On March 27, 2004, the City will hold a public auction beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Community Hall, 1850 Second Street, Columbia City, to dispose of used and unclaimed property, as well as a number of new and unused items. Here is a list of the items to be auctioned:

7500 watt vertical shaft generator - Robin engine with a wheel kit - minimum bid $1,500.00.

Maytag Model L40-C garbage disposal - minimum bid $40.00.

Large plush Snoopy - minimum bid $20.00.

Framed garden picture - minimum bid $50.00.

Reconnective healing session from Belleza Day Spa - minimum bid $15.00.

Bleaching starter kit and tray from Patients 1st Dentistry - minimum bid $70.00.

Spay/neuter at Midway Veterinary Hospital - minimum bid $25.00.

One hour tutoring at Columbia Learning Center - minimum bid $7.00.

Complimentary initiation fee at Columbia City Sports and Recreation Center - minimum bid $10.00.

Beauty gift pack (includes several Grund hair products) - minimum bid $30.00.

Pottery jardinier (vase) - minimum bid $25.00.

Concrete garden statuary. No minimum bid.

Various bicycles - Glacier, Huffy, Shin, Univega, Kent, Magna, Super Star, Pacific, Free Spirit, Murray, etc. No minimum bid.

Air jackhammer. No minimum bid.

Homelite Model DM50 cutoff saw (12") gasoline powered - minimum bid $100.00.

IT'S TIME TO MOW WEEDS AND GRASSES

Between April 15^th and September 30^th of any year, weeds and grass cannot exceed 10 inches in height within the City limits. Additionally, blackberry bushes cannot extend across property lines or into the City’s rights-of-way, including streets, alleys and sidewalks. Property owners or other persons in charge of the property must keep weeds, grass and other noxious growth, such as poison oak, cut and maintained to prevent them from becoming unsightly and a fire hazard, and to prevent them from maturing and going to seed. Violators can be cited into Municipal Court. Additionally, the City may abate the nuisance and lien the property for the costs. To report violations, please contact City Hall.

The Columbia City Street Committee is in need of additional members. If you are interested in serving on this Committee, please contact City Hall to obtain an application to serve.

A group of volunteers is working on a quilt to raffle during the 2004 Columbia City Celebration. All of the proceeds from the raffle go towards staffing the Community Library. The quilt is now being quilted and is in a quilting frame at City Hall. If you are a quilter and would like to help, please call or stop by City Hall.

THANK YOU

We'd like to extend a very special thank you to:

Bernadette Albertine, Phyllis Moss, Phyllis Rowley, Helen Sandstrom and Amy West for helping with newsletters and utility bills in January.

New language regarding pedestrian crossing laws states that a motorist must stop for a pedestrian when the pedestrian is in the motorist's traffic lane and/or when the pedestrian is in a lane adjacent to the motorist.

PLEASE.....Pick up after your dog! It's the law!

Library hours: Monday and Wednesday - 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Phone: 503-366-7588

Location: 2000 Second Street

Don't miss the Bedtime Story - March 1 at 7:00 p.m. honoring Dr. Seuss' birthday!

The Library will be closed during Spring Break - March 22 and March 24.

large print books:  A citizen recently made a very generous donation of many large print books to the Library. Stop by and check out these large print books by best selling authors!

Be a Friend of the Library:  The Friends of the Columbia City Community Library are interested in expanding their membership. In addition, they are also in need of a Vice President and Secretary. The Friends meet monthly in the Library, and their next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand

Who's Looking Out for You? by Bill O'Reilly

A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy by Dave Piezer

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell

Prey and Timeline by Michael Crichton

Visions of Sugarplums by Janet Evanovich

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton

Bleachers, The Runaway Jury, Skipping Christmas and The King of Torts by John Grisham

Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Someone to Watch over Me by Judith McNaught

Big Bad Wolf and Four Blind Mice by James Patterson

Key of Knowledge, Key of Light and Key of Valor by Nora Roberts

Answered Prayers by Danielle Steel

The City Council recently adopted new water rates, effective February 26th, which will be reflected on your next billing. For a residential customer within the City limits, the monthly minimum charge increased by $5.00, and usage fees were unchanged, as shown in the following table:

The rates for commercial, industrial, and outside City water users increased in a similar manner. Additional information about these other rates may be obtained by calling City Hall.

The additional revenue generated from the increase will be used to repay a low interest (1%) loan. The City received the loan in the amount of $2,990,500 to construct a 1.0 million gallon water reservoir and to develop production wells. The reservoir project is substantially complete, and the well project is still underway.

The first debt payment on this 30-year loan is due in December 2004. Initially the City plans to use a combination of system development charge revenues and water usage revenues to make the debt payments. In order to retain the low interest rate and make future loan payments solely from water usage revenues, additional annual increases will be necessary. The low interest rate will save nearly $2 million during the loan payback period.

