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Adoption of building permit fees, approval of several contracts and two informative presentations were on the agenda for
the Clatskanie City Council at its meeting Aug. 20.
The opening flag salute was dedicated by Mayor Diane Pohl to Clatskanie "icon" and lifelong resident Melvina Barr who
died Aug. 16. Pohl said Barr was and would continue to be "a part of our hearts and lives."
After receiving no comments in a public hearing, the council unanimously adopted the building fee schedule of The
Building Department, LLC, which conducts building inspections for the city.
Before the vote, the council reviewed a cost comparison on some of the common permit fees, showing The Building
Department LLC's fees, Columbia County current fees, and the increase in county fees as of Sept. 1.
City Administrator Greg Hinkelman said The Building Department's fees are "much, much more palatable and better than
the county."
Prior to contracting with The Building Department, LLC in February, the city had used county inspection services and had
based city fees accordingly.
The county continues to conduct the city's electrical inspections, but The Building Department is starting a 10-month process
in September to assume those inspections, Hinkelman told the council later in the meeting.
While The Building Department's fees are comparable to current county fees, with some being higher and some lower than
the previous city fees, the county is increasing its inspection charges by 14 percent Sept. 1.
"I have not heard one complaint on service of The Building Department, LLC and many compliments," said Mayor Diane
Pohl.
With the adoption of the new fee schedule, the city also eliminated a $50 administrative charge, which would have no
longer been permitted by the state as of Jan 1, 2009.
Employment Contract
for Purdue Passed
An employment contract for Karyn Purdue, interim city recorder, was unanimously approved by the council, officially
placing Purdue in the city recorder position, a post she had filled as an interim since January.
Tina Hendricks, former city recorder, left the city on personal leave and under the Family and Medical Leave Act in January.
As reward for Purdue's service and in light of her loss of previous accrual time, Hinkelman recommended raising
Purdue's salary to a step 4, equaling $3,475 a month in wages. He said her accrual of compensatory time would be retroactive back to the start
of the fiscal year, July 1.
"With the job Karyn has been doing the past six to seven months, this is the easiest decision I've made as city manager,"
said Hinkelman. "She's earned it, she deserves it."
"Karyn has done a great job. I'm really, really pleased to have her in that position," said Mayor Pohl.
Council Approves Contracts, Endorses 9-1-1 Levy
In other action, the council approved a one-year contract with IT Garage to provide computer support services to the city.
Also by a unanimous vote, the council agreed to participate in the Columbia Alert Network (CAN) system, a service capable
of placing thousands of telephone calls in minutes in situations requiring emergency public notification. Cost to the city is about
$800 annually.
Sally Jones, administrator of Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District, which is the county manager and activitator of the
high-speed system, explained there had been a recent change in vendors.
The former vendor used "out-of-date" telephone numbers, while the new vendor will access the 9-1-1 database, which
includes non-published numbers and is updated regularly, said Jones. Work is underway to allow residents to submit alternate numbers, such as
a cell phone, for notification.
She also noted that the city of Clatskanie can build contact lists "unique to your city."
Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin said his department had used the system several times and attributed its "last capture to it."
After hearing a presentation from Jones on the history and development of the 9-1-1 communications district, the council
passed a resolution supporting the district's proposal to renew its five-year operating levy, to be placed on the Nov. 4th ballot.
While the district collects a permanent rate of 25.54¢ per $1000 of assessed property value, it requires an additional levy of
29¢ per $1000 assessed value.
"We depend heavily on that (the levy) to continue operations," Jones told the council.
The 9-1-1 district is the coordinator and dispatcher for 16 public safety agencies in the county, including all fire,
emergency medical and police, and related support services for area state police and state forestry departments.
First passed in 1998, the five-year levy was renewed in 2004 at a rate 2¢ lower than in 1998 and the same rate is being
requested for the next five years. The current levy expires in June 2009.
"We're serving our users better than ever," said Dee Wooley, Clatskanie's representative on the district board, who was
also present. He encouraged the council's collective support of the levy renewal, as well as councilor and citizen's personal endorsements.
Other Business
The council also heard from Karen Ladd, administrator of the Columbia County Public Health Department, a division of
Columbia Health District, and Laura Tomanka, vice chair of the district board.
Ladd reported on last year's pandemic flu shot clinics, in which more than 2100 shots were given county-wide, including 407
in four hours in Clatskanie. This year, a large free flu clinic is planned in Rainier, where last year's winter storms canceled a planned clinic.
She also reported on Clatskanie families and clients participation in the Women, Infant and Children Nutrition (WIC)
Program from July 2007-March 2008. As of March, 82 local families and 129 clients were being served by WIC.
Tomanka, who will serve as a liaison to the council, said the health district board is interested in hearing communities'
health concerns and welcomes ideas about how to best meet the medical needs of Columbia County, which is considered to be one of the
most medically-underserved counties in the state.
In his manager report, Hinkelman said he and other council members are continuing to meet with Oregon Department
of Transportation officials regarding widening Highway 30 and adding a turn lane at the east end of Clatskanie.
ODOT had plans to add the turn lane up to Van Street, but the city wants to amend the plan to extend the turn lane to in front
of Fultano's Pizza Parlor, the new retail center and the Clatskanie River Inn.
However, ODOT says to extend the turn lane from Van would require replacement of the two-lane Clatskanie River bridge
with a larger three-lane bridge, which would more than double the project cost.
Hinkelman believes the turn lane can be extended without having to replace the bridge. Another meeting is set Sept. 2nd
with ODOT.
In other business, the council adopted a resolution designating the city's safe deposit rental and certain officers and
employees as signers for the box.
Public Works Director Dave True said the river bank stabilization project near the Clatskanie City Park was completed last
week by Bill Booker Construction.
Councilor Bertie Barr asked for and received the council's support to bring a proposal to the Clatskanie Park and
Recreation District to create a dog park, using the district-owned multiple-use park, off NE 5th Street. The proposed park would have separate
areas for small and large dogs, a chainlink fence, a "poop bag" station and access to water.
Mayor Pohl reported on a number of meetings and groups at which she had represented the city during the summer.
She asked for the council's approval in re-appointing Dave Smith to the Clatskanie Planning Commission, which was granted.
Mayor Pohl also noted that Clatskanie K9 Officer Ike and Officer Joe Harrison were featured in the August edition of the
League of Oregon Cities magazine.
Big Band Concert Set Monday in Park
Returning for their annual Labor Day concert, the North Coast Big Band will perform Monday, Sept. 1, from 2-4 p.m. in
the Clatskanie City Park.
Kicking off the Clatskanie Arts Commission's (CAC) 2008-09 performing arts season, the free concert is sponsored by
the Clatskanie Park and Recreation District.
Refreshments will be available from 1-4 p.m., as a CAC fundraiser.
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