Page 18
The INDEPENDENT, May 19, 2011
From the Sheriff’s Desk…
by Jeff Dickerson,
Columbia County Sheriff
In a recent appearance be-
fore the Vernonia City Council,
I was asked by a citizen in the
audience why the Sheriff did
not contract law enforcement
services with the City of Ver-
nonia. As I answered at that
time, it is true that contracts
between sheriff’s and cities
are not uncommon, but that it
was not on my agenda to seek
such a contract with any city in
Columbia County.
I agree that such contracts can be beneficial to both
the city and the citizens living just outside the city lim-
its and can help defray the administrative costs by
sharing the burden for those costs among governmen-
tal agencies covering a broader area. But this is some-
thing that is at the sole discretion of the local city coun-
cil, and I have in no way sought to press local jurisdic-
tions toward making such a decision.
On the plus side, it is a way to share the costs of
policing an area and to promote better coordination of
law enforcement services. On the negative side, local
jurisdictions might get the sense that they have less
control over their policing services. For sheriff’s, it is a
greater burden to take on the additional responsibili-
ties of policing city neighborhoods and city streets –
which services make up only a portion of the greater
responsibilities of sheriffs, including Jail management,
civil process services and search and rescue. Even
the enforcement of laws by sheriffs usually takes on a
less aggressive tone. Deputies are accustomed to
problem resolution vs. the more strict law enforcement
motif often required by cities. They often need to
change gears and seek to enforce traffic laws and mu-
nicipal ordinance enforcement with a lower tolerance
than is typical outside of city limits.
Cities in Oregon who choose to depend on the
Please see page 19
Tony Johnson Construction
ALE WOODWORKIN
D
N
I
G.C
NTA
O
U
O
SPECIALIZING IN REMODEL & REPAIR
M
M
Service Directory
C ABINET D ESIGN & M ANUFACTURING S INCE 1976
J OEL T EMPLIN
CCB #43965
503-429-5504
503-429-5436
V ERNONIA , O R 97064
FALL CREEK
WOODWORKING
WOOD FLOORS
INSTALLED &
REFINISHED
503-429-4351
Cory Colburn
11561 Keasey Road, Vernonia, OR 97064 • CCB #79876
St. Helens-Scappoose
Septic Tank Pumping
& Drain Cleaning
Office 503-397-3172
Cell 503-396-1408 or 503-396-1409
P.O. Box 203 • St. Helens, OR 97051
•
•
•
•
•
•
Excavating
Septic Systems
Site Prep
Underground Utilities
Driveways & Roads
Trenching
PO. Box 65 Vernonia CCB 166815 DEQ 38649
P OPPINO
P AINTING
FREE ESTIMATES
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB No. 90548
503-429-7101
Jim Morrison Jr.
General Contractor
(503) 429-0154
CCB# 112057
FREE ESTIMATES
503-429-8930
Reliable Commercial and Residential Service
SINCE 1981
CONTRACT LOGGING IN
OREGON & WASHINGTON
CCB #85280
Office (503) 429-7009 • Cell (503) 989-9109
Additions, Kitchens,
Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile,
Finish Carpentry & More!
DENNIS ELECTRIC
CORPORATION
“Have Tools Will Travel”
WINDOWS & DOORS
POLE BUILDINGS
ROOFING
FENCING
SIDING
DECKS
TILE
New Construction
and Remodeling
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
BI G HO R N
L OG G I NG
UTILITY SHEDS
GARAGES
CAR PORTS
ADDITIONS
DRYROT
DRYWALL
VINYL
Your Source for Reliable Electrical Service
in the Nehalem Valley
and Surrounding Area
for Over 35 Years
WE BUY TIMBER • 503-324-2422
Licensed & Bonded • CCB No. 193092
VERNONIA, OREGON
Dennis & Schann Nelson • P.O. Box 310 • Vernonia, OR 97064
Be here when they need you.
The INDEPENDENT Service Directory
is the ONLY Service Directory in the
Upper Nehalem Valley.
Call 503-429-9410 for information.
Shafer’s Bus Services Inc
Fleet Maintenance
School Bus Repair
Medium Duty Truck
GM 6.2L, 6.5L
Cummins 5.9L
Ford 6.0L, 7.3L
Shop 503-324-0868
John 503-704-7524 Brent 503-476-5825
160 N. Main Banks, OR