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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2005)
Page 16 The INDEPENDENT, April 7, 2005 47J Budget Committee convenes Vernonia School District Budget Committee met on March 31 with board Chairman Jim Krahn saying that the process should be much less painful this year because “we won’t be cutting” things from the budget. Krahn explained that the process used by the board for resolving school is sues, including the budget, is to form committees that accom plish the work and/or make de cisions and then present their recommendations to the board for action. Funderburg told the commit tee that there is neither a mini mum nor a maximum number of meetings. Since about 87 percent of the district expendi tures are in salaries and bene fits, the committee can effect changes in only a small portion of the budget. Though new committee member Tammy Jennings was assured that the committee would have a chance to review the document, Funderburg also said that the budget message and document would be deliv ered at the May 5 meeting and said several times that he hoped the committee would only need one meeting. This was the procedure used last year, when the committee ap proved the budget on the same night it was presented, much to the distress of some committee members who felt they should first have read it. Funderburg explained that the Budget Assistance Team (BAT) would review the budget in detail with the administrative team. Though materials pre sented to committee members describe a process where the budget is reviewed fund by fund, in Vernonia most of this work is done by the BAT. Fun derburg and Krahn urged com mittee members to attend BAT meetings, even if not on the committee. They also asked that requests for additional in formation be presented before May 5 so the information can be prepared for the meeting. Committee members can dis cuss the budget with each oth er as long as a majority is not present, which would violate public meeting law. BAT is composed of up to three board members and three community members of the budget committee and does not constitute a quorum. The BAT will meet Tuesday, April 12, at 6:00 pm. Krahn, Cari Levenseller and Gienah Cheney will represent the board with assistance from new committee members Wil low Burch and Ernie Smith. Two members of the com mittee, Rick Gwin and Cindy Naillon, have resigned. It will be up to the board to decide whether to fill these positions. Funderburg emphasized that the purpose of the budget committee is not to establish or eliminate specific programs but to review the document as a whole. The budget message will be delivered May 5 and the committee can approve the budget at that time or set an other meeting. All meetings are open to the public. Decaying plumbing threatens WGS Spring Break is a time for much-needed maintenance in schools, but John Lewis, main tenance supervisor in Vernon ia, found an unpleasant sur prise under the floor at Wash ington Grade School. When he uncovered the drain pool in the boiler room, it was full of soapy water - and there is no soap in the boiler. District Superinten dent Mike Funderburg immedi ately called an emergency meeting of the board, held March 24th. Funderburg was concerned that the health department would shut down food services at WGS. Fortunately, after a prompt visit by Mark Edington, Environmental Services officer for the Columbia County Health Department, the kitchen can re main open for the remainder of the school year by limiting the amount of water used. Accord ing to Edington, it is not a dan gerous situation because there is no indication of back-up of any kind, into sinks or other plumbing. After convening in the boardroom, Funderburg, Lewis and board members Jim Krahn, Randy Hansen, Gienah Ch eney and Phil Doyle, and oth ers toured WGS, where Fun derburg explained the situation. In the boiler room, which is be tween the boys’ and girls’ lock er rooms, Funderburg showed the group the boiler drain basin, still with considerable gray-wa ter in it despite the best efforts of a sump pump. Funderburg and Lewis found a copy of 1956 remodeling work at the school, but there were no sewer lines drawn on the plans. Jeff Burch, from the Vernonia Public Works Depart ment, was able to help locate three separate lines running into the sewer main beneath Bridge Street. This separation of lines limited the problem area to the central spine under neath the offices and gymnasi um. Potential damage to the water system is limited to the basement because the main water supply comes from above the problem area. At tempting to locate the drain line between the main kitchen drain, the boiler room basin and the sewer line, Lewis consulted available plans, then jackham- mered through the cement floor in the girls’ locker room at the location indicated. On the third attempt, he located the line un derneath the wall between the locker room and the boiler room. Fortunately, there was no evidence of leakage. Moving on into the kitchen it self, Funderburg explained that all of the gray water in the kitchen drains into a single cen tral drain. With the grate re moved, he demonstrated how a wooden dowel could be easily pushed many inches into what feels like very soft muck under the concrete floor. After Coffey Laboratories Inc. tested the water supply in the kitchen sink, faculty lounge and custodial room, the prelim inary results reported to the dis trict by phone on Friday were that the water supply was safe. The final results were the same, with all samples showing an absence of all coliforms: “The results were negative. No further action is needed until the next sampling event." To protect the district from any potential liability, and to en sure that the health of employ ees, students and patrons is protected, Funderburg pro posed limiting the use of water in the kitchen by not using the dishwasher, or other appli ances that require large amounts of water, especially the steam kettle. Trays and oth er necessary dishes and pots will be hand washed. Some hot food, of the heat-and-eat vari ety, will still be served on dis posable plates for the 50, or so, school days left in the year. Board Chairman Krahn put the situation well when he said, “It would be a little naive to think that this is the only prob lem.” Lewis had brought a cor roded pipe to the January board meeting as evidence of the decay of the water system. Due to the lack of accurate plans and the solid concrete construction of the basement, it is impossible to know what is happening underneath without incurring significant costs. The new middle school building will include a cafeteria to replace the cafeteria in the basement of WGS. Funderburg told the board that he “didn’t know why the board would spend one more nickel on re solving the problem.” Council meeting schedule changed ♦ SALE ♦ SALE ♦ • No Clog Gutter Systems • Concealed Fastens Produrti 3. wide 28-ga. GALVANIZED' • Purlins & Girts S S T W 3 'wide, 28-ga. OFFWHITE ’r W • Braked Shapes to 26' 4* long 16 ga. max. ' (500 ft. minimum while supplies last) Competitive Prices - Superior Service - Premium Product Boom Truck Delivery ~ Oregon, Wash., Idaho, N. Calif. From page 15 maintenance of city trees. Council indicated that they would like to re-establish a tree board including public works, an arborist, council and com munity members. The Council’s regular busi ness meeting begins at 7:30 on the second Tuesday of every month. They have been hold ing a second meeting, but that will be suspended in order to concentrate on developing the 2005-2006 budget. Councilors have accepted responsibility for reviewing at least one of the city's funds for presentation during the budget process. Lyda, Andrews and Heidi Duckworth will review the general fund and system devel opment fund. Edison will handle the water funds (Including the debt and depreciation funds), Biehl will review the Street & Road Fund and the Traffic Impact fund. Branstitre will handle the library fund and Andrews will cover park expenses. A park fund does not exist yet, but a budget for parks is included in the gen eral fund. An executive session has been scheduled before the next meeting to discuss possi ble litigation with Arbor Village Homeowners Association.
