Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Meeting Highlights

Westport zone change approved

The board approved a zone change for a parcel at the Westport ferry landing site to accommodate construction of a new ferry terminal. The change rezones .86 acre of land and water from Lake and Wetlands to Aquatic Development and changes its comprehensive plan designation from Conservation-Other Resources to Development.

Wahkiakum County, which operates the ferry, has received funding to purchase a new, larger ferry vessel capable of carrying more vehicles that it plans to put in service in 2014. Earlier this year Clatsop County won a federal transportation grant to build a new ferry landing at Westport that will both handle the new vessel as well as eliminate a chronic siltation problem that hampers the existing landing. Construction of the new landing is set for 2012.

Commission Chair Dirk Rohne noted the ferry landing upgrade is one of several projects proposed for Westport through a county-led improvement program.



ClatsopALERTS agreements okayed

The board approved intergovernmental agreements with the cities of Astoria and Seaside allowing the two municipalities to access the county’s new ClatsopALERTS! emergency notification system.

ClatsopALERTS! allows local officials to send out emergency warnings and other notices to the public through land-line and cell phones, text messages and email. The agreements will give Astoria and Seaside officials access to the system to send out messages of specific interest to residents of the two cities. The agreements provide the service to the cities at no cost.



Other Business

In other business the board:

-Approved a contract with Philip Simmons to become the county’s new Veterans’ Service Officer. The former U.S. Marine Corps officer and lawyer will take over the program in November. The veterans’ service officer, funded primarily through the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, aids local veterans and their spouses and dependents with access to military benefits programs.

-Conducted the first reading of three proposed ordinances: Ord. 11-10 County Road Event; Ord. 11-11 Park Special Event Permit; and Ord. 11-12 Social Gatherings. Public hearings on the three ordinances will be held at the board’s Nov. 9 meeting.

-Approved a $125,000 federal grant through the Oregon Emergency Management Office for the county’s Emergency Management Division. The annual grant provides half the funding for the county program, which directs emergency preparedness and response efforts.

-Appointed Jack Applegate of Warrenton to the Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee.

-Appointed Wendy Higgins of Cannon Beach to the Northwest Area Commission on Transportation.