Page 20
The INDEPENDENT, April 6, 2006
Airport committee suspended, airport property declared surplus
From page 1
• Noni Andersen told council
that, because the trailer for the
park host at Anderson Park
was put right at the entrance,
the first thing people see is blue
tarps covering equipment and
firewood. Previously, she said,
the park host was next to a
storage shed which held the
necessary items, allowing the
entrance signs and landscap-
ing to be the initial focal point.
At Vernonia Lake, she said, the
city is losing revenue in spite of
heavy use, because no one is
responsible for collecting park-
ing fees; that is not in the fran-
March 20 Vernonia
City Council
At the March 20 Vernon-
ia Council meeting, local pi-
lot Mike Seager said he
was at the last three airport
committee meetings and
they were not well attend-
ed. He encouraged Mayor
Sally Harrison to appoint
new members who would
be more active on the com-
mittee.
That action was on the
agenda, but Harrison said
she was seeking more infor-
mation before making her
decision. She said she ex-
pected to announce the ap-
pointment at the next council
meeting (April 3, 2006).
The meeting was ad-
journed early so mayor,
council and staff could attend
the Drug Free Coalition
meeting at the Scout Cabin
with special speaker, Gary
Cima.
chise holder’s contract. She
also noted that there is no con-
tract with the Anderson Park
park host.
Though on the agenda, no
one was appointed to the Air-
port Committee. Mayor Sally
Harrison announced that com-
mittee meetings would be sus-
pended until further notice, not-
ing that the committee had no
funds and no business was un-
derway. At the end of the coun-
cil meeting, following an execu-
tive session on real property
transactions, the council de-
clared the airport to be surplus
property. There are additional
steps required before before
disposal of the property can
take place.
Mayor Harrison also pro-
claimed April as “Make Vernon-
ia Shine Month”, and appointed
Judy Steffen to the Learning
Center Committee.
City Administrator Robyn
Bassett told Council that the
city has completed the pur-
chase of 35 acres at the lake,
with grant finds from the Ore-
gon Department of Economic
Development. She also report-
ed that Waste Management is
considering local curbside recy-
cling and increased hours for
the transfer station. Decisions
on these proposals will likely be
made within 60 days.
In other business, Council
approved:
• a request from Sentry Mar-
ket to use their Maple Street
sidewalk for storage during a
90 day period while they re-
place their old storage building
with a new one.
• liquor license renewals for
the Buckhorn Restaurant and
the Cedar Side Inn;
• the first reading of the
Pocket Park ordinance;
• a change of wording for two
sign ordinances;
• a state-required amend-
ment to the sewer ordinance;
• a request for a letter of sup-
port from the Vernonia Drug
Free Coalition;
• renewal of membership in
Col-Pac.
• a retreat on Saturday, April
29, at McMenamin’s Grand
Lodge in Forest Grove. The re-
treat will include advisory com-
mittees and city staff. The
meeting is open to the public.
• an ordinance declaring
Real Property No Longer
Needed;
• two public hearings on April
17 at 7:00 p.m.; one on dispos-
al of property, the other on an-
nexation.
The March 20 Drug-Free Coalition meeting featured Gary Cima, a Deschutes County Deputy
Sheriff, talking about Methamphetamine. Cima had been in Vernonia that day to train 50-60
police officers from Oregon and a couple from Washington. About crystal meth, Cima said,
“It’s like tentacles of an octopus, spreading to rural areas from the cities.” Above, Cima, fac-
ing front, is being interviewed by KATU crime reporter Anna Song while a cameraman films.
The training was held at the Scout Cabin. Expect to see more police training in Vernonia in
the future, including school shooting training that will be held at what was Lincoln Grade
School.
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