There were a total of 203 voters and of those 203 on the questions below they said:
Yes To An Initiative - 173(85%)
No To An Initiative - 22 (10%)
Yes To LNG - 33 (16%)
No To LNG -154 (75%)
Yes To Look At
Other Industry -155(76%)
No To Look At
Other Industry - 21(10%)
Split every hair, grasp every straw to spin this....uh...Straw Poll as you wish but the numbers are just as you see them.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The Port: An Exciting Prospect In "Short Sea Shipping"
"Short Sea Shipping"Small, shallow draft coastal container ships and barges to blend with rail and road systems to move freight to waterborne transfer points way upriver?
That's a huge piece of the maritime commerce pie for us down here.
"Short Sea Shipping", that's what it's called and The Port of Astoria has just been presentented with another opportunity to pull its ass up out of "The Doldrums" it has put itself in and make a sound contribution to this community and its future in The Lower Columbia River's maritime commerce and I think we are perfectly suited to handle this well and we must not forget that these shippers, with ships getting massively bigger and with time of the essence, I believe, will threaten future upriver commerce because of time and will be more prone to patronize port systems that offer easy in and out and bypass us altogether without a solution.
A Lower Columbia Super Port? Well, it's a definite talking point and whether you know it or not, to my understanding, that think is already on paper and at one time slated for legislation.
My two questions...
* What's the deal with the lease-back and residual revenue of the vessels?
*How many Jobs?
The article below explains the overall scope and potential this opportunity offers us and hopefully we will seek the resources to ensure this deal isn't bungled
Read This Article From Professional Mariner On "Short Sea Shipping"
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Columbia River Business Alliance Presents: Residential Basics Of Going Solar!
Columbia River Business Alliance is helping to sponsor this great (and free) solar workshop.
Please register early so you get a seat.
Peter Huhtala, Executive Director
Columbia River Business Alliance
PO Box 682
Astoria, Oregon 97103
Visit Columbia River Business Alliance
503 468-8038
"The future of the Columbia River estuary is our business."
Residential Basics of Going Solar - 10/1/09
AstoriaThurs, Oct 1 (6:00 - 7:00pm)
This free, one hour workshop covers the basics of why solar is a smart choice for Oregon homeowners.
We will show you:
* How well solar works in Oregon's climate
* Available solar technologies
* Financial incentives and tax credits
* How to choose a contractor
Residential tax credits and incentives often pay for up to 80% of the cost!
Participants will come away with basic knowledge about solar energy systems and will be prepared for any of our 3 hour workshops, or to do more focused research on their own and start working with a contractor.
Click Here For More Information And To Register
Please register early so you get a seat.
Peter Huhtala, Executive Director
Columbia River Business Alliance
PO Box 682
Astoria, Oregon 97103
Visit Columbia River Business Alliance
503 468-8038
"The future of the Columbia River estuary is our business."
Residential Basics of Going Solar - 10/1/09
AstoriaThurs, Oct 1 (6:00 - 7:00pm)
This free, one hour workshop covers the basics of why solar is a smart choice for Oregon homeowners.
We will show you:
* How well solar works in Oregon's climate
* Available solar technologies
* Financial incentives and tax credits
* How to choose a contractor
Residential tax credits and incentives often pay for up to 80% of the cost!
Participants will come away with basic knowledge about solar energy systems and will be prepared for any of our 3 hour workshops, or to do more focused research on their own and start working with a contractor.
Click Here For More Information And To Register
Remember Measure 4-131? You Know, The Pipeline Issue The Anti-LNG Element Brainwashed The Voters In Clatsop County to Support And Vote "NO" 2 to 1?
GRP: Well, could it be this is it coming at us again all wrapped in a new package to get that Bradwood LNG, 36" Diameter High Pressure Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline through?
High Pressure Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines through Wetlands? Good Lord! If what I'm reading on this is anywhere near correct, the issue over OPR zoning and NG Pipelines was mere childs play compared to what this circus is going to be.
Can't wait to see how this one has been rewritten to attempt to justify the changing of the Zoning and County Comprehensive Plan to appease Texas based Energy Speculator, Northern Star Natural Gas.
Excerpt from a March, 2009 Daily astorian Article:"The J & S Reserve property is a 121-acre tract made up of 47 acres zoned residential agriculture-1 and 74.24 acres zoned OPR. The landowner is requesting a change that would cut down the RA-1 zone to 21 acres and change the remaining 100 acres to lake and wetland. The zone change would reduce the number of possible dwellings on the tract from 27 to 14.VandenHeuvel said the change from OPR to LW wouldn't be necessary unless Bradwood's natural gas transmission pipeline was part of the plan."Lake and wetland is almost identical to OPR except for one important change," said VandenHeuvel. "Pipelines are allowed in the lakes and wetland zoning and not allowed in the OPR. That change is absolutely unnecessary unless you are to run a pipeline through there. There's no way this is not related to the LNG pipeline."
