Page 4
The INDEPENDENT, March 7, 2012
Vernonia City Update
by Bill Haack, City Administra-
tor
The City of Vernonia City
Council conducted a work ses-
sion with the Public Works
Committee on Friday, February
24, to review the proposed wa-
ter rate schedule adjustments
prepared by Tim Tice, project
manager, Oregon Association
of Water Utilities.
The current water rate struc-
ture consists of two compo-
nents: demand charge or base
rate, and a commodity charge
per 1000 gallons used. The
base rate was fixed based on
whether the customer was in-
town or out-of-town. Base rate
charges in town included 2000
gallons for residential cus-
tomers. The base rate for com-
mercial and out-of-town did not
include any water in the base
rate.
The demand charge com-
prises those costs associated
with serving customers irre-
spective of the amount of water
used. The City of Vernonia wa-
ter utility demand charges in-
clude meter reading, water
billing, accounting, collections,
maintenance, capital costs,
metering, and management.
The City water service is the
equivalent of managing the
business of providing water.
The commodity charge is a
per unit fee based on units of
water (one unit of water equals
1000 gallons). This charge
captures system costs that
tend to vary with the total water
used plus operations and main-
tenance expenses, and capital
costs associated with service
to customers under average
and peak load conditions. Typi-
cally, commodity charges re-
cover O & M expenses of sup-
ply, treatment, pumping and
distribution.
OAWU reviewed our exist-
ing rate structure, and took as
direction the City Council goals
of establishing a rate based on
the following assumptions: (1)
water fund budget of $550,000,
(2) base rate plus up to five tier
blocks, (3) incorporate a meter
multiplier, (4) assess need for
in/out of town differential, (5)
assess need for standalone
commercial rate, and (6) estab-
lish a reserve and annual in-
dex. In addition, OAWU took an
analysis produced by Public
Works Committee members
Dale Webb and Roger Lindsley
for evaluation.
The alternative rate struc-
ture under review is similar in
structure to our existing rate
schedule adding a meter multi-
plier that varies the base rate
based on meter size (e.g. 0.5”,
0.75”, 1.0”, 1.5”, 2.0”, 4.0” and
6.0”). The base rate will vary by
meter size, as will the amount
of water included in the base
rate (from 2000 to 42000 gal-
lons). The commodity charge
under review is one or more
tier blocks that kick in after the
base rate allowance is used.
The work session presenta-
tion was well accepted by the
Council and Committee mem-
bers. The Public Works Com-
mittee will further review the al-
ternative rate schedule and
make a recommendation to
City Council in March. The
Council will review the recom-
mendation at a public hearing
tentatively schedule for mid-
March 2012.
Senator Johnson helps get funds
for two transportation projects
Senator Betsy Johnson, co-
vice chair of the Joint Ways
and Means Committee, helped
negotiate legislation passed
this morning in the Senate that
will fund several critical trans-
portation projects throughout
Oregon, including several proj-
ects of significance in and near
Senate District 16.
“There are well-known con-
gestion and safety problems
with Cornelius Pass and the
Sellwood Bridge,” said John-
son (D-Scappoose). “These
funds will speed up long-need-
ed safety improvements to im-
portant transportation arteries.”
In 2008, the death of
teenager
Taijia
Bellwood
prompted calls for a safety
study of Cornelius Pass Road.
An audit conducted by the Fed-
eral Highway Administration
made general recommenda-
See Roads on page 5
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
Emerg. Preparedness Comm.
4th Wednesday
6:30 p.m., WOEC
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
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 7:00 p.m.,Vernonia Grange
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 Comm. Learning Center 1st Wednesday
5:00 p.m., VCLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
6:00 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
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
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
7:00 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 9-1-1 Board
3rd Thursday
9:00 a.m., 9-1-1 meeting room
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
2nd Thursday
4:00 p.m., 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.