WILDFIRES BURNING ACROSS WESTERN OREGON

Unusually dry, windy conditions have triggered several wildfires in western Oregon. In the Astoria District between Arch Capes and Manzanita, the 50-acre Falcon Fire is burning, and nearby the 30-acre Shingle Mill Fire. Oregon Dept. of Forestry and partner fire agencies are fighting both blazes.

Highlights of the Board of Clatsop County Commissioners Meeting, Wednesday, January 22

School land re-conveyance

The board voted to receive two parcels of property in Cannon Beach from the Seaside School District and re-convey them to the City of Cannon Beach. The properties, totaling 1.38 acres, were deeded by the county to the school district in 1948 and 1958 for use for Cannon Beach Elementary School. The parcels contained reversionary clauses requiring that they return to the county’s ownership if they ceased being used for school purposes; the clauses were triggered after the district closed the school in 2013.

The property is conveyed to Cannon Beach at no cost, but with a new reversionary clause requiring that it be used for a public purpose. The City of Cannon Beach plans to use the land for the development of a community park.

Parole and Probation remodel

The board voted to give staff approval to continue work on a funding plan for the proposed remodel of the county Parole and Probation office in Warrenton to house the county Sheriff’s Office criminal and support divisions.

The Parole and Probation facility was opened in 2006 as the county Transition Center, an alternative form of sanction and supervision for local criminal offenders. The Transition Center was closed in 2011 due to budget concerns.

The board’s action on Wednesday directs the county Budget and Finance Department to work toward securing a loan for the project, estimated at $2 million, which would relocate the criminal and support division staff from the county jail in Astoria to the Warrenton facility. Funding to cover the loan would come from Special Project Fund monies freed up with the retirement this year of a loan taken out in 2007 for the remodel of the county courthouse.

Astoria City Council Nixes Birch Street Surplus Land Sale

     The City of Astoria is continuing with its program of selling surplus property, and citizens are continuing to question the details of the program.  Public hearings on each sale take place during regular city council meetings.  Only one lot was under consideration at this week’s meeting, one of a parcel of five city-owned lots on Birch Street in Alderbrook.  Mike and Judith Cahill, who own property adjacent to the lot, offered a bid of $12,000 for the property.  The Cahills were not at the meeting, but there was plenty of public comment about the proposed sale, and the program itself was the subject of questions and comments from several attendees.  

Astoria OSU Student Honored For Saving Swimmer's Life

Daria Vandergrift was honored by the City of Astoria Tuesday night for saving the life of an Astoria swim team member in December.  
With her parents and sister in the city council chambers, Vandergrift, speaking from her OSU dorm room via Skype,  was presented the award by Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen:

On a two-way Skype computer connection, the mayor presented the citation.

“Daria – see this?  This is for employee recognition.  We hereby from the City of Astoria, sincerely appreciate Daria Vandergrift in grateful recognition of your outstanding performance, productivity and dedicated service” 

Vandergift, an OSU student, was formerly a lifeguard at Astoria’s Aquatic Center, where on December 16th she jumped into the pool to pull out a struggling swim team member, who had inhaled a large amount of water.  She then administered the Heimlich maneuver, and stayed with the swimmer until Astoria fire department members and medics arrived. 

BENOIT ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE TO ASTORIA CITY COUNCIL

Paul Benoit, the current city manager of Astoria, Oregon, is slated to be the new city administrator for Piedmont, California. Jeff Weiler, Piedmont City Council member confirmed this morning the City of Piedmont is in contract negotiations with Benoit. 

Merkley, Wyden Town Hall Meetings This Week

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley will be holding a Clatsop County Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, January 22nd, 5pm at Gearhart Elementary School, 1002 Pacific Way, in Gearhart. Senator Merkley will also hold a Columbia County Town Hall meeting earlier on Wednesday, this one at 1pm, at the Scappoose High School Gymnasium, 33700 SE High School Way, in Scappoose.   

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold a Town Hall Meeting in Astoria on Saturday, January 25th.  The meeting will be held at 1pm, at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, in Astoria.    

BOONE TO SEEK SIXTH TERM

Oregon State Representative Deborah Boone, has announced she will file to run for a sixth term in the State Legislature representing House District 32. Boone says her top priorities are Emergency Preparedness, Energy, Education, and the Economy.

In a statement Boone said, quote: “We need a focus on implementing the Oregon Resilience Plan,” Boone said, “to protect our residents, business, and coastal communities that will be in harm’s way in the event of a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami”, close quote.

ODFW details proposed Youngs Bay fishing control zone

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the proposed boundaries and time period for a closure of the area at the mouth of the Youngs Bay to recreational salmon fishing during the 2014 salmon season.

The closure, along with several other changes to fisheries management, emerged during the 2012 process to restructure sport and commercial fisheries on the Columbia River. The proposal is similar to one considered by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in December 2012.

While the Commission did not adopt the closure at that time, the 2013 Oregon Legislature included a closure in Senate Bill 830, which made statutory modifications necessary to implement the fishery changes.

