The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—It was a reluctant city council that agreed to sign a five-year contract with the county for Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and Municipal Court services last week during their regular monthly meeting.

Dain Nysoe objected to “strong-arm tactics” contained in a letter from the county’s prosecuting attorney dated Feb. 22, urging the contract to be signed within two weeks of the date of the letter or face arbitration.

As the Public Safety Committee Chairman during mediation, Nysoe said the contract doesn’t meet the committee’s original expectations.

Overall, the contract contains everything agreed to in mediation and that council authorized in Nov. 2020, said Weatherford. However, it did not include an exit option requested by the city but was objected to by the county.

Despite some misgivings, Weatherford said he thinks it is important to move forward with the contract but continue looking into other options for law enforcement services. Delphine Bailey and Dain Nysoe agreed with the city’s need to have its own law enforcement department. The contract is for five years and gives the city ample time to research this option.

The City Finance Committee, city staff, and the mayor will continue to discuss the implications the $612,500 yearly payment to the county will have on the city’s finances and Dayton residents. The City anticipates major cuts to services as a direct result of the ILA.

“This isn’t an easy decision to be made,” Weatherford said.

Delphine Bailey, Christine Broughton, and Byron Kaczmarski voted to approve the contract. Mike Paris and Dain Nysoe cast dissenting votes with Misty Yost, who works for the county, abstaining.

Mayor Weatherford discussed city projects in his report to the city council including the sewer video project for sewer cleaning, and scoping work is scheduled for Mar. 29 to April 1.

The Cameron Street chip seal project and the Front Street Bridge projects have gone out to bid, and asphalt is planned for a portion of East Tremont Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

Weatherford said he met with the Flood Control Zone District board of supervisors and manager, representatives from Anderson/Perry & Associates, FEMA representatives, state program delivery managers, and the U.S Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to talk about sediment removal from the Touchet River and clear up any confusion about the county/city jurisdiction projects in order to protect FEMA eligibility for funding.

Some of the issues with regard to potential flooding include the city’s concerns about an emergent portion of the sediment from the Main St. Bridge and railroad track bridge and where Patit Creek and the Touchet River meet. The city is also working with the county to remove woody debris and damage to a culvert has been repaired.

The city received a grant to purchase radios for emergencies and has four to five thousand sandbags to prepare future high-water events. The city also has a mechanism to fill sandbags on-site.

“I think we were able to dodge a bullet with this last winter storm,” he said.

The City is keeping watch on weather patterns and maintains frequent contact with the county over the potential for flooding.

Weatherford said the City’s Finance Committee has asked that a community survey go out in utility bills to assess public sentiment about programs and infrastructure. City staff will establish other ways to engage senior citizens in the process.

Misty Yost reported on the Chamber of Commerce. She said plans are in the works for All Wheels Weekend and the Dayton Days parade. However, the events’ committees are being very cautious with regard to the COVID-19 situation.

Brix and Brew has been officially moved to November and will be held on Nov. 5 this year. The Awards Banquet will be in January 2022.

Mayor Pro-tem Dain Nysoe asked city staff to provide the council with information about the City’s bonding capability for a new swimming pool. Nysoe would like cost estimates to demolish the existing pool if bonds or other financing are not available for its replacement.

“It is a constant reminder to the citizens of Dayton that we do not have a pool,” he said.

Planning Director Meagan Hayes reminded the city council about a public hearing on Mar. 16 regarding a variance on South Seventh Street and the application for Conditional Use Permit for the assisted living facility the hospital plans to lease from the construction contractor.

Her department has received another vacation request in an alley adjacent to South Willow Street. Information about that will be presented at the April council meeting.

Hayes has been pursuing website updates and additions, including a Build Dayton resource with information for construction developers.

The Planning Department should complete the Main Street Safety Action Plan by the end of March and in committee in April. Hayes will work on a draft for review for the city council.

A grant award through the Department of Commerce will allow for a hotspot at City Hall. She will have an agreement at the next meeting.

The Dayton City Council considered and approved the following:

Ordinance No. 1976: Amending Title 4 of the Dayton Municipal Code, creating a new chapter, Utility Rate Reduction Discount Program. Mayor Weatherford said the city could establish reduced utility rates for low-income senior citizens and residential customers inside and outside the city. The program will be administered by the Blue Mountain Action Council, Walla Walla.

Resolution No. 1456: Amending the by-laws of the Dayton Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission is asking for regularly scheduled meetings to take place on odd calendar months. If necessary, special meetings can be held.

Resolution No. 1457: setting a public hearing to take testimony for, or against, the vacation of the public right of way on East J Street (East of South 6th Street). The right-of-way portion is 60’ x 120’ and is undeveloped vacant land, which dead-ends into the City Cemetery. 100-percent of adjoining property owners have signed the petition for vacation of the right-of-way. The public hearing will take place during the next regular meeting of the Dayton City Council on April 14.

Resolution No. 1458: authorizing the Mayor to execute an interagency agreement between the Washington Department of Commerce and the City for coronavirus relief funding for activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus in partnership with local service providers for the Community Development Block Grant-CV1 consortium area. The funds could be passed through to the Blue Mountain Action Council to provide eligible public services and microenterprise assistance for residents in Columbia County. The award is in the amount of $27,613. The Finance Committee will review this agreement at their next meeting.

Resolution No. 1459: authorizing the Mayor to execute a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City and Bryan Martin for 43 acres of land to site wastewater facilities. This is to complete the City of Dayton Wastewater Treatment Facility Update Project. The city will pay earnest money in the amount of $16,000. Martin will give the city six months to establish compatibility for the project. If the sale proceeds, the city will pay no less than $290,000 for the property per the agreement. Jake Hollopeter, Principal Engineer for Anderson/Perry & Associates who was at the meeting, said the property seems very “promising.”

Hollopeter said a constructed wetlands method of wastewater treatment is designed as a mechanical system, followed by wetland polishing and additional treatment. If compatible and with the proper permitting, this property would be used for wetland polishing and treatment of effluent with indirect discharge into the river.

The excitement surrounding the project is amazing, according to City Administrator Trina Cole. She said this project is considered across the state as “groundbreaking.”

City officials meet monthly with representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians, Washington Water Trust, the Department of Ecology, and other agencies to discuss the project.

The mayor read a letter from the Department of Ecology dated Feb. 24, 2021, saying this type of project has never been implemented in Washington State, and the agency is very excited and supportive. This innovative treatment approach could serve as a model in Washington state.

“We are confident through continued collaboration the proposed treatment design will be approved by DOE, and the city can move forward with seeking funding for the facility Regional Director Eastern Region DOE,” said Weatherford.

Resolution No. 1460: authorizing the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Columbia County for providing Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and Municipal Court services. The City will pay to the County a sum of $612,500.00 per year for the services. The amount of compensation will be increased per year at a rate equal to 100-percent of the Urban Consumer Price Index, West Size Class B/C of the preceding year, to take effect on Jan. 1 of the successive year, beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The contract is for five years.

There is a special city council meeting on Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. to consider candidates and appoint a candidate for a vacant seat on the Dayton City Council.