The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—City of Dayton Mayor Zac Weatherford provided an update about the Interlocal Agreement with the county for Law and Justice, Dispatch, and Municipal Court services at last week’s city council meeting.

The Public Safety Committee has reviewed the contract and provided it to the city attorney for review. It has been sent back to the county with a few minor recommendations, he said.

Weatherford agreed with County Commissioner Ryan Rundell, who was at the meeting, about the need for caution in making any substantial changes to the contract.

Weatherford said the Blue Mountain Land Trust is working through conservation easements on a piece of property the City is looking into purchasing for the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant project.

“The ball is still rolling,” he said. “I know it has been a very slow process.”

Another property, without conservation easements, is also being reviewed.

The City has put the North Front Street Bridge repair project out to bid a second time. The City’s insurance company thought the only bid received from the first round was too high, at $108,000, said Weatherford.

Weatherford met with officials from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do a site inspection for granular material in the Touchet River. The City wants sediment removed as soon as possible.

The City is working with Blue Mountain Action Council on a utility relief discount policy that will help low-income residents and those living on a fixed income with their utility payments, Weatherford said.

He said the Public Works Department has been working on general sewer maintenance and “gearing up” for a snow event. Four hundred sandbags have been filled for use in the event of a high-water event.

The City has received a letter from Anderson/Perry & Associates saying they have selected the City of Dayton, to co-sponsor a $1,000 scholarship for a Dayton High School Senior graduating this year.

“This is really great news and even better for whatever hardworking senior will receive that this spring,” he said.

Dayton City Planning Director Meagan Hayes said the Comprehensive Plan Update would be presented to the city council for adoption in April after it is passes review by the state Dept. of Commerce.

She said the Affordable Housing Commission has met with the Washington State Dept. of Commerce to discuss multifamily housing tax exemptions, but no recommendations have been made.

A public hearing has been set for 10 a.m. on March 16 with a hearing examiner regarding a Conditional Use Permit for the Columbia County Health System Assisted Living Facility project and a variance for the South Seventh Street subdivision.

Hayes said the Real Estate Review Committee met to review remnant properties available for surplus. There may be interest in surplus land for affordable housing development or other uses in the long term.

Hayes also talked about returning to talks with the county about a 39-acre land swap.

In March 2019, the Dayton City Council approved a request to forward an application to the County Commissioners regarding amendments to the Dayton Urban Growth Area. The proposed amendment is to remove unusable land in northeastern and northwestern portions of the area for more suitable land in the southwestern and eastern areas. Five parcels would be affected by the removal, and five parcels would be affected by the addition, creating a near even swap, Hayes said at that time.

“We are moving forward with some abatement projects,” Hayes said, thanking Sheriff Joe Helm for providing help to her as she works on the projects.

At last week’s meeting, Helm said he would like to thank Hayes for bringing issues to his attention.

“She has been important in keeping the Sheriff’s Office apprised,” he said.

The Sheriff’s Office has a new deputy, David Walling. Sheriff Helm said Walling is interested in working with youth and is under consideration for School Resource Officer at the Dayton schools. He will receive school resource training for this position.

Helm said the Columbia County Search and Rescue and Walla Walla County Search and Rescue programs are merging to become the Blue Mountain Search and Rescue.

At next month’s city council meeting, candidates for the council position vacated by Matt Wiens last month, will be considered for appointment to the position.

The Dayton City Council appointed Garret Warren to a term ending 2/18/24, on the Affordable Housing Commission, Mike Smith to a term ending 2/28/24, on the Historic Preservation Commission, and Russell Levens to a term ending 3/1/25, on the Dayton Planning Commission.

The Dayton City Council also authorized the City to join with other Columbia County agencies requesting an amendment to Governor Jay Inslee’s new regional reopening approach for COVID-19, to return phased openings to a county-by-county basis.

The following was also authorized:

Ordinance No. 1975; amending portions of Title 1 of the Dayton Municipal Code, revising eligibility to serve on the Affordable Housing Commission. This allows people living outside of Dayton to serve on the commission.

Resolution No. 1454; task order for engineering services related to the completion of the 2021 sanitary sewer television inspections, not to exceed $50,000. This work will take place in March.

Resolution No. 1455; task order for engineering services with Anderson/Perry & Associates related to the Flood of 2020, repairs and rehabilitation projects not to exceed $44,000.