PRESORTED STANDARD
U .S . P o s ta g e P aid
V e rn o n ia , O R 9 7 0 6 4
Attn. Leslie Larson
UO Library-OMP
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley"
Vol. 17, No. 1
Some language-impaired person(s) apparently think that celebration and vandalism
have the same definition. They don’t, and the destruction of this bench and aggregate
trash container on Madison Avenue will cost taxpayers, both for replacement and for the
time of a public works employee to clean it up on New Year’s day. Seasonal decorations
and the dirt in planters on Bridge Street were also thrown on the street. There is a stand
ing reward from Vernonia Pride and the Vernonia Area Chamber of Commerce for infor
mation leading to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for vandalism in town.
For information, contact the Vernonia Police Department, 503-429-7335.
Panel will aid city’s “smart development’
grant for this purpose and is
seeking volunteers who are in
terested in having a positive
impact on the growth and de
velopment of Vernonia.
The advisory committee will
Wyden sets meeting in St. Helens
Senator Ron Wyden will hold
a Town Hall meeting January
13 at the Columbia Technical
Center, 375 S. 18th Street in St.
Helens, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
When first elected to the
Senate, Wyden promised he
would have a town hall in each
county, each year, so every
Oregonian would have a
chance to talk with him. Colum
bia County residents are invited
to discuss issues and to ex
press concerns for the upcom
ing legislative session.
Wyden’s Columbia County
Town Hall was held in Vernonia
in 2001.
January 2, 2002
Tax payments sent"
to other countries
Happy New Year??
An advisory committee will
soon be formed to help review
and update the development
code of the City of Vernonia.
The city has received a Smart
Development Code Assistance
FREE
include some city council and
planning ^commission mem
bers, along with other interest
ed citizens. Community mem
bers — business owners, real
tors, developers, homeowners,
residents and others — who
would like to have a voice in the
city's future are encouraged to
submit letters of interest to City
Hall at 1001 Bridge Street, Ver
nonia. The City would also like
to encourage participation by
people who do not usually get
involved in City committees.
For more information, call
Julie Coontz, City Planner, at
City Hall at 503-429-5291.
Approximately 1400 Colum Bernhard said, because “the
bia County property owners ap computer reads three lines of
pear to be delinquent in pay the address, from the bottom
ment of their property tax bills up.”
That would add a line just
and about 200 businesses ap
pear to be late with their per above St. Helens, OR 97051,
sonal property tax payments. In reading 230 Strand Street, but
this case, appearances are de doesn’t explain why or how
ceiving. An unknown number of mail went to Mexico, the Middle
checks intended for the Colum East or Florida, or how it would
bia County Courthouse have prevent future computer errors.
been turning up in Colombia, In addition, it would be very ex
Mexico, and the Middle East, pensive for county government
and at least three have been and the state court system,
which shares the courthouse
cashed in Florida.
In addition to being inundat address, to print new forms and
ed by taxpayers who received envelopes.
County officials were aware
delinquent notices and called to
say their checks had been sent, that mail had previously gone
but hadn’t been cashed, the to Colombia because two let
problem was further exposed ters, one to the county coun
shortly before Christmas. At sel’s office and one to land de
that time, the finance and taxa velopment services, were re
tion department received a call turned from there in October or
from Mexico requesting per November. The postal service
mission to cash a check ad was contacted at that time,
dressed to Columbia County. Bernhard said.
The three checks that were
Additionally, one business own
cashed
in Florida were sent by
er reported that his check was
returned from a Middle Eastern two different county business
es. When returned to the payor,
country.
Columbia County Commis they had been stamped with a
sioner Rita Bernhard had diffi phony endorsement stamp that
culty reaching an inspector for read “Columbia Cty Tax Collec
the U.S. Postal Service be tor."
In the meantime, the county
cause of the holidays, but final
is
advising taxpayers whose
ly made contact on December
31. In response to Bernhard’s checks have not been received
questions, the only official re by the county nor cleared by
sponse is that the postal ser their bank, to stop payment on
vice doesn’t know what hap those checks and re-issue an
pened but is trying to figure out other check. If your tax pay
ment check has cleared your
why the mail went elsewhere.
Earlier, a USPS employee in bank, the county recommends
the Portland regional sorting that you check the endorse
center said the mail was sent to ment on the back to be sure it
the wrong location because of was cashed by the county. If
a computer error which read you are uncertain, call the tax
the address as Colombia, office at 503-397-0060.
Because of the unusual situ
South America, instead of Co
ation,
the Board of Commis
lumbia County Courthouse, St.
Helens, OR 97051. One postal sioners has agreed to waive
service employee suggested the usual late charge for delin
that future problems may be quent taxes when the payors
eliminated by adding a street can show they mailed their pay
address for the courthouse, ment on time.