Astoria DUII Prosecutions - Judge Norblad Discloses His Decision

Circuit Judge, Albin Norblad, on May 22, 2012, in a letter to Assistant Attorney General, Thomas Castle disclosed his decision on the issue of DUII Prosecutions in Astoria Muncipal Court and this is his statement......"It is this court's opinion the distrisct attorney controls and directs prosecutions of DUII's in all the courts in his county and in this case, The City of Astoria. This would include all DUII's filed under state statute or city ordinance. Further, it is the court's opinion that the district attorney , under ORS 221.339(5) can allow prosecutions be handled by the city attorney."

Read Judge Albin Norblad's Full Decision Document

Memorial Day - It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

New County Manager Candidate Added To List Of Finalists After Ed Green Takes Another Job.

Friday, May 25, 2012

A new candidate has been added to the list of Clatsop County Manager finalists scheduled to be
interviewed May 30.

Scott Somers was named a finalist following word that another finalist, Ed Green, has accepted a
job with another organization.

Somers will join Gene Green, Michael McNees, Tom Mitchell, Travis Myren and James Payne on the finalist list.

All six candidates will be the guests at a public meet-and-greet
reception Tuesday, May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 204 West
Marine Drive, Astoria.

Citizens will be able to meet one-on-one with the applicants and ask them questions.
On Wednesday, May 30 the candidates will undergo interviews by three panels made up of the county commissioners, senior county staff and labor representatives, and local
stakeholders including representatives from cities, Clatsop Community College
and the Astoria/Warrenton Chamber of Commerce.

The county commissioners hope to make a final selection by early June.

Scott Somers is city manager of Reedsport, a job he has held since 2009. Prior to that he was the
assistant city administrator of Savage, Minnesota, from 2006 to 2009, and also
served as assistant to the city manager in White Bear Lake, Minnesota for two
years. He has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Arizona State University
and Master of Public Administration from the University of Arizona.

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

County Offers 30 Land Parcels At Auction June 19, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Clatsop County will offer 30 parcels of land at a public auction Tuesday, June 19.

The auction will be held in the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Bidder registration begins at 9 a.m. The auction will start at 10 a.m. sharp.

Parcels offered are in Astoria, Warrenton, Elsie, Westport, as well as two on a hillside off Highway 202 in the Williamsport area southeast of Astoria.

Minimum bids range from $50 to $45,000. All properties will be sold as-is and for CASH. Payments are due in full by 5 p.m. the day of the auction, except for eight parcels which have a non-refundable deposit of 10 percent of the minimum bid due by 5 p.m. on day of sale, closing to take place on or before 30 days from the date of sale (July 18).

Auction packets are available for $9.50 at the Clatsop County Assessment & Taxation office. For more information, contact Property Management Specialist Sirpa Duoos at 820 Exchange St., Suite 230, Astoria or call (503) 325-8674.

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

Highlights Of May 23, 2012 CCBofC Meeting

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners Highlights
Wednesday, May 23,
2012 regular meeting

Official minutes
available once approved by board

Ocean planning element adopted

The board adopted
amendments adding a Goal 19-Ocean Resources element to the county’s
comprehensive land-use plan. The amendments, which also updated related policies
under state land-use goals 5, 8, 9, 13, 17 and 18, provides the county a
framework for reviewing applications for development projects, including
wave-energy installations, within the territorial sea three miles off the
coast.

Wauna plan approved

The board held the
first reading of Ordinance 12-05, establishing a financing plan for payment of a
$2.5 million refund to the Georgia-Pacific corporation for its Wauna pulp and
paper mill. The payment, required under the negotiated settlement of a tax
appeal case filed by G-P, will be paid by all 60 taxing districts in Clatsop
County, and will be covered by 10-year revenue bonds.
A public hearing and
second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for June 13.

Service contract approved

The board approved a
contract with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare to provide state-funded services to
the developmentally disabled in Clatsop County. Clatsop Behavioral takes over
the contract from Columbia Community Mental Health of St. Helens, which has
provided the services from 2006 but which informed the county in March that it
would end its contract this year.
The program provides
vocational and residential services to approximately 180 individuals in Clatsop
County.

Homeless plan endorsed

The board voted
unanimously to endorse the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. The document,
which identifies causes of homelessness, affected populations, housing needs and
available resources and opportunities, is the product of the Clatsop Homeless
Coalition, a partnership of multiple agencies and stakeholders formed in 2011 by
Clatsop Community Action.

Rezone ordinance read

The board held the
first reading of Ordinance 11-04, a consolidated zone change, partition and
density transfer application from Michael Benesch, Warrenton Fiber Co. and Waldo
Veelle. The application, covering 13 acres of property on Dolphin Road near
Warrenton, was originally reviewed by the board in 2011, but was returned to the
Planning Division after staff determined there were inadequate findings of
fact.
A public hearing and
second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for June 13.

Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000 ext. 1312

County Manager Duane Cole Honored At Retirement Reception!

PHOTO CAPTION: Clatsop County Manager Duane Cole reads the inscription on the stock of a BB gun presented to him by Sheriff Tom Bergin on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office at Wednesday’s reception marking Cole’s retirement.

Clatsop County employees and community members bid farewell to County Manager Duane Cole at a reception Wednesday at the Judge Guy Boyington Building in Astoria.

“Duane has truly left Clatsop County a better place,” Board of Commissioners Chair Peter Huhtala told the assembled guests. “We’ve been honored to work with you.”

Cole is retiring effective May 31 following 35 years as a public administrator with cities and counties in Oregon, Washington and California. He joined Clatsop County in 2009.

Cole expressed his appreciation for the county staff and department heads. “I’m always inspired by this team, and how this positive culture is so much a part of us here.”

A native of Milton-Freewater, Cole began his career at the age of 23 when he was hired as city administrator of Pilot Rock, Ore. He subsequently worked in Pendleton, Susanville, Calif., Newberg and Walla Walla, Wash.

During his tenure, Clatsop County completed an ambitious strategic plan charting dozens of capital and planning projects; led a collaborative effort on a fix for the chronic flooding problem on Highway 101 south of Seaside; sold the former Darigold Building in Astoria to Coastal Family Health Center; completed an update of the North Coast Business Park master plan; and adopted a new development review process for the county’s territorial sea.

As one of his last duties for the county, Cole will be available May 30 to speak with the six finalists for the county manager position when they travel to Astoria for interviews.

“There’s something really special going on in this municipal corporation that you don’t find everywhere, and I’ll be sharing that with the finalists next week,” he said.

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622

CCBofC Holds Executive Session To Discuss Prospective County Manager Candidates

Special Meeting
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
800 Exchange St. Suite 430, Astoria
Executive Session: 9:00 am
1) To consider the employment of a public officer, employee or individual agent per ORS
192.660(1)(a)
Complete copies of the current Board of Commissioners meeting agenda packets can be viewed at:
Astoria Public Library - Seaside Public Library - Board of Commissioners Office
Agenda packets also available online at www.co.clatsop.or.us
This meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 325-1000 if you require special
accommodations to participate in this meeting.

Clatsop County Juvenile Department Presents Free Suicide Intervention rogram

Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Clatsop County Juvenile Department is sponsoring a free suicide intervention training program Thursday, May 24 in Astoria.

“Question Persuade Refer” is a simple educational program that teaches ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency. It is intended to give participants the skills to help a person at risk of suicide get the help that person needs.

The program will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Clatsop Community College Columbia Room. There is no charge.

For more information and to register, call Teresa Crouter or Laura Parker at (503) 325-8601

Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622