Dayton City Council swears in four new members

DAYTON—The Dayton City Council convened its monthly meeting at 6 PM on January 12, 2022.

Four new city council members, Laura Aukerman, Teeny McMunn, Marchand Hovrud, and Tyler Dieu, were sworn in at the January 12 meeting. Misty Yost and Dain Nysoe remain in their seats through 2023, and position six is vacant.

Mayor Zac Weatherford announced the passing of City Council Member Byron Kaczmarski, leaving position six vacant. He also reported that Hovrud plans to serve on the council until her move from the area.

The council elected Dain Nysoe to serve as the mayor pro tempore for 2022.

Weatherford asked the council to approve Resolution 1486, authorizing the mayor to execute a Professional Services Agreement with AHBL, Inc., for on-call planning and land use services for 2022. With the city planner position still vacant, AHBL would cover departmental services for the remainder of the year.

Speaking for AHBL, Nicole Stickney was asked if she had ever performed code enforcement, one of Dayton’s city planner duties. Stickney said she had no experience in that area but said other cities use other departments to enforce city codes.

Council member Hovrud asked how much longer the county is contracted to provide the city planning services. The mayor said the contract expires in mid-January.

Aukerman motioned to table Resolution 1486 to give the city time to consider other companies that could provide interim city planning services. The Council voted, with one dissent, to table the measure leaving Dayton without a functioning City Planning Department.

Weatherford thanked Misty Yost for gifting her council stipend, $450, to the city. He reminded council members that he has the proper forms to return their stipends should they choose to.

“We had a major snow event,” said Mayor Weatherford, who commended the Public Works Department for its effective snow removal efforts after putting in long days.

The mayor was asked if the snowplows could pile the snow in the middle of the street rather than to the side where it trapped cars. The Public Works Director Ryan Paulson said he wouldn’t have the workforce or resources to remove the snow from the middle of the road in a timely fashion. Weatherford and Paulson said the streets would be cleared to the curb after the center of the roads were plowed.

Weatherford said he would review and address the city’s outdated personnel policy.

The mayor reported progress on the Wastewater Treatment Plant. He said the city sent conditional use permits to Columbia County for review. The land appraisals have been completed, and once approved, the city can start working with the landowners to purchase the required properties. The city also continues to work with its banks to finance the project. He has also reached out to State Representative Skyler Rude for state assistance in funding the project.

Columbia County Commissioner Ryan Rundell reported for the Flood Control Zone District and the County Commissioners. After the Public Works Director’s departure, that position has been split into two positions: Public Works Director and County Engineer. The County Engineer will also be the Flood Control Zone District administrator. The Columbia County Public Health Department is looking to hire a few positions.

Dayton’s Public Works Director warned of potentially expensive water line repairs and replacements. He said it appears the main water line that services the North Touchet leaks about 4000 gallons an hour. He added that the water line had reached the end of its useful lifespan.

In unfinished business, Ms. Aukerman wondered if she could contact firms capable of fulfilling the duties of the City Planner and provide that information to the Mayor and Council Members. Weatherford said she could make contact, but any information needs to go to him. The council members can only discuss the matter in a public meeting, not using e-mail daisy chains. He also reminded members of the Council that they could not direct staff, but rather, all staff direction must go through him.

The City Council adjourned at 7:15 PM.