The closure is intended to increase the number of hatchery fish returning to the Youngs Bay off-channel area on the lower Columbia River by reducing the number of fish intercepted by sport anglers. A map of the area is on the ODFW website -- the area would be closed to angling from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15.

The closure area will be considered by the Commission at its Feb. 7 meeting in Salem. In the meantime, comment on the proposal can be sent to ODFW.Commission@state.or.us.

Project Homeless Connect Thursday January 23rd in Tillamook and Long Beach, and Thursday January 30th in Seaside

The annual Project Homeless Connect is taking place this month  in Clatsop and Tillamook Counties in Oregon, and on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington.  These volunteer-run events makes it possible for homeless person to access a variety of services all in one place.  Private and public service providers will offer information and services at the Seaside Convention Center, 415 1st Avenue in Seaside on Thursday, January 30th.  Tillamook County's event takes place on Thursday, January 23rd at Sacred Heart Catholic School Gymnasium at 2311 5th Street.  The Long Beach event also takes place on Thursday the 23rd at the Elks Lodge at 110 North Pacific Highway in downtown Long Beach.  Volunteers are needed in all locations.  Call 503-325-1400 for Clatsop County, 503-842-5261 for Tillamook County

OREGON GRANTS OFFERED FOR HISTORIC MUSEUMS, CEMETERIES, AND PRESERVATION PROJECTS

Oregon Heritage, part of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, is accepting applications for its four grant programs. Separate grant programs offer funding for museums, historic cemeteries, historic building preservation and archaeological projects.

These grant programs, such as the one for historic cemeteries, provide small grants for a variety of project and can be a catalyst for additional local support.

CLATSOP COUNTY TAX DEPARTMENT OFFERS CLASS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

   The Clatsop County Assessment and Taxation Department will host a Business Personal Property training course Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The training will provide business owners information on what is considered personal property in business and how to file returns, and explain tax calculations and collection laws. The course is free of charge.

All businesses are required to file a Confidential Personal Property Return with the county assessor’s office each year.

The class will be offered 10 to 11 a.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria.

Due to limited space, reservations are required.

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Highlights Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 regular meeting

Road dedicated

The board officially designated the newly constructed portion of SE Ensign Lane as a public road. The road section, built through the county-owned North Coast Business Park in Warrenton, connects SE 19^th St. and Alternate Highway 101.

Construction of the road was an obligation under the intergovernmental agreement between Clatsop County and the Oregon Department of Transportation for the granting of highway access to the commercial area of the business park.

The board is scheduled to formally accept the road into the county road system Jan. 22.

Public Works Director Ed Wegner singled out the work of project leader Terry Hendryx, engineering technician, who headed the design, inspection and mitigation for the project, which was completed ahead of schedule.

SMOKING BAN IN OREGON STATE PARKS HEARINGS THIS WEEK

Oregon Parks and Recreation is holding meetings this week to take public comment on plans to ban outdoor smoking at state parks. Under the new rules, smoking would be prohibited on hiking trails, picnic areas, waysides and common areas of state campgrounds. People could still smoke in their cars, RVs or tents. 
 
Public hearings will take place today (Jan. 9) at the Champoeg State Heritage Area, Visitor Center, 8239 Champoeg Road N.E., St. Paul, Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Bend Park and Recreation Office, Riverbend Room, 799 S.W. Columbia Street, Bend
and Thursday, Jan. 16, Newport Recreation Center, 225 Avery St S.E., Newport

All public hearings begin at 7 p.m. Written comments may also be e-mailed to oprd.publiccomment@state.or.us  or mailed to  Richard Walkoski, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 725 Summer St. N.E., Suite C, Salem, OR, 97301.

COVER OREGON APPLICATION FAIR OFFERS CLATSOP COUNTY SIGN-UP ASSISTANCE

   Clatsop County residents interested in applying for health insurance coverage under the Cover Oregon insurance marketplace can get personal assistance at an Application Fair Jan. 22-24 at serveral locations.

The fair will take place:

Jan. 22 – Columbia Memorial Hospital Columbia Center, 2021 Marine Drive, Astoria

Jan. 23 – Providence Seaside Hospital, 725 S. Wahanna Road, Seaside – Room 113

Jan. 24 – Northwest Oregon Housing Authority, 147 S. Main, Warrenton

Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. each day.

Astoria Library Renovation Study Accepted By City Council

Monday night, the Astoria City Council heard the results of a public library renovation study report.  Last year Ruth Metz Associates was hired by the City of Astoria to conduct a community assessment of the public library and how it could better fit the needs of the community.
The needs assessment ran from July to November with public forums and interviews with the library board and staff.  Comments from two public meetings were organized into a community wide survey.  Metz said the survey garnered extensive comments from the community.

“I’ve done many library surveys and never had quite the response, the number of respondents.  We had over 426 people comment through the survey about the library.” 

Metz said the top community priority was an attractive, affordable sustainable library for Astoria, with an updated design to enhance services