City Council sets public hearing date for Main Street building future, discusses flood agreements

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met Wednesday, April 21, at the Lions Club Building. During the meeting, the council answered questions from concerned community members and set a date for a public hearing to discuss potential options for the library building, 212 Main Street.

Mayor Marty Dunn and Councilmember Paxton were unable to attend the meeting. Councilmember Paxton submitted a letter of resignation stating he and his family will be moving out of the area. Councilmember Karl Newell joined the meeting via phone.

Three community members had questions for both the City Council and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe. The first speaker, Ron Henderson, inquired about the $10 utility tax increase implemented in two phases starting in July 2020. The second phase was implemented in January 2021. The funds raised from the tax, which Hinchliffe estimates will be around $70,000 in 2021, are reserved for flood repair and prevention efforts.

Henderson asked Hinchliffe whether the money was in a separate account or if the money was being put into the general fund, expressing concerns that the money would not be closely monitored and could be spent on unrelated projects. Hinchliffe explained that the money goes into the general fund because the flood budget is included in the fund.

The city is looking at significant engineering and repair costs in the coming year as they plan to rehabilitate the section of the levee that spans from the Preston Avenue Bridge to the former Waitsburg Grange. The levee was removed from the US Army Corps of Engineers rehabilitation program when the Waitsburg-Coppei Flood Control District went inactive. Efforts were in progress to reactivate the district through the county, however, the damaged levee continues to pose a risk to the surrounding homes. Henderson said that he, as a homeowner, did not feel protected against a future flood event.

For the levee to re-enter the rehabilitation program, the City of Waitsburg must fund the repairs and the administration costs. Due to the nature of the project and the aquatic ecosystems, there are many agencies involved, like NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Ecology, that require specific, unique permits and inspections. Hinchliffe said that the city is working on preparing a temporary riverbank as a short-term fix for a large breach.

Henderson and another attendee had questions about the community pool, which the city will not be opening for a second summer. Hinchliffe said that the city has been struggling to secure certified lifeguards, stating that the pool has a short season compared to other local facilities. He also noted that, historically, the lifeguards are mostly high school students. The pool had an increase in staffing issues, as kids have to take time off for camps and other summer functions.

Twila Johnson-Tate, a new-to-town community member, asked if the city would consider volunteer guards, and Hinchliffe said that the city could not use volunteers as lifeguards or other staff positions due to liability issues. In addition, Hinchliffe said the pool has some significant structural issues, which the city has been aware of, including a large leak somewhere in the plumbing. Fixing the leak would require extensive construction, which is not in the budget right now.

Hinchliffe did share that he has been exploring options for a splash pad at Preston Park. He did not have many details to share, but he is hoping to meet with a designer to get a better understanding of the construction process and costs.

Johnson-Tate also asked about the potential surplus sale of 212 Main Street, which houses the Weller Public Library. She asked if the city had a plan to store the books and other materials, should the building sell, and if there was a space in mind for a new library. Hinchliffe said that there was no plan in place, stating that he anticipated the sale to span roughly six months from bid to closing. He hoped that a new space would present itself during that time.

At this time, the building is not for sale. The city council will hold a public hearing on May 19, at 7 p.m. at the Lions Building, to discuss options for the building. Community members are highly encouraged to attend the hearing.

There has been a lot of discussion about the building and the library recently. Some of the reasons the city is considering a surplus sale of the building include the lack of ADA compliance and the need for extensive repairs to the upper floor.

The City Council voted to approve Resolution 2021- 720, which allows the city administrator to sign an interlocal agreement with Walla Walla County regarding the Millrace Grade project. The entire agreement can be viewed in the meeting’s agenda packet at http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com.

Hinchliffe presented the city council with two consultation agreements with Anderson Perry & Associates, regarding levee assessment on the Touchet and Coppei rivers. The consultation is the first step towards repairing long-neglected levees on each waterway. The contract for the Touchet River, which was ultimately approved by the council, stated that the city would pay no more than $123,570 for the work identified in the scope of services. Bills will be provided monthly. The council did not approve the agreement for the Coppei River.

Councilmembers discussed updates to the verbiage regarding septic tank use in the city’s municipal code. The proposed new language states septic tanks are not allowed on properties within 300 feet of a public sewer line and defined the minimum land required for a septic tank within city limits. The update is available to view on the city’s website.

Councilmember David Paxton submitted a letter of resignation, effective immediately, which was approved by the council. The council voted to table the decision to fill the now-empty position immediately or wait until the county election in November until Mayor Marty Dunn was available.

The meeting adjourned after a brief discussion on lawnmower financing with the council approving a transition to RDO financing, as opposed to the state-funded financing agreed upon at the March meeting.