Q&A with Commission candidate Casey Garrett
Sea Lions Swim Team unveil new brand PAGE A10
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Chronicle & Chief The Columbia County
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | Columbia County, Oregon
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People across the United States were treated to nature’s greatest light show over the weekend, as the Northern Lights were visible across the state and large parts of the country.
New location needed for SHPD station WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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he City of St. Helens will be reviewing locations for its proposed police station again after the council decided to deny the land use application for a police station at the Kaster Road property at a council special session on May 9. City Planner Jacob Graichen characterized the decision as the
council deciding not to locate the station at the location based on potential shortcomings at the site. During the discussion before voting to deny the conditional use permit, Councilors Mark Gundersen and Jessica Chilton voiced that they felt the city had mitigated the concerns relating to the property but that going through the appeal process was not worth the time or the money. “I believe the site was mitigated
properly; I stand by that site,” Chilton said. “ But, I’m not willing to fight and waste our taxpayer’s money, our city’s money, to try to prove that. I feel like the city is being held hostage by a political agenda, and I’m not willing to go down that path.” Councilor Sundeen said he felt similarly and that getting the station built in a timely manner
See SHPD, Page A2
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A photo of where the police station was set to be constructed at the intersection of Kaster and Old Portland Road.
On the ballot in Columbia County WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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he 2024 Oregon Primary Election is next week, and there will be several ballot measures that could affect tax rates across the county. While we have heard from the candidates running for Position 1 and Position 3 for the Columbia County Commission, let’s take a look at the ballot measures that voters will be asked to approve or deny during this election cycle. Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District - Renewal of 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Operating Fund Columbia 911 Communications District is seeking a five-year renewal of its operating levy, as the current Operating Fund levy will end on June 30 of this year. The renewal would not create an additional tax burden, and the renewal measure is at the same tax rate approved by voters in 2019. The Operating Fund levy renewal would be at a rate of 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, added to the permanent rate of 25.54 cents per $1,000 assessed value. For a home assessed at $100,000, the annual combined cost of the permanent and requested renewal levy would be $54.54 per year. The five-year renewal would help support all ongoing functions of the 9-1-1 call center, such as 24-hour staffing, training, and coordination with local and state emergency operations. On average, the 9-1-1 call center answers about 213 calls daily and 77,899 emergency calls annually. The levy would help the call center maintain the current level of emergency services to citizens. Columbia County Jail Operating Tax Levy Voters will once again be asked to renew the Columbia County Jail Levy for four years to bridge the
remaining gap for the jail’s full operation through fiscal year 2028. Operational costs for the jail have “significantly increased,” more than doubling in the last four years, according to the county. The county said that challenges arose during the pandemic, including reduced bed rentals by the U.S. Marshals Service and increased food and medical expenses. The tax levy will contribute to constitutionally required care for inmates, including food, clothing, health care, corrections deputies, and other corrections staff, in addition to facility maintenance and deferred capital projects, such as a roof replacement. Passage of the measure would raise property owners’ taxes by $0.29, from $0.58 to $0.87 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A property owner with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $87.00 annually for four years. If passed, the levy would be extended for four years and is projected to raise $23,728,262. If it is not approved, the measure will expire. The use of operating funds will continue to be monitored by a citizen committee established by the county (the “JOCAC”). In addition, the county will annually audit the use of tax levy funds for jail operations. City of St. Helens Creation of Police Protection Services Staff Fund Members of the St. Helens City Council passed a resolution to put a five-year local option levy on the primary election ballot in May that would raise $0.69 per $1,000 of assessed value to support hiring more police officers for the St. Helens Police Department (SHPD). The City of St. Helens has less than half the national average for law enforcement coverage per person. The national average is 3.5 police officers to 1,000 citizens. The City of St. Helens is 1.38. See Ballot, Page A2
IN THIS ISSUE Police Reports .............. A3 Opinion .......................... A4 Obituaries ...................... A5 Market ............................ A6 Public Notices .............. A7 Games & Puzzles .......... A8 Crossword .................... A9 Sports .......................... A10
Residents and community members at Columbia Hills Retirement Center on May 8.
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Columbia Hills welcomes back residents WILL LOHRE
Country Media, Inc.
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olumbia Hills Retirement Center has risen from the ashes, welcoming back residents of the facility with a ceremony just over 18 months after a deadly fire claimed the life of one resident and displaced others. The fire took place in October of 2022 at Columbia Hills Retirement Center at 36050 Pittsburg Road in St. Helens. An explosion and subsequent fire took the life of one resident and caused significant damage to one of the facility’s wings. Due to the damage to the building, 31 of the tenants were forced to relocate. While many returned within a few months, completing the facility’s restoration marked the return of all residents to the retirement center. The completion of the A-wing allowed six residents to return to their rooms. The restored wing has 12 rooms and was repaired to the level it had been previously, paid for by insurance. Originally expected to be finished in November of 2023, delays were caused by the changing costs of materials and challenges in installing the new fire alarm and sprinkler system. To celebrate the completion of the project, Columbia Hills held a “Welcome Home Party” on May 8 for residents and the first responders who assisted in rescuing residents on the night of the fateful fire.
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Rick Langston is one of the residents who was welcomed home to the A-wing, and he talked about his journey getting back to his home. “It’s a relief to have my own place again, it’s been a long time but it’s good to be back,” Langston said. Langston said he’s relieved there’s a new sprinkler system in place to help mitigate future fires but that it took a long time for him to recover from the fire. “It took me a while after the fire; I had nightmares; I barely got out. So, I’m pretty much over that, and I don’t have any fear of being back,” Langston said. Langston said he misses the way his apartment was before and that it’s an adjustment but that everything is “nice, new, and fresh” and that it’s “good to be back.” The Welcome Home Party Elderserv Board member and Treasurer of Columbia Hills Ellen Bailey described what it meant to see the project finally done. “It’s good to see everybody back. The residents struggled being separate. Living in separate places, they couldn’t just walk out of their room and say hi to somebody,” Bailey said. “We really pushed as hard as we could to get them back as soon as we could. Everything is back better than it was, and we’re excited about that.” During the party, residents mingled with representatives from
many of the companies and agencies that helped with construction, emergency response, and supporting tenants while they were displaced. The event featured an address from Elderserv board chair Debra Elliot, as well as addresses from Columbia River Fire & Rescue (CRFR) Chief Eric Smythe, and EMS Division Chief and Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole. Smythe began his address by saying he was there that night and thanked the local law enforcement and other responding fire departments. He noted that the new wing now includes a sprinkler system, which is a welcome update to the facility’s fire safety. Addressing the gathered crowd, Elliot thanked first responders for their efforts in keeping the residents safe before discussing what the completion of the project has meant to her and the Columbia Hills board. “We’re here in celebration of A-wing and having everybody back under the same roof,” Elliot said. “We’re also here to acknowledge that fire and what happened that night. That night, St. Helens police officers who were first on the scene, and CRFR came to discover the A-wing on fire. They went door to door, and window to window getting everyone out to safety.” Elliot then asked the group to take a moment of silence in honor of the
See Columbia, Page A5
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