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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2010)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, July 1, 2010 Chief Grace recommends continuing Justice Court for Vernonia Before the regular Vernonia City Council meeting, a study session was held to look at op- tions for property acquired by the city through FEMA post- flood buyouts. Buyout proper- ties cannot have buildings on them in the future and council has considered leasing the space to adjacent or other property owners in exchange for an agreement to mow and maintain the properties. They decided to hold another meet- ing, on this topic, and sched- uled a workshop for July 12 at 7:00 p.m. In the regular meeting, coun- cil unanimously approved a contract with ColPac for Bill Haack to serve as Pro-Tem City Administrator. They then held a public hearing on the 2010-11 Fiscal Year Budget and re- ceived a revised Budget Mes- sage from Haack. Council ap- proved a tax levy of $5.8163 per $1,000 of assessed proper- ty valuation (the same rate as last year), agreed to accept state revenue sharing (a for- mality) and adopted the 2010- 11 Fiscal Year Budget as pre- sented by the budget commit- tee. In the adopted budget, the estimated income for the Gen- eral Fund is $869,979.00, down from the first draft budget amount of $1.2 million. The new estimate is in line with amounts received in previous years and offers a conservative estimate. Departments de- pendent on the General Fund all took cuts to bring the budget into balance. The portion of the meeting set aside for comments from the floor became a community conversation after Sam Semer- jian, owner of the Blue House Café, read a letter addressing his concerns with drainage is- sues from the adjacent Vernon- ia Community Learning Center courtyard, along with state- ments he said had been made by those working on the court- yard. Semerjian told council that the Downtown Association would volunteer to fix the issue at no cost to the city. Members of the Ford Family Foundation class that is working on the courtyard responded that they had the permits and the ap- provals, and the concrete would be poured on Friday. Mayor Sally Harrison asked Semerjian to wait for comple- tion of the job and see if that takes care of his concerns about drainage. The next speaker was Sam Waters, who had issues with his father’s water being turned off a few months ago and, after reciting the history, said, “I have attorney fees I want to have paid by the city.” Council had no response and went on to the next agenda item. Councilor Brett Costley, who was attending his final meeting, said “It’s been good and it’s been bad. It’s the worst paying job I’ve ever had, but it’s been very rewarding.” He then said thank you to city staff. The Mayor said, “I can’t say enough about the quality of his leader- ship for the last eight years. It’s been a real pleasure,” and led a round of applause for Costley. Police Chief Frank Grace handed out summary reports regarding the discussion about whether the current Justice Court or a Municipal Court would better serve the city. At the end of the report Grace’s recommendation included the statement, “In my opinion, the Vernonia Justice court offers a level of service that is afford- able.” Grace also reported new de- partment protocols, effective June 17, 2010, requiring all vio- lations to be routed to Vernonia Justice Court, and that citations may not be routed to courts outside Vernonia, without prior approval from the chief of po- lice. Council did not discuss the report at the meeting, or take any action on the court issue. After an executive session held to discuss real estate transactions and union negotia- tions, the Mayor said that con- sensus of council was to go for- ward with the property sale, and directed the city attorney to work with Haack on budgetary considerations. In other business, council; • gave consensus for the Mayor to appoint Jim Tierney to the Public Works Committee, which she then did. • approved Resolution 29- 10, setting forth the city’s public records policy and procedures. The next city council meet- ing has been rescheduled, due to the 4th of July holiday, and will be held on July 12, starting at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. 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., Library 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 Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Kiwanis Club 2nd & 4th Wednesday 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Municipal Airport Committee 1t Wednesday 6:30 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 Garden Club 2nd Tuesday 1:30 p.m., Vernonia 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 10:00 a.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 BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous American Legion Post #90 Banks City Council Banks Fire District #13 Banks Library Commission Banks Planning Commission Banks School Board Banks Youth Group Chamber of Commerce CPO 14 Everybody’s Hometown Band Friends of the Library Lions Club Sunset Park Assoc. T.O.P.S. Friday Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday 2nd Monday Sunday, Wednesday 1st Thursday 3rd Monday Tuesdays 2nd Tuesday 1st & 3rd Mondays 3rd Wednesday Wednesday 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 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Main Street Post 7:30 p.m., City Hall 7:00 p.m., Station 13 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., City Hall 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby 8:00 p.m., Gun Club 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesday 10:00 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia Comm Mental Health 1st Tuesday 5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way 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.