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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2008)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, February 7, 2008 Council meets without legal notice Town hall topics include maps and mitigation A quorum of the Vernonia City Council met with the Ver- nonia Planning Commission in a study session on January 17 at the Scout Cabin. Mayor Sal- ly Harrison, and Councilors Randy Parrow and Shirlee Daughtry were present, despite the fact that the city had not complied with legal notification laws required for public meet- ings. Perhaps in an attempt to meet requirements, the meet- ing was stated to be an emer- gency meeting. An emergency meeting can legally be held with less than 24-hour notice (however, no public notice was given) as long as the emer- gency reason is stated. This meeting was held with no no- tice and no statement of the emergency. The meeting was to discuss the recovery process, the fact that the Corps of Engineers was preparing a draft flood map (since completed and available for viewing) at the FEMA office in City Hall, initial discussions of ‘substantial damage’, flood development permits and mitigation. It was stated that a flood plain permit should have been in use since 1988 for all devel- opment within flood prone ar- eas and that this permit process will be implemented for all outbuildings, plantings, long term storage of equipment or materials and anything else on a site that can affect flood plain management or water movement. This was a work session to prepare for the joint council meeting/public hearing on these issues that will be held, starting at 5:00 p.m., at the Ver- nonia Community Church to- day, February 7. At that meet- ing/hearing, council will be dis- cussing adoption of ordinances addressing substantial damage and enacting flood damage prevention provisions. Anyone From page 1 in Louisiana. These units are manufactured homes that will be sited in Vernonia for six months to a year so those dis- placed have a place to stay while doing repairs, etc. A new flood study has been completed that will help the city (and county for those outside city limits) determine which houses may need to be raised or otherwise be subject to haz- ard mitigation. The new flood maps showing the ‘base’ flood level (previously called the 100- year flood plain) is available at City Hall and there are FEMA representatives available to in- terpret it. Residents were cautioned whose home may cost 50 per- cent or more of Real Market Value to bring back to pre-flood condition may be affected by decisions made at the meet- ing/hearing. not to start elevating houses before going through the In- creased Cost of Compliance (ICC) or Hazard Mitigation processes. ICC refers to the $30,000 for elevating homes (or moving or demolishing homes) available for those with flood insurance and is a second claim made through the insur- ance agent. Hazard Mitigation is handled through the State of Oregon. Marc Farmer, General Man- ager of West Oregon Electric Cooperative (WOEC), told those present that it has been determined that WOEC cannot legally ‘forgive’ the amount of the electric bill in excess of the normal bill as they were hoping to do. Instead, members will be allowed to pay the ‘normal’ bill amount and carry the addition- al for a time period and WOEC is searching for grants and do- nations to help offset (see addi- tional information in Power of the People column in this is- sue). Columbia County Commis- sioner Tony Hyde shared the good news that a prescription drug card, good for 20-40 per- cent discounts, is available for Columbia County residents. “Look for them,” said Hyde. A representative from Co- lumbia Community Mental Health provided a 24-hour phone number (1-800-294- 5211) for those needing some- one to talk to. There are also people available at the Vernon- ia Community Learning Center on Mondays and Thursdays. Vernonia School District 47J Board Chairperson Kim Wal- lace asked those present to, “Dream Big, Thing Big” about ideas for the schools and then email or share them with Su- perintendent Dr. Ken Cox or bring them to the next board meeting, February 14. Please see page 14 Community Calendar VERNONIA 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 6:00 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 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 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 7:30 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 Library Commission 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Library 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.
