Tracking the Money Tion for the Design, Engineering, and Services to Create an Industrial Sub- Construction Management Services Division for Phase 1 of the Park
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ELECTION 2021 Gun bill heads to Follow key results of the May 18 Special District Election online governor at thechronicleonline.com Page A8 Wednesday, .50 May 12, 2021 $1 thechronicleonline.com Serving Columbia County since 1881 Topaz facing council disciplinary action Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle Councilor Stephen Topaz questions the city council’s plans to repri- Bill Monahan, one of the city’s attorneys, explains the drafted resolu- City Council President Doug Morten gives his support of the resolution. mand and censure him. tion to the council. “I work for the same citizens leveled accusations in turn against bad things about the Chinese. Do would be permitted, and one of the AURORA BIGGERS that voted for you, Councilor the city and the Council, “They you realize that I’ve worked with a disciplinary measures the council [email protected] Topaz,” Scholl said in the meeting. don’t want me asking questions,” group of the Chinese through Uni- could consider was public censure. After an investigation into “We are constantly trying to move he said. versity of Kentucky, in the Republic Under Oregon law, residents or the Councilor Topaz’s conduct, the this city forward, and you continue Among the allegations against of China, and in Indonesia?” council may petition for a recall city declares the findings accurate to interject half-truth and deception Topaz, according to Goldsmith’s Topaz also refuted the claims election, but the petitioners must file and sustained into everything that we are doing.” summary of the investigation, is that he has been discriminatory and a prospective petition with the state Morten said a city councilor that he “routinely refers to a local biased towards female employees in and collect signatures numbering Following an investigation into being investigated for alleged ha- canyon as ‘Nxxxxx Creek,’” wrote City Hall. 15% of the votes cast for Governor St. Helens City Councilor Stephen rassment misconduct was “unprec- Goldsmith, censoring the n-word. “I’ve got a history of fighting Brown in Columbia County’s dis- Topaz, conducted by Portland at- edented.” Topaz conceded that this allegation for women on the workforce … and trict, the first congressional district. torney Jill Goldsmith on behalf of “As it becomes public, more was correct when he spoke to The I’ve gotten a whole lot of Blacks The city council and Goldsmith the city, the city council will likely things will surface,” he said. “It’s, Chronicle. “Another [allegation] I and American Indians jobs and gave Topaz an opportunity to speak publicly reprimand and censure to me, going to be a dark shadow get a kick out of … is that I called job training,” he said. “I’ve been about the allegations on eight dif- Topaz. Goldsmith’s investigation that is going to also be very costly [the canyon] n-word creek And in- keeping people alive of all kinds of ferent occasions over a three-month levels several accusations against and financially, and it already has deed I did.” The Chronicle censored funny shapes and colors for a long period, but Topaz never addressed Topaz, including that he behaved in been very costly financially to the the n-word in Topaz’s statement as time … I’ve been keeping woman- the allegations to council or Gold- an inappropriate and discriminatory taxpayers of our city and to the well. types alive for a long time,” he said smith. manner, used derogatory and racist council, who has a due diligence to Topaz claims his term for the referring to his invention of the fetal On Monday, the city council language, and bullied city staff. resolve this issue … I would like to creek is appropriate because that heart monitor. reconvened in a special public ses- In a regular city council meet- be done with this right now.” was the historical nomenclature for According to the city charter, the sion to discuss the language for a ing, which took place on May 5, St. When asked by The Chronicle the creek. city council cannot vote to remove resolution which would reprimand Helens Mayor Rick Scholl and City if he planned to resign, Topaz said, “You’ve got to find out who’s another council member. The coun- Council President Doug Morten “The answer is definitely not … I sayin I’m racist because I’m far cil inquired at their April 20 hearing asked Topaz to resign. am not going to resign.” Topaz also from that,” he said, “They said I say about disciplinary actions that See COUNCIL Page A10 City moving to develop industrial business park wood product industries left the JEREMY C. RUARK community after years of declining [email protected] profitability. After the closures, the St. Helens city officials are city was left with hundreds of acres looking at future major economic of industrial brown fields located on strength through development of an the Columbia River. industrial business park at the site “As underutilized riverfront