[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6091084,"mediaKeyId","2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7","parentId",2865358,"title","Sheriff, municipal judge brief council on proposed renewal of jail levy (Measure 5304); officials warn of service disruptions if it fails","audioSeconds",1098,"startMs",854000,"endMs",1952000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7&start=854&end=1952","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7/thumbnail_854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091084/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Sheriff-municipal-judge-brief-council-on-proposed-renewal-of-jail-levy-Measure-5304-officials-warn-of-service-disruptions-if-it-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091084-32683c1fb12fd0e6468503745df6c45b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749587&Signature=PzPLWFGXVXOrk5VXwE5hui7UqChn3oXDX3~rkRBeRnADgvyKk7dTGvmhlxlkTxbNGH3G4ugqjRBk1LTLti1ny7ojBOUBfr25h5VGeODoF7GpsHN4TIYItk163saIP1a-hmtos20DjROIx6LTqJVMoPhPJUYJC5UADbGRDOLvMlNXDUTeBsHsVNo7zuCdfISIDjj5yLaLy1AX6sGX-kO4~Py8~NNJWh0b~69IyTDvSo3IX5FD0e55cI9St0aMwE0E1jR34WcAjwb6cR~u8Q0nNYl1UoWl7Y2OcP2ilndtfFOUBkc96StXlTR7p1lXds9NyuGdd64~6dNORZfbvAtAmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Helens, OR","date","2025-04-03T19:06:32.503Z","article","Sheriff Pixley and Judge Amy Lindgren appeared at the St. Helens City Council work session on April 2 to describe a county request to renew an existing jail levy at the same rate of 58¢ per $1,000 and to explain potential operational consequences if the measure does not pass.

The presenters said the levy is a status‑quo request and that without it the county faces the real possibility of closing the local jail. \"We're asking voters to renew the existing jail levy at the same rate of 58¢ per thousand,\" Sheriff Pixley said. Judge Lindgren told the council that, without local jail capacity, the municipal court would not be able to process criminal cases in the same way: \"I don't see how the municipal court can process criminal cases. So it would be like having a traffic court where you can't have any consequence,\" she said.

Why it matters: presenters said local jail capacity underpins arrest processing, transports and enforcement. Sheriff Pixley said revenue now includes federal contracts (renting beds to the U.S. Marshals Service) and county general‑fund support; he told the council that, if the levy lapses after its June 30 expiration, the county would be left with roughly $4,000,000 from U.S. Marshals contracts and about $1,000,000 from the general fund—amounts he said would be insufficient to run the facility long term.

Details presented to the council included current bed‑rental practices and contract costs. Sheriff Pixley said the county charges the U.S. Marshals about $127 per night per inmate under current contracts and that contracting rates for other agencies could differ. He described scenarios in which the county would have to transport inmates outside the county and negotiate nightly housing fees with other jails, and said those arrangements would increase transport obligations for deputies: \"It's all a contractual issue at that point,\" he said.

Judge Lindgren and other speakers outlined downstream effects on municipal case processing. Lindgren said low‑level criminal matters often rely on municipal courts for timely prosecution and that if local capacity is lost, many lower‑level offenses might not be prosecuted because the district attorney's office and circuit court lack capacity to absorb them.

Council questions focused on the scope of impacts and operational details. Sheriff Pixley said the current levy expires June 30, and he described contingency planning including possible adjustments to the jail’s contracted population with the U.S. Marshals—\"what I came up with is if we raise our Marshall population from 80 to about 70.5, that will still be enough to fill in that gap,\" he said—language used by the presenter during discussion of budget balancing. Councilors also asked about the effect on transports for people on psychiatric holds and about possible staff reductions; presenters said some transports and services could be curtailed if capacity declines.

No formal council vote or formal endorsement was recorded during the work session. Presenters encouraged council members and residents to review the ballot language and ask questions; the levy measure appears on the May ballot as listed by presenters. The presenters gave contact information for follow‑up questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/02/2025 City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Sheriff Pixley and Judge Amy Lindgren appeared at the St. Helens City Council work session on April 2 to describe a county request to renew an existing jail levy at the same rate of 58¢ per $1,000 and to explain potential operational consequences if the measure does not pass.","taxTitle","St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon","taxId",52788,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091065,"Staff reports Riverwalk and street/utility project nearing completion; council told soft opening and riverfront reopening planned for late June",205,2338000,2543000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7&start=2338&end=2543","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7/thumbnail_2338000.jpg","/articles/6091065/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Staff-reports-Riverwalk-and-streetutility-project-nearing-completion-council-told-soft-opening-and-riverfront-reopening-planned-for-late-June","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091065-c3a165a052513f873c10078bf95c3c92/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749587&Signature=ohYeT7Xk3eYvurHp707QkFGxOAFv6lZAnq2keW-I9NWb-kThjRIKeLjtJC0WrkktJtX6k0YMhUzObCnnE9suNG2G5DMj5ySH8Oi9cbw946spm-qZ2qzvK0IE6IW8oBrw81qlG2JzKlkHtR7ZrB3kRnmJv-aSLjQf2ltcWWV1kl-oPMBEeDYV9~28lP4sGNeoO8CjM2vfKdFooRiWE-1ouGqrGFBSWTi6U8nE9F0BmKSvI3tssdLGerLHcbHEHyzww3Yu9q~ppkE5-aBCu3pn275XPJM34hJgyhwH47L~eVICNjXopEjnMBHiE22jUR~rfChyFh8~8oD3QG3xZjC9iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff reported at the April 2 work session that the Riverwalk and related street and utility work are nearing completion and that the city is planning a soft opening and a grand reopening celebration tied to concerts and community events.

