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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2002)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, October 17, 2002 Letters to the Editor, continued From page 3 Under these circumstances, it is important not to split the main stream vote to allow Mr. Cason to slip in. Rita Bernhard is the sen sible choice in this important election. Yours truly, Michael F. Sheehan Scappoose Does not support Comm. Bernhard $133,410 penalty fee for being four days late in filing documen tation on the Jail general obliga tion bond. Commissioner Bern- hard knew about, authorized payment, and refrained from making public this information when she should have kept her self informed of the status of the bond in order to avoid a penalty. Commissioner Bernhard states that this money was interest on the levy. Whatever the circum stances, it could have been and should have been used for other jail expenses in a timely manner, not paid to the 1RS as a penalty. Public Right to Know: Com missioner Bernhard recently went along with other County Commissioners in adopting new fee schedules for public informa tion and/or assistance. This is in formation that we already pay for with our tax dollars! Why are we paying twice? What about the people who can’t afford these costs? Commissioner Bernhard states she is a team-player. This tells me she won’t stand up for her convictions, but will give in to the loudest voice. Commissioner Bernhard has repeatedly disap pointed me. This is a very impor tant election, so I will be voting for Cathy Taylor for County Com missioner. Sincerely, Thelma Bonar Warren Ed. note: Board of Commissioners proposed an increase in the sur face mining tax and the voters turned it down. To the Editor: We have an important election this November for County Com missioner, Position #2. It is im portant for our quality of life (which includes family wages, roads, parks, sheriff patrols, etc.). Commissioner Bernhard is running for another term. What has Commissioner Bernhard done to benefit our county and does she deserve our vote for another four years, given her cur rent track record? New Business (Jobs) to the County: Commissioner Bernhard endorsed US Gypsum to come into the county at the same time they were filing Chapter 11. This company should have investigat ed more deeply and not as many benefits given. USG said they'd bring “family wage jobs” into the county. What is Commissioner Bernhard’s definition of a family wage job? Her salary or yours? Surface Mining: Ordinances are not enforced and the surface mining tax is too low. Commissioners’ Salary: Com missioner Bernhard stated that she would not accept (or would State Measure 15 may give back) this year’s annual COLA (cost of living adjustment) fix school buildings of $4,300 (annual) - a 7.5% in To the Editor: crease, bringing her salary to On Thursday, September $62,800. So far, she has not 26th, the Vernonia School Board done so. held a workshop regarding the Budget: Commissioners are condition of Washington Grade always complaining that the School. My husband and I were budget is tight and they can’t in attendance. make ends meet, but they During this workshop, Board haven’t tried to resolve the prob Members and others present lem by raising the tax base or were given a tour of WGS by our finding other funding sources. new Superintendent Mike Fun With the exception of the Sheriff, derburg and new Maintenance Jail and Fair, Commissioner Supervisor John Lewis. Mr. Bernhard doesn’t financially Lewis discovered what appeared support off-site departments to be many structural problems (such as Roads, Parks and Ani during his recent care of the fa mal Control). Why? Because she cility, and what we were shown, feels these services are not as first hand, was the dangerously important. poor condition of the school. Jail Levy: The levy didn’t take What started as a search for into consideration operating mold and other conditions that costs, only building costs. This is might be creating health con an obvious expense that should cerns brought up by parents, and have been addressed at the staff at WGS, had escalated into time, and not try to hood-wink the an even more possible serious public. The County paid a structural problem. Not to diminish the health con cerns, where mold and as bestos remain high on the list of issues, but structural concerns had now become primary in regards to the safety of the environment our children are exposed to several hours a day, five days a week. The superintendent hired Clayton Group Services, Inc., im mediately when health concerns were brought to his attention in July. A complete report regarding their findings is available at the School District Office. Once theclean-up that Clayton Group Services recommends is com pleted, air quality testing will be done. With the recent structural is sues, Mike Funderburg immedi ately hired a Structural Engineer to make sure WGS was not an immediate danger to our children structurally, on it’s own merit. The engineer’s report will be made available soon, but the prelimi nary reports have indicated the original concerns were not as se vere as anticipated, but the facil ity still does not meet seismic standards, and is unsafe if an earthquake should occur. This fact has been known since May 2001. Reports are available. I would like to encourage all parents and the community to get involved, and find out the facts for themselves. The School D istrict is taking these issues Continued on page 15 T upper ’ s H ome F urnishings SET S erengeti 7- pc $ D ining Starting at 1149 F all I n to S avin g. 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