No additional staff hired

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 19, 2015 at 1:00 AM
City of Vernon staff will be shuffling around to accommodate increased workload. Council has decided that existing employees in the planning department can handle expanded activities instead of hiring a temporary planning assistant. “We have eight staff involved in planning. For the next year, they need to reallocate people,” said Coun. Catherine Lord, who was opposed to hiring. “I want to make sure staff pay attention to current development and not long-term development.” The plan had been for the temporary planning assistant to be paid through excess development revenue from 2015 building permits. Coun. Brian Quiring had supported staff’s request for the temporary position. “Development is going gang-busters and we need the help,” he said.

Building gets demolished
A City of Vernon-owned building has a date with a wrecking ball. The New Delhi building at 2905 29th St. and 2828 30th Ave. will be demolished and interim parking will be created at a cost of $50,000. In 2012, the city purchased the property for $1.1 million for an eventual east/west traffic corridor. No timeline has been established for construction of the new road. Fire broke out in the building in December 2014 and the city has accepted an insurance settlement of $126,000.