Press Release from Clatsop County
ZONE CHANGE HEARING POSTPONED
A public hearing scheduled to be held before the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 26 on a proposed zone change has been postponed.
The land-use application, from Mark Barnes on behalf of J & S Reserve, seeks to re-zone 121.59 acres of property in Westport. The applicant wants to change the current zoning mix from 47.35 acres Residential-Agriculture-1 and 74.24 acres Open Space Parks and Recreation to 21.85 acres Residential Agriculture-1 and 99.74 acres Lake and Wetlands. The application also includes an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 14 – Urbanization.
No new date has been set for the hearing.
High Pressure Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines through Wetlands? Good Lord! If what I'm reading on this is anywhere near correct, the issue over OPR zoning and NG Pipelines was mere childs play compared to what this circus is going to be.
Can't wait to see how this one has been rewritten to attempt to justify the changing of the Zoning and County Comprehensive Plan to appease Texas based Energy Speculator, Northern Star Natural Gas.
Excerpt from a March, 2009 Daily astorian Article:"The J & S Reserve property is a 121-acre tract made up of 47 acres zoned residential agriculture-1 and 74.24 acres zoned OPR. The landowner is requesting a change that would cut down the RA-1 zone to 21 acres and change the remaining 100 acres to lake and wetland. The zone change would reduce the number of possible dwellings on the tract from 27 to 14.VandenHeuvel said the change from OPR to LW wouldn't be necessary unless Bradwood's natural gas transmission pipeline was part of the plan."Lake and wetland is almost identical to OPR except for one important change," said VandenHeuvel. "Pipelines are allowed in the lakes and wetland zoning and not allowed in the OPR. That change is absolutely unnecessary unless you are to run a pipeline through there. There's no way this is not related to the LNG pipeline."
Press Release from Clatsop County
ZONE CHANGE HEARING POSTPONED
A public hearing scheduled to be held before the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 26 on a proposed zone change has been postponed.
The land-use application, from Mark Barnes on behalf of J & S Reserve, seeks to re-zone 121.59 acres of property in Westport. The applicant wants to change the current zoning mix from 47.35 acres Residential-Agriculture-1 and 74.24 acres Open Space Parks and Recreation to 21.85 acres Residential Agriculture-1 and 99.74 acres Lake and Wetlands. The application also includes an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 14 – Urbanization.
No new date has been set for the hearing.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Northwest Regional ESD Super Attempts To Clarify The Ethics Investigation And Recall Of Clatsop Commissioner, Ann Samuelson From Jewel School Board
August 19, 2009
From Jim Mabbott, N.W. Regional ESD Superintendent
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the recent recall effort regarding Clatsop County Commissioner Ann Samuelson and the “ethics investigation ” regarding her service as a Jewell School District Board member.
During her time on the Jewell Board, Ann exceeded the Oregon School Board Association code of conduct for Board members, worked tirelessly on behalf of students, staff, and community members, and had absolutely no ethics violations attached to her record.
Ann has also served on the Board of Northwest Regional Education Service District since July 1, 2007.
As you may know, over a year ago, a few Jewell School District citizens closely associated with John Seeley (former Superintendent of Jewell School District and who recently had his teaching license revoked by Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission, as stated in local newspapers) filed an ethics complaint against all Jewell School District Board members (current and several former).
The ethics commission found there was no merit to those complaints other than a small notation regarding a process that has been common in the great majority of school districts in Oregon: school districts commonly meet in Executive Session to discuss the need for an immediate temporary Superintendent when the current Superintendent leaves without notice, or as in this case, is put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation (I served as one of the interim Superintendents for no compensation during that time).
It is my opinion, and the opinion of the District’s attorney, that this process is consistent with Executive Session law (ORS 192.660). In fact, this was a very rare situation in that the Ethics Commission did not penalize the district in any way.
Ann Samuelson has done nothing wrong in her role as a Jewell School District Board member or as a Clatsop County Commissioner.
You may disagree with her opinions, but is that a reason for Oregonians to recall our elected officials? If so, I suspect we wouldn’t have any!
Ann Samuelson:"Just time for a short explaination of the jewell recall, many folks that signed the orginal petition on Karl and I didn't really know what they were signing, I've talked with a number of them since. Once again lies of the followers of the superintendent,(John Seeley has since met all the requirements and restrictions of his court imposed probation) who is now on probabation for mistreating his daughter, and some anti lnger's such as Auerbach signed the petition."
From Jim Mabbott, N.W. Regional ESD Superintendent
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the recent recall effort regarding Clatsop County Commissioner Ann Samuelson and the “ethics investigation ” regarding her service as a Jewell School District Board member.
During her time on the Jewell Board, Ann exceeded the Oregon School Board Association code of conduct for Board members, worked tirelessly on behalf of students, staff, and community members, and had absolutely no ethics violations attached to her record.
Ann has also served on the Board of Northwest Regional Education Service District since July 1, 2007.
