The INDEPENDENT, May 19, 2011
Page 5
Three Vernonia men receive
Citizen Life Saving Awards
On May 14, three Vernonia
men were awarded the “Citizen
Life Saving Award” by the Ore-
gon Fire Chiefs Association
(OFCA). The 10th annual Ore-
gon Fire Service Meritorious
Awards Banquet was held in
Salem, with representatives
from all over the state gathering
to honor those chosen for
awards.
Mike Pihl, Doug Davenport,
and Rob Richards received the
awards for the assistance they
provided to Vernonia Rural Fire
Protection District (VRFPD) at
the log truck accident on Hwy
47 north on July 22, 2010.
The Citizen Life Saving
award is to “recognize citizens,
businesses, and other groups
for efforts that result in saving
another’s life, benefiting the
Fire Service, or other honorary
action.” Some family and
friends were on hand to witness
the presentation, as well as
members of the VRFPD and
Metro West Ambulance.
Memorial Day
Doug Davenport, Mike Pihl and Rob Richards received Citizen Life Saving Awards from the
Oregon Fire Chiefs Association. Photo courtesy of Christie Davis.
May 30, 2011
Work incomplete from ‘96 flood; Hudson asks definition of “know”
From page 4
and Nicks to resign saying, “We
don’t want you.” Bernal said
she has over 250 signatures on
the recall with more coming in
every day.
Hudson asked for clarifica-
tion on whether a councilor is
allowed to vote on items con-
cerning a person they know
and asking for a definition of
“know”. Sosnkowski responded
that she would bring informa-
tion on conflict of interest and
bias to the next meeting.
After an executive session to
discuss records exempt from
public disclosure and litigation
filed or likely to be filed, council
came back and, without further
discussion, adjourned the
meeting at almost 9:30 p.m.
In other business on May 16,
council:
• Heard from Community Ac-
tion Team Director Jim Tierney
that the city needs to enforce
flood plain requirements on
about six properties (from 1996
flood) before FEMA comes to
inspect. If these properties
aren’t brought into compliance,
the city’s ability to obtain flood
insurance may be affected.
Tierney will bring more informa-
tion to council at a future meet-
ing;
• approved an agreement
with Kathy Larson to run the
new Saturday Market (set to
start June 4);
• received an update from
Sergeant Mike Conner on the
progress of the Vernonia Police
Department’s changes to com-
ply with a 2007 Best Practices
Recall election set for June 10
From page 1
to continue to serve as your
Councilor.”
The date of the election to
recall Hudson has been set for
June 10, 2011. If the vote to re-
call is successful, he may
choose to resign, or to serve
until the vote is certified by the
state. Columbia County Elec-
tions official Pam Benham ex-
pects the certification will be
done in three to 10 days after
the election, though by law it
can take as long as 20 days.
When the city receives the “Ab-
stract of Vote” the election is
considered certified.
If the recall effort is not suc-
cessful, Hudson may serve his
full term.
According to Bernal, Burch
and Nicks will also be subjected
to recall elections as soon as
they have served six months in
office, a requirement of state
law. They each took office in
January and may not be re-
called until July.
review by the city’s insurance
company. The updates were as
of April and the first item (used
as an example) concerned the
recommendation that all new
police hires be required to live
in the city. On that item, the
progress report said that “All
sworn police officers hired after
April 2003 are now required to
live in Vernonia or near the
city.”
• heard a report from Haack
that he had completed staff
evaluations on all staff, the first
time, ever, such evaluations
have been done.
The next regularly scheduled
meeting of council will be on
June 6 starting at 7:00 p.m. at
City Hall.