The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2009
Page 21
Letters
From page 20
that they had provided the doc-
uments that support their
claims, to the committee that
needed to have the informa-
tion, and that they were not go-
ing to waste anyone else’s time
trying to convince them of
something they don’t want to
hear.
My husband and I gave our
testimony in support of the proj-
ect proposed by the Bero’s,
and did so because we feel it is
a well thought out plan that will
bring light industry to a commu-
nity that desperately needs
jobs and revenue. With the
Bero’s plan, the city will have
the opportunity to develop the
airport, providing options for
development and income, not
previously available. But no
matter if I am for or against their
development plans and the
zone changes proposed, the
reason for my letter is to pro-
vide some clarity to a couple is-
sues I feel need to be ad-
WEATHER REPORT
DECEMBER 2008
DATE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
TEMPERATURE
HI
LO
52
55
49
49
51
49
46
46
45
46
46
44
36
32
26
29
32
37
31
29
26
32
32
*
*
*
38
43
*
*
*
42
43
37
28
26
25
33
32
36
40
31
32
32
21
13
8
18
23
17
21
13
23
24
*
*
*
33
33
*
*
*
PRECIP.
AMT.
.19
--
--
--
--
.03
.31
.09
T
T
T
.78
.45
.14
--
.03
.94
.21
.05
.54
.32
.02
.03
*
*
1.06
.36
.12
.37
.25
.87
Temperature and precipitation
amounts are from the official U.S.
weather station at the Vernonia wa-
ter plant. Measurable precipitation in
December totalled 7.16 inches.
* No reading available due to power
outage or weather.
dressed.
During this hearing the Pro-
ponents stated their “facts” and
sat down. There were no finger
pointing, no name calling, nor
did anyone single out another
person. On the other hand,
when the opponents of the
Bero’s plan began their testi-
mony, it was made very per-
sonal against Tim and Michelle.
Rude comments were made,
people testified over and over
again about where the Bero’s
should take their business and
how they should or should or
should not conduct their busi-
ness. Comments were made
against the Bero’s personally,
fingers were pointed, and then
when sighs, or looks of com-
plete and utter dismay were
given to the people testifying on
such a personal level, (the
worse coming from not the
home owners themselves, but
by people who claimed they
were in support of the home-
owners), the proponents were
then accused of being disre-
spectful while the opponents
gave their testimony.
I have to add here, as land
owners, we all have the right to
petition the county for zone
changes, and land develop-
ment. The hearings are a way
of due process to ensure that
the impact of the zone changes
and land use, takes into consid-
eration the rights of the neigh-
boring people, and the wildlife
and environments issues that
may be affected by change.
These hearings are not a place
to tell another person where or
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how to run their business, nor it
is a place to tell them what to
do with their land. Despite my
own desire to address land-
owners who use their land as a
land fill, it is still a free country,
and the land that is in question
for zone changes belongs to
the Bero’s.
So, if there were signs of
frustration during the oppo-
nents testimony, it was based
on pure amazement at the
amount of inaccurate state-
ments and personal attacks on
the Bero’s, and being required
to hear not facts, but testimony
given over and over again on
how the Bero’s should use
“THEIR” land and how they
should conduct “THEIR” busi-
ness. Please keep in mind,
these statements were coming
from people who want “their
right” to a good view from “their
land”, and “their right” to have a
quiet road, and “their right” (al-
though they bought houses and
properties across from an air-
port zoned for airport and com-
mercial use and development)
to not have light industry
brought to their neighborhood. I
hope those reading this can
see the irony of the statements
being made here.
Tim and Michelle Bero have
been residents of Vernonia for
over 18 years. They have expe-
rienced floods, the rebuilding,
and more. In their first 5 years
of conducting business in Ver-
nonia they put over $700,000 of
payroll into the community
each year, and for the last 13
years conducting business in
Vernonia they put our over half
a million dollars of payroll each
year. They provide jobs locally.
That should be appreciated!
Tim and Michelle have spon-
sored Fire Awareness Kits for
VRFPD, spent thousands of
dollars in community support
for fireworks, and Toy & Joy.
They have sponsored T-Ball,
Baseball, Soccer, and Boy
Scouts. They have lived in this
community, supported this
community, been actively in-
volved in this community, and
raised their family in this com-
munity. I found it totally offen-
sive to take one of your most
prominent Vernonia residents
and business owners, and tell
them to take their business
elsewhere.
It was mentioned that the
home owners that may be af-
fected by this plan are not be-
ing taking into consideration.
With the number of hearings al-
lowed and time provided for
them to find support for their
goals, I would have say that is
not true. Additionally, they men-
tioned their way of life would
change and that for some there
may be displacement. I’d like to
respond by asking them to re-
member the number of people
who have lived in Vernonia,
loved their lives in Vernonia, yet
had to move because they
could no longer afford the com-
mute to jobs outside of Vernon-
ia because there were none
available in Vernonia. I’d like
them to consider the displace-
ment of other small business
who had to move because
there was no room for them in
Vernonia for light industrial, of-
fice space, etc…(Our business
being one of them), and I would
also like them to consider the
displacement and commute
they are asking the Bero’s to
endure by taking their business
outside Vernonia.
Vernonia is lucky to have
Tim and Michelle Bero in their
community, with their willing-
ness to give back, and bring
work to the community so Ver-
nonia can thrive. Change is in-
evitable, and not always easy,
but positive change for positive
growth, especially in today’s
economy, should be applaud-
ed.
Michael and Marie Botchie
former Vernonia residents
and business owners,
and Vernonia
property
owners