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POMEROY–The Pomeroy School District began a “Summer Session” on Sept. 28, 2020, as an alternative athletics program due to the changes in sports for the 2020-2021 school year mandated by the WIAA during the pandemic. The session will be a non-competitive program focusing on skills and drills for each sport, and will be for the month of October only. It will be offered to 7th–12th graders, and run by volunteer coaches. Because so many different sports will be offered in the session, practices will vary as to which are offered each day. That wi...
POMEROY-A Community Development Block Grant Agreement in the amount of $17,552, was approved and signed by the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at the regular meeting September 28, 2020. The Block Grant Agreement is a contract between the City of Pomeroy, Garfield County BOCC, and the Aging and Disability Resource Center, for the purpose of providing funds for the use of rent, mortgage payments, and utilities for eligible individuals who are in need of assistance due to difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The...
POMEROY-The Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA) presented their 2020 Transit Development Plan to the Board of Directors which was passed at their meeting September 21, 2020. The plan covers six years (2020-2025) of operating data, projections, accomplishments and goals. The plan described the GCTA as providing weekday commuter bus service, twice weekly medical–shopper service to the Lewiston–Clarkston area, and local service within Garfield County,” and offers these services free of charge. In addition, the GCTA offers conne...
POMEROY-The Gazebo Restoration project at the City Park is gaining momentum with some recent donations. Headed up by Jack Peasley, Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) Managing Director, and Grant Morgan, Garfield County Public Works Director, the project funds collected to date are nearing $13,000. The latest donation was the $1,000 presented by Bill Clemens, Regional Business Manager with the Pacific Power Foundation. Another large portion, $5,000, came from one...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) appointed Tina Meier as Garfield County Emergency Management Director (EMD) at its regular weekly meeting September 21, 2020. Meier, who is currently serving as the Garfield County Communications Director and E911 Coordinator, and Registered Sex Offender Coordinator, was recommended for the position by Commissioner Justin Dixon, who felt the position should stay within the County, and within the Sheriff's Office. She accepted the a...
POMEROY–Matt Herres was appointed and sworn in as the new Port of Garfield Commissioner at the September 15, 2020, meeting. The appointment fills the seat vacated by Cody Bye. A second candidate, Terry Brandon, had withdrawn his application. The Port commissioners signed Inter Local Agreements with the County which allows them to have two dedicated strands of fiber to the fairgrounds at no charge. The County has also signed the necessary contracts to begin the process of requesting bids for t...
POMEROY––New Fire Chief James Cleveland started his new position the week of August 31, 2020, following a lengthy process of long-distance interviews, an in-person visit to Pomeroy, and a moving trip across the country with his family of 10, all due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite taking all precautions, GCFD full-time personnel have been out of the office for a week due to illness. Cleveland disclosed to the East Washingtonian that he tested positive for COVID-19, and...
POMEROY-Garfield County has received notice of an additional $50,000 coming the State as part of extended COVID-19 relief funds, bringing the total to $300,000. During the meeting September 8, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has asked for community input on how to best spend the money, benefitting the entire county. It must be used for COVID-19-related expenses. The ongoing dialog on overnight camping during this year’s modified and restructured fair continued with Commissioner Justin Dixon clarifying the rules allowing campers at t...
POMEROY–Due to recent COVID-19 activity, the Garfield County Fire District (GCFD) has reiterated its policy on wearing masks to all employees and volunteers. At the monthly meeting of the GCFD on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, a statement by GCFD Chief Medical Office Dr. Glen Houser, was discussed, where he warned individuals in a department setting who do not wear mask will be written up. GCFD Commissioner Aaron Stallcop suggested the GCFD needs to have an official policy available on the issue. Commissioner Terry John stated to his knowledge, t...
