Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2002)
“ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Vol. 17, No. 8 Council accepts DEQ wastewater order Egg-stra exciting... If anticipating is half the fun, as the adage says, these children were having a wonderful time waiting the Vernonia Easter Egg Hunt to start. After finding all of the eggs in Hawkins Park, they enjoyed a visit with the Easter bunny, who had treats for them. 47 J board decides on approach to tasks Vernonia School Board had a productive workshop March 21, developing a process and calendar for the interim super intendent search, discussing the findins of a recently com pleted survey to determine vot ers’ reasons for opposing the school bond, and deciding how and when to fill a vacant board position created by the Decem ber resignation of Jeff Blum. Search for Interim Superintendent The board decided, earlier in the month, to use the OSBA search service to look for an in terim superintendent. Costs for this service will be deducted from the cost of a full superin tendent search, if the board lat er decides to use OSBA ser vices for that purpose. In prior discussions the board agreed that an interim superintendent could best provide the neces sary oversight for the district and also be able to assist and facilitate further discussion of possible changes to the admin istrative team. Diane Harr, Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) Executive Search Facilitator, explained the board may use any method they choose to de termine the personal qualities and professional qualifications desired in an interim superin tendent. After determination of these qualities and qualifica tions OSBA will present the board with a list of qualified, in terested candidates. Harr sug gests that the board screen a group of resumes, then inter __________ A pril 4, 2002 view approximately five candi dates for the position. She does not anticipate any difficul ty in procuring an adequate number of candidates for con sideration. OSBA currently has more than 30 people willing to consider interim superinten dent jobs and expect that num ber to increase. As part of ongoing efforts to increase communications and boost public opinion, the board would like to seek community and staff input in deciding what personal and professional qual ifications would be important, before beginning to screen ap plicants. Harr stressed that con fidentiality must be maintained and that involving other groups would require more time. She also said it is important to make Please see page 10 Vernonia City Council ac cepted a draft Mutual Agree ment and Order (MAO) with the state Department of Environ mental Quality, Monday night, that sets timelines for improve ments to the City’s wastewater treatm ent facility (W W TF). W ithout an agreement, DEQ could suspend the permit that Hows the City to discharge treated wastewater into the Ne halem River. An MAO was first signed by the two agencies in June, 1995, with a facilities plan to complete the design and construction of improvements that would ad dress problems with hydraulic capacity and effluent exfiltration into the river. The flood of Feb ruary, 1996, caused so much damage to the City’s WWTF that help was needed from DEQ. The 1995 MAO was am end ed to allow removal of sludge, sediment and debris, assess the exfiltrative capacity of the lagoons and determine capaci ty needs for the next 20 years. Nothing in the agreement al lows the City to violate its dis charge permit, but it does rec ognize that, until completion of an upgraded facility, it may oc casionally discharge into the river May 1-Oct. 31 in violation of the permit. The City must submit draft plans and specifications for de velopment of its facility plan, adhering to time lines set by DEQ. Overall, final approval of the City’s plans is not like ly to occur in less than two years. Vi olation of the MAO could result in penalties of $250 per day, or more under certain circum stances. DEQ, however, is working as a partner, rather than as an adversary in order to meet health and safety stan dards. More help needed on May 20 for community-wide cleanup effort Make Vernonia Shine Day, April 20, is almost here— time to get out the gloves and the sweat and muscle and clean up the town. Vernonia Pride, which orga nizes the annual project with the help of SOLV, the SOLV IT program, and the City of Ver nonia, has several areas planned for cleanup, including: • Weeding and brush clear ing near the south end of town welcome sign. • Blackberry removal, w eed ing and litter pickup behind the highschool. • Weeding and painting at the museum. • Hedge trimming, weeding and planting at the post office. • Bark dust spreading ALL OVER TOWN. • Litter pickup ALL OVER TOWN. • Litter pickup on the linear trail as far as we can go. • Weeding and litter pickup at Pioneer Cemetary. • Weeding at Lake Vernonia. • Brush removal at Ora Bolmeier Park. “ If you know of an area that needs w ork,” said Donna Webb, “let us know. We always welcome new site ideas.” People w ith pickups and yard equipment are still need ed, along w ith a couple of adults to man the yard debris collection site that will be locat ed at public works. Remember there will also be a free lunch at the Scout Cabin for everyone who helps Make Vernonia Shine. Anyone w ho can help is asked to call Donna Webb at 503-429-4062.
