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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2011)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, April 7, 2011 CERT grads recognized; police officer on paid administrative leave After a short public hearing to approve the City Administra- tor hiring profile, the March 21 Vernonia City Council meeting next saw Interim Police Chief Mike Conner issue certificates to graduates of the recent Com- munity Emergency Response Team (CERT). Newly graduat- ed were Mark Brown, Jackie Devine, Jessie Devine, Jerimi- ah Hammons, Joe Hammons, Robert Haverland, Catherine Helmer, David S. Helmer, Kevin Hudson, Andrew Johnson, Josh Leach, Chris Lindsay, Jessie Lindsley, Allen McBride, Richard Meyer, Abigail Nicks, Esther Nicks, Hannah Nicks, Marilyn Nicks, Rachel Nicks, Randall Norman, Nathan Owen, DeAnna Pearl, Taylor Smith, and Joe Suppes. Heather Lewis read a pres- entation by Sharon Bernal in which Bernal encouraged council, as a whole, to become well informed on all city busi- ness and offered the support of the Economic Development Committee. Former Mayor Sally Harrison spoke from the floor to offer an apology to council for, “the way things happened at the last meeting.” Interim City Administrator asked for and received ap- proval for three new city posi- tion titles, expected to be filled by interns. The title approval is the first step. Next steps will be to develop position descriptions and to review the budgetary im- plications during the upcoming budget process. Councilor Kevin Hudson voted nay, the rest approved the titles. Howev- er, at the April 4 meeting, Coun- cilor Marilyn Nicks asked for this decision to be revisited and three councilors; Nicks, Hud- son and Willow Burch voted not to approve the titles so they will not go to the Budget Committee for review. The final piece of business on March 21 was a memo handed out to council by Haack saying that a Vernonia Police Officer (not named) had been placed on paid administrative leave today. The memo stated that, “the Oregon Dept. of Pub- lic Safety Standards and Train- ing intends to conduct a policy review of a member of the Ver- nonia Police Department based on their investigation.” The memo also stated that there would be council executive ses- sions (closed to the public) on March 28 and April 21, to con- sult with legal counsel and on records exempt from public in- spection. The April 4 council meeting started off with the appointment of Haack as the city’s Budget Officer for 2011-2012. The first budget meeting is scheduled for April 9, starting at 8:00 a.m. at the VCLC. Four members of the com- munity; Jessie Lindsley, Jack Lindsley, Richard Meyer and Sandy Welch, spoke from the floor in support of Sergeant Mike Kay, who is currently on paid administrative leave. Haack told council he plans to schedule a workshop or study session, in May or June, on FEMA flood compliance and code enforcement to make sure Vernonia stays eligible to buy flood insurance. Haack also plans to discuss the handling of Nuisance Abatements with council soon. In other business, on March 21, council; • heard that Burt Tschache resigned as Chairman of the Vernonia Community Learning Committee (VCLC). • approved recycling some old VCLC computer compo- nents by giving them to B&B Computing, (Burt Tschache’s business). • approved Resolution 7-11 to accept and place in the Street Fund a $25,000 ODOT stimulus funding grant. • approved Resolution 10-11 to continue the $12.00 fee in the water/sewer bills, in order to repay DEQ loan R93642, a 20 year $4.3 million loan that was used to complete Phase 1 of the wastewater project. In other business, at the April 4 meeting, council; • approved Resolution 11-11 transferring funds in the VCLC budget in order to pay for fur- nace repairs. • approved Ordinance 874, (which also repeals Ordinance 658) relating to Cross Connec- tion Control and Backflow Pre- vention. This will allow public works to test for backflow on drinking water connections. The next regular council meeting will be April 18, 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 Tuesday 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 Tuesdays 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 3rd Thursday 6:30 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 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.