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The INDEPENDENT, July 20, 2006
Vernonia citizens show continued interest in Council meetings
The July 17, Vernonia City
Council meeting started with
comments from citizens. After
an explanation from Mayor Sal-
ly Harrison that action cannot
be taken on items brought up
during this comment period
(see related information in the
Opinion section on page 2)
Cindy Ball commented on the
fact that at this meeting, there
was no council packet for the
audience. Helen Johnston then
said, “Since we are being edu-
cated, can we know how to get
something on the agenda?”
Mike Seager then told council it
was unacceptable that the pub-
lic cannot get a packet of infor-
mation in order to be informed
and that it is unacceptable to
have to pay $12.00 for said
packet. Interim city administra-
tor Dick Kline told the audience
that this is the first community
he has been in where council
packets were generally avail-
able, due to costs, but that the
packet will be available in PDF
form online at the city’s website
the Thursday or Friday before
meeting dates. Helen Johnston
spoke again to say, “Being as
we are going to start running a
meeting like it’s supposed to be
run when is there a question
and answer period for citizens,
when can an exchange take
place?” Mayor Harrison an-
swered that town hall meetings
are for information exchange
with citizens.
George Tice told the audi-
ence that he had met with Mr.
Kline and a representative from
Kennedy/Jenks (the engineers
on the sewer project) and Mr.
Kline now has a book in his of-
fice, Everything you want to
know about Vernonia Sewer .
Tice went on to say the first
meeting of the sewer advisory
committee would be held this
Wednesday (July 19).
Mayor Harrison reinstated
the Airport Advisory Committee
that recently met and asked
them to continue to meet and
advise the council on recom-
mended actions for best use of
the airport.
Kline told those in atten-
dance that his door is open, the
phone works and he likes to get
information where and when he
can and likes to give informa-
tion. He went on to say that the
community is to be congratulat-
ed on being an active, involved
community that has accom-
plished many things.
After two executive ses-
sions, council came back to
unanimously approve, with two
changes to the language, the
police contracts. On the final
agenda item, council voted to
pay a 3-day penalty (no addi-
tional information on this item
was provided) and to re-open
the Director of Public Works
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Saturdays
7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
627 Adams Avenue
Arts & Crafts Society
2nd Thursday
2:00 p.m., City Library
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., Leonetti’s Grill
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6033
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6081
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
For Info Call 503-429-8133
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Hands On Art Committee
1st & 3rd Thursdays
4:00 p.m., City Hall
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
For location call 503-429-7193
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant
Nehalem Valley Car Club
For Info Call 503-429-4074
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Preschool Story Hour
Mondays
10:30 a.m., City Library
Upper Nehalem C.P.A.C.
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Venturing Crew 201
1st & 3rd Thursdays 5:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant
Vernonia Cares Directors
For Info call 503-429-1414
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Community PTA
3rd Thursday
7:00 p.m., WGS Library
Vernonia Grange
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., Grange Hall
Vernonia Health Center
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
Vernonia Learning Center
1st & Last Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Tuesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Pride
3rd Thursday
1:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
6:00 p.m., District Office
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
2nd Friday
1:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia Transfer Station
2nd & 4th Saturdays
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.Behind VHS
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Thursday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., WOEC
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position instead of waiting for
the regular city administrator to
be hired and then to hire for this
position.
In other business, Council:
• re-appointed Don Wallace
to the Planning Commission.
• approved the interim su-
perintendent contract.
• told the planning commis-
Kline keeps “Open door policy”
that it’s appropriate and re-
sponsive.” He went on to say
he is very impressed with the
level of motivation and enthusi-
asm shown by the City Council.
Kline and his wife, Mary, live
in Cornelius and have five
grown children, four daughters
and one son. Look for him
around town, or go visit him at
City Hall, he has an “open
door” policy for the citizens of
Vernonia.
From page 1
to prioritize the other projects
the city has going, so decisions
can be made about what to do
with the available staff and dol-
lars.
When asked about his man-
agement style, Kline respond-
ed, “I like to work with people,
I’m a retailer at heart, I like to
be involved with committees
and commissions. I’m not a
loner. I like to make sure when
I’m representing government
JULY 2006
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sion to look at drafting an ordi-
nance on “regulated uses,”
which include gambling, adult
book shops and other adult
businesses.
The next regularly sched-
uled council meeting will be Au-
gust 7, at 7:00 p.m. at Vernonia
City Hall.
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MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-2401
SEPTEMBER 2006
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7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
6:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fridays
7:00 p.m., Methodist Church
Alcoholics Anonymous
Wednesdays
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
American Legion Post #90
2nd Tuesdays
7:30 p.m., Main Street Post
Banks City Council
2nd Tuesday
7:30 p.m., City Hall
Banks Fire District #13
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Station 13
Banks Planning Commission
Last Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Banks School Board
2nd Monday
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
Banks Youth Group
Sundays, Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
Chamber of Commerce
1st Thursday
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
CPO 14
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Friends of the Library
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., Brown Derby
Sunset Park Assoc.
3rd Wednesday
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
T.O.P.S.
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesdays
10 a.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Monday
6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
3rd Tuesday
10 a.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 550 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. 2nd Tuesday
3:00 p.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to
The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.