Community Selects New Town Hall Board

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg community members were invited to enjoy dinner, catered by Rita Brown and served by the Waitsburg Celebration Days court, and vote in the annual election of Waitsburg's Town Hall Board on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

"Everyone in town is welcome to vote. All they have to do is show up and fill out a ballot," said outgoing board president Karl Newell. Twenty-four citizens voted in the election, naming a new slate of seven board members.

Outgoing board members include: Rose Engelbrite, Karen Mohney, Bob Richardson, Karl Newell, Doris Huffman, Larry Johnson, Joy Smith

Members of the new board are: Jim Davison, Ron Standring, Larry Johnson, Karen Mohney, Jim Walsh, Ron Griffin and Karl Newell. The new board will take over and assign positions at their upcoming Jan. 8th board meeting.

According to outgoing board member Joy Smith, Town Hall was given to the City by the American Legion in 1976. Eventually, the nonprofit Waitsburg Town Hall Association was formed and took over responsibility for the building. Smith said the association covers between $500 and $800 in operation expenses each month, depending on the time of year, including maintenance, utilities, taxes and insurance.

To offset those expenses, the association rents out the hall for events, wedding receptions, reunions, funeral receptions and the like. The Association also rents out the commercial kitchen at a cost of $20/ day, with a maximum of $300/mo. In the recent past, Granny's Tamales used the kitchen on a weekly basis and The Q Wood Fired Grill used it as a catering base prior to leasing their current building just up the street.

Most recently, the association began renting out one of the small front rooms as office space to the Blue Mountain Resource, Conservation and Development Council. The office rents for $200/mo., and a second office should be available for rent shortly. "If we rent them both, that will solve most of our financial problems," said Smith.

Newell said that improvements are currently underway to turn the "Fireside Room" into a second office space. One section of floor will be raised to repair a spot that was damaged during the flood of '96, carpet will be laid, moulding replaced, the ceiling painted and fluorescent lights installed before the room is available to rent.

Newell said that Touchet Valley Communications has provided the Hall with wireless internet at "a very reduced rate," making it an ideal location for office space, business meetings and presentations.

During his time as president, Newell hung several pieces of art discovered stored in the back room. Two large 1989 paintings by Sirrka Witt now flank the inside of the inner entrance doors to the Hall. Newell plans to make frames for each piece. A large aerial photograph of Waitsburg -- found folded up in the storeroom -- now demands attention from the north corner of the Hall. No one has nailed down the date of the photo, but several were working to narrow it down at Wednesday's meeting.

Newell said his term as president has been a positive experience. "I've had a good time. It's been good. I'm glad to help," he said. Newell wanted to express that Town Hall belongs to everyone, not just the board and the renters. "It was given to the town by the Legion - the Board just administers it. And we can always use volunteers for lots of things!" he said.