BICYCLE HELMETS AVAILABLE

Thanks to a generous donation by the Columbia County Chapter of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Columbia City Police Department 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 in Columbia City. Bring your child by City Hall to be fitted for a free helmet, or contact City Hall by calling (503) 397-4010 to obtain additional information. 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.

Bob Atwood has been appointed to the Columbia City Planning Commission. We'd like to thank Bob for his interest in serving in this capacity, and we welcome him to the Planning Commission.

The Parks Committee is currently considering development options for a very small neighborhood park located at the corner of Ninth and "K" Streets. Residents living within close proximity to the park will receive a survey asking them for input on the type of improvements they would prefer to see in the park. In addition, citizens are invited to share their ideas about the development of the park during the next Parks Committee Meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, March 29, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.

A volunteer work party will held in Jim Bundy Memorial Park on Saturday, March 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will install a park sign, plant trees, and remove woody debris and blackberry bushes.

The grassy area in Datis Park will be smoothed out and reseeded in the near future. Azaleas and rhododendrons will be planted in Datis Park during the Riverside Cleanup Event, which is scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2004.

Anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. However, some organic wastes should not be composted at home.

• Grass clippings
• Twigs
• Leaves
• Annual weeds
• Flowers
• Vegetable scraps
• Old plants
• Coffee filters and
• Old potting soil
• Tea bags

• Diseased plants
• Dead animals
• Weeds with seeds
• Bread and grains
• Invasive weeds like quack grass and morning glory
• Meat or fish parts
• Cheese, butter, milk
• Grease, cooking oil
• Pet feces or oily foods

Is your house in need of repairs? Low-income homeowners may 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.

01/25/04 Assisted Sheriff on traffic stop near Fourth and "L" Streets.

01/27/04 Littering complaint on Fifth Street.

01/27/04 Animal at large near Sixth and "K" Streets.

01/28/04 Complaint of possible drug house. On-going investigation.

01/28/04 Complaint of vehicle blocking alley on Second Place.

01/29/04 Noise complaint on Penn Street.

01/30/04 Report of theft of pop cans from Fifth Street.

01/30/04 Assisted railroad with non-functioning crossing arms.

01/30/04 Suspicious person on bicycle near the 1800 block of Second Street.

01/30/04 Welfare check near Highway 30 and "E" Street.

01/31/04 Traffic hazard near MP 30 on Highway 30.

02/01/04 Assisted St. Helens Police with arrest near Highway 30 and "A" Street.

02/02/04 Dog complaint. Unable to locate.

02/03/04 Complaint of vehicle blocking road at Ninth and "K" Streets. Moved by owner.

02/03/04 Complaint of speeding on "L" Street near Fourth Street.

02/03/04 Complaint of illegal u-turns near Second and "I" Streets.

02/03/04 Vehicle blocking road on Fourth Street. Moved by owner.

02/03/04 Assisted citizen on a theft near Sixth and James Streets.

02/03/04 Assisted multiple agencies in foot pursuit.

02/07/04 Two suspicious males contacted for soliciting.

02/08/04 Juvenile problem behind Grade School.

02/08/04 Assault IV Domestic reported near the 1600 block of Sixth Street.

02/08/04 Dog complaint in the 300 block of Pacific Street.

02/09/04 Excessive noise complaint from a yellow motorcycle north of the Mini Mart.

02/10/04 Complaint of animal at large.

02/11/04 Complaints from residents regarding running stop sign near Second and "I" Streets.

02/11/04 Vehicle towed and impounded for driving while suspended.

02/12/04 Attempt to locate a kidnap suspect.

02/12/04 Assisted railroad with damaged crossing arms.

02/13/04 Complaint of speeding on Highway near Trestle Beach.

02/14/04 Suspicious teens contacted on Grade School property.

02/16/04 Citizen complaint of two dogs at large.

02/18/04 Theft of tools taken from vehicle in 1800 block of Second Street.

02/20/04 Three adult males contacted on bike path.

02/22/04 Dog complaint near the 3000 block of Sixth Street

02/24/04 Complaint of excessive noise near the 3000 block of Tahoma Street.

02/24/04 Dog at large complaint near the 500 block of "A" Street.

MONTHLY MEETING AND EVENT CALENDAR - MARCH 2004

March 4 - 7:30 p.m. - City Council Meeting at City Hall

March 9  -7:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall cancelled

March 11 - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

March 13 - 9:00 a.m. - Work Party in Jim Bundy Memorial Park

March 15 - 7:00 p.m. - Friends of the Library Meeting at the Library

March 18 - 7:30 p.m. - City Council Meeting at City Hall

March 25 - 7:30 p.m. - Municipal Court at City Hall

March 27 - 10:00 a.m. - Public Auction at Community Hall

March 29 - 7:00 p.m. - Parks Committee Meeting at City Hall

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