APRIL 2005

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 right-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 City of Columbia City will accept sealed bids on a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice, 4 door, V8, automatic, A/C, AM/FM radio, power windows & door locks, tilt wheel with 77,436 miles. The minimum bid price is $1,000.00. The vehicle may be viewed by appointment – please call (503) 397-4010. Sealed bids must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18^th, 2005. Send or deliver sealed bids to: City of Columbia City, SEALED BID, 1840 Second Street, PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018.

We are currently accepting applications to serve on the Budget Committee. To qualify for service, a person must be entitled to vote within Columbia City. Applications may be obtained by contacting City Hall. The Budget Committee will be meeting in May to review the City's proposed budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

The next biannual burn period will begin on Saturday, April 2^nd, and end on Sunday, April 17^th. The burn period is for yard debris only, and burn barrels are prohibited. Yard debris is lawn clippings, leaves, brush, trimmings/prunings, sawdust and wood scraps. It is not dirt/gravel, paper/plastic, metal, rocks/bricks, sod, or food waste.

A burn permit is not required, but it must be a designated burn day during the daylight hours. Call (503) 397-4800 for burn day information.

You must follow these basic rules for proper open burning:

You must have a garden hose, or a shovel and a 5-gallon bucket of water at all times, and the fire must NOT be left unattended at any time until out.

Yard and garden trimmings must be cut and piled no larger than 6 feet wide by 4 feet high.

The ground must be cleared not less than 10 feet around the burning area. There must be a separation of 50 feet between the burn pile and any structure, trees, vehicle or property line if the burn pile is greater than 3 feet in diameter; and a 25 foot separation if the burn pile is less than 3 feet in diameter.

The fire must not adversely affect neighbors (smoke).

Sunday, April 3^rd begins daylight-saving time, so don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour.

Saturday, April 30^th in the Community Hall

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

LARGE PRINT editions:

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. This novel has stolen the hearts of many readers, frequently chosen for book clubs and passed along to friends.

Sea Glass by Anita Shreve, a novel about marriage and love.

Guideposts, a monthly magazine publication for inspirational reading.

NONFICTION from the bestsellers’ list:

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcome Galdwell. The author set out to describe how ideas, products, messages, and behaviors travel through culture.

2005 NEWBERY MEDAL WINNERS:

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata. This year’s gold medal winner chronicles the close friendship between two Japanese-American sisters growing up in rural Georgia during the late 1950’s.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. A twelve-year-old boy moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards’ families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment.

2005 CALDECOTT WINNERS - PICTURE BOOKS:

The Caldecott Medal award is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This year's gold medal winner, Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, and the other 2005 medal winners area available.

A special cuddly story will be read on Monday, April 4^th at 7:00 p.m.

Monday & Wednesday - 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In the March Newsletter a mistake was made in reference to the paved parking lot we plan to develop in Bundy Memorial Park. Entrance to the new parking area will be off of the "C" Street cul-de-sac, not "D" Street. We apologize for the confusion.

• Norm Jones for mowing Datis Park.

• Bernie Albertine, Alice Barchus, Nell Harrison, Sheila Jackson, Barbara Jones, Helen Sandstrom and Amy West for helping with the March utility bills and newsletter.

• Marian Calnon for continuing to care for the flowerbeds at City Hall.

• Nell Harrison and Marian Calnon for removing old plastic and morning glories from Harvard Park.

• Jim Shinkle for refinishing a picnic table for Harvard Park.

• Bernard Carlton, Jim Shinkle, Nell Harrison and Marian Calnon for their continued efforts in Jim Bundy Memorial Park.

02/04/05 Complaint of a violation of City ordinance on Sixth Street.

02/04/05 Abandonment of a cat - Metlako Way.

02/04/05 Barking dog complaint. No other information provided.

02/04/05 Possible intoxicated driver reported traveling southbound on Highway 30.

02/07/05 Vehicle blocking street in 1800 block of Second Street.

02/08/05 Parking complaint; vehicle parked in front of fire hydrant. Owner advised.

02/10/05 Alarm reported in area of 1800 block of Fourth Street.

02/11/05 Agency assist to confirm Columbia City warrant of arrest for Gresham Police.

02/12/05 Vandalism report taken in the 1700 block of Second Street.

02/14/05 Loose dog complaint investigated. 02/14/05 Abandoned vehicle checked in the area of Highway 30 and "E" Street.

02/14/05 Loose dog reported in area of Fifth Street and Skookum Court. Unable to locate on arrival.

02/16/05 Suspicious person checked okay in area of Highway 30 and "L" Street.

02/16/05 Traffic complaint of speeding dump trucks in area of Fourth Street near the bike path.

Do you enjoy our community events, National holidays, food and fun? If the answer is yes, it’s time to help support "The St. Helens Fireworks Fund". Here are two ways to contribute:

May 12^th, 2005 - Spaghetti Feed Dinner

Kozy Korner Restaurant 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

$7.00 per person

For tickets call Dana at 503-543-7232 or send check made out to St. Helens Fireworks Fund, PO Box 548, Scappoose, OR 97056

If you are unable to attend the spaghetti feed and/or if you would like to give an additional donation, you may send it to the above address. Be sure to make checks to St. Helens Fireworks Fund. Your Fireworks Fund Committee members look forward to presenting, for your enjoyment, another spectacular 4th of July fireworks display.

Now is the time to get rid of that unwanted junk - old metal appliances, scrap metal, yard debris, old furniture, solidified latex paint cans, etc. The annual Spring Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, April 30^th, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia City School. You can drop off your yard debris, trees, and limbs for free. Extra bulky waste or hard-to-dispose-of items, such as old furniture, lawn mowers, mattresses, etc. will be accepted for a fee. The following minimum charges apply to other items:

Please note the site does NOT accept the following items:

• No wet garbage
• No burn piles
• No painted wood
• No lumber or construction debris
• No sod
• No hazardous waste materials

Please keep the length of yard debris (limbs) to six feet and under. Wet garbage, lumber or construction debris, burn piles, building materials and hazardous household waste will NOT be accepted. Seniors needing assistance may call (503) 397-4010 prior to the day of the event.

This is a community event sponsored by the following organizations:

The City Council approved a water rate increase following a public hearing in March. The rate increase will take effect on March 26, 2005, and will be reflected on the April 26, 2005 billings.

For a residential customer within the City limits, the new rates include a $1.00 increase in the minimum monthly charge and a $0.25 increase in the volume charges, resulting in an average overall increase of 4.9%.

The rates for commercial, industrial and outside City water users received similar adjustments. For detailed information about other rate classes, please contact City Hall by calling (503) 397-4010.

AUTOMATIC BILL PAY IS AVAILABLE

Automatic bill payment pays your water and sewer utility bill through an automatic deduction from your bank account. You'll still receive your monthly utility bill showing your water usage and other charges, and the amount due will be deducted from your checking or savings account on the bill's due date (on or after the 10th of the month). Automatic bill payment is easy to set up, and even if you're on vacation or ill, you'll never have to worry about paying your bill again. To sign up for automatic bill payment, please obtain a form from City Hall.

April 5th 7:00 PM Parks Committee Meeting at City Hall

April 7th 7:30 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

April 14th 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

April 18th 7:00 PM Friends of the Library Meeting at the Library

April 21st 7:30 PM Regular City Council Meeting at City Hall

April 28th 7:30 PM Municipal Court at City Hall

April 30th 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Spring Clean-Up Event - school parking lot

April 30th 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friends of the Library Book Sale - Community Hall

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