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The INDEPENDENT, June 17, 2010
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Mentor Noni Andersen
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes
Opinion
How’s justice in Vernonia?
We printed an article in the last issue comparing Munici-
pal Courts to Justice Courts, after Vernonia Council was
asked by the Police Department to switch from a Justice
Court to a Municipal Court. Council was still discussing the
issue at their June 7 meeting. It appears that the issue arose
because the police department has complaints about the
judge and the Justice Court. Without asking questions or at-
tempting to verify the validity of the complaints by some un-
named person(s) in the police department, council asked
the city administrator for a report on how to switch courts,
with an analysis of benefits of one versus the other. Appar-
ently Mayor Harrison has been working on the issue. At the
June 7 meeting she mentioned having two meetings with
the county on this issue, and argued with Councilor Hudson
about how many times the police department had attempt-
ed to work with the court on their issues; one by her count,
several by Hudson’s count. No chime-in from the Police
Chief.
In the meantime, Vernonia Police Department (VPD) de-
cided to take the matter into their own hands and stopped
writing citations to the Vernonia Justice Court. It has now
been about six weeks since the Justice Court saw any new
citations from VPD. Instead, VPD has been writing tickets to
the Circuit Court in St. Helens. So, if you get a ticket for, say,
not using a turn signal in Vernonia, and you want to contest
it, you’ll have to go to St. Helens. Beside inconveniencing
citizens, the city must either pay overtime to the officer to go
to St. Helens, or leave the city without police coverage while
they go to court in St. Helens for a traffic ticket here. Addi-
tionally, the VPD still won’t get their $25.00 training fee be-
cause that agreement is only with the City of Vernonia. Is
this an intelligent way to use our police officers? Does it
make fiscal sense?
It appears that the VPD chose this route because they
can’t control the Judge. As one young man in town told us
the other day, “If the police don’t like the way the court is run,
they should start their own court so they can cite who they
want, convict who they want and sentence who they want.”
Then they wouldn’t have to deal with the pesky court system
we have in the United States. Police are separated from the
judicial system for a very good reason. Would we expect a
fair, impartial trial if police controlled the court? Look around
the world, we definitely do not want a police state here. VPD
needs to just enforce the law and let the Justice Court do
their job – dispensing justice.
Okay, here’s the score at city hall this week. Bob Young –
out, Bill Haack – in, Chief Frank Grace – in until August 31,
Councilor Brett Costly – in until July 1, Captain Mike Kay –
in but requested and received demotion to Sergeant to gain
union protection (Makes you wonder what he needs protec-
tion from this time, doesn’t it?).
Out of My Mind…
by Noni Andersen
There will be three po-
sitions on the general
election ballot for the City
of Vernonia. The people
who fill these positions –
Mayor and two Council
members – will have an
impact on the future of
Vernonia and all of its citi-
zens.
It is hard to concentrate, in June, on an elec-
tion that won’t be held until November. However,
it may be worth the effort. Perhaps the following
approach can help us focus on future needs.
HELP WANTED
Mayor and two Council members for City of Ver-
nonia.
REQUIRED: Desire and ability to learn the re-
sponsibilities and duties of municipal gover-
nance. Must be willing to attend League of Ore-
gon Cities training sessions. Preference given for
collaborative approach to community needs.
COMPENSATION: $0.00 plus alternative satis-
faction and frustration.
Currently filling the three positions are Mayor
Sally Harrison, and Councilors Brett Costley and
Cindy Ball. Harrison and Ball have not an-
nounced whether they plan to seek another term.
Costley has resigned from the council, effective
at the end of this month, so the last six months of
his position will be filled by appointment. If the
person appointed wants to run for the open posi-
tion, they must file nomination papers.
Vernonia is facing many difficulties, some of
them because of a city council that seems to be
remarkably uninterested in the sorts of details
that point to probable outcomes of an action.
This lack of interest has resulted in a number of
negative outcomes, including way too many law-
suits that the city has lost. Other actions, or lack
of action, have led to increased loss of citizen
support, a sort of loss of faith that the city will do
what’s best for residents and businesses.
One of those actions was contracting with a
private company for building permits and inspec-
tions. At that time, we were assured the service
would cost no more than continuing with the
county for building permits/inspections and
would be more convenient. When the rates were
raised above the county’s rates, I asked about
that assurance. Mayor Harrison responded, “We
didn’t say it would be forever.” Following the
2007 flood, that increase made a huge difference
for Vernonia residents when compared to per-
mit/inspection charges by the county.
Downtown businesses were blind-sided by a
sign ordinance that was prepared without their
input; they spoke out forcefully enough that the
council sent it back for changes. This month, lo-
cal real estate brokers were told they each need
to buy a business license, instead of a business
license for each real estate office.
There is no doubt that the city has severe fi-
nancial problems. In spite of that, council allows
Please see page 3