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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2002)
Voi. 17, No. 22 “ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” ___________November 21, 2002 City sets hearing on proposed park fees Education funds being closely watched By Noni Andersen As the state’s economic con dition continues its downward slide, a need for new textbooks is just one of the situations be ing monitored by a subcomm it tee of the Vernonia School Dis trict budget committee. In an effort to stay aware of changes in the revenue picture, Leslie O ’Leary, Cari Leven- seller, Cindy Naillon, Robyn Bassett and I meet monthly at 7:00 a.m. with administrative team members Mike Funder- burg, Dawn Plews, Kirk Sherrill and Mike Durbin. The meetings are not fun. In January, if voters say no to a temporary income tax increase, Vernonia schools will be look ing at a decrease of $140,000 - money that is already budget ed. The group is now looking, very reluctantly, at cutting teaching positions because ap proximately 80 percent of the general fund is in salaries. If necessary, the district will have to consider closing two Mist School classrooms, and moving one teacher from Mist to Washington Grade School in order to eliminate busing stu dents to Mist. The state reim burses 70 percent of the trans portation cost, but the other 30 percent may be needed. Another undesirable alterna tive would be to eliminate one teaching position by creating a blended classroom at Lincoln Grade School. The “worst case” scenario would include selling the Mist property. The budget monitoring will continue, no matter what the outcom e, because in about three months, the full budget committee will have to start work on the 2003-04 budget. Everyone involved hopes that the econom y starts to turn around by that time, but no one is holding their breath. The good news is: Vernon organizations and individuals. Under the proposed regula ia’s parks are much loved and tions, for example, if the City of much used. The bad news is: Parks cost Vernonia sponsored a potluck money to maintain and they workshop in the Anderson Park Picnic Shelter (as they have don’t pay for themselves. Therefore, the question be done in the past), there would fore the Vernonia City Council be no fee. There would be no is: How can the City maintain fee for the Vernonia Summer and improve parks without de Youth program, a Class 2 or ganization, to schedule a veloping a funding source? The sticker fee developed potluck and registration in the last year for vehicles entering same facility. However, if a po Vernonia Lake was partially litical organization wanted to reserve the picnic shelter for a successful, but the program couldn’t raise enough money to fund raiser or an informational meeting, they would have to be of much help. Volunteers on the city Parks pay a $30 fee. Group camping, whether RV Commission have been study ing the situation for over a year or tent, would always require a and, after many meetings and fee for both Class 2 and Class several workshops - including 3, but the amount would vary. A some with the council - have group camp is defined as five to developed a fee schedule, park ten RVs or tents per night. “ Expectations are high,” for user regulations and manage ment responsibilities for all of Vernonia’s parks, said Public W orks Director Robyn Bassett, the parks. Users may make reserva “but the grants are gone.” Vernonia has been fortunate tions for park facilities and sports fields, with varying fees, in being allowed to use “in-kind” depending on the facilities re contributions, Bassett said, as served, what activities are matching “money” for grants. scheduled and the users’ clas However, maintenance and im sification. Three classes of provements in the future will re quire actual cash to meet grant users have been identified: Class 1 is for activities spon requirements. Everyone interested in the sored by the City of Vernonia. Class 2 is composed of non future of Anderson Park, Ver profit organizations sponsoring nonia Lake, H aw kins Park, an activity, or activities, for the Spencer Field, Airport Park and primary purpose of serving the Ora Bolm eier Park is invited to educational or recreational attend the public hearing on needs of youth in Vernonia. December 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Class 3 is all other groups (in Council Chambers at Vernonia cluding religious and political), City Hall. Volunteer firefighters needed, ideas wanted for workshop As recent incidents have shown, there is a critical short age of volunteer firefighters in Vernonia who are available to respond to emergencies during normal, daytime working hours. In an effort to alleviate the prob lem, the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District has sched uled a workshop to discuss ways to recruit and train more people. All ideas and suggestions will be considered and the pub lic is urged to attend. The work shop will be on Tuesday, No vem ber 26 at 7:00 p.m., in the fire hall, 555 E. Bridge Street.
