The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON- The Dayton City Council held its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on September 13, 2022. Mayor Zac Weatherford and council members Shannon McMillen, Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Laura Aukerman, and Tiger Dieu were present at City Hall; Dain Nysoe was absent.

The Interim 911 Director and Dispatch Supervisor, Desirae Lockard, gave a brief report, including an update on the 911 phone system, which will have an upgrade on September 20, 2022. She said 911 calls might be redirected to Walla Walla for up to six hours that day.

With the increase in deputies, Sheriff Helm reported his department would be able to provide two deputies at the schools each morning to interact with students. Deputies waiting to attend the academy are usually assigned to the schools and other public education tasks.

The Sheriff’s Department plans to offer the Citizen’s Academy again this fall, updating the community on how enforcement by his department has been affected by recent state legislation.

The department has written ninety-one traffic tickets this past month, which does not include stops where no citation was issued.

McMunn said she had heard reports of kids on bicycles on the streets at 3 a.m. and asked the Sheriff if there were any gaps in coverage. Helm said there might be only an occasional gap due to shift coverage, but he expected complete coverage once the two new deputies graduate from the academy.

McMunn also asked about costs associated with lost time and mileage due to the department transporting prisoners to other facilities due to overcrowding at the county jail. The county hopes to build a new public safety building, which would include a jail, to alleviate the pressure on the current facility.

Jennie Dickinson, the Director of the Port of Columbia, gave a presentation on the new franchise agreement between the Port of Columbia and the City of Dayton. The information she provided covered items negotiated between the two parties, including a new development clause that requires the city to notify the port of any underground utility extensions to allow the port to include fiber conduit.

The City Council expects to vote on the agreement at the next scheduled City Council meeting.

At the end of Dickenson’s presentation, Su’euga said, “Thank you for doing this. This is something that this community needs, and it’s great. Thank you.”

The administration at City Hall has scheduled a Customer Appreciation Day for October 11, 2022. The event will include hotdogs, chips, and sodas to be served in front of the building and other activities. It will be funded by donations from city staff and the mayor and not involve any public funds.

Also, on October 11, the city staff and council members will take photos for the City’s website.

The Parks and Recreation Committee is considering a proposal from the Friends of the Dayton Dog Park to put a gazebo in the park. It would be funded, built, and maintained by the Friends.

Reporting for the County, County Commissioner Ryan Rundell said the board hired Gary Morgon as the new Public Works Director/County Engineer.

The commissioner said Cathy Abel was appointed interim County Auditor until the Republican Party Central Committee can provide three candidates for the temporary position.

Chris Mills has resigned as County Assessor effective September 30, 2022, and the interim vacancy will be filled by the County Commissioners from one of three candidates selected by the Republican Party Central Committee.

The interim Assessor and Auditor will be replaced in January with the winning candidates from the November 2022 election.

The city’s public works department has hired Duane Moore as a full-time worker. The city will begin crack sealing on South Fourth Street. The 1100 block of South Fourth Street will be closed one day that week to connect a new home to city services.

Aukerman requested the Pledge of Allegiance be recited at the beginning of each meeting. The mayor will check with the city lawyer to see if it needs to be approved by a vote or not. No other council member voiced any objection. If there are no objections, it could be implemented at the next meeting.