NOVEMBER 2002 NEWSLETTER

CHRISTMAS SHIPS

The Columbia River Fleet of Christmas Ships will be in Columbia City on December 14^th. They plan to assemble in St. Helens between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., and Columbia City will be their first destination. The ships will return to the docks in St. Helens to spend the night and will leave Sunday for the trip up the Multnomah Channel. For a more complete schedule, visit the Christmas Ship Parade website at www.christmasships.org.

The City will provide a temporary yard debris disposal site for Columbia City residents to use this fall. The site will be located in the 1700 block of Third Street, behind the Public Works shop buildings. The disposal site area will be roped off and clearly marked. The site will be available for use by Columbia City residents only, and it will be open from November 15^th through November 24^th, 2002. Customers are asked to please abide by the following guidelines:

• Drop off yard debris only.

• Place yard debris within the marked area.

• Yard debris must be from within Columbia City limits.

• Donations will gladly be accepted. Please leave donations in the drop box at City Hall.

This site is being provided to our citizens under the honor system. Please be respectful of the rules to insure the availability of this site again in the future.

The Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for a 41-lot subdivision located between Park Drive and Tahoma Street and north of Pacific Street during their meeting in October. The approval included 17 conditions that must be met before final plat approval, one year from preliminary approval. Additional information about the project is available at City Hall.

During the November 12^th meeting the Planning Commission will begin their review of the first draft of the Unified Development Code.

Bernadette Albertine, Laura Flynn, Dorothy Greyell, Jane Munson, Phyllis Rowley, Amy West and Claudia Yoes helped with the October utility billings and newsletter.

Volunteers met on Saturday, October 19^th, to plant flowers and shrubs and continue the general cleanup of Bundy Memorial Park. The group planted shrubs donated by Judy Grimm and Gertie Sullenger, a plant donated by Mayor Cheryl Young, and flowers offered by Means Nursery to the City at a very reduced price. Work parties are held periodically in the park, and the Parks Committee welcomes the donation of trees, shrubs, and flowers for planting in the park area. If you are interested in participating in a work party, or you would like to make a donation, please contact the City Hall.

A park bench, in memory of Lucille Holz, has been installed in the riverside park at "H" Street and The Strand. The bench was purchased and installed by Lucille's children and grandchildren, and it has been placed near the bank overlooking the river where park visitors can enjoy watching ship traffic and other river activities. In keeping with a nautical theme, the Parks Committee is considering the installation of rope and post fencing, as well as naming the park after the Datis, which was one of the cargo ships built in the Sommarstrom Shipyard in Columbia City during World War I.

The Columbia City Police Department offers periodic home security checks for citizens who are away from home. To receive home security checks while you're out of town, please register with the Columbia City Police Department before you leave. Forms are available at the City Hall.

Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed Recycling Awareness Week 2002, beginning November 9^th through the 16^th.

Consumers can impact the environment in both positive and negative ways through the choices they make. Here are some questions to ask yourself before making a purchase:

• Do I really need this, or is there a more productive way to spend my money?

• Can I borrow, rent, or buy this used rather than new?

• Is this product made to last? Can I repair it if it breaks? Will the manufacturer take it back to use the parts when it can no longer be of use?

• Is this product recyclable when I can no longer use it?

• Is this product made locally; does it have excessive packaging; is the manufacture of it harmful to the environment?

In Oregon, there are approximately 139 curbside recycling programs, which serve 77% of the population. If we composted all of the organic material going to the landfill, we could save about 20% of our landfill space and help prevent the creation of the global warming gas methane.

In Oregon, we recycled 33%, composted 6%, landfilled 56% and incinerated 5% of our municipal solid waste in 2000. On average, each Oregonian helped recover about 2.8 pounds of valuable materials per day in 2000; however, Oregonians also disposed of 4.4 pounds of materials per day. Packaging materials make up 19% of the materials in Oregon's landfills and almost 52% of the materials in the landfills are unwanted products.

To learn more about what you can do to help the environment, visit the Oregon DEQ's website at www.deq.state.or.us.

BICYCLE HELMET PROGRAM

The Columbia City Police Department would like to remind young riders that State law requires persons under the age of 16 to wear protective headgear when operating or riding a bicycle. Thanks to a generous donation by the Columbia County Chapter of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Columbia City Police Department now has bicycle helmets available to young riders in need of a helmet. The helmets are free of charge to those that cannot afford to purchase their own helmet, and donations are always appreciated. To qualify for a free helmet, children must reside within Columbia City. Contact a Police Officer by calling (503) 397-4010 to obtain additional information.

Open burn season is once again in effect. Please remember that improper burning techniques can cause a great amount of discomfort for your neighbors. It also adds pollutants in the air, and it might result in the revocation of your burn permit. Please be respectful of your neighbor's quality of life and the environment and carefully follow these basic open burning rules:

• Have a current and proper permit.

• Have an approved burn barrel or pile.

• Ensure proper and safe distances.

• Attend to burn barrel or pile and have water available.

• Burn only appropriate material.

• Smoke must not adversely affect neighbors.

• Burn only on designated burn days.

• Burn during daylight hours.

What's new? Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton. The latest in the Kinsey Milhone Mysteries, often referred to as the Alphabet Series, is based on a true unsolved homicide that occurred in 1969. Her research for the book has inspired the police to reopen the case.

