Dayton City Council clears up Dog mixup

DAYTON - Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m., March 10, 2026. The mayor and council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, and Dave Harvey were present. Shannon McMillen was absent.

Opening public comment, Dayton School District Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley expressed gratitude for city residents’ school support, including their volunteering and attendance at sporting events. He said the district and the kids appreciate the support.

Transitioning to board appointments, Mike Smith was selected mayor pro tem for a second term. 

Council members than discussed Resolution 1588, to amend the collective bargaining agreement with city workers to include tuition reimbursement for Commercial Driver’s Licenser training. Most of the city’s non-clerical workers are required to have a CDL. Since the city no longer has an in-house trainer, employees must use a third-party trainer. The resolution passed unanimously.

The council then considered Resolution 1589, which would authorize a consultancy agreement with Anderson Perry & Associates for the Main Street from Cottonwood Street to Patit Road. The consultants will design and prepare construction bidding documents for the road improvement project. The commissioners approved the resolution unanimously.

After addressing official business, Trump discussed a letter included with February’s water bill about dog licensing compliance, which some residents misinterpreted as a notice of being charged or fined for unregistered dogs. Smith pointed out that the letter’s wording, including “Please know that at this time you’ve been notified of these violations,” led to this confusion. 

The notice was sent to residents who registered their dogs last year, reminding them to register them for 2026 if they had not already done so. In the past, the city averaged 480 and 490 dog licenses each year. This year, only 180 residents have registered their dogs. 

Moving to city operations, Assistant City Clerk Misty Yost said the city was in the home stretch of launching the new website. Data migration from the current website has been completed, and city staff are learning to make updates. She did not give a date when the new website would be online.

Clark Posey said the Military Vehicle Preservation Association will pass through Dayton with a convoy of historic military vehicles traveling 2,000 miles on the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery route, from North Dakota to Fort Stevens, Oregon. The convoy, which consists of up to 100 vintage military vehicles, is expected to arrive in Dayton on August 10, 2026. The convoy hopes to park around the Columbia County Courthouse. After lunch, the group will visit the Patit Campsite before departing.

Posey said it was time to remind residents to pick up garbage and mow lawns, including in the alleys. Su’euga jokingly suggested that letters reminding people to do Spring clean-up be addressed to “Dear evildoers,” no doubt referring to the dog licensing reminder letter.

A citizen during the last public comment period said he thought the dog registration reminder letter was great.

The meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.