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The INDEPENDENT, September 21, 2011
Vernonia City Administrator Haack takes helm for first full meeting
The Vernonia City Council
meeting, on September 19,
saw Bill Haack seated for the
whole meeting for the first time
as a regular City Administrator,
rather than an interim.
The meeting started with a
presentation by Aaron Miller,
principal of Washington Grade
School, on opportunities for the
school to work with the city on
city enhancement projects as
part of the schools Rural Sus-
tainability Programs. These
programs will include native
plant restorations, tree planting
with the Upper Nehalem Water-
shed Council, and will take “a
little load off the city” mainte-
nance-wise. Miller will work
with Haack on specific projects
as they come up.
George Bellingham of the
Vernonia Ridge Riders spoke
from the floor, asking permis-
sion to place three poles at the
driveway entrance to the horse
arena in Anderson Park. The
poles will hold signs listing their
events and stop people from
entering the area during
events. Mayor Josette Mitchell
asked Bellingham to obtain a
flood plain permit and talk to
the City Planner about the
plans.
The council approved a
$950 expenditure by the Ver-
nonia Police Department for a
new computer system that will
hook-up to the Portland Police
system, provide better informa-
tion, and allow for the needed
reporting to the state.
Council approved an agree-
ment with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation (ODOT)
that gives 15 feet of right-of-
way to ODOT to expand Bridge
Street for the new school. The
right-of-way will reduce the
front lawn of the Vernonia Pio-
neer Museum.
A subcommittee of the Air-
port Committee had asked for
approval to remove some trees
at the airport. Council decided
to send it back to the commit-
tee for a more detailed work
plan before making a decision.
Haack reported to council on
a meeting he had with DEQ,
along with the city engineer, on
the necessary upgrades for
wastewater treatment. He said
DEQ steered him to a plan that
would use gravel/sand exfiltra-
tion from lagoon 3. If feasible,
this direction might save $2 to
3 million dollars and eliminate
the need to have another la-
goon built. Additionally, the city
will look at anaerobic bacteria
additions that may increase the
efficiency of the lagoons.
A new checklist for home oc-
cupancy was put forward by
Haack to handle a problem that
is showing up when flooded
homes go into foreclosure and
new owners haven’t been giv-
en information about the need
to elevate, move or tear down
those homes. The checklist will
help assure that, when these
homeowners come in to get
utility service, they are made
aware of the other items re-
quired to meet FEMA floodplain
requirements.
The next regular meeting of
city council will be October 3, at
7:00 p.m., at city hall.
DEQ fines NW Natural in Col. Co.
The Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality issued a
$4,500 penalty to Northwest
Natural Gas Co. for discharg-
ing wastewater to Eilertsen
Creek in Columbia County
without a permit. The discharge
occurred during a natural gas
pipeline replacement construc-
tion project along U.S. Highway
30 this spring.
During a May 2011 inspec-
tion of the pipeline construction
site, DEQ observed turbid, sed-
iment-laden construction de-
watering wastewater from the
site flowing into Eilertsen
Creek. Discharge of waste-
water from construction sites is
authorized under a National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System 1200-C general permit
and may occur only within
specified permit limits. North-
west Natural Gas did not have
such a permit for its construc-
tion work and thus was in viola-
tion of state law.
Turbidity in construction de-
watering wastewater can harm
aquatic life and other beneficial
uses of public water when dis-
charged. The permit requires
permittees to implement con-
trol measures and monitor
wastewater runoff in order to
protect water quality and moni-
tor the amount of pollutants dis-
charged.
Northwest Natural Gas Co.
did not appeal the penalty and
has paid it in full.
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
7:00 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 Plan. 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.