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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.