Connecting with our Communities

Friday, September 1, 2023

News

Labor Day Closure

Clatsop County offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 4 in observance of Labor Day. Regular business hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 5

The weekly Bulletin will not be published next week and will return Friday, Sept. 15.

Clatsop County Fire Danger Reduced to Moderate

Clatsop County's fire danger risk was lowered to Moderate Fire Danger at 1 a.m. Tuesday, August 29.

Clatsop County is located in Fire Weather Zone maps NW-1 and NW-2.

Strategic Plan Progress Update

The lack of affordable and transitional housing is a critical issue impacting individuals and families.

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners has made addressing this issue a priority in their Strategic Plan and recently authorized funds for an affordable housing initiative.

Clatsop County Commissioners Direct Funds to help Jump Start Astoria Housing Project

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $125,000 grant to Northwest Oregon Housing Authority for pre-development costs associated with the new Owens Adair II housing project in Astoria.

These grant funds come from the approximately $7.8 million Clatsop County was allocated in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to respond to the impacts of the pandemic, including affordable housing.

The new, roughly $18.1 million building would serve low-income seniors and people with disabilities and would mirror the existing Owens-Adair, the agency’s affordable housing complex on 15th and Exchange streets.

The $125,000 for NOHA comes from the pool of funds identified to support affordable housing pre-development in the County's ARPA Plan. The County is also considering additional requests for the remainder of these funds.

Federal Student Loan Repayments Resume in October

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is reminding everyone with federal student loans that payments will resume for all borrowers in October, following a pause implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interest accrual resumes today, Friday, September 1, potentially affecting borrowers' outstanding loan balances. Since March 2020, interest on most federal student loans had been temporarily paused.

Along with the resumption of payments, the Biden administration has introduced an on-ramp program, which includes a fact sheet. This initiative aims to provide some relief to borrowers by prohibiting loan servicers from reporting missed payments to credit bureaus for one year. This measure offers a safety net for those facing difficulties in making payments after the extended payment pause.

World Suicide Prevention Day is Sunday, Sept. 10

World Suicide Prevention Day started in 2003 and is recognized every September 10 as an International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) initiative.

Worldwide, approximately 1 million people die by suicide every year. If you or a loved one is thinking of suicide or are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

When a person calls, texts, or chats with the 988 Lifeline, they are connected to trained counselors who are part of the existing 988 Lifeline network, made up of over 200 local crisis centers.

These counselors are trained to provide free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, and connect them to resources. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States.

Community Members Mourn Lives Lost

Community members gathered on Thursday in Astoria to remember loved ones lost to an overdose in an event sponsored by Clatsop County Department of Public Health.

Candidates Sought for Property Tax Appeals Board

The Clatsop County Board of Commissions is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the County Board of Property Tax Appeals (BoPTA) for the 2023-2025 term.

The deadline to submit completed applications is 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 13.

The Board of Property Tax Appeals hears petitions from taxpayers seeking to decrease their real market or assessed value of real and personal property.

Qualified applicants must be residents of Clatsop County.

September is National Preparedness Month

Clatsop County Emergency Management is bringing back its 6 Weeks Ready campaign to help residents and businesses prepare for a disaster.

We are launching this campaign again this year because we want to help residents and businesses to be prepared for a natural or man-made disaster.

Coastal communities may be isolated for a longer period of time and it may take longer for out of area emergency responders to help.

When individuals and families are 6 Weeks Ready, they can survive if roads are impassable and no one is able to reach them with help or supplies.

Week 1: Go-Kit and Personal Preparedness

The focus of Week 1 is on putting together preparedness kits.

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days or weeks. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to tide you over until help arrives.

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

Save the Date: Free Preparedness Event Returns!

Clatsop County Emergency Management is partnering with NW Natural and more local organizations for a free Get Ready Fair scheduled for 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, September 30, at Warrior Hall at Camp Rilea in Warrenton.

The event will help you and your family prepare for a natural disaster. There are children’s activities, you can talk with local experts to learn about preparedness, attend 20-minutes presentations, view outdoor displays, learn about volunteer opportunities, and enter to win door prizes.

