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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2009)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, November 19, 2009 Council approves wastewater option if okayed by DEQ/EPA Two complaints A packed house greeted Vernonia’s City Council at their November 16 meeting. The room cleared considerably af- ter the previously delayed pin- ning ceremony for the promo- tion of Mike Kay from Sergeant to Captain on the Vernonia po- lice force. Kay’s grandfather pinned the new badge on him, as his mother and others looked on. Police Chief Frank Grace told Kay, “It’s been a long time coming to you, you’ve worked hard and earned it.” Next on the agenda was a presentation by foreign ex- change student, Anisa Mukh- torova from Tajikistan. Mukhto- rova made a Powerpoint pres- entation with slides to show the council what her country was like. Mayor Sally Harrison read a letter addressed “Attn: Mayor & Chief” from Vernonia resident Virginia Kepner thanking them for all the improvements achieved with this city and “wishing you all the best this Holiday Season.” Council unanimously ap- proved a proposal presented by previous Interim City Admin- istrator Jim Johnson, on the se- lection of a wastewater alter- ative. Johnson has continued to work for the city in a consult- ant capacity to develop plans for upgrading the city’s waste- water treatment system. The city’s Public Works Committee had reviewed options, nar- rowed them to five and sent them, with their recommenda- tion, to council for approval. The option that was ap- proved calls for eliminating half the current sewer lagoons, rais- ing the remaining lagoon con- figuration by about two feet, and using the additional space to form wetlands to help ‘scrub’ the water clean. This was de- termined to be the simplest, least expensive option with a price tag estimated at $5.5 mil- lion, including operating costs. Johnson told council that the system would serve the town for the next 20 or more years (based on a population of up to 3,000) and with a 40-year loan would cost the citizens $25.00 or less per month on their utility bill. A full report on financing options was promised for the December 7 council meeting. The council’s approval was contingent on approvals by the regulatory agencies (DEQ and EPA) prior to arranging for fi- nancing or construction. Dennis Weller addressed council, “to bring to your atten- tion a sewer backup and over- flow at my residence.” Weller said the problem has existed since December 1990 but an October 28 occurrence caused the worst damage to his house. He said that after repairs were started to fix the damage to his home, he learned that the in- surance would pay for only $1,000 for the repairs, which were estimated at over $3,000. He also said the city had admit- ted fault, and he wants the problem taken care of with the city paying the cost of repairs. After an executive session to discuss litigation, potential or actual, council returned to reg- ular session and a motion was made to pay Weller the remain- ing $2,300 for the home repairs on a contract to be drawn up by the city’s attorneys saying the City would not be held respon- sible for future occurrences in the absence of city negligence. The council unanimously ap- proved the motion. In other business, council; • approved Resolution 4-09 amending the Airport fees. Council was told that this was a housekeeping matter intended to correct the fees to the amounts the Airport Committee had recommended. The next council meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on De- cember 7, at City Hall. filed regarding 47J school bond In the wake of the passage of Bond Measure 5-197, that allows the Vernonia School District to sell bonds of up to $13 million to use towards building new schools out of the flood zone, two families have filed complaints with the dis- trict’s Superintendent Dr. Ken Cox, the Vernonia School Bond Committee, the Oregon Department of Eduction, and the Department of Revenue. According to Aaron and Kandis Sewell and Lance and Kara Kemper, they filed the com- plaints November 8 and 9. The complaints list concerns about how information on the measure was disseminated to area voters and whether an as- sembly held on November 4 was a political event prohibited by Oregon law. See Complaints, page 5 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 Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. 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.