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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2002)
Attn: Leslie Larson $-'»££ 7 ^ ‘*§x> ■ .«Vjir-1 >$<? " U ^ * / . ' /£&■ ìj è n *- .*3Ä fi n PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. P o s ta g e Paid V e rn o nia, O R 97064 UO Library-O M P 1299 University Of Oregon Eugene OR 97403-1299 >¿1 s& ajsi^aÄ ^ss »V !*^Ci SÌ* ■tu ‘ A * Voi. 17, No. 19 ‘Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley’ Mold investigation finds major dry rot Fire destroys home Vernonia School District’s Board of Directors, union repre sentatives and members of the public toured Washington Grade School as part of a long- awaited maintenance commit tee report, during the Septem ber 26 board workshop. Follow ing the tour, there was lengthy discussion about how to ap proach the district’s facilities dilemma. As Superintendent Mike Funderburg told the board, "... the mold at WGS might be the least of the dis trict’s facility issues.” Some weary firefighters pause while others have donned breathing apparatus in prepa ration for entering the home of Jake and Cathy Wolfe, which burned Tuesday morning. Story on page 5. allots include mix of office seekers Most voters in Columbia and Clatsop Counties will see an unusual ballot: The candidates go beyond the usual Democrat and Republican nominees to include Libertarians, Constitu tion Party and independents. In Columbia County, Democ rat incumbent Rita Bernhard will face two challengers for Commissioner Position 2 — Constitution Party candidate Joe Cason and Cathy (Beatley) Taylor, an independent. A similar situation exists in State House District 31 (for merly District 1), where a De mocratic incumbent, Betsey Johnson, is being challenged by Constitution Party nominee Bob Ekstrom and independent Mervyn Arnold. House District 32, which is centered in Tillamook County, Two needed for planning commission With the appointment of Brett Costley to the Vernonia City Council and the resigna tion of Bob Wagner, two people are needed to bring the Ver nonia Planning Commission back to full strength. Wagner resigned because traveling keeps him away from Vernonia for extended periods, making it difficult to keep up with the work. The planning commission reviews land use and zoning applications and makes recom mendations to the city council. It is voluntary and usually meets only once each month. October 3, 2002 but includes part of Columbia and Clatsop Counties, is more traditional, with only two candi dates, Democratic incumbent Elaine Hopson and Republican Joe Meyer. Joan Dukes, a Democrat, who has represented Senate District 16 since 1987, will face Republican Don Fell and Liber tarian Helen McDaniel. Columbia County voters will also see Ballot Measure 5-109, which seeks approval for a five- year local option levy for law enforcement. If approved the levy will cost $0.88 per thou sand of assessed value ($88.00 per $100,000 of as sessed value) for five years. The funds will go the Sheriff’s Department for patrol and jail operations. told the board, portions of walls and ceilings were removed where mold growth was sus pected, which resulted in the exposure of numerous areas of significant dry rot caused by decades of water damage to the wooden structure inside the brick walls. Funderburg told the board that previous engineer ing studies, completed in May of 2001, were conducted to as sess seismic safety and to re view mechanical (heating and plumbing) and electrical sys tems at both WGS and the high Mold growth uncovered school. Lewis showed the tour Directing the tour, Mainte group several examples of wa nance Supervisor John Lewis ter damage in unreinforced ma showed the board some of the sonry walls that appear to be areas where long-standing wa bowing into the building. ter damage had resulted in Teacher Cathy Ward told the mold growth. Eight of the areas group that several classrooms were tested by Clayton Group at WGS have areas in the walls Services (CGS) representative that show daylight through Kathie Lavaty, with four of the them or where outside air samples suggesting fungal comes in. Lewis also showed growth or contamination, ac the tour group a sample of roof cording to the CGS report. ing material that appears to None of the samples tested have been incorrectly installed. Mold remediation were from areas of the building occupied by students. After Funderburg told the board considerable discussion with that Lewis will continue with Lavaty, Funderburg said, it ap clean-up of mold-contaminated pears that nearly all of the mold areas, remove supplies so the can be eliminated. supply room can be closed off, Funderburg recommended close the game room storage that two areas of particular con area and try to determine cern be closed off. The first, a where water is entering. Fol small storage area adjacent to lowing the cleanup, CGS will a room currently used as a again conduct air quality test game room, is underneath the ing. Lewis will also work to in front steps at WGS and shows crease outside air circulation significant evidence of contin and improve indoor air quality ued water leakage from an un by ensuring that windows open. known source. The second He assured the board that the area, next to the music room, is WGS boiler could provide ade also used for storage. The quate heat for students even room has a labeled, but appar with windows open in winter. ently unsealed, asbestos ceil According to Funderburg, ing that would prevent that area these activities should be com from being adequately cleaned. pleted within the next thirty days. Dry rot exposed After considerable discus In preparing for the CGS study, Lewis and Funderburg sion, Funderburg summarized Please see page 3
