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Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Scholl, Pixley, Kotek look to future following election Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 140 Nov. 16, 2022 JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, inc.
Mayor Rick Scholl has won his re-election bid.
Courtesy photo
Brajcich re-elected, seeking solutions to city’s challenges to work with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to improve safety and reduce the fast traffic along the highway. “We’d like to see the speed reduced and ODOT has a traffic calming program,” he said. “They did a project along Highway 101 in Gearhart to ease traffic speed there, so we are looking at that as a possible option.” The speed along Highway 30 in Clatskanie is 30 miles an hour (mph). While Brajcich and other city officials aren’t seeking to lower the speed, they are looking for ways to get drivers to follow the 30mph speed. We just want people to go 30,” he said. “I understand, especially when you come down the highway at 65 miles an hour, that vehicles just continue at that speed. We get
Originally published in The Chief Vol. 131 Nov. 11, 2022 JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
Most folks around town refer to Bob Brajcich as Mayor Bob. “I try to listen and treat everybody with respect, that is the main thing,” Brajcich said following his re-election victory in the Nov. 8 General Election. “I try to work well with the City Council and the city staff.” Brajcich first became Clatskanie mayor in 2017 and he said he has a list of priorities for his next term in office. Highway safety Safety along Highway 30 that cuts through Clatskanie is a key issue in the city, Brajcich said. The city continues
“I am humbled by the turnout, and I want to thank the citizens of St. Helens for voting me into another term,” St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl told The Chronicle following the Tuesday, Nov. 8 General Election. “I’d like to attribute the win to the collaborative effort with the entire city council
in moving the city forward.” Priorities Scholl said the city’s top priority is finding a new finance director. The effort follows the separation from city service of former finance director Matt Brown. “Finances are our key and the framework of our city budget,” Scholl said. Scholl’s second top priority is to continue the city’s waterfront development. The project will redesign other streets and intersections, extend Cowlitz and South 1st Streets onto the
Riverfront property, create a plaza for pedestrians and vendors above Columbia View Park, add a trail on the west side of the Riverfront property, and extend underground utilities. It is expected to take two years to complete. “The biggest hurdle of that redevelopment,” Scholl said, “is going to be the traffic. That is the number one thing with every person working in administration and even the city councilors, is that we want to be the least disruptive as we can do the businesses downtown.”
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Scholl said he believes the redevelopment is “a blessing” because it will clear away aging infrastructure in the whole downtown area. “We are blessed to be able to it all in one shot,” he said. Scholl said a third priority is to work with neighboring cities and the Port of Columbia County to start advertising the city’s industrial property.
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ELECTION From Page A1
“That property could be marketed quite a bit better,” he said. “The Port is actually the leader when it comes down to industrial property in the county, but we have to have a buy in from all the cities, including Scappoose, Rainier and Clatskanie.” Scholl said the city already has a plan developed that breaks the existing land into two-to-five-acre parcels that could include 10,000 squarefoot buildings and adequate parking for light industry businesses, such as machine manufacturing and high-tech companies. “Those type of companies are fairly solid, and they have they niche and if they are outgrowing their current location, those are ideal companies that we want to find to bring,” he said. Affording housing is also a concern for the city, according to Scholl, specifically, he is troubled by what he calls the lack of state agency attention to the intersection of Gable Road and Highway 30,
BRAJCICH From Page A1
adjacent to a major affording housing project currently under construction. “We are familiar with the concerns of that intersection, which is a state-funded project, and the city does not have any say in that,” he said. “It meets all the zoning requirements. We knew that intersection was going to be a problem and we are concerned about it. It has to do with the alinement of the road. The intersection is bad. The housing project is good.” Scholl said the actual housing project is a positive because it is adding to the city’s housing supply, but he said the state’s efforts to deal with the overall homelessness crisis is concerning. “It does seem that there is a big emphasis by the state to try to ram down laws and regulations to the cities,” he said. “I will always be lobbying for affordable housing in St. Helens, but I really see the market slowing down with inflation. People are strapped. It is concerning.” Other election results Voters also re-elected Columbia County Sheriff Brian Affordable housing and RVs
Brajcich is also concerned about affording housing in Clatskanie. heavy traffic all the time with “Housing development people on their way to the seems to be a crisis in Oregon coast. So, people have to be and on the West Coast,” he educated. I am working with said. “But in Clatskanie, there our traffic safety committee because drivers need to aware is available land for housing. It is limited because this is a of their driving habits. It’s a small valley.” problem everywhere.” Brajcich said the City As drivers enter from the Council has passed an ordisouth along Highway 30, a flashing warning sign displays nance to lower lot size, which he said makes it more affordvehicles speed to remind drivers to slow to the 30-mile- able for developers to build. Brajcich said completing an-hour posted speed. But the city’s efforts to better regBrajcich said more has to be ulate transient and abandoned done to slow the traffic into and out of the more congested recreational vehicles (RVs) is another key priority. area of the city. In December, the City Council is scheduled to conNEXT facility duct the second reading of an ordinance to deal with the RV Another top priority for issue. Brajcich is the proposed $2 “We want to be ahead of billion NEXT renewable fuels this issue,” Brajcich said. project. The proposed ordinance “It will bring jobs and was developed after a recent economic development to special City Council work Clatskanie,” he said. “There session. is still a lot to do with that “It was a very productive project.” work session with a lot of The proposed fuel facilideas,” Brajcich said. “Enity continues to undergo the forcement is always a considstate and federal permitting eration and that limited our process. Follow that develop05-02-12 1x9D SootBusters:Layout 1 4/30/12 11:31 AM ment at thechiefnews.com and ideas, but overall, we will not allow overnight RV parking in05-02-12 the Friday printSootBusters:Layout editions of 1 4/30/12 11:31 AM 05-02-12 1x9D 4/30/12 11:31 on our 1streets. We have two AM The Chief. 1x9D SootBusters:Layout
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Pixley. Following his victory, Pixley answered the following questions from The Chronicle. The Chronicle: What do you believe led to your reelection victory?
