Waitsburg city council considers pool hazard notice

WAITSBURG-Waitsburg City Council convened at city hall for its regular meeting on August 16, 2023. Present were Mayor Marty Dunn, council members Randy Charles, Jillian Henze, Court Rupenthal, Jim Romine, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, and city attorney Jared Hawkins. City attorney Jared Hawkins was also present. Member Kevin House was absent.

Hinchliffe gave an update on the city's Public Hearing Capital Facilities Plan. Hinchliffe said there are minor updates from last year. The council approved the updated plan on Resolution 2023-769.

Hinchliffe presented a lease agreement with John Deere Financial for a compact excavator ("mini-excavator") for city maintenance work. He said the mini-excavator would be a helpful addition to city facilities for its work on the sewer and water system. The two-year lease agreement provided to the council shows a total cost of $65,203.46. Council approved the lease agreement. The first payment of approximately $11,000 is due immediately.

Hinchliffe updated the council on the written notice to the city from Walla Walla County Department of Community Health requiring the pool be filled or covered as a public safety precaution, citing WAC 246-260-141. The city pool has been closed for two years.

City attorney Hawkins confirmed the relevant codes and conceded that the open pool represented a possible liability for the city should someone become injured trespassing on the site. The pool continues to be locked behind an eight-foot fence with clear no-trespassing signage. According to Hinchliffe and Hawkins, the city has not experienced any trespassing problems.

The city would have the option to fill the pool using its choice of materials, including gravel, rip rap, and concrete. Hinchliffe did not provide a cost estimate for filling the pool.

A preliminary estimate of $11,000-$15,000 for a pool cover from Pool World, Inc. of Spokane was submitted to the council by Hinchliffe.

According to Hawkins, the county health department has no specific deadline attached to the request but said action should be taken soon. Hawkins proposed the city request a variance from the health department for more time to provide written details on hazard mitigation measures already taken.

"While we wait for a decision on the variance – and we don't know how long that it would take - it would give the city time to think some more about long-term solutions," Hawkins says. He told the council he would speak to the county health department and the city insurance carrier to gather more detailed information on the issue.

Council approved requesting the variance.

Henze reported the Weller Library had appointed Sarah Roberts as Library Supervisor to replace Twila Tate, who held the position of Librarian. Tate stepped down to take a library board position. Amanda Withers will continue as library support, and an additional support staff position is being advertised.