POMEROY–Grant Morgan, Public Works Director, announced at the September 14 Garfield County Board of Commissioners meeting (BOCC) that the federally-funded road project of the Gould City-Mayview Road is nearing completion. He said there will be some finish work remaining over the next week, but the road will be open to traffic the same day. Morgan also assured the BOCC the soft spots that had caused some difficulty with the road construction were repaired, but if the road was not built correctly, they could reappear by spring. Danika Gwinn, P...
POMEROY-Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) is experiencing a Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) shortage, an outcome of the education shutdown due to COVID-19 restrictions. It was expressed at the GCHD Board meeting September 1; they are experiencing a shortage of CNAs. It is a problem other area hospital are also experiencing, caused by the lack of training classes being offered due to COVID-19 restrictions. This has forced GCHD to hire CNAs through a staffing agency, which is at a much greater expense. The board has been informed the...
POMEROY––Zero DB, new contractors for the construction of the Port of Garfield’s broadband project, have begun work and expect to have it completed by early December, 2020, reported Diana Ruchert, Port Director, at the meeting of the Port’s Board of Commissioners on September 1. Zero DB has divided the construction area into three sections, and as each section is completed and tested, the Port will allow internet providers to begin signing up individuals for service. These sections are the remaining area of the original Phase 1 plans under t...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in final discussions over overnight camping for the restructured Garfield County Fair plan as of their meeting on August 31. The BOCC has yet to finalize the overnight camping plan for this year's "restructured" Garfield County Fair. A preliminary plan has been drawn up, but was not ready to present to the BOCC for approval. Commissioner Justin Dixon will submit it to Commissioners Wynne McCabe and Bob Johnson later that a...
POMEROY––The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Garfield County Health District accepted plan for this year's "restructured" Garfield County Fair events, as submitted by the Fair Board with one exception: RV camping. The Fair Board and Health District recommended the RV park remain closed for Fair weekend. The BOCC contended the area should be available families participating in the livestock show and sale as a space to retreat between shows because congregating in pub...
POMEROY––The School District (PSD) opened to in-person instruction August 31, with a Health District-approved plan. Part of the plan includes Superintendent Rachel Gwinn and Health District Administrator Martha Lanman meeting on a weekly basis to assess changes in students, staff and community, and modify protocols when needed. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was expected to arrive the week prior to school opening. Some clarifications and changes to the original plan were discussed at the PSD School Board Meeting on Monday, August 24, 2020,...
POMEROY-Martha Lanman Garfield County Health District (GCHD) Administrator presented the updated COIVD-19 statistics for Garfield County at the GCHD meeting August 24, stating there have been 115 residents and 15 non-residents tested with 111 negative results, four positives, no positive results within the county in the last 14 days and currently no tests pending. In comparison, Asotin County has become a real concern in the last two weeks, which has seen positive test results double, and new cases reported every day. Walla Walla County is...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Transportation Authority (GCTA) announced the hire of two new part-time drivers Monday, Aug. 17. The pair were hired out of three qualified applicants. Kristine Hyer and Dave Boyer will begin driving for the GCTA after training. Director Rachel Anderson stated that due to the COVID-19 Phase 3 status, all trips are limited to four riders at a time. Recently, some potential riders have been turned away due to the limitation. However, for the medical appointment and shopper trips, medical appointments get priority. T...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to contribute $25,000 to the assistance of local small businesses in conjunction with $50,000 in funds being distributed through the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), at the August 17 meeting. Garfield County received COVID-19 funding through the CARES Act, which must be spent by the end of October, 2020. All COVID-19 related County expenditures by all departments were totaled and determined that approximately $25,000 is available to use for small-business s...
POMEROY–Port of Garfield County Board of Commissioners (Port Commissioners) accepted Zero dB Communications, LLC from Spokane, Wash., bid of 497,466.30, awarding the contract for the completion of the broadband project. Diana Ruchert, Port of Garfield Director, received four bids on August 17, for the completion of the broadband project, including Blue Mountain Communication, $609,820.59; Zero dB Communications, $497,466.30; Henkels & McCoy, $740,408.88; and Summit Utility, $954,806.81. The Commissioners agreed to award the Spokