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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2006)
The INDEPENDENT, May 4, 2006 Page 15 Public meeting held on airport expansion Kindergarten Round Up May 10 Approximately 50 people at- tended a public meeting held April 27 to hear or express con- cerns regarding an application for expansion of operations at Apple Valley Airport by Mike and Jennie Applebee. The Ap- plebees were represented by Matt Newman of LDC Design Banks Fire District #13 Abbreviations: EMS, Emergency Medical Service; MVA, Motor Vehicle Accident MARCH 2006 Mar 2 Mar 3 Mar 4 Mar 5 Mar 6 Mar 8 Mar 9 Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 16 Mar 19 Mar 21 Mar 23 Mar 29 Mar 31 – MVA Hwy 47 @ Nowa- kowski, Move-up to Dist. 2 – EMS assist – sick person, Auto alarm – EMS assist – sick person – EMS assist – psychiatric – EMS assist (2) burn & trauma – Wires down, vehicle fire & chimney fire – MVA (3) Hwy 47 – MVA (3) Hwy 47 & Hwy 6 – MVA Hwy 47 – EMS assist (2) – fall & overdose – EMS assist (2) – head- ache & breathing, mu- tual aid - F. Grove – EMS assist – allergic – EMS assist – cardiac, water problem, auto alarm – EMS assist – fall – Auto alarm – EMS assist – mental/e- motional – EMS assist (2) – sick & diabetic, MVA Hwy 6/47, move-up Dist. 2 Group and did not attend the meeting. The Applebees had applied for expansion last year, but did not complete the process. With the new application, it starts over, and the public meeting is a required first step. Concerns raised at the meeting will have to be addressed within their ap- plication. The proposal will be evaluated based on its impact to existing land uses in the area. According to David Bratton, co-chair of Neighbors Against Apple Valley Expansion (NAAVE), many issues were brought up during the approxi- mately two hour meeting. “It was contentious at times, but everyone tried to remember that Matt wasn’t the one ex- panding the airport, he was just hired to get a completed appli- cation,” Bratton said. Citizens raised the same is- sues that came up at the initial public meeting last summer: Traffic impact, noise impact, numerous safety concerns, proximity to a school and to the linear trail, and flood plain im- pact, among others. Bratton pointed out that be- ginning helicopter students spend the first six hours of their training doing low-level flying and hovering. It is the noise of low level helicopter flights and hovering that concerns many neighbors. Bratton questioned how teaching at Banks Christ- ian Academy would be affected by constantly hovering helicop- ters. No traffic impact or noise level studies have been con- ducted yet. Newman indicated that an acoustical study will be done in the future. The new expansion propos- al does not call for as many ac- tivities as the old one. The Ap- plebees are seeking approval for flightseeing and flight in- struction. They want to keep 10 helicopters on the site, as well as fixed-wing aircraft. Bratton said that Newman was not sure what expected activity levels would be. The proposal does estimate three flight students per day and calls for conduct- ing flightseeing tours seven days a week starting at 10 a.m. At this time, Applebee is not seeking to provide mechanical and fueling services or to pave the runway. His application also will not include any new build- ings. Newman hopes to have the application completed within the next 30 days. Washington County then has 30 days to rule on its completeness. Once the application is complete, the county has 60 days to decide. Kindergarten Round Up for the Banks School District will be held Wednesday, May 10, from 4 to 6:00 p.m. Registration will be on a drop-in basis at Banks Elementary School, 42350 NW Trellis Way. New Kindergartners must be five years old by September 1, 2006. In addition to bringing the child being enrolled, parents and/or guardians need to bring copies of the child’s birth certifi- cate and immunization records. Emergency contact information will also be needed. The Kindergarten staff looks forward to meeting parents and new Kindergartners. County to remove illegal road signs Signs are sprouting like weeds along Washington County roads and, like weeds, they’re being pulled up by the roots. The political, real estate, work at home, and garage sale signs have started disappear- ing as Washington County crews begin their periodic sweep of illegal signs. “Signs placed illegally along the road generate safety issues and many citizen complaints, so several times a year we con- centrate on rounding them up.” Land Use and Transportation operations manager Dave Schamp said. “Naturally the problem peaks just prior to elections but we don’t discrimi- nate – politics, real estate, in- ternet access – we take them all.” Beside being a visual blight on the landscape, illegally placed signs block driver visi- bility and pedestrian access. They also compete with traffic control signs for driver atten- tion. Signs should never be placed in the right-of-way, which generally includes the roadway, ditches, shoulders and sidewalks; basically all the area between the utility poles on both sides of the road. Signs must also not be placed on traf- fic signposts, power poles or signal cabinets. Most of the signs are re- moved by community service workers who, under the super- vision of county employees, cruise the main roads favored by sign owners. The confiscat- ed materials are recycled or Please see page 16 A beautiful landscape demands attention to detail ... and a powerful MM 55 STIHL YARD BOSS® MM55 YARD BOSS Treat Mom to Champagne Brunch Starting $ 95 at 339 Sunday May 14th The MM55 comes standard with the cultivator tines. Other attachments sold separately. Champagne Brunch 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Dinner 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. 181 North Main Street Banks 503-334-7866 PRECISION OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Banks Hardware 503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks • Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm • Saturday 8am to 5pm • Sunday 10am to 4pm