John Walsh told the council staff met with the event organizer Treadway to coordinate logistics at Columbia View Park and said the city aims to start the usual summer concert series in late June, though installation of railings and turf readiness may delay the opening: \"we met with Treadway to talk about, you know, upcoming community events ... and how these ... the streets and utility projects is coming to a close,\" Walsh said. He described a soft opening around June 19 and said a grand reopening and ribbon cutting are being planned for the following Thursday, with concerts and dignitaries to be invited.

Staff said they are working to schedule events while ensuring the riverfront can safely support crowds; the council discussed shifting the events schedule slightly later in June to allow finishing work. The council also heard that businesses are supportive of concentrating events on the riverfront to bolster downtown activity. No formal action was taken; staff will return with confirmed dates and event logistics.","City staff reported progress on Riverwalk and associated street/utility projects and described plans for a soft opening and a grand reopening ceremony with concerts; staff cautioned completion timing depends on railings, turf and other finishing work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091070,"Council reviews minor amendments to public works supervisor job description; members ask about reporting lines, CDL and FLSA status",172,2031000,2203000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7&start=2031&end=2203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7/thumbnail_2031000.jpg","/articles/6091070/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Council-reviews-minor-amendments-to-public-works-supervisor-job-description-members-ask-about-reporting-lines-CDL-and-FLSA-status","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091070-4576296deecf21f066e4c0f42872a853/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749587&Signature=bz5wNNMJpez4vfAfunXSLKJr5n3HtlSAUAiWkkroJU7OiAqBlHjWdveepwTmw2os7m6bbK419B97ktMS6gvOaEATNZoAdZxg~UNm7jtOOOKfCYj-p2H8rF9AMSqqQwL2UPInsJkB0BJ2e9PAh26EydD-WyrfxnQTmeTOK6lE5iS6ITu0j9fmCRI5BzQ9~vAyXmWZSFlE3WmjiRPBAhcAwmkW46TehAmdiW~-iwh-P8HDT0zkxxndBwWRKSluiWOtjuz-uIidww0jZgZ3o36JnrAAWHuazQ9mYG2oy6EoOU02Zl17UgbLy8b4bXcSA870aJ6BJibbth1hkVXPgvKv2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Helens City Council reviewed proposed amendments to the public works supervisor job description during the April 2 work session, asking staff to clarify reporting lines, federal wage classification and vehicle licensing requirements.

Staff said the vacancy arose after a retirement earlier in January and that the update is \"super minor\" and consolidates safety responsibilities into the supervisor role. Mohammed, a staff member overseeing the department's restructuring, said the supervisor position will report to a proposed operations manager role that is \"90% completed,\" and that the operations manager would in turn report to the public works director.

Councilors raised several technical questions. One asked whether the role should be classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act given physical and operational duties; another requested clarity on whether a commercial driver's license should be required immediately or allowed a grace period and whether specific endorsements (A, B, C) are needed. A councilor flagged the job's 100‑pound lifting statement and noted NIOSH/OSHA guidance that suggests lower weights for routine manual handling.

Staff said classification and licensing questions are handled through the city's personnel and classification process and that the job description will return as a finalized item after those reviews. Councilors indicated they want clarity on FLSA status, CDL endorsement requirements and inclusion of evaluation language in the personnel policy rather than in the job description.","Councilors reviewed proposed updates to the public works supervisor job description, discussed reporting structure changes tied to a new operations manager role, raised questions about FLSA classification and CDL endorsements, and flagged physical duty language (lifting 100 pounds) for review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091075,"Resident raises long‑standing sewer, stormwater and toxic‑waste concerns at council meeting",176,475000,651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7&start=475&end=651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7/thumbnail_475000.jpg","/articles/6091075/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Resident-raises-longstanding-sewer-stormwater-and-toxicwaste-concerns-at-council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091075-d02ddd54ab1e1e36eb8695743a8daf18/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749587&Signature=ST~O5fQbdTud9fhPy3IABYuatL6L6sXfQFHPN6qwAwov6ug0M6EXf3nRM1Ke~9sAZeZsSVL8JqMHuY7UBcugUn4peeD3Yz9s90OxM8LB6uUQhnacrscRFvcqGWR98t-kipYn8ainQxQ0bY7kPwi~Wx7cPmgY1qSk08VjEHLLE4ODruXrG8IKtxtWRioL7Ncoiu3Y6lktG4BS1s4WmpCoz-oFeEL2RqK8Z9wAeyCzSjij5m5wkcZwqf6TFTYb9HtldE27NVm90tElmOy2hYWNNna024edDdY6F2xpzv3T1r17VA1TWoaqfUTDeaVszlxKo5DVwMqOjtSmpPYOqWI~fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Steve Topaz used the visitor comment period to outline a series of historic and ongoing infrastructure concerns he said affect St. Helens, including missing as‑built plans, stormwater and sewer separation problems, cost overruns on drainage work and alleged industrial dumping.

