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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2008)
The INDEPENDENT, November 6, 2008 Page 5 Whitton is Employee of the Quarter Council approves increased fees, utility rates Sue Whitton Sue Whitton, of the Vernonia branch, is Wauna Federal Credit Union’s employee of the quarter. She always provides excellent service to members and employees. Whitton, a sup- portive team player with an in- fectiously positive attitude, goes the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome and im- portant. She gives her best every day, dressing profession- ally, improving her industry knowledge, and staying until the job is done. Her singing and song writing skills are the icing on the cake. The Employee of the Quar- ter is recognized at an all team meeting, receives a gift basket of personal favorite goodies and chooses between an extra paid day off or $100. Wauna Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Clatskanie, and has branches in Astoria, Clatskanie, St Helens, Vernon- ia and Warrenton. Everyone in Clatsop and Columbia counties is eligible for membership. For more information, call toll free 1-800-773-3236. Vernonia City Council, at their October 20 meeting, unan- imously approved the resolution raising city fees as follows: 1. Our-of-City Library Cards increased from $30 to $40 per year, 2. Water rate increased from $28.00 to $35.00 per month, 3. Sewer rate increased from $37.00 to $53.00, and 4. Park Fee, monthly fee raised from $1 to $2. City resi- dents who also own a business in Vernonia can apply to opt out of one set of park fees. The $24.00 overall increase on utility bills will be on the No- vember bill, as will the final $11.50 charge for the water loan repayment fee. Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson gave an update on the city administrator hiring process. Applicants will be in- terviewed by three panels: City Council, a panel of community members chosen by the coun- cil, and a panel of city employ- ees. Four applicants will be in- terviewed during closed ses- sions with these panels some- time in November. At the November 3 City Council meeting, council heard that a group from Columbia County Flood Relief (CCFR) and Mayor Sally Harrison went to Salem to discuss the present use of the Vernonia Community Learning Center (VCLC) for flood relief offices. A Communi- ty Development Block Grant from the Oregon Office of Eco- nomic Development, used for construction of the VCLC, limits Consultant serves as planner for other small cities From page 4 Carole Connell and land use background goes back to the 1970s. In 1996, while working as Planning Director for the City of Sherwood, Connell decided to form her own company. “My primary responsibility here is to respond to people’s land use issues, questions and needs. Equally important, I’ll be working with the Planning Commission to help them achieve their goals,” said Con- nell. Among those goals are a solution to downtown parking issues, reviewing the existing sign code in order to simplify it, creating a new flood plain ordi- nance, looking at the downtown zone for possible expansion out of flood prone areas, and updating the Comprehensive Plan. Connell is at City Hall on the afternoons before Planning Commission meetings. When she is not working as a planner, she’s at home in Portland with her husband, Patrick, and their two sons. County jobless rate Columbia County’s season- ally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in Sep- tember, essentially unchanged from the previous month (6.7%) but higher than the year before (5.8%). The statewide rate in September was 6.4%; the national rate was 6.1%. To- tal county employment fell by 18 to 23,155 but the number of unemployed people fell by 120 to 1,525. Total employment this September was 153 more than one year before, but there were 229 more people unem- ployed this year. use of the building to communi- ty educational/cultural purpos- es. Changing the use apparent- ly requires each VCLC user to complete demographic ques- tionnaires. Instead, CCFR has given notice of intent to vacate VCLC and move their opera- tions to FEMA trailers. Johnson will meet with the VCLC Com- mittee this week to start plan- ning VCLC uses and class schedules. Johnson reported that Charl- cie Kaylor of The Building De- partment, LLC, has been re- viewing the city’s ordinances and has determined that they do not allow the city to gain ac- cess to “dangerous” buildings, when owners do not cooperate with the city’s wish to inspect such premises. Council gave consensus for the city attorney to work on modifications that would allow such inspections. In other business, council; • was updated by Allen Deweber on the status of D.A.D.’s Recycling move out of the floodway. Deweber is wait- ing for a permit from ODOT so a road can go in at the new site. • declared the police depart- ment’s 2000 Ford Expedition and a number of other items surplus so they can be sold • approved a list of items for purchase, including studded tires and ICOP camera sys- tems for the police department, so a budget change can be prepared for a future meeting. The next Vernonia City Council meeting will be Novem- ber 17, at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.