As you may know, over a year ago, a few Jewell School District citizens closely associated with John Seeley (former Superintendent of Jewell School District and who recently had his teaching license revoked by Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission, as stated in local newspapers) filed an ethics complaint against all Jewell School District Board members (current and several former).
The ethics commission found there was no merit to those complaints other than a small notation regarding a process that has been common in the great majority of school districts in Oregon: school districts commonly meet in Executive Session to discuss the need for an immediate temporary Superintendent when the current Superintendent leaves without notice, or as in this case, is put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation (I served as one of the interim Superintendents for no compensation during that time).
It is my opinion, and the opinion of the District’s attorney, that this process is consistent with Executive Session law (ORS 192.660). In fact, this was a very rare situation in that the Ethics Commission did not penalize the district in any way.
Ann Samuelson has done nothing wrong in her role as a Jewell School District Board member or as a Clatsop County Commissioner.
You may disagree with her opinions, but is that a reason for Oregonians to recall our elected officials? If so, I suspect we wouldn’t have any!
Ann Samuelson:"Just time for a short explaination of the jewell recall, many folks that signed the orginal petition on Karl and I didn't really know what they were signing, I've talked with a number of them since. Once again lies of the followers of the superintendent,(John Seeley has since met all the requirements and restrictions of his court imposed probation) who is now on probabation for mistreating his daughter, and some anti lnger's such as Auerbach signed the petition."
$8,000,000.00 In LNG Dollars And Where Does It Go? 66 Taxing Districts They Say?
How Your Clatsop County Tax Dollar Is Spent
Although you write your property tax check to Clatsop County, only some of the money goes to the county.
The county collects the taxes and then distributes the money to 66 taxing districts.
GRP: The question is...Who gets what? Anybody got a real answer to this puzzle? $8,000,000.00 to 66 taxing districts is about $122,000.00 apiece. $8,000,000.00 to 36,000 Clatsop County Citizens is about $222.00 per person. So, where's all this wealth attributable to Texas based Energy Speculator, Northern Star Natural Gas? Wonder if they can answer this riddle? Don't you think it's their responsibility to do so publicly?
For each $1 paid by the average Clatsop County taxpayer:
* 48.3 cents goes to school districts, including Clatsop Community College
* 22.3cents goes to the cities, including urban renewal districts
* 14.7 cents goes to recreation, transportation, water and other districts
* 2.6 cents goes to rural fire protection districts
Just 12.1 cents of each average tax dollar goes to the county government.
Of that 12.1 cents:
* 4.6 cents helps fund public safety and justice programs, such as sheriff's patrols, the jail, district attorney's office and juvenile department;
* 2.2 cents goes toward public service programs such as assessment and taxation, elections and records, surveyor, land-use planning and development, animal control, parks and some public health programs;
* 2 cents goes to miscellaneous services as data systems services, finance, building maintenance and veterans services;
* 1.5 cents is set aside as contingency for unforeseen expenses or revenue shortfalls;
* 0.9 cent goes for administration such as county administration, human resources, legal counsel and board of commissioners;
* 0.9 cent goes for the fair grounds special levy approved by the voters for enchanced operations and facility improvements.
Property taxes provide about one-third of the county's funding for public services. The rest comes from state and federal funds, fees for service, timber, carryover from the previous year's budget and other sources.
Although you write your property tax check to Clatsop County, only some of the money goes to the county.
The county collects the taxes and then distributes the money to 66 taxing districts.
GRP: The question is...Who gets what? Anybody got a real answer to this puzzle? $8,000,000.00 to 66 taxing districts is about $122,000.00 apiece. $8,000,000.00 to 36,000 Clatsop County Citizens is about $222.00 per person. So, where's all this wealth attributable to Texas based Energy Speculator, Northern Star Natural Gas? Wonder if they can answer this riddle? Don't you think it's their responsibility to do so publicly?
For each $1 paid by the average Clatsop County taxpayer:
* 48.3 cents goes to school districts, including Clatsop Community College
* 22.3cents goes to the cities, including urban renewal districts
* 14.7 cents goes to recreation, transportation, water and other districts
* 2.6 cents goes to rural fire protection districts
Just 12.1 cents of each average tax dollar goes to the county government.
Of that 12.1 cents:
* 4.6 cents helps fund public safety and justice programs, such as sheriff's patrols, the jail, district attorney's office and juvenile department;
* 2.2 cents goes toward public service programs such as assessment and taxation, elections and records, surveyor, land-use planning and development, animal control, parks and some public health programs;
* 2 cents goes to miscellaneous services as data systems services, finance, building maintenance and veterans services;
* 1.5 cents is set aside as contingency for unforeseen expenses or revenue shortfalls;
* 0.9 cent goes for administration such as county administration, human resources, legal counsel and board of commissioners;
* 0.9 cent goes for the fair grounds special levy approved by the voters for enchanced operations and facility improvements.
Property taxes provide about one-third of the county's funding for public services. The rest comes from state and federal funds, fees for service, timber, carryover from the previous year's budget and other sources.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
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