Bart Hansen appointed to vacant council seat

The Vancouver City Council voted to appoint Bart Hansen to the vacant position created by the election of Tim Leavitt as mayor. Hansen will be sworn in at the Monday, Feb. 1, City Council meeting shortly after 7 p.m.

Hansen will serve on the City Council through the end of this year. If Hansen wishes to keep his seat, he will have to win the position in the November general election in 2010 and will also be required to stand for election again in November 2011, the next regularly scheduled Councilmember election.

"This was a tough decision. We had a strong slate of candidates to choose from but I know Bart will be a great fit on the Council," said Mayor Leavitt.

Hansen is currently the Office Services Manager at Clark Public Utilities. He is also a member of the Vancouver School District Management Advisory Task Force, the Vancouver Rotary and the Clark County Mural Society. He is also a graduate of Leadership Clark County. He received his bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., and is pursuing a masters in business administration from Marylhurst University.

Labor contract approved by Clark Public Utilities and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 125

Clark Public Utilities commissioners today approved a new working agreement with Local 125 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Union members ratified the agreement last week.

The agreement covers about 100 of the utility’s 360 employees. The union represents linemen, meter technicians, equipment operators, dispatchers, and water system field employees. The present contract was set to expire on February 28.

The new three-year agreement provides wage increases of 2 percent this year, 3 percent in 2011 and 4 percent in 2012. The contract expires on February 28, 2013. There were no changes to the agreements, other than the wage adjustments.

“We appreciate that our union employees have agreed to accept a 2-percent increase in the first year of this agreement, with larger increases in the second and third years,” said Nancy Barnes, president of the utility’s board of commissioners. “This agreement reflects the current economic conditions in Clark County and the tight utility budgets we face this year."

“This contract will keep the wages paid to these employees competitive with wages paid by other regional utilities,” Barnes added. “We’re pleased to continue the excellent working relationship we’ve had with Local 125 in recent years.”

“The vast majority of union members are linemen and other field employees who have done a great job providing excellent service to our customers,” Barnes said.

Dick Hannah Honda announces high school new car giveaway program

Dick Hannah Honda has created a program aimed at encouraging high school students in the Green Mountain, La Center, Battle Ground, Hockinson, Vancouver, Evergreen, Camas and Washougal school districts to improve their grade point average in the 2009-2010 school year by offering a new 2010 Honda Civic or $15,000 in cash to the winning student.

High school students are asked to do three things to be eligible to win the 2010 Honda Civic or $15,000 in cash. First, students must improve their G.P.A from the 1st semester of the 2009-2010 school year to the 2nd semester by ½ point. For example, students must improve from a 2.5 to a 3.0 G.P.A. Students that average a 3.6 or higher for both semesters will also qualify. Second, students must join Dick Hannah Honda’s Fans Page on Facebook www.facebook.com/dickhannahhonda. Third, students must send in their completed entry form which can be found on the fan page by clicking the “Want to win a free car?” link provided on the fan page, and then mail the entry form to 3321 NE Auto Mall Drive, Vancouver, WA 98662, or email it to mdominguez@dickhannah.com or fax it to 314-0567.

Parent-teacher organizations, booster clubs and support groups will also have a chance to get into the action. The winning student will select an organization to donate $500 cash courtesy of Dick Hannah Honda, to encourage support from parents and teachers throughout the program.

For more information, contact Mark Dominguez, social marketing manager, Dick Hannah Honda at 944-3491 or by emailing him at mdominguez@dickhannah.com.

Blown glass and paintings on exhibit at DuckTales

Hand-blown glass and paintings by the Uptown Studio Group are being shown through mid-March at DuckTales Kitchen. A no-host event to meet the artists will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, 612 N. Devine Road.

Bobbie Nelson, Patti Woods and Mary Benson, all artists from the Uptown Studio Group, will be displaying stylized paintings of flowers from roses to hydrangeas along with landscapes and children.

Along with the paintings is the hand-blown glasswork of Bob Meyer.

The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All exhibited artwork is for sale. In lieu of the artist's commission, a donation will be made to the Vancouver School District Foundation's Artful Gift Fund in support of art projects throughout the district.

Calendar

Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 26, in Council chambers, 210 E 13th Street. <> Port of Ridgefield meets for a regular meeting 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Port office, 111 W. Division Street.

 Tuesday on the air

The National Football Foundation & College Scholarship Hall of Fame Clark County Chapter (1-20)--4:30 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Planning Commission (live)--7 p.m. CVTV

Bravo! Vancouver: Beethoven, Brubeck & The Blues (1-24)--8 p.m. CVTV

Clark County Land Use Hearings (1-14)--10 p.m. CVTV

     Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

 

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Vancouver plans to cut 65-75 jobs--Columbian, Andrea Damewood

Providence plans a clinic building--Columbian, Cami Joner

Obama allies struggle to defend spending freeze--Huffington Post, Sam Stein

4 charged in phone scheme at Sen. Landrieu's office--USA Today, Michael Winter