Free survival tools are available (while supplies last) for all kinds of emergencies and the first 300 attendees will receive a free lunch.

Event sponsors are the NW Natural, Clatsop County Emergency Management, City of Seaside, American Red Cross, Clatsop County Citizen Corps, Clatsop County Department of Public Health and Tongue Point Job Corps.

For more information, email Clatsop County Emergency Management or call 503-325-8645.

Reminders

Survey: Purrfect Storm Campaign at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter

Clatsop County Animal Shelter and Clatsop Animal Assistance created The Raining Cats and Dogs Pet Adoption Campaign to raise community awareness about the urgent need for pet adoptions and to help these cats and dogs find furever homes over the next few weeks.

We want to hear from you! Have you heard about it? Has it inspired you to add a new pet to your family?

Take Our Survey

A Barkometer that was created to keep the community informed about the pressures the shelter is weathering has dropped slightly.

Adoption fees for dogs and cats include spay/neuter fees, vaccinations and other costs. For more information on how to adopt a shelter animal, visit ClatsopCounty.gov.

Community Happenings

Check out the Clatsop County website calendar for upcoming county meetings.

Aug. 20-Sept. 3 | Inaugural Cascadia Chamber Opera Festival | Astoria

Sept. 6 | Seaside Farmers Market | 2 - 6 p.m.

Sept. 8-10 | Cannon Beach Cottage Tour | Cannon Beach

Sept. 13-17 | Seaside SandFest | Seaside

Sept. 14-17 | Wheels and Waves Car Show | Seaside

Sept. 30 | Get Ready Clatsop County Preparedness Event | Camp Rilea, Warrenton| 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Oct. 8 | Great Columbia Crossing Race 10k run/walk | Astoria

Oct. 20-22 | Astoria International Film Festival | Astoria

Regional Transportation Reminders

Detours

Eastbound traffic is detouring on Colvin Road.

U.S. 30 is for westbound traffic only between the two Colvin Road intersections. The speed limit on U.S. 30 is 55 m.p.h. There is no local eastbound access on U.S. 30

Colvin Road is for eastbound traffic only, including for local residents. The speed limit on Colvin Road during the detour is 35 mph

The culvert replacement project began on July 7 and is expected to take up to 10 weeks. Anticipated completion is mid-September, 2023.

Work will be done in the daytime on weekdays. Occasional night time lane closures may occur.

Expect construction noise while these improvements to Colvin Road are made.

Public Works

Clatsop County Public Works Schedule for Monday, September 4 - Friday, September 8

Hillcrest Loop is closed to all through traffic between Old HWY 30 and Akerstedt Road for a culvert replacement project at MP 0.5. The culvert replacement is anticipated to finish mid-September. Use Conroy Road and Old HWY 30 as a detour. Detour signage is in place during closures.

Crews will perform:

Fog sealing recently chip sealed roads county wide
Mowing, brushing and ditch maintenance county wide
Brooming shoulders in preparation for road striping
Striping roads county wide. Expect up to 20-minute delays OR until the painting crew can safely pull over to allow through traffic. Signage and cones stating wet paint will be in place, as well as flaggers to direct traffic around the wet paint

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WET PAINT. If you drive through wet paint where signage, cones and flaggers are visible, the County WILL NOT be responsible for the cost of cleaning paint off your vehicle.

The County currently uses a water-based paint for its striping needs. Should you get any of this paint on your vehicle please wash it off IMMEDIATELY with water.

Clerk and Elections

Clatsop County Weddings

As part of her Clatsop County Clerk and Elections director duties, Tracie Krevanko performs weddings. Daniel and Jocelyn were married by Tracie on Wednesday, August 30. We would like to congratulate Daniel, Jocelyn, and their family.

Passports

An appointment is recommended before coming in to request and process a passport. It typically takes 10-13 weeks to receive a passport. Expedited service can take 7-9 weeks

Please go to our webpage and schedule an appointment for passports, park passes, marriage licenses, dog licenses, and recordings with us. If you do not have an appointment, you may be asked to wait if we are with someone that has scheduled an appointment