Waitsburg City Council

Council members: KC Kuykendall, Terry Jacoy, Kevin House, Jim Romine, Kate Hockersmith; Mayor Marty Dunn; Student Representative Leena Baker were all present.

New Business:

-WWCSO Update: Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner presented statistics for 2017 calls for service and crime reports. A total of 576 calls for service (a call generated by dispatch and responded to by deputies) were placed in 2017 in Waitsburg. A total of 119 crime reports were submitted. The highest number of reported incidents are: 12 warrant service, 11 non-criminal, 11 burglary, nine violation of protection order, and eight thefts.

Turner said that school safety remains a concern, and deputies are continuing the Walk-and-Talk program, where they visit local schools to increase familiarity with the campuses, staff and students.

Turner introduced new Undersheriff Mark Crider. Crider is a Navy veteran and spent 22 years as a special agent with the FBI. He retired from the FBI in January and joined the sheriff's office in March.

-2018 Election Certification: City elections were certified. A total of 224 votes were cast, which is about 100 votes less than 2016. This is approximately 30% of the 775 registered voters. The turnout is typical for an uncontested ballot, according to City Manager Randy Hinchliffe. In the final vote count Marty Dunn received 187 votes and Debra Callahan 37 votes in the mayoral race. Council member votes are: Kevin House (187), Kate Hockersmith (173), James Romine (167), Terry Jacoy (164), KC Kuykendall (146).

-Taggart Waterline and Road Design Contract: Voted to table decision on entering into an engineering contract with Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc. for waterline and road design to straighten Taggart Road. Council asked for an estimate that includes sewer lines and wants to look into other financing options such as the Public Works Trust Fund.

-Millrace Grade Crossing Design Contract: Voted 3-2 to enter into a $50,000 contract with Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc. to design an upgrade to Millrace Road and the existing railroad crossing. Romine, Kuykendall and House voted in favor with Jacoy and Hockersmith opposed.

-Seasonal Help: Because of difficulty in securing commitments from the Walla Walla Penitentiary work crew, the council approved the hire of one seasonal (six months) full time equivalent employee to the city crew. The City will continue to hire the inmate crew, at $200/day, as availability allows.

-Annexation Public Hearing: Approved setting a public hearing for annexation into the city of property owned by Stacey and Erica Grende, at the west end of 4th Street. The property lies outside the city limits but adjoins the city. The public hearing is set for May 16, 2018 at 7 p.m., or soon thereafter, at the Waitsburg Lions Building.

-Alley Vacation Public Hearing: Approved setting a public hearing to vacate the entire portion of the remaining platted alley which runs east and west between the 200 block of East 8th Street and the 700 block of Walnut Street. A public hearing is set for May 16, 2018, at 7 p.m., or soon thereafter, at the Waitsburg Lions Building.

Unfinished Business:

-Tabled a decision to tear down, repair or replace the fairgrounds grandstands until more details on the possibility of implementing a Parks & Recreation Department is available. See story on Page 1.

City Clerk's Report:

-Finish work on the Main Street Bridge is underway.

-Seventy-one trees in Preston Park need trimmed at an estimate of more than $43,000. The project will be stretched out over several years, with 13-15 trees near the playground area being trimmed in May.

-Presented a first-quarter City budget update.

-Hinchliffe reported that Sherwood Trust is considering a grant to help fund the city's flood study. If that is approved, it would speed up the study process by a year, he said.

-County Commissioners are looking at a ballot item to fund homelessness housing. Representatives will attend the May council meeting to present the issue and gauge support.

-New drain rock was added in the RV stall area.

-Work is continuing to fix leaks on the watershed spring line.

-The City Pool is being readied for the season.