PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage Paid
Vernonia, OR 97064
Permit No. 37
Vol. 22, No. 21
“Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”
November 1, 2007
Property values increase
more than property taxes
Candy anyone?
Elsie Taylor, in front of Pretty Gifts and Things, hands out Halloween candy to a small
princess during the Sidewalk Costume Parade.
More than 28,000 property
tax statements have been
mailed to Columbia County
property owners.
Under the property tax sys-
tem modified by Oregon voters
in 1997, taxing districts have
permanent tax rates for operat-
ing purposes. At the same time,
maximum assessed values of
individual properties are limited
to a three percent increase
each year unless the property
is improved, subdivided, re-
zoned or disqualified from spe-
cial assessment or exemption.
These are “exceptions” to the
three percent increase in maxi-
mum assessed value.
Although most property
owners can expect a pre-
dictable three percent increase
in their property tax bill each
year, there is another source of
change. “Whether a property
owner’s tax bill varies more
than three percent is largely the
result of changes in local option
and bonded debt levy rates,
which are not limited by Mea-
sure 50,” Columbia County As-
sessor Sue Poling said. This is
why the percentage increase is
not the same throughout the
county. For instance, most tax
bills for typical residential prop-
erties in the City of Columbia
City increased 2.17 percent,
while the rural residential prop-
erties in the Scappoose area
increased 4.99 percent.
This is the final year for the
Vernonia RFPD bonded debt
levy approved by voters in
March 1998.
County wide, the market val-
ue of all taxable property in-
creased 15 percent, from $5.97
billion to $6.90 billion. The
largest residential increase in
market value, based on sales
Please see page 4
Flock of turkeys needed for food boxes City threatens publisher with
It is time, once again, to be-
gin herding turkeys for the Ver-
nonia Cares Christmas food
boxes. Cares will provide gro-
ceries for an entire Christmas
dinner, including a turkey, for
low-income households. This is
the fifth year for the Christmas
Turkey Drive.
Currently, more than 300
clients representing 100 house-
holds are helped each month
according to Director Sandy
Welch. The goal this year is to
provide 175 Christmas food
boxes to clients as well as oth-
er households who need a
helping hand during the holi-
days.
Between now and Thanks-
giving, most grocery stores ad-
vertise their turkey promotions.
The turkeys that are donated
now are distributed only at
Christmas, but now is the time
to gather and store them frozen
for the Christmas food boxes.
The Saver Shield program,
through Vernonia Sentry, has in
the past allowed Cares to pur-
chase turkeys at a reduced
price. With the corporate deci-
sion to eliminate the Saver
Shield program, more turkey
donations are needed. Vernon-
ia Cares has benefited from
Sentry’s assistance through
check stand donations of
turkeys, Christmas food box
sponsorship and food barrel re-
ceptacles. Cares says, “Thank
you, Sentry, for agreeing to of-
fer the check stand giving again
this year.”
Beginning November 1, Sen-
try will begin a promotion for
holiday turkeys, issuing a $1.00
coupon for every $35 spent per
visit, up to $210. This coupon
must be used toward the pur-
chase of a turkey. Alcohol, lot-
tery and tobacco purchases are
excluded. This offer ends De-
cember 24.
Vernonia Cares will grateful-
ly accept “Sentry’s Turkey
Coupons” to help with turkey
purchases for the Food Boxes.
An entire Food Box (which
includes a turkey) may be do-
nated at a cost of $30.00. A
$10.00 donation will allow Ver-
nonia Cares to purchase a
turkey. This may be done at
any Sentry check stand or
mailed Directly to Vernonia
Cares at P.O. Box 126, Vernon-
ia. Simply specify on the check
that it is for the Christmas food
boxes.
Call Pat or Bob Stacklie at
503-429-7563 with questions,
or for turkey ‘taxi’ service. Sug-
gested turkey weight for dona-
Please see page 4
possible lawsuit at meeting
According to the Oregon At-
torney General’s Public Re-
cords and Meetings Manual , “A
news reporter has a clear right
to disclose any matter covered
in executive session that is not
properly within the scope of the
announced statutory authoriza-
tion of the executive session.”
Executive sessions are closed
to the public, but not to the me-
dia, except for specific topics
included in the statute.
The stated reason for one of
the two Vernonia City Council
executive sessions on October
15 was ORS 192.660(2)(h),
which is to consult with legal
counsel regarding litigation
likely to be filed. Since no legal
counsel was in attendance, the
session was not proper.
Instead of reporting on that
executive session, The Inde-
pendent has opted to print the
entire transcript below:
City Administrator M.R.
“Dick” Kline said, “The reason
we’re here is not to discuss the
McGaughs in their capacity as
newspaper people, I’ll not refer
to them as newspaper people.
We’re here to discuss, primari-
ly, Clark McGaugh and his un-
truthfulness and his tendency
to try to defame people and,
and then lie about it. It is a se-
rious issue, because it has
caused harm in the community,
and I’m not going to divulge
specifics, but I think it was
councilor Costley, again tonight,
that picked Mr. McGaugh up on
yet another bold faced lie.
Again, it’s not in his capacity as
the publisher of the newspaper.
It’s in his capacity as a citizen
Please see page 14