Waitsburg welcomes 2019, part 2

In this multi-part series, The Times visits with businesses, organizations and agencies to learn their plans for 2019. This week, we continue our walk around Main Street. In future issues we will wrap up Main Street and talk with off-Main businesses, churches, clubs and organizations.

Waitsburg City Pool

It's business as usual for the city pool according to pool administrator Kelly Steinhoff. If time allows, the City may apply another coat of liner, she said.

Steinhoff does want to urge anyone interested in being a lifeguard to start early and take advantage of upcoming classes.

"It's been increasingly difficult to find enough people to staff the pool, so we're hoping that if we get this information out that maybe more people will take the classes and apply," Steinhoff said. "If you are thinking about getting a summer job this year, please consider being a lifeguard at the Waitsburg City Pool!"

The Walla Walla YMCA is offering lifeguard training courses this spring. Session 1 is from March 29-April 7 for one week straight from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., and session 2 is from April 26-May 19, over the course of four weekends, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost for these classes is $165.

The Prescott pool anticipates putting on a lifeguard course at their pool in late May or early June, depending on their instructor's schedule and availability. The cost for this course will be around $150.

Scholarships will be available through the Friends of the Waitsburg Pool. Contact Trevor Johnson at (509) 240-2755 for more information on scholarships.

"If you have any questions about the lifeguard position, please contact City Hall at 509-337-6371," Steinhoff said.

Blue Mountain Insurance Building

Whidbey Island artist Dave Gignac recently purchased the former Blue Mountain Insurance building located at 125 Main Street from Jeff Broom. Gignac is looking forward to moving his shop and studio to Waitsburg where he will continue exploring art work in metal, glass and painting.

"I see this as a great opportunity, at 125 Main Street, to teach classes in blacksmithing, glass blowing, and mixed media art. I plan to set up residence in the building and look forward to being a member of the Waitsburg community," Gignac said.

Gignac said Blue Mountain Environmental, owned by Ken Cole, Jr., will remain in the front of the building for the time being.

"I first became interested in the Waitsburg area when I stopped by to visit Joe Patrick and Gail Gwinn while on my way to deliver a sculpture to Ketchum, Idaho in the spring of 2014. Dave's friend, Lane Gwinn, encouraged me to make the move and partially brokered the sale. Lane is a sister to Gail Gwinn, Joe's wife. Joe roomed with Paul Gregutt. Although indirect, this keeps Karen and Paul Gregutt's streak alive for influencing people to move here," Gignac said.

The Times and the Q Buildings

Big changes are underway at The Times and the Q buildings. Both tenants remain, but Suze Wood, along with her business partner and brother, Scott Wood, purchased both property parcels from Imbert Mathee, former owner of The Times.

Suze previously rented loft space in the Hubbard Law Building but said she couldn't resist the opportunity to own her own land and a street level storefront.

Renovations are underway and Suze said the priority will be to make sure that deferred maintenance, which has been let go for the last decade, is brought up to speed.

"We have a roofing project, the facades of both buildings desperately need help, as well as renovating the spaces to fit uses that are different than how they have been previously utilized," Suze said.

The Times will remain in the front portion of its current home at 139 Main Street. New owner Lane Gwinn has hired local carpenter Jim Walsh to build bookshelves to store back issues of The Times and is designing a large conference and interview table for the space.

"I'm so pleased that Lane is investing her resources in creating optimal archive storage to safeguard these precious pieces of history," Suze said.

A lover of history, Suze is also pleased to share space to showcase an antique Intertype machine.

"It's a beautiful, old historic machine that has been donated to the Waitbsurg Historical Society. But it is so heavy that they can't get it safely out of the building. We decided to leave it in place and create an open display with the front of the machine on The Times side and the back in my work space. I love old machinery so I love seeing it every day," Suze said.

The back portion of The Times building will be Suze's art studio and she has carved out a small "caretakers cottage" where she will live.

"A great thing about the purchase is that the building came with the antique press equipment that The Times has not used for decades," Suze said.

She is thrilled with the beautiful and unique set of monotype for letterpress work and the two old presses stored in the basement.

"I uncover a new treasure every day," she said.

Suze studied letterpress in Seattle and said the building purchase included an amazing collection of typefaces, including fonts she has never seen. She has visions of bringing instructors to town to give workshops in the future.

"We have a great community for providing that and the space is perfect," she said.

The Q Wood-Fire Grill catering company continues to use the northernmost building but Suze plans to use the front of that building for retail space.

She's keeping the details of that to herself for now but knows that she wants to serve the community.

"I know I'll need an online presence strong enough to sustain the business, a storefront with regular hours, and something that is engaging and enticing to draw in passers by," Suze said.

Blush Salon

Brooke Mikesell, owner of Blush Salon, kicked off the new year by making strides towards her two business goals. Mikesell met one of her life goals, of having her own salon, when she opened Blush nearly two years ago in February.

Her business goals include becoming a regional trainer for Farouk Systems and doing hair for Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe.

Mikesell started with Farouk Systems in 2011 and currently works as their highest level educator, traveling Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to teach classes in color, relaxers and product knowledge.

After her last training, Mikesell received an invitation to attend regional trainer training in Houston on Jan. 12. While there, Mikesell will attend Creative Artistic Team (CAT) training, a company prerequisite to doing pageant styling.

"Being a regional trainer won't affect the salon. I'm already doing training, I might just do a couple more a year," she said.

Mikesell says Blush has been more successful than she dared to hope. She currently provides eyelash extensions, cuts, color, hair extensions, texture, tanning, nails, makeup, waxing and skin care, as well as selling jewelry, hair products and makeup. New offerings include microblading and dip nails which are a gentler alternative to acrylics.

"The salon has exceeded my expectations by far. Waitsburg is extremely supportive, warm and kind. Business is going great!" she said.

City of Waitsburg

Among the biggest considerations for the City in 2019 is the possible relocation of City Hall from its current historic building on the corner of Main and Preston to the former Jehovah's Witness church building located next to the City Shop, across from Preston Park.

In December, City Manager Randy Hinchliffe reminded council members of the offer to purchase the building for $255,000, which would be paid through proceeds from Community Bank. Loan proceeds would then be repaid with proceeds from the sale of the current City Hall location, once that occurs.

Alternatively, Hinchliffe requested that loan proceeds be used to perform updates including exterior painting, installation of an ADA ramp and main floor ADA bathroom, upstairs remodel and installation of a chair lift to the second story. New windows and HVAC upgrades are also needed, Hinchliffe said.

Discussion will continue at the Jan. 17 City Council meeting.

The City plans to install a new water press at the wastewater treatment plant early this year and will consider outsourcing plant operations once the new press is installed. The City will look at contracting with Jacobs, which operates both the College Place and Walla Walla water treatment facilities.

Another big undertaking is the Taggart Road Extension project which will straighten the road and, most likely, move the intersection to Highway 12, which currently connects next to Sam's Corner convenience store. The extension should eliminate safety issues and aid in future development.

Smaller projects include the development of a conceptual plan for the new pocket park on Main Street, and the installation of a commemorative bridge display. Design work will begin on a road improvement project on Millrace Road from Main Street to the City limits as will design work on the Taggart-Dewitt waterline project.

There are also plans to buy a sewer inspection camera to TV the sewer system, dependent on time and manpower, Hinchliffe said.

The City Crew includes Jim Lynch, Lisa Norris, Travis Bramer and Brian Schwer. Both Lynch and Norris are locals. Bramer is a former Washington State Parks employee and was hired last year. Schwer was hired temporarily as part of the water-meter replacement project and was asked to stay on when the project was completed last October.