The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – Karen Gregutt was selected to fill the vacant seat on Waitsburg's City Council at a special meeting on Sept. 15. Gregutt was sworn in as a council member and mayor pro tem Marty Dunn took the oath of mayor at the conclusion of the meeting.

Gregutt was the first to submit an application to fill the vacancy left by Dunn when he took assumed duties of former mayor Walt Gobel, who resigned in August. Gregutt was also the next highest vote-getter in the last election, just nine votes shy of winning the fifth place council seat.

Gregutt was selected from a field of five residents who applied for the position. Other applicants included Jim Davison, Debra Callahan, Jeanie Miller and Lisa Morrow. Applicants were interviewed by the council, with each giving a brief introduction and then answering the same three questions.

The council took a 10-minute executive session before returning with a unanimous vote for Gregutt. The executive session may have been short, but council member Kevin House said that choosing a winner was one of the tougher decisions he's had to make since being on council.

Council member KC Kuykendall agreed, saying he based his decision on the fact that Gregutt had received the next highest votes in the recent election. "The candidates were all very qualified and each had strong points," he said.

During the interview, each candidate was asked the same set of questions.

Kate Hockersmith asked what unique skills and characteristics each candidate brought to the role of council member. Gregutt said she is very creative and takes a creative approach to problem solving and promoting Waitsburg. She gave examples of organizing the Waitsburg Garden Club, brainstorming the Laurette McCaw Invitational Pie-Oneer Pie Baking Contest fundraiser, and promoting Waitsburg through her Waitsburg Windows of Art program, which has turned empty Main Street storefronts into mini art galleries.

Gregutt said that her many years of successful business experience, including work in Europe, has prepared her well for working and talking with a wide spectrum of individuals. Gregutt said she has managed a staff of more than 40, overseen hundreds of freelancers, and worked with a budget larger than the City of Waitsburg's.

Kuykendall asked candidates what they felt was the main role of a council member. Gregutt said that ensuring good governance is a critical responsibility. She said it is important that council members know the city codes and laws and make sure they are enforced equally so that all residents are treated fairly.

Council member Kevin House asked candidates what they thought the biggest challenge Waitsburg faces over the next five years is. Gregutt said that flood control, which the city is working on, is a top priority. "If we don't' make sure that is taken care of, nothing else matters," she said.

Gregutt also cited economic development as a priority, adding that it is important to support the residential community by maintaining property values as well as supporting businesses.

"We need to support the families that invest here and put their kids in school here," she said. "We can't ask people to come here and then move the goal post. Waitsburg has to be a safe place to make an investment," she added.