Dayton City Council look to fill position vacated by Dieu

DAYTON- The Dayton City Council held its regular meeting on the evening of June 13, 2023 at Dayton City Hall. Mayor Zac Weatherford and council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Dain Nysoe, and Shannon McMillen were present; Tiger Dieu resigned on May 16, 2023, and his post remains vacant.

Sheriff Joe Helm gave his report in which he covered call statistics and mentioned some past and planned activities, but summarized his report by saying, “no major changes.”

Director of Emergency Management Tina Bobbitt emphasized the need for everyone to make and maintain emergency preparedness kits. For citizens who do not have the financial means to create a complete kit, she suggested building one by adding necessary items once a month.

County Commissioner Marty Hall reported the county was in the early planning stages for a new law and justice center. According to Hall, the cost of running the center was more intimidating than the cost of building it. He said the estimate for the labor cost to run the center is approximately $800,000 annually.

Hall said the county hired a new building inspector, Robert Stearns, and a facilities manager, Tyler Huff. He also announced two public hearings, one for the proposed pool district will be held on July 3, 2023, at 10 a.m., and another for the proposed abolishment of the flood control zone district at 9 a.m. on June 26, 2023.

After the consent agenda, minutes, and vouchers were approved, the council convened a public hearing on vacating the public right-of-way on Touchet Street south of Second Street. Following the hearing, the proposal to vacate the right-of-way was approved unanimously.

An ordinance (no. 2000) to grant a franchise to Spectrum Pacific West, LLC (Charter Communications), allowing the operation and maintenance of telecommunications facilities in Dayton, was approved unanimously. The ordinance had previously been postponed to avoid interference with the Port of Columbia’s broadband project.

Ordinance 1514 was approved, authorizing the mayor to execute a professional service agreement with SCJ Alliance, Spokane, for consulting services and land use planning services.

Next, the council discussed authorizing the Waitsburg Times as the official newspaper of record for the city. The City of Dayton put the contract out for bid and received responses from the Dayton Chronicle and the Waitsburg Times. The Times submitted the lowest bid.

Aukerman said she preferred the Dayton Chronicle. She said, “I still have an issue with this. I just struggle with it. I get that they have a bigger issue out there [subscriber base], but man, Dayton Chronicle is the Dayton Chronicle. It’s not the Dayton Times.”

The mayor pointed out the Dayton Chronicle’s bid was 75 percent higher. The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution naming The Times as the city paper of record.

The agenda listed interview time for the vacant city council position 7, which was vacated last month by Tiger Dieu. The position was advertised; however, at the time of the meeting, the city had not received any letters of interest for the seat. The city will advertise the position again.

Public Works Director Ryan Paulson talked about vandalism at the City Park and Caboose Park. A security system, magnetic lock system, and new steel doors will be installed in the park restrooms. The restrooms were damaged three times since the last council meeting, including one set on fire on June 5.

Paulson said many remote-read meters are on order, with 250 expected to be installed by the city this year.

First and Second Streets between Main and Commercial Streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between June 22 and 23 due to a film production led by Walla Walla Community College.

The meeting adjourned after 8 p.m., with the next meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 11, 2023.