The INDEPENDENT, November 18, 2010
24 Years Ago This Month
The November 26, 1986, is-
sue of The Independent includ-
ed the following news story on
the front page:
Reduction in the amount of
state grants for technical assis-
tance to local communities will
make it more difficult to fund
the study of Vernonia’s leaky
sewer system. That was the
message given to the Vernonia
City Council at their November
17 meeting by Glenn Higgins of
Community Action Team.
The council previously
asked CAT to prepare a re-
quest for a technical assistance
grant for an engineering study
to pinpoint conditions allowing
raw sewage to bypass the
treatment lagoons and flow into
the Nehalem River. At that time
the council was under the im-
pression that the state Eco-
nomic Development Commis-
sion grants were for a maxi-
mum of $10,000, but Higgins
told them that the upper limit for
TAGs is not $7500. The esti-
mate for the engineering study
is $11,000. The estimate was
prepared by the engineering
firm of HGE.
The council told Higgins to
proceed with the grant request,
nevertheless, because the
state Department of Environ-
mental Quality has said the
problem must be corrected.
The city will seek other ways to
raise the money for the study if
the TAG is approved.
A committee was appointed
by Mayor Wallace Vaughn to
start work on repair and refur-
G OOD F OOD
G OOD F RIENDS
G OOD T IMES
831 Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR
503-429-0214
bishing of the old Shea steam
engine belonging to the city.
Wells Oviatt, Tim Enyart and
Fred Klinger were named to the
committee.
At the November 3rd meet-
ing of the council, Wally
Thomas, who with his wife has
purchases the Joy Theater, ob-
jected to a letter from the city
that directed him to replumb the
building so each tenant would
have a separate water meter.
Pointing out that one meter had
worked for the building for 60
years, Thomas said he would
be responsible for payment for
his tenants, but that if the city
insisted on replumbing, he felt
they should pay for the work.
After discussion, the council
agreed to let the Thomases ac-
cept responsibility for payment.
Emil Rode asked the council
for an extension of time to
make repairs required by the
city’s enforcement of its ordi-
nance controlling unsafe build-
ings. Rode was told that he
would have to appear before
the Appeals Board to ask for an
extension, but that his appear-
ance at the council meeting
would fulfill the requirement
Page 9
Bits & Bites
that he make an appeal within
ten days after being cited since
the date of the first Appeals
Board meeting wasn’t set.
Mayor Vaughn also appoint-
ed the Appeals Board which will
consist of two council mem-
bers, Bill Hansen and Rob
Richards; two members of the
planning commission, Leonard
Simmons and Fred Klinger;
and one at-large member, Bob
Sargent.
Logging slides
will be shown
Slides of local logging/log-
gers, taken by Janelle Wiggins
between 1976-1985, will be
shown at the Vernonia Public
Library on Saturday, November
20, at 6:00 p.m. by Cory Col-
burn.
Cookies and coffee will be
provided by Vernonia Study
Club.
By Jacqueline Ramsay
Time flies when you are trying to stay dry
and keep warm but carry on with keeping in
step with the outside world. I’ve been busy
but don’t know for sure what I have accom-
plished since last time I was in Vernonia. I
survived Halloween, only nine little goblins
(it did not rain). The election didn’t really go
my way. Having only been here a year I
didn’t know enough of people and city is-
sues to vote on much – But, I did vote. So
I guess I can gripe for another two years.
Christmas is all over the place. Some folks have already got
lights on their porches and shrubs. Gee whiz.
Before I forget – the answer to the word I gave you two weeks
ago – an extremely loud and very strong smelling flatulence. Now
you can look that word up, unless you have a pet that is very odif-
erous.
There was lots of news in the last issue of The Independent.
Congratulations to Josette. Had I still lived there, she’d have had
one more vote. Notice a change in the county races, too. Change
is good sometimes. (At least I pray so.)
I wish I was young enough to strap a backpack on and walk the
trail to Banks – this time of year. It would be spectacular.
Bye now.
Happy Thanksgiving