; • Seaside Museum Mural, $3,125; • Pacific City Beautification, $20,000, • Tillamook Coastal Water- shed Resource Center, $30,000; • Cart’M Recycling Project, $42,000 • N. Tillamook Community Center, $30,000; • Tillamook County Commu nity Clusters, $30,000; • Tillamook County Fair grounds Renovations, $35,000 • Tillamook County Futures Council, $5,000; • Regional Telecommunica tions Planning, $25,000. lake and the Nehalem River on the east side of the lake; construct ADA accessible fish ing piers (This is now funded and work should be underway soon.); acquire and improve existing boat ramp (the west side of the lake is still in pri vate ownership although it is regularly used by the public.); erect a kiosk to house the his tory of the Oregon-American Lumber Company mill opera tion. Spencer Park - Construct a multi-use sports field that in cludes two baseball/softball diamonds, with the field area between them designated for other activities such as soccer and football. Improvements to Vernon ia’s Parks System have oc curred primarily through the efforts of dedicated citizens from Vernonia and throughout the area. They have commit ted time, equipment and mon ey. The horse arena in Ander son Park is a particularly good example of the community’s dedication to outdoor recre ation. In the case of the Parks System, volunteers' efforts are more valuable than they may know because no property tax monies are included in the Parks budget. Actual revenue derives entirely from overnight camping fees collected at An derson Park, and should im prove when bathroom/shower, picnic and cooking facilities are upgraded. Anyone with quesions about the parks plan, or who may be interested in volun teering for a park project should contact Bassett at 429- 6921. A copy of the Vernonia Parks Master Plan is available for review at City Hall during regular working hours.
