Library surplus tabled pending legal & advisory committee input

WAITSBURG—The potential surplus of 212 Main Street, which houses the Weller Public Library, was tabled for an unspecified amount of time during a regular City Council meeting on June 16. Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn removed the action item regarding the surplus, stating that the council needed legal clarification regarding the library’s infrastructure.

“We (the city) know that we own the building, but we do not know any of the infrastructure or what is going on in the library,” Dunn said. “There was never any intention of closing the library.”

Dunn said that he, and the council, appreciated all of the letters they received regarding the potential surplus but stated that further correspondence should go to the library’s advisory committee. Established in Chapter 7 of the city’s Municipal Code, the purpose of the Library Advisory Board is to make recommendations to the city council regarding the operations of the city's public library.

According to the code, the advisory board must have seven board members approved by the council. Currently, there are only three members on the board, Eleanora Montgomery, Becky Huwe, and Jim Leid. Applications for the committee are available at City Hall, which reopened effective June 17.

“We have to know who manages what,” Dunn said. “We know that they (the advisory committee) control how the library is run, we (the city) pay the wages, and we own the building.”

According to section 2.07.060 of the code, “the committee is advisory only and shall not possess or exercise any power of authority on behalf of the City.”

When asked how things will proceed, Dunn said the city needs to gather information from the advisory committee, which the city’s legal counsel will then review. The Times reached out to the city’s attorney, Jared Hawkins, who was unavailable for comment.

Any further community discussion would only happen at the library advisory board meeting, according to Dunn. The recommendations from that community meeting would go to the council for consideration. The date for the next advisory board meeting has not yet been announced. The council clarified at the meeting that the advisory board is a separate entity from the Friends of the Library committee.

The American Disability Act (ADA) accommodations and compliance are still a concern at both the City Hall and the library. Librarian Rosie Warehime said that she has been accommodating individuals that need assistance by providing a selection of books curbside for wheelchair-bound visitors, helping people up and down the steps, and offering delivery services for residents unable to leave their home. Warehime continues to provide accommodations for each visitor as needed.

Weller Public Library is open for business, Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m-6 p.m. This year’s summer reading program will be run through curbside pickup due to COVID-19 restrictions. Masks and social distancing are still required in the library, regardless of vaccination status. Letters regarding the potential surplus or other library concerns may be emailed to wellerpubliclibrary@yahoo.com, or mailed to Weller Public Library, P.O Box 35, Waitsburg.

Dunn said that it was unclear when the council will take up the issue again and urged the community to attend the advisory board meeting.

Representatives from PocketiNet gave a presentation at the meeting on their plan to expand overhead fiber optic cable throughout the city. They did not say how this expansion would be funded but said they would offer improved service at competitive costs. Earlier this year, the company, which acquired Touchet Valley Communications, said they anticipated beginning fiber installation in August.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe provided an update on the 6 Year Transportation Plan, including the Millrace Grade Project. The grade project has been delayed slightly by funding, right of way agreements, and environmental agencies. Hinchliffe said that the project should break ground in 2022, nearly a year after he had hoped to start construction

The Millrace Grade Project will help improve safety for heavy traffic, including the increased use during harvest. It would also provide an alternative route should the Preston Avenue Bridge be out of service due to repairs or replacement. The city council approved the grade project, and work began in 2013.

Hinchliffe gave a brief report from a meeting with homeowners along Preston Avenue regarding the Touchet River Levee rehabilitation project. Homeowners were not in agreement with a proposed new levee, which would significantly alter many properties along the river. They voiced that they would rather the city, and all other involved agencies, focus on rebuilding the current levee.

The City Council voted to approve Resolution 2021-727, setting a public hearing for the surplus of a horse barn at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The barn has significant structural damage and is not in use. Neighboring residents and fairground users have reported illegal activity and numerous feral cats at the location over the years. The hearing will take place at the July City Council meeting.

The council discussed the potential revival of the Economic Development Committee. In recent years, the council recognized the Waitsburg Commercial Club as the entity providing the city with economic development programs. Since the Commercial Club has not been active over the last year, the council looked at moving economic development to the Planning Commission. The city’s attorney, Jared Hawkins, advised the council that this could create a conflict of interest as the committee would be responsible for attracting new business and arbitrating code compliance. The council decided to revisit the topic at the August meeting.

During public comments, Eleanora Montgomery, representing the Library Advisory Board, shared that its members were not aware that the building was being considered for surplus until reading about it in the newspaper. She presented the council with multiple pages of a petition signed by residents who wish to keep the library at 212 Main Street.

During council reports, Jim Romine urged the city to communicate with Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District 2 to establish maintenance responsibilities, schedule fire hydrant testing and flushing to avoid water line blockages in the event of a fire. He shared that the Health and Safety committee is creating a spreadsheet to help track maintenance and that the committee advised the data be held by the city.

During the administrator’s report, Hinchliffe shared that the population of Waitsburg had grown by 25 people over the past two years. The number may seem small, but it broke a years-long stagnant population count.

Hinchliffe also reported that the utility moratorium, protecting residents from shutoffs and late fees, ends July 30. Starting in August, the city will begin issuing notices as necessary. Hopefully, yard debris disposal services will resume in July, and the city’s cardboard recycling facilities are open. The main entrance has been locked during posted hours, and Hinchliffe said to use the gate on the left side of the treatment plant. Hinchliffe said yard debris disposal was halted due to lack of storage facilities and limited or no access to Department of Corrections inmate work crews. This has placed an increased workload on the city’s public works employees.

Hinchliffe also shared that Waitsburg’s water supply does not appear to be threatened by the ongoing statewide drought.