Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, March 19, 2009
Wauna FCU has an eventful annual meeting Council okays playground equipment
CEO Robert Blumberg an-
nounced Wauna Federal Cred-
it Union 2008 financials at the
42nd Annual Meeting, held on
March 7, in Westport. He re-
ported growth in Assets ($117.1
million, up $12.4 million in
2008), Deposits ($105.5 mil-
lion, up $14. 6 million in 2008),
and Loans ($99.8 million, up
$4.8 million in 2008). The in-
come contribution to member
equity was $660,167, a
$275,153 increase from last
year's income contribution. A
combination of strong financial
growth and sound lending stan-
dards allows Wauna Federal
Credit Union to continue meet-
ing members’ borrowing needs.
Member shares at the credit
union are insured by the NCUA
up to $250,000 as part of the
Economic Stabilization Statute.
According to the NCUA web-
site, not one penny of insured
savings has been lost by a
member of a federally insured
credit union.
Blumberg reported changes
to better serve the needs of
members in 2008. Some of
those changes are apparent to
the members while others are
not. The focus last year was to
stabilize the employee base by
reducing turnover and improv-
ing employee training. Some
other changes made in 2008 in-
cluded the introduction of a
Member Service Department,
mortgage program and Ac-
count Specialist positions to
serve the needs of our mem-
bers. Focus for the upcoming
year will be on providing new
and improved products and
services to members.
WFCU also announced its
2009 Green Plan. Going Green
is an incremental process with
each year bringing a new com-
mitment to our communities
and environment. Wauna Fed-
eral Credit Union’s Green Plan
includes documenting and re-
ducing usage of paper, electric-
ity, water and waste.
On April 22, the credit union
will celebrate Earth Day and its
dedication to sustainability by
giving each member who visits
their local branch a reusable
shopping bag made from recy-
cled material, and featuring lo-
cal artist Darren Orange. Each
branch will have a unique and
numbered bag design with two
Darren Orange prints for col-
lecting.
Wauna Federal Credit Union
plans to open a new Scap-
poose Branch in 2009. This
branch will be U.S. Green
Building Council, Leadership in
Energy & Environmental De-
sign (LEED) Certified. It will
also be the first LEED Certified
building in Columbia County,
using green construction and
landscaping practices. O.H.M.
Equity Partners, LLC, is re-
sponsible for attaining the
LEED certification and the proj-
ect developer for the new
Scappoose branch.
Hawkins Park will get new
playground equipment after the
Vernonia City Council ap-
proved the use of up to
$15,000 for the purchase at
their March 16 meeting. The
funds will come from Parks
SDC (System Development
Charges). These funds, made
up of fees charged for new con-
struction projects, can be used
only for capital improvements,
not for maintenance, nor can
they be used for projects or
needs outside the fund they are
in (such as Parks).
Council approved Resolu-
tion No. 4-09 setting new fees
and rates, such as $.10 per sq.
ft. for hangar ground lease
fees. The changes brought
Vernonia Airport fees into line
with other airports of similar
size and usage.
Resolution No. 5-09, adopt-
ing financial management poli-
cies was approved unanimous-
ly. Interim City Administrator
Jim Johnson told council that,
in addition to these policies be-
ing needed in general, some of
the language was written
specifically to meet the require-
ments for management of
Drug-Free Coalition grant
funds.
The first reading of an ordi-
nance that will establish an
Emergency
Preparedness
Committee was approved. This
committee will be made up one
council member, one member
recommended by the Board of
Directors of the Vernonia Rural
Fire Protection District, the
General Manager of West Ore-
gon Electric Cooperative, and
four members-at-large. Of the
four at-large members, one can
be from outside city limits, and
two must be CERT members.
The committee will make rec-
ommendations to the council
on emergency preparedness
matters.
Please see page 20
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Monday
6:30 p.m., 410 North Street
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue
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., 410 North Street
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
2nd Wednesday
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
2nd Thursday
1:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
6:00 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, 3rd & 4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
For Info Call 503-429-0869
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
1:00 p.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
6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Tuesday
Times vary, 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm.
Quarterly
For Info call 503-397-7211
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.