Commercial Club Hears From Waitsburg Mayor

WAITSBURG - Under the new mayor and city council, Waitsburg has continued to invest in its basic infrastructure and avoided the kind of budget woes other communities face.

That was the message Mayor Walt Gobel shared with members of the Commercial Club in a speech at the group's evening meeting last Tuesday.

Gobel gave credit to the previous mayor and city council, city clerk Randy Hinchliff and city staff for setting a steady course for the town that he and the new council could build on when they were elected last year.

"We are so fortunate we do not have the budget problems other cities do," he said. "We're also lucky to have the staff we do. They are awesome."

Past city administrations did a good job maintaining water lines, sewer lines and streets - something Gobel and the new council continued their first year in office.

During the past year and a half, the city relined about 2,000 feet of sewer and an equal length of storm drain lines, and implemented flood control projects initiated by former Mayor Markeeta Little Wolf and the council at that time.

The current council narrowly voted for the 1-percent property tax increase Waitsburg, like other cities, is allowed under state law each year. The idea is to build a reserve over the coming years for continued street work, Gobel said. This year, the adjustment brings in $1,400 for the city.

As an example, Gobel said the city has its eye on rebuilding W. 7th Street. The city received $10,000 three months ago from the state's Transportation Improvement Board for the project's design and $103,000 for the installation of sidewalks, but it hasn't yet succeeded in getting the funds to repair the street itself for the five blocks between Main and Arnold.

It's possible the water line needs to be replaced there at the city's expense, Gobel said.

The mayor also reported on the permanent appointment of Su Alexander as the city-paid librarian at Weller Library on Main Street and her new assistant.

Already, Alexander is in the midst of making upgrades to the library's computer system and is trying to make the physical space more reader-friendly.

Looking down the road, Gobel said he and the council want to find ways to make better use of the Fairgrounds, a facility that has enormous potential as an equestrian events venue or a place used regularly by more practicing riders.

Gobel said he's somewhat jealous of Dayton landing the Mule Mania show for the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

"That's going to be big for them," he said.