the former Boise White Paper Mill property zoned industrial, this site at Kaster Road. property provides an incredible On Wednesday, May 5, the St. opportunity to transform the future Helens City Council reviewed a of the City,” St. Helens Deputy City request for qualifications (RFQ) for Administrator Matt Brown stated in the St. Helens Industrial Business the report to the city council. Metro Creative Connection / The Chronicle The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Plan outlines use of the funds to support communities and populations Park, a 205-acre area, zoned for in- hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. dustrial uses, and situated along the Phased development approach banks of the Multnomah Channel of the Willamette River. In the first step to attract indus- The council authorized moving trial development to the riverfront, forward with a request for qualifica- the city is seeking professional Tracking the money tion for the design, engineering, and services to create an industrial sub- construction management services division for Phase 1 of the park. for infrastructure at the former mill Phase 1 would include design US Treasury details pandemic relief funds in Oregon site. work for: The city is seeking qualifica- of the funds to respond to acute the federal funds distributed over tions from licensed professional • Transportation network and JEREMY C. RUARK pandemic-response needs, fill the next two years. engineering firms with the intent of streetscape [email protected] revenue shortfalls among state and Columbia County should receive contracting to submit all necessary • Water local governments, and support $10,169,151 with a share of that permit applications and prepare • Sanitary Sewer Under the American Rescue • Stormwater management Plan (ARP) of 2021, Oregon is the communities and populations to be shared by the various county design and construction documents, hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. cities. St. Helens expects to receive specifications, work schedules, • Lot and right-of-way platting slated to receive $2.6 billion, and on • Parcelization Monday, May 10, the U.S. Treasury The ARP, approved by Congress $2.8 million, Scappoose $1.4 mil- construction cost estimates, and and signed by the president earlier lion, Rainier $410,000, Clatskanie construction management services Department announced the specific The utility infrastructure design ways the funds can be used for this year, will provide $350 billion $370,000 and Vernonia $460,000. for the St. Helens Industrial Busi- in emergency funding for state, “With this funding, communi- ness Park infrastructure. should be flexible and able meet the pandemic relief and when the funds needs of a range of future users, the are expected to be released. local, territorial, and Tribal govern- ties hit hard by COVID-19 will able City planners state that city ments across the nation. leaders and community members The treasury department’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal In March, local government of- recognized the need for a change Recovery Funds Plan outlines use ficials were notified to expect to see See MONEY Page A4 on the waterfront when two large See PARK Page A7 Opinion ..................... A4 10th Annual 2021 Poll ............................ A4 Columbia County TV Guide ................... A5 Classified Ads ......... A6 Legals .................... A6-7 Business Blotter ....................... A8 Crossword .............. A10 Guide The 2021 Columbia County Business guide is a full color, glossy magazine Vol. 139, No. 19 that showcases local business and highlights current news events. It PUBLICATION DATES: is the go-to reference for visitors, CHRONICLE: JUNE 23, CHIEF: JUNE 25 newcomers, residents, and potential AD DEADLINE: JUNE 9 customers of Columbia County. The Chronicle The Chief For space reservation, contact Amy: 503-397-0116 or [email protected] A2 www.thechronicleonline.com Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Riverwalk community forum May 19 Courtesy image from City of St. Helens This conceptual drawing released by the City of St. Helens shows the vision of city planners for the riverwalk project. Courtesy photo from City of St. Helens This is the area of the St. Helens riverwalk development project. The vision preliminary design for Phase STAFF REPORT 2 of the Riverwalk, a future [email protected] The St. Helens Riverwalk extension south to Plymouth The St. Helens com- Project will design public Street. This design will be munity is invited to learn access along the Columbia coordinated with the street Courtesy map from City of St. Helens River from Columbia View and utility extensions project, City officials said the redevelopment process aims to pay homage to both the past and future of the city by the latest details and make creating new amenities to attract new business and residents to St. Helens and provide guaranteed public comments concerning the Park to Plymouth Street which will extend South 1st access to a larger stretch of the Columbia River.