Brian Pixley: The residents of Columbia County heard my message – experience, safety, service and integrity. But I couldn’t have done it without a supportive team behind me. I have a wonderful wife, family and friends, plus I lead an amazing group of people who are passionate about law enforcement and community safety. Their support was the fuel in the engine that kept me driving forward. I am honored to continue serving our community for another four years. The Chronicle: What will be your top three priorities during your new term as Sheriff? Pixley: My top priority will be to locate stable, longterm funding for the Sheriff’s Office. Providing 24-hour law enforcement coverage in the unincorporated areas of Columbia County will only be RV parks, so there are places for them to park.” The ordinance also would prohibit RVs parked on private property in which someone is living in the RV. It also would limit parking the RVs in front of the owner’s property to seven calendar days. “We already have parking ordinances that prohibit storing a motor home or a boat on the street,” he said. Economic development One of the most expensive and key economic development projects in Clatskanie is a building a multi-milliondollar sewer treatment plant to replace the city’s current aging facility. “We are still working on the new sewer plant,” Brajcich said. “The cost could double so we are looking for more money. It is very expensive, but in the long run, It will save the city taxpayers a lot of money.” Brajcich said another key economic development project is the redevelopment of the former Humps Restaurant building on Highway 30. He said the new owners of the building are still working on the project to make the facility Page 1 a multiple purpose business center1 with retail. Page Page“They 1 told me when they
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possible with sufficient funding and, in the end, the safety of residents has been, and will remain to be, my top priority. In addition, the implementation of the Street Crimes Unit is an important step in eradicating the illegal marijuana market in Columbia County and all related crimes, including human trafficking, narcotics, guns and more. Lastly, training is key in maintaining a skilled staff. I will focus on bringing nationally-recognized training courses including those addressing active shooter and mental health situations. In addition, my staff of trainers will continue to be available to pass on our expertise and provide education for other law enforcement agencies and businesses in Columbia County. Kotek elected Oregon Governor
In a statement Wednesday, Kotek said Oregon faces major problems and that she looks forward to solving them. “I promise to be a Governor for all of Oregon,” she said. Kotek said her priorities will be housing and homelessness, access to mental health and addiction treatment, helping students succeed, and supporting small businesses. “I ask Oregonians, no matter who you voted for in this election, to believe in our state, to stay engaged, and to help figure out solutions together,” Kotek said. “I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve Oregon, and I will strive every day to be a force for positive change in our state.”
The Associated Press has declared Tina Kotek the winner in the race for Oregon Governor. Kotek had been in a three-way race with Republican Christine Drazan and Independent candidate Betsy Johnson.
Columbia County Sheriff • Terry Massey Jr. 8,679 • Brian Pixley 12,186
get done, I won’t recognize it,” Brajcich said. “I do see a lot of activity there and that is a positive sign. I just want the lights on and activity, that’s important. They want to get several different shops in there. They are moving
forward. It is important to Clatskanie because it is right in the center of town. Having no activity there is not a good sign, so having business activity there is going to be good.” The Chief asked Brajcich why he likes being mayor of
Election 2022 Key Race results
Columbia County Commissioner Position 2 • Kellie Jo Smith 11,508 • Kelly R. Niles 6,108
City of St. Helens Mayor • Rick Scholl 3,720 • Stephen R. Topaz 990 City of St. Helens City Council (Vote for 2) • Mark Gundersen 2,169 • Michael Zienty 295 • Brandon Sundeen 2,298 • Jessie Lagers 567 • Steve Toschi 1,643 City of St. Helens Prohibits Psilocybin-Related Businesses Within St. Helens For 2 Years • Yes 2,717 • No 2,207 City of Scappoose Mayor • Joe Backus 1,432 • Brandon Lesowske 882 City of Clatskanie Mayor • Jean Sampson 256 • Bob Brajcich 466 City of Clatskanie Prohibits Psilocybin-Related Businesses Within Clatskanie For 2 Years • Yes 459 • No 286 The 2022 November General Election results are slated to be certified in early December. Clatskanie. “I like serving the community,” he said. “I am very accessible. I am around town all the time, that’s how I function. All the council members want to make Clatskanie a place that you want to live.”
Your family is invited to...
A Candlelight Service of Remembrance When: Saturday, December 3, 2022 Time: 2:00 p.m.
Holidays are a time reflection. Although some memories bring pain, they can also be a source of joy and comfort. Memories hold us close to those we love. With this in mind, we will be honoring your loved ones with a Candle Lighting Ceremony. It would be wonderful to have your family present for the reading of the names. In addition to lighting candles, words of comfort by Justin Bruner and keepsake ornament that may be taken home. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony. Our commitment to the families we serve does not end with the funeral. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us, and that this will be a time of peace and comfort. Best wishes to you during this holiday season. Holly Houston, Bryan Nabors, Carynn Cozad, Trinyty Howard, and Russ Crawford
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Bob Brajcich takes the oath of office in 2017 as the new Mayor of Clatskanie. He will be sworn in for his next term in January.
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