Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, April 5, 2007
Spring brings out the worst in construction scams, State warns
Just when homeowners be-
gin to think about spring home
improvement projects, the Ore-
gon Construction Contractors
Board (CCB) has rolled out a
new consumer-friendly website
at www.hirealicensedcontrac
tor.com.
“The agency’s primary web-
site includes a lot of information
important to construction con-
tractors,” said Gina Fox,
spokesperson for the CCB.
“The new consumer-friendly
website is what a consumer
might need to help make a proj-
ect run smoothly.”
“Just like clockwork,” she
added, “spring tends to bring
out the unscrupulous individu-
als looking for an easy scam.”
Helpful information on the
website includes time-tested
tips the CCB recommends to all
homeowners contracting to
have work done:
1. Make sure the contractor
is licensed with the CCB. Be-
fore hiring a contractor, check
the contractor’s license and
complaint history at the new
website or 503-378-4621. Take
time to make an informed deci-
sion. You wouldn’t trust an unli-
censed driver with your car.
Don’t give the keys to your
most precious investment to an
unlicensed contractor.
Licensing is required for
those who offer painting, roof-
ing, carpentry, siding, plumb-
ing, electrical, floor covering,
concrete, asphalt, window, in-
sulation, manufactured dwel-
ling installation, inspection
services, heating and air condi-
tioning, and most other con-
struction and repair services.
2. Use a written contract. Put
all agreements, and changes,
in writing. Generally, the more
detailed a contract, the fewer
problems that occur later. A big
project needs more than a
vague contract: “Remodel mas-
ter bedroom, $19,500” is simply
not sufficient. Know what your
contract does, and does not
cover. Don’t sign unless you
understand everything.
3. Get more than one bid,
but don’t automatically accept
the lowest bid. The old saying,
“you get what you pay for” ap-
plies to construction projects. A
higher bid may be worth the
price in better materials, work-
manship and reliability.
A large number of CCB com-
plaints result from homeowners
accepting an unrealistically low
bid and then being unhappy
with the low quality of work.
4. Communicate. Asking lots
questions before the job starts
helps prevent problems later.
Talk to your contractor through-
out the project. Most disputes
happen because people fail to
communicate at every step.
5. Check references. Learn
as much as you can about the
contractor you are hiring.
6. Get building permits. Most
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Al-Anon
Fridays
7:00 p.m. Grange Hall
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays & Thursdays
6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., 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
6:30 p.m., City Hall
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-3018
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 503-429-4250
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2
For Info Call 503-819-0143
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
Municipal Airport Committee
4th Thursday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Narcotics Anonymous
Saturdays
7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Public Works Committee
4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
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 Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
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
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
9
16
23
30
home improvement, repair or
remodeling jobs require permits
from your local building depart-
ment. Usually contractors get
them because they know what
permits are required. But ulti-
mately, the owner is responsi-
ble for making sure the re-
quired permits are obtained.
Failing to get building permits
doesn’t save you money – it
can cost you your safety and
sense of security.
Construction projects work
best when consumers do their
homework.
Columbia County
unemployed still
higher than state
Columbia County’s season-
ally-adjusted unemployment
rate was unchanged at 5.9 per-
cent in February and about the
same as the year before (5.7
percent). The rate was higher
than the statewide rate (5.3
percent) and the national rate
(4.5 percent). Total employ-
ment edged up by 63 from Jan-
uary to 22,594 and the number
of unemployed people was un-
changed at 1,594. Total em-
ployment this February was
608 more than one year be-
fore, but 99 more people were
unemployed.
Cedar Side Inn is
cited for violation
According to information
provided by OLCC, the Cedar
Side Inn was cited for permit-
ting employees to sell, mix, or
serve alcohol – or manage
those who do – without a serv-
ice permit. Two employees in-
volved. Ray Foster, president
and Rosetta Foster, vice presi-
dent paid a $1,650 civil penalty
on March 8.
APRIL 2007
T
W
T
4
5
3
10 11 12
17 18 19
24 25 26
F
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
S
M
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
MAY 2007
T
W
T
3
2
1
10
9
8
15 16 17
22 23 24
29 30 31
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
S
1
8
15
22
29
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
M
2
9
16
23
30
APRIL 2007
T
W
T
4
5
3
10 11 12
17 18 19
24 25 26
F
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
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.