Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2002)
Attn: Lesli© Larson UO Library-OMP University Of Oregon Eugene OR 9740Q-1299 iS fî. •^ ^ r' - ' - y " ’^ jp ^ r j^ - - ' < x - ? - 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 FREE j w ~ Voi. 17, No. 23 “ Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” December 5, 2002 Big shake-up in city police department £ i ft P B â s lo ÿ ir a r ’ ... H i ■ o IA Christmas tree erected last week on the lawn in front of Vernonia City Hall is now aglow ¡with light as the community prepares for the holidays. Assisting with the job were, from ¡left, Don Tiffney, Don Webb, Scott Rethwill, Duke Gortler and Bob Scroggins. Marvin Meyer donated the tree from his Christmas tree farm south of Vernonia. New engineer, same old results on WGS Gerald Gotchall, of Nishkian Dean Consulting & Structural Engineers, told the Vernonia School Board and an audience of about twenty people that he “wished that he could report that the previous report [by W alker/D iloretto/Y ounie, Inc., May 3, 2001] was wrong,” but after reviewing that report and examining building plans and visible portions of the structure of Washington Grade School (WGS) he had reached the sam e conclusions. Gotchall gave his presentation following the board’s business meeting November 21 in the WGS gym nasium. Older buildings, said Gotch all, “are typically found to be deficient, particularly in meet ing code provisions for lateral forces from earthquakes and wind” when compared to cur rent building code require ments. The current code is more dem anding, based on more sophisticated and varied building m aterials and con struction techniques, use of larger open spaces within buildings, and more knowledge of earthquake mechanics. Ac cording to G otchall, ea rth quakes of increased frequency and duration can be expected, based on historical and archeo logical records. Seism ic (earthquake) up grading of public buildings, par ticularly schools, has been the subject of public attention. Gotchall says, in his report that several groups (in the state) advocate mandatory upgrading and that, in his opinion, “these groups will become successful and mandatory upgrade will be come law.” Gotchall went on to describe in some detail the ren ovations needed to WGS. The existing building would essen tially have to be gutted, with both exterior and interior walls reinforced with concrete and steel. The result would be a “brand new 70 year-old building that doesn't fit program needs," Gotchall said. In response to an audience question, Gotchall said that Please see page 8 Within the past two weeks, three members of the five-offi cer Vernonia Police D epart ment have retired, resigned or changed positions. James Walters, a 20-year veteran of the Vernonia Police Department, has resigned as chief of the department, but will stay on the job as a sergeant. Walters has held the position of chief for the past ten years. The city was also informed by PERS that Police Sergeant Gene Baska, who took a bad fall in the department’s garage, will not be able to return to work because of a back injury. Baska was also a veteran of the de partment. Additionally, the newest member of the five-officer de partment, Chris Snyder, has re signed. There are now just two officers, Jim Gaskins and Andy Roy, and Sgt. Walters. “This has not been an easy decision,” Walters wrote in his letter of resignation, “but it is appropriate at this time.” He also expressed his desire to remain with the department as sergeant. The city concurred with his desire. The search for a new chief is underway and city administra tor Mike Sykes has told the council that he hopes to fill the position before the end of Jan uary. Another change at City Hall is a new recorder. Kate Conley has been hired to replace Kate Conley Janelle Serafin, who has mar ried and moved away. Conley, the daughter of Art and Dorothy Laubach of Mist, graduated in 1985 from Ver nonia High School. She and her husband, Rod, lived in Port land, but now live in Mist with their daughter, Kelsey. Citizens say “Charge us for parks” There are, undoubtedly, Ver nonia residents who don’t care about the city's many parks, but none of them attended a hear ing before the city council last Monday on a fee schedule pro posed to maintain the parks. At least ten residents spoke in favor of the proposal, with most of them also urging the city to add a charge of $1.00 per month for parks to the bill for water and sewer use. Several speakers noted the grant-funded improvements in parks over the last few years and expressed concern about the city’s ability to adequately maintain them without a consis tent, and sufficient, revenue source. Speakers also emphasized that, if the council approves that funding mechanism, the need remains to enforce a fee schedule for nonresidents. City staff will research the the procedure further and brng their findings back to the coun cil.
