Official minutes available once approved by boardJail architect selected
The board of commissioners voted to select DLR Group to provide architectural and engineering services for the proposed remodel and expansion of the Clatsop County Jail, and to direct staff to negotiate a contract with the firm. The company was the top choice of a county selection committee that reviewed seven bid proposals for the project.
The work will involve drawing up detailed schematic plans and cost estimates for adding up to 100 beds to the 69-bed facility in downtown Astoria. Once the plans and estimates are completed, the board of commissioners will consider whether to seek voter approval next year for a bond measure to fund the expansion project.
In October the board voted to make available up to $100,000 from the county’s Special Projects Fund for the schematic and cost estimate work.
Sheriff Tom Bergin said DLR Group is recognized nationally for its work on correctional facilities and is well prepared to take on the county project.
Circus ordinance to ballot
The Board of Commissioners voted to place an ordinance banning displays of elephants and exotic animals on the May 2012 primary election ballot.
Ordinance 11-13 would prohibit the display of elephants and exotic animals in circuses and other entertainment venues. The ordinance exempts 4-H and FFA events, rodeos and horse shows and educational events from the ban.
Four citizens spoke in favor of the ordinance Wednesday. The ban was originally proposed by a county resident over concerns about treatment of animals in traveling circus shows.
Other business
In other business the board:
-Voted to approve a zone change application to the City of Warrenton by the Lower Columbia Youth Soccer Association for county-owned property leased to the association for its Warrenton soccer facilities on Ridge Road. The application requests a change from Low-Density Residential to Open Space-Institutional for four tax lots. In January, at LCYSA’s request, the county amended the legal description of the property to add additional property for the association – the zone change is necessary to allow LCYSA to use the added land for playing fields and parking.
-Approved a $48,486.75 contract with Big River Excavating for clearing and grubbing the route for Ensign Lane in the North Coast Business Park in Warrenton. Construction of the road, slated for 2012-13, is vital for the future development of the park. Funding for the contract will come from the Industrial Development Revolving Fund, which holds proceeds from the $8.6 million sale of the 75-acre highway-front commercial section of the business park.
-Took no action on two letters proposed to be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality over the proposed listing of a local business, Astoria Marine Construction Company, under the federal Superfund National Priorities List pollution cleanup program. County Manager Duane Cole presented the board with a letter from Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden to the regional EPA office dated Nov. 30 that asks the agency to provide more time for the company to identify funding sources to pay for cleanup planning at the site. Cole said the county will wait on the EPA’s response to the senators’ letter before taking action.
-Discussed proposed new rules for the board of commissioners in a work session. The rules, which cover basic board operations such as chair and vice-chair selection, agenda-setting and meeting protocol, committee appointments and travel policies, will be brought back to the board for final action Dec. 14.
-Approved an adjustment of the 2011-12 budget to account for the delay in construction of a new boathouse for the County Sheriff’s Office, which was originally scheduled for completion in the 2010-11 budget year. The new boathouse replaces a facility destroyed in the December 2007 windstorm.
-Voted to accept the deed to a piece of property on Lewis and Clark Road. The narrow strip of land lying between the road and the Lewis and Clark River is part of a larger parcel owned by Linda Holton, who requested the deed transfer to the county to remove an encumbrance on the property title and allow a pending sale of the larger parcel to proceed. The transferred property is part of the road right-of-way and is maintained by the county road division.
-Appointed Thomas Duncan, Paul Gillum, Mel Jasmin, Bob Link, Duane Mullins and Paul Olheiser to the Ambulance Service Area Advisory Committee. The county recently re-activated the committee to lead an update of the Ambulance Service Area Plan.
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