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The INDEPENDENT, October 1, 2009
Council decides bid process for demolition of damaged homes
The September 21 Vernonia
City Council meeting started
with a public hearing about bids
for demolition of homes being
bought out as a result of the
2007 flood. The hearing discus-
sion concerned the type of bid
process to be used; a competi-
tive proposal rather than a
competitive bid process. That
will allow the city to look for a
contractor who can offer effi-
ciencies by using one site for
debris and salvage from multi-
ple demolitions. This will also
allow for more speedy demoli-
tions as, according to Dan
Brown, of the Unmet Needs
Committee, all the demolitions
will need to be completed in 90
days and there will probably be
seven homes in the first group
to be torn down. The council
unanimously agreed to “accept
the findings of the public hear-
ing” and adopt the bidding
process indicated.
After the hearing, Mayor Sal-
ly Harrison presented ‘tokens
of the city’s appreciation’ to Jeff
Burch for working for four and a
half years as public works su-
pervisor with no director, to
Sergeant Mike Kay for stepping
in as interim police chief and
“doing a magnificent job” and to
city employee Joann Glass
who “has worked many hours
since the flood and been indis-
pensable”. The Mayor then
gave a bouquet of flowers to
Heidi Burch (Jeff Burch’s wife)
in thanks for “putting up with all
Jeff’s call-outs” away from his
family.
Mayor Harrison read a sub-
mission from Dawn Carr saying
how much she appreciated the
services of emergency person-
nel in Vernonia after her sons
accident and said she, “feels
very secure with police and
hats off to Kay and Conner.”
City Administrator Bob
Young handed over the keys to
a state surplus truck to Public
Works Director Bob Ruhl and
Supervisor Jeff Burch. Young
said Mike Kay helped the city
get this truck.
Chief of Police Frank Grace
told council that the City of Cor-
nelius had donated a Crown
Vic to the city and it will be used
as an unmarked police car.
Grace went on to tell council
that at the year’s first football
game there was only one minor
in possession of alcohol arrest
and he attributes the reduction
to the visible police presence
and their work with the schools.
In other business, council;
• approved Scott Laird’s re-
quest of $400 from Parks Com-
mittee contingency as “Casey
(Mitchell) is planning to get fish
in there (Vernonia Lake) for
Salmon Festival.”
• approved the second read-
ing of Ordinance 862 approving
the city’s urban growth bound-
ary expansion to include the
new schools property.
• heard that Young has now
interviewed two potential inter-
im financial directors to replace
Susan Spicer-Pond.
The next city council meet-
ing will be held at City Hall on
October 5, starting at 7:00 p.m.
No change in 2010 minimum wage
Oregon Labor Commission-
er Brad Avakian announced, on
September 16, that the state’s
minimum wage will remain
$8.40 next year. Due to a de-
cline of 1.48% in the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) from August
2008 to August 2009, the mini-
mum wage will hold steady for
the first time since Oregon vot-
ers enacted Ballot Measure 25
in 2002.
“Under the circumstances, a
steady minimum wage is good
for Oregon’s businesses and
working people,” said Commis-
sioner Avakian. “While the
economy still struggles, work-
ers will be able to continue tak-
ing care of their families while
maintaining their purchasing
power and contributing to the
recovery. At the same time,
employers who are in difficult fi-
nancial situations can breathe
a little easier because their la-
bor costs will remain constant.”
Oregon minimum wage law,
codified in ORS 653.025, re-
quires an annual adjustment
based on inflation as measured
by the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). The Commissioner of the
Bureau of Labor and Industries
(BOLI) is charged with adjust-
ing the minimum wage for infla-
tion every September, rounded
to the nearest five cents. The
law specifically ties Oregon’s
minimum wage to increases in
the CPI, leaving no option for a
reduced wage when the CPI
declines.
See Minimum Wage, page 21
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
6:30 p.m., 410 North Street
Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 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
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
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 429-0869
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
9:00 a.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.