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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2012)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, February 1, 2012 Letters From page 2 the two lawsuits filed on your behalf by the current CHD board, the new trustees and a representative taxpayer. It is our understanding the county has two full-time attorneys and a part-time attorney. Why are we paying them if more attor- neys must be hired every time someone disagrees with the ir- responsible manner in which the commissioners are han- dling our tax dollars? The commissioners are also attempting to give the Millard Road property, free of cost, to the City of St. Helens. How does that make the rest of you taxpayers who do not live in St. Helens feel? We would not ap- preciate paying for a new park in Scappoose or in Warren or in Goble. We’re sure you feel the same. You paid as much in tax- es as we did in St. Helens. Thirdly, we are highly offend- ed, as should you be, that your vote electing a new CHD board by a 90 percent margin has been totally ignored. The new board was cut off at the knees: no money, no records and not even an office until a minute space was finally provided in the old courthouse. Now your CHD board has attorneys and they are doing everything in their power to hold the old CHD board and the commissioners accountable for their misdeeds. Let us share some of the “secret” messages sent amongst the CHD and the commissioners. Oh, and by the way, it appears the City of St. Helens was also in on this back room maneuver. 3/17/11 – from Karen Ladd (public health administrator), using public health computer, to Jay Tappan, “I spoke with Akin (one of their five attor- neys) this morning. He said that the mayor, city admin, commissioner, you and Aki and I should meet to discuss the transfer of assets ...” 3/24/11 – from Jay Tappan, using the publicly owned com- puter at the fire department, “Hi, Pam – Just a note...I left a message on Randy’s (Peter- son, St. Helens mayor) cell phone to call me about the CHD move to the PNP (private foundation) status.” 4/4/11 – from Karen Ladd to Jay Tappan, “Us sending a let- ter to say we are “outta here” by the health district is not a mutual dissolution...”, “This is a one sided statement and really violates the terms of the IGA.(Intergovernmental Agree- ment)”, “Would you be willing to talk to Earl (Commissioner Fisher) and ask him to go talk to Sara (Tyson – one of the county attorneys) and see if he can set something up with us and them to start mutual disso- lution of the IGA talks.” 4/4/11 – from Jay Tappan, using the publicly owned com- puter at the fire department, “I just finished talking to Earl (Commissioner Fisher) and I think we have a good under- standing of where we are go- ing.” “We will not reference any arrangement past 30 June so as to blunt the criticism of us doing a sleight of hand…” “The commissioners need to have that impression of “selecting” a next provider of PH (public health) services past 30 June.” “Is there any risk in this? – yes, Please see page 17 Just for Fun Casey and Kyle by Will Robertson Solve this Sudoku Answer to Januar y 18 Sudoku is on page 19. H e re ’s a Va l e n t i n e to color Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, generous, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly, and never seeking her own; for wheresoever a man seeketh his own, there he falleth from love. THOMAS Á KEMPER monk and author (1380-1471)