Topaz said the city is legally required to keep as‑built building plans for one year and said his 41‑year‑old building lacked historical records the way older cities maintain them. He described the city’s separated sewer history and asserted that stormwater systems were not installed as required, leading to repeated street flooding in places.

Topaz also cited project cost overruns and potential contamination. He said a drainage‑pipe enlargement from Godfrey Park to the river was budgeted at $2,000,000 and rose to about $4,000,000 after unanticipated rock removal. He described a leaking reservoir repair historically estimated at $100,000 that \"became a $10,000,000 replacement part,\" and he asserted there had been industrial toxic waste dumped into a sewer line that affected waterfront properties. Much of Topaz’s account was framed as a resident’s history of observed problems rather than a council presentation of verified findings.

Council staff did not respond with detailed technical corrections during the public comment period; the council moved on to the next agenda item after Topaz’s remarks. Topaz concluded by urging the council to address cleanup and record‑keeping problems.","Steve Topaz told the council St. Helens lacks long‑term as‑built records and raised a series of older infrastructure and environmental concerns, including projects that doubled in cost, flooding, and alleged industrial dumping into sewer lines.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091079,"Resident urges Mayor Chilton to resign, accuses council of enabling alleged misconduct",149,229000,378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7&start=229&end=378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865358-259cbd9ec66231dac6d8e46c1a8f9ca7/thumbnail_229000.jpg","/articles/6091079/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Resident-urges-Mayor-Chilton-to-resign-accuses-council-of-enabling-alleged-misconduct","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091079-2e01a00c4bace9f4b03bc7a87c177d4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749587&Signature=GOMFwPJcesdcetkd9hyq8bBKwMsgJc6P-9mq4sJLqnAunQ3mEOaAWAyg-SPGwNMOdIaqfdgmOvtNnLlU4ChT7cccXMj1hW-r~Ic78mpwMLmlOjB0bROQp8pUmC3ZwwWGGfirtEi~bQa2FYQKQMnFVJJBPxssIGwzrT7Iiwh-ckgn1d5FUjEIuCdHrL~YooOvO6-j7NHI0hkfbFNrGxoRJfEWXKKOM46gjsKQ~rwJ3fy41ijJwrW9xlBPKmAUEEKCoHXunS4kqFjkotBw0EFneb5xpy0VzVkpn8X6xi9HT7~HmoN-5DOFZ0Whdi34bnyiJWjCyq7su~UUbQCFWXawWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brady Breheim used the visitor comment period at the April 2 St. Helens City Council work session to call for Mayor Chilton’s resignation and to accuse council members of enabling alleged misconduct tied to a pending lawsuit.

Breheim urged immediate action: \"If you were cared about the city, you would apologize and resign effective immediately,\" he said, and added that he was calling for the mayor to step down that day. He said the council members were \"conspirators\" who had helped conceal damaging information and asked the council to release a full unredacted report related to the litigation.

Breheim also pressed the council to hire Chief Hogue as the permanent police chief and to force Councilor Massey to recuse herself from any police discussions: \"You need to congratulate Hogue for his actions and hire him as a complete police chief permanently. You need to force Massey to recuse herself from any police discussion, period,\" he said. He told the council the community could seek a recall if action was not taken.

Mayor Chilton and other council members did not take action during the work session in response to Breheim's remarks; time limits for public comment were enforced by the chair. The comments occurred during the public comment period and were not part of any council agenda item.","During visitor comment, Brady Breheim demanded Mayor Chilton resign, accused council members of criminally covering up wrongdoing tied to a lawsuit and asked the council to hire Chief Hogue permanently and release an unredacted report.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriff, municipal judge brief council on proposed renewal of jail levy (Measure 5304); officials warn of service disruptions if it fails

Staff reports Riverwalk and street/utility project nearing completion; council told soft opening and riverfront reopening planned for late June

Council reviews minor amendments to public works supervisor job description; members ask about reporting lines, CDL and FLSA status

Resident raises long‑standing sewer, stormwater and toxic‑waste concerns at council meeting

Resident urges Mayor Chilton to resign, accuses council of enabling alleged misconduct