Dayton City Council hears Sheriff's plans for Open House, Citizens Academy

DAYTON—The Dayton City Council met at 6 p.m. on February 13, 2024. Council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Laura Aukerman, and Shannon McMillen were at Dayton City Hall.

Public comment opened with Katie Roughton again speaking about the city withdrawing from the rural library district. She suggested city tax dollars paid into the library district could be redistributed to city services like the EMS and Fire Departments. Funds from levies are specific and cannot be reallocated.

James Byrd spoke on behalf of a voters’ referendum to decide the library’s future.

Roughton returned to request sanctions against McMunn again over the councilperson’s attempt to distribute a NUP-published pamphlet about the CCRLD financials at a city council workshop.

In his department report, Sheriff Helm said his office will hold a public forum/open house in April where the public can meet the sheriff’s staff, get updates on law changes, and share resource information.

On April 27, Helm said there would be a drug “take back” day for citizens to dispose of unwanted medication and paraphernalia safely. The lead agency for the take-back day is the Coalition for Youth and Families (CYF). The sheriff’s department and CYF will also host another “Hidden in Plain Sight” event where results of the “Healthy Youth” survey will be presented. The event is for adults only.

Helm said his office plans a Citizen’s Academy in spring; information will be posted on the Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.

Columbia County Commissioner Ryan Rundell said the county appointed Tyler Huff to head Parks and Recreation.

Ryan said the county rented the office at 309 E. Main St., next to the commissioner’s office for the Human Resources Office. The unit behind the commissioner’s office will become the elections office.

Finally, he said Jan Strobehn has been tapped as the Public Health Administrator. She had been filling that role as interim Public Health Administrator.

The council approved Resolution 1534, which acknowledges the Columbia County Park and Recreation District.

The appointments of Van Whysong to the Historic Preservation Commission and Jerry Kaiser to the Planning Commission were approved by the council.

Mayor Trump said he invited people knowledgeable about the library’s budget and spending to join the council at its workshop on March 19 at 3 p.m. He said the council will vote on the library issue at the next city council meeting.

Ryan Paulson, Public Works Director, said the unpaved continuation of 2nd Street between the school and the hospital has been graveled and asked drivers to obey the 5 MPH speed limit on that portion of the road. He said they had begun filling the fishing pond along that same road.

McMunn said the electronic reader board adjacent to the car wash on Main Street was being replaced with an upgraded version.

The council meeting adjourned at 7 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 09, 2024, at 6 p.m.