Angels in the Snow by Northwest author, Melody Carlson. A beautifully written tale about how a woman, seeking solace after the deaths of husband and son, retreats to a cabin in the Cascade Mountains and finds a place of healing. This story will "lift your spirits and renew your faith in happy endings."

A Name of Her Own by Northwest author, Jane Kirkpatrick. In this first book of her new historical fiction series, Tender Ties, Mary meets the Lewis and Clark interpreter, Sacagawea, who like her, is pregnant.

Get a start on your holiday gifts! Check out our collection of crafts, needlework patterns, and quilting.

Looking for a new recipe for your Thanksgiving feast? We have over 60 cookbooks, plus many magazines.

November 4^th - Bedtime Story, 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

November 9^th - Used Book Sale and Columbia City Bazaar, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

November 18^th - Friends of the Library - 7:00 p.m.

Reservoir project: During a recent Water Committee Meeting, members reviewed the pre-design report for the 1.0 million gallon reservoir project. The new concrete reservoir will be constructed at the City's existing reservoir site at the corner of Ninth and "K" Street. The old abandoned concrete reservoir currently at the site will be demolished and removed during the project, and the new reservoir will be constructed to the south of the existing steel tank. Survey work for the project will be completed in November.

Well drilling project: The City will begin drilling a test well in Harvard Park. The contract has been awarded to Schneider Well Drilling, and they are expected to begin drilling by December 2^nd.

HOUSING REHABILITATION LOANS AVAILABLE

Is your house in need of repairs? Low-income homeowners may now be eligible for no-interest, deferred payment loans! The funds may be used to complete the following housing rehabilitation projects:

• Update electrical, plumbing or sewer

• Replace or update heat source

• Replace roof, doors, windows

• Structural repairs

• Foundation repairs

• Energy saving measures

In order to qualify, you must be a homeowner, meet income and property guidelines, and live in the dwelling to be repaired. Loan funds are limited! Please contact the Community Action Team, Inc., at (503) 397-1675 for additional information and/or loan applications.

Columbia City will accept sealed bids for the purchase of the following items:

1983 Dodge pickup: 3/4 ton, 4-wheel drive. Odometer reading of 99,218 is believed to be original mileage. Minimum bid: $300.00.

1983 FMC street sweeper: Model 2-984, gasoline powered, with service manual and parts catalog. Currently has a bad transmission. No minimum bid price.

Tailgate sander: Deluxe Hi-Way Model DD Tailgate Spreader, manufactured by Highway Equipment Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. No minimum bid price.

Items will be sold to the highest bidder. Sealed bids must be received by the City by 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 2002. Sealed bids may be mailed or delivered to:

City Hall - SEALED BID

1840 Second Street

PO Box 189

Columbia City, OR 97018

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY FROM THEFT ACTIVITY

The Columbia City Police Department would like to remind citizens, particularly during the upcoming holiday season, to take extra precautions to protect their property from theft. Residents of Columbia City have experienced an unusually high amount of theft during the past few months - especially from unlocked cars, garages and sheds. Our Police Officers would like to remind residents to keep doors locked on their homes, outbuildings and vehicles to help prevent the loss of property due to theft. Suspicious activity should be reported to law enforcement authorities immediately by calling the Columbia City Police Department at (503) 397-4010 or the County Dispatch Center at (503) 397-1521.

09/01 - Vandalism report - 500 block of Lincoln Street.

09/02 - Suspicious vehicle checked okay in the 1800 block of Fourth Street.

09/02 - Traffic complaint in the 1700 block of Second Street.

09/02 - Noise complaint - 1600 block of Fourth Street.

09/03 - Checked on an abandoned vehicle near Highway 30 and milepost 30.

09/07 - Assisted St. Helens Police on a burglary in progress.

09/09 - Assisted St. Helens Police on a vehicle eluding officers. Vehicle stopped without incident, and the driver taken into custody.

09/09 - Outstanding warrant arrest near Highway 30 and "E" Street.

09/10 - Suspicious bag checked at the Mini Mart.

09/13 - Assisted St. Helens Police on a report of a fight.

09/13 - Alarm reported at Dixieline Lumber.

09/14 - Traffic problem in the 1600 block of Second Street.

09/14 - Traffic complaint on the bike path near Pacific Street.

09/16 - Theft reported in the 300 block of Lincoln Street.

09/19 - Suspicious persons selling speakers door-to-door without a permit. Warning issued.

09/19 - Missing person reported.

09/19 - Outstanding warrant arrest.

09/20 - Juvenile problem in the 2100 block of Third Street.

09/20 - Suspicious persons hitchhiking. Checked okay.

November 5^{th -} 7:00 p.m. - Parks Committee Meeting at City Hall

November 7^th - 7:30 p.m. - Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

November 11^th - CLOSED - City Hall will be closed in recognition of Veteran's Day

November 12^th - 7:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall

November 14^th - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

November 15^th through 24^{th -} Yard debris disposal site available behind Public Works Shop on Third Street

November 19^th - 7:00 p.m. - Water Committee Meeting at City Hall

November 21^{st -} 7:30 p.m. - Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

November 25^th - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

November 28^th - CLOSED - City Hall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day

November 29^th - CLOSED - City Hall will be closed the day after Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

Return to Columbia City home page