Waitsburg City Council met for last time in 2021

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met on December 15 for the year’s final meeting. This was the last meeting for outgoing council members Karl Newell and Karen Gregutt. Roughly 15 community members attended the meeting.

During public comment, library board member Marie Gagnon provided an update on the Weller Public Library improvements. She shared that a ceiling project was nearly done, and a wiring project that was started last month was nearly halfway complete. All wiring work is being done by Walla Walla Electric.

She said the wheelchair lift has been ordered and is expected to arrive in January. Library volunteers will complete the landing deck and a small wall on the lower level of the lift to prevent getting fingers or arms pinched.

Terry Lawhead added that the library was purchasing new computers and would be working on bylaw changes in the upcoming month.

Tom Bennett, an owner of American 35 (former Anchor Bar), commented that he would be hosting a small campfire, hot cider, and cookies after the parade on December 18.

Mayor Marty Dunn opened a public hearing on the adoption of the 2022 City Budget. Copies of the budget were available for attendees. It is also available online at the city website.

City improvement plans include water and sewer line work, chip sealing, and GIS work to digitize the city’s water and sewer line maps. The budget total for 2022 was roughly $2.5 million.

There will be no tax levy increase in 2022. Fifty-seven percent of the levy funds will go towards the General Fund, while the other 43% will go to the City Street and Road Fund to help cover the city’s share of work planned for the upcoming year.

Joseph Roberts, co-owner of the Royal Block, asked if the actual budget was available to view and if year-over-year comparisons were available.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said that the city considers year-over-year comparisons to create each year’s budget, but he added that annual budgets fluctuate as services change. He used last year as an example, where the General Fund showed a large shortage because the city handed garbage services over to Basin Disposal instead of handling the services internally.

The city approved the budget as presented.

The council approved the third payment of $7,050.53 for the Millrace Grade Improvement project.

Last month, the council rejected all surplus bids for the vacant lot between the American 35 and the former WhoopemUp Café. The council decided to review and revise the city’s real-estate policy.

Changes to the policy included adding options to the bidding process. Under the revised policy, the city may choose one or more of four methods to market and dispose of surplus property. Under sealed bidding, the city requests bids no less than 90% of the assessed value. The city may accept the highest and best offer.

The main revision allows the city to request proposals that specify the proposed use for the surplus real property. The request for proposals will enumerate the council’s factors, requested to evaluate the proposals. These should include price which does not have greater weight then the other factors.

The revised policy is temporarily available to view at the city’s website, http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com. The council approved the revised policy.

The council reviewed and approved the State of Washington Transportation Improvement Board Fuel Tax Grant Agreement, which would cover up to $45,124 of certain project costs. The money would be used towards chip seal project costs in the upcoming year.

An agreement for legal services with Jared Hawkins of Hawkins Law, PLLC, of Walla Walla was approved. Hawkins Law will charge $200 per hour, reduced from $225 per hour.

The council discussed a contract from Anderson Perry & Associates, of Walla Walla, for a GIS Jumpstart and High Accuracy Asset Inventory, to begin preparations for the GIS Mapping project, which will provide an accurate, digitized map of the city’s sewer lines. The cost of the contract is not to exceed $59,596.

Councilmember Henze shared that during a Community Health and Preparedness meeting, Lanny Adams noted the GIS system could be helpful for flood control and mitigation efforts. Councilmember Gregutt added that it would be helpful with fire hydrant use and maintenance. The contract, which was approved by the council, can be viewed in the online meeting packet.

The council approved the surplus of the vacant lot at 124 Main Street, using the request for proposal model. Proposals must be submitted to City Hall by 2 p.m. on January 14, 2022. The bids must be no less than 90% of the appraised value of $24,000. The council will review the bids and award the surplus in January 2022.

Council approved the surplus of the former City Hall building, 147 Main Street, also using the request for proposal model. Proposals must be submitted to City Hall by 2 p.m. on January 14, 2022.

The council voted to table the Touchet River Levee Rehab Project until the January 2022 meeting.

During reports, Mayor Marty Dunn said the council had overcome a challenging year, and he thanked them for their work. He also thanked Hinchliffe and the rest of the city’s staff, including public works, for all their work and their ability to get the necessary work done, even though they were short-staffed. Mayor Dunn also thanked the outgoing council members for their service.

Councilmember Henze shared that the Community Health and Protection committee met and discussed the use of the GIS system in relation to flood control and mitigation efforts. She also shared that she had attended an Elected Officials training earlier in the month and had ‘learned a lot.’

Councilmember Romine said that an alleged solicitor in town was very pushy. He urged community members to call the non-emergency dispatch line to report similar incidents.

Wrapping up ten years of service, Councilmember Newell’s closing words were ‘I believe in term limits.’ The remarks garnered a laugh out of the entire room.

Councilmember Gregutt provided an update from the Planning Commission, sharing that the American 35 owners presented changes to the façade of the building that the commission recommended the council approve. The commission asked the owners to present a more detailed plan for the buildings painting scheme.

She said a resident had approached the commission with pre-approval questions for lot-line adjustments. It was determined that the adjustment was not a good approach, but everything was handled smoothly.

She shared three thoughts as she neared the end of her final meeting. She echoed Mayor Dunn, saying she felt that the council handled a pandemic-riddled year very well. She thanked all the council members for their time and the skills they bring to the Council table. She thanked Hawkins and Hinchliffe for all their work and then shared that serving the city had been a privilege.

The council voted to approve the payment of bills before adjourning for the night.