The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Oct. 17, 2018

Present at last week’s meeting of the Waitsburg City Council were Mayor Marty Dunn and Council members K.C. Kuykendall, Terry Jacoy, Kevin House and Kate Hockersmith – as well as student representative Leena Baker, who has returned to the Council for another year of service.

The meeting began with a presentation by a representative of the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health concerning a recently released report on the department’s spending in areas related to affordable housing and homelessness. The purpose of the presentation was to ensure that “more of our community partners are aware of these dollars,” and to detail the department’s plans to better include the Waitsburg area in the services it provides.

Eventually, the department hopes to have a designated Waitsburg representative seated on its Council on Housing. Councilman Kuykendall commended the program’s efforts, stating that his “hope is that you guys figure out a formula that is not just turning the crank, but will help people get out of this debilitating state.”

An update to the Capital Facilities Plan passed unanimously, although many of the projects listed therein (such as a $1.6 million remodel to City Hall) will likely be far in the future.

Then again, there’s been a recent increase in the city’s revenues. Between construction permitting fees – from new single-family homes and the Waitsburg School District’s levy-supported projects – and surging property sales, City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe says that the current upswing in revenue is “probably the highest I’ve ever seen.” The council unanimously amended the budget to take this windfall into account.

The State Public Works Board has granted the city a $90,000 loan to begin water-line upgrades on Taggart Road, from Highway 12 to Dewitt Road, and in the eastern portion of the city.

An informational kiosk provided by the Port of Walla Walla is set to be placed near the central area of Main Street soon. One side will feature a street map highlighting Waitsburg businesses and attractions, the other a map of the Walla Walla Valley as a whole.