Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, September 21, 2006
History and usage of SDCs explained
From page 1
There are two fees; reim-
bursement fees which may be
spent on capital improvements
to the system (so sewer fees
for sewer improvements, but
not for stormwater, for exam-
ple), including debt service;
and Improvement fees to be
spent only on capacity-increas-
ing capital improvements, also
including debt service. ORS
223.297-314 specifies what
can and can’t legally be done
with SDC funds and how they
can be set.
The math for figuring out
how much to charge is fairly
simple, using the amount ex-
pected to be spent on improve-
ments, multiplied by the antici-
pated percent increase in us-
age, and divided by the number
of equivalent dwelling units
(EDUs) expected, to come up
with an outside cost. City Coun-
cils then decide how much of
that amount to use for the SDC.
Pigott used the wastewater
project and the wastewater
SDC as an example, using the
$9.6 million anticipated cost,
times 26 percent (for the addi-
tional wastewater flow the new
system will handle) divided by
589 (which is 29 new EDU’s
per year for the next 20 years.
This is the projected increased
wastewater capacity needed by
2027), to come up with a
wastewater SDC of $4,238.
Once the collection system is
put through the same math, the
total wastewater SDC comes
up to $5,749. If Vernonia actu-
ally adopted an SDC of $5,749,
it would be one of the highest
SDC’s in Oregon. Pigott said
that the amount would be differ-
ent if Vernonia passes a bond
measure which would de-
crease the cost of the project
that would be funded by rates
and SDCs. Pigott went on to
say that SDC’s should be re-
viewed each year, based on
the amounts collected and the
amounts expended, and ad-
justed accordingly.
“Housekeeping” issues take the
attention of Vernonia Council
Vernonia City Council took
care of a number of house-
keeping issues at their Sep-
tember 18 meeting. They ap-
proved the termination of the
Interim City Administrator con-
tract now that Dick Kline has
been hired under a regular con-
tract; changes to Ordinance
711 to allow for bed and break-
fast operations in the city and
fixed a typographical error
(25,000 square feet vs. 2,500
per dwelling unit); changed the
city’s employee handbook to
more closely match paid time
off language in the city’s union
contracts; and transferred
funds within the Learning Cen-
ter budget with no net change.
In other business:
• George Tice, representing
the Public Works Committee,
told council that there will be a
meeting of the committee on
Wednesday, September 27, at
5:30 p.m. starting with a tour of
the wastewater project.
• council approved closures
of Adams Ave. and Park Dr. on
October 7, for Salmon Festival.
• council gave consensus for
a letter to be sent to Columbia
County Animal Control which
formally allows them to enforce
county animal control ordi-
nances within the City Limits.
The next regularly sched-
uled City Council meeting will
be at 7:00 p.m., on October 2,
at City Hall.
Pilot project info has potential for cost savings
From page 1
the cost of this phase down by
between one and $1.5 million
before starting the final stage of
the project. There is currently a
pilot project running with two
different membrane systems to
determine which works better
in Vernonia. At this time of year,
algae is a factor in the lagoons
so the pilot project will deter-
mine which membrane can
handle the algae and can run
most efficiently under actual
Vernonia conditions. If one of
the piloted systems is chosen,
the cost of the pilot for that sys-
tem (two percent of the system
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Al-Anon
Fridays
7:00 p.m. Grange Hall
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
Public Works Committee
2nd & 4th Wednesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
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
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Thursday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
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cost) will be credited toward the
purchase cost. Both systems
are in use at other wastewater
treatment facilities, but none of
those facilities needs are iden-
tical. The pilot projects will run
through mid- or late October.
SEPTEMBER 2006
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WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
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
NOVEMBER
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7:00 p.m., WOEC
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.