Conservation Plan concerns with downward harvest projections Page 2
NKN Selected for GEAR UP Page 3
North Coast
Citizen Serving North Tillamook County since 1996
northcoastcitizen.com
February 23, 2023
$1.50 Volume 30, No. 4
School building, Quonset hut to be demolished P
lanning for a new city hall at Underhill Plaza will include the demolition of both the school building and Quonset hut on the site, following a unanimous decision by Manzanita’s City Council on February 15. The decision came after investigation by project architects and engineers revealed that the costs of upgrading the structure to anything more than storage would be high and its usefulness as a storage structure would be limited. Jessie Steiger, the project manager for the new city hall, told the council that studies carried out by the Klosh Group and Bearing Architects in January at the council’s direction had shown that rehabilitating the structure would cost a minimum of between $500,000 and $600,000. That minimum figure would only pay for repairs to the hut that would allow it to serve as a 3,200 square foot storage space for the city. Steiger said that the struc-
ture would not be suitable for housing emergency supplies due to its foundation. She also said that work to turn the Quonset hut into any other sort of gathering space or usable facility would require at least double the budget. She noted that building a similarly sized storage space would cost significantly more than rehabilitating the structure. Councilmembers said that while the city needed additional storage space, most of the need was for emergency supply and equipment storage. Several councilmembers inquired about the possibility of using transient lodging tax dollars to fund a more complete rehabilitation of the building. City Manager Leila Aman said that was a possibility but that investigating and moving forward in that direction would take time, delaying the current city hall planning process. The council voted to
The former school building and Quonset hut will be demolished at the price tag of $75,000, the council could approve building a new City Hall on the site, but those plans are still pending. Citizen file photo proceed with the first phase of the project with a plan to demolish the Quonset hut and school, which will complete the 30% planning and design phase of the project. Both structures need to be demolished whether the council approves moving the city hall project forward after recent studies revealed friable
asbestos in both buildings. Demolition of the Quonset hut will cost around $30,000, while the school’s will cost around $45,000. Aman also gave the council more in-depth information about the landslide and tsunami risks at the Underhill Plaza site. A 2018 landslide risk
assessment had indicated that the site was at risk and council had asked for more information. Aman consulted with an outside expert who referred to the more detailed and accurate map maintained by the state. That map revealed that the Underhill Plaza site was outside of slide zones.
Aman had also investigated the site’s tsunami susceptibility at council’s direction and found that it lay outside of both the zone that would require special building design and the evacuation zone. Please send any comments to headlightreporter@countrymedia.net.
Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue looking for volunteers Samantha Swan
T
News Intern
he Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue District (NBFR) is in dire need of volunteers in the coming 2023 calendar year. The NBFR covers from Neah-Kah-Nie to Wheeler, and serves many of the nearby rural communities. As of the 2022 calendar year, the NBFR responded to 909 calls. Despite these high numbers, the department currently has around 20 volunteers, with only a dozen able to consistently respond. Chris Beswick, Chief of the NBFR, states that the lack of volunteers has left the NBFR considering a sixth full-time employee position. This costly expenditure would take money out of the fire department budget for resources to serve the community. This is a direct result of the lack of volunteers, as well as the increased call volume of the NBFD. The NBFR responds to a variety of calls in the surrounding community. In 2022, 57.1% of calls received were considered medical. The NBFD also responds to other community needs. These calls fall under the category of “good intent or public assistance.” Beswick, in his explanation of this category, stated that the NBFR assists the elderly population in the area on these calls. This includes helping senior citizens that have fallen or need assistance reaching their vehicles. Also encompassed are community concerns, such as citizens concerned about nearby smoke. Rather than hiring more individuals, Beswick would prefer more volunteers,
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allowing for the tax rate of the NBFR to eventually decrease. The current tax rate is $1.15 per $1,000 Assessed Valuation. The NBFR recently paid off a ten-year bond, leading to more funds being devoted to department resources. Included in this is a brand new fire engine. The previous engine from 1996 was struggling to meet current standards and regulations. Replacing the 27-year-old engine the department had been using is Engine 1314, which went into service February 5. This new engine is smaller and designed for the windier, dirt roads the NBFR regularly traverses. Beswick states that this engine will be better for “reaching our population.” Other resources the NBFR provides include medical equipment . Beswick states at least one individual visits each week for medical equipment. This ranges from wheelchairs to shower chairs. The NBFR is accepting donations of any accessibility equipment in good condition. Beswick, to attract volunteers, has been enhancing the volunteer program, and he is working diligently to increase benefits to volunteers. While legally, volunteers cannot be paid as staff, the NBFR does provide stipends. Beswick states that these are to help mitigate the costs of responding to calls, such as money for transportation.
In the works is a Length of Service Award for long-time volunteers, which would function as deferred compensation for the most dedicated of volunteers. Volunteer training involves weekly drills, and various types of training, such as rope training. Volunteers also receive EMR training free of charge. Beswick states that volunteering “is a commitment” but the NBFR “stresses a work-life balance.” Beswick states that the “vast majority” of volunteers at the NBFR have full-time jobs. Individuals over the age of eighteen with a valid Oregon driver’s license and no felony convictions are eligible for volunteering. For individuals looking for a less physically rigorous volunteer position, the NBFR also needs volunteer drivers and fire pump operators. Occurring in early March is the NBFR Training Academy for volunteers. This intensive training is an eight week program, or roughly 180 hours. At the end of this program, individuals are certified firefighters, meaning they will be able to respond to calls and respond (Top) Firefighter Shelby Porter, Lieutenant Jeff to building fires with some Hill, Firefighter Jason additional training. Weiss, and Captain Volunteer firefighters will Frank Knight retrieving have the same verifications a sunken car. (Bottom) as paid firefighters. Those Jay Verburg (Left) and interested in volunteering Jason Weiss (Right) in should contact the NBFR at a donated structure. 503-368-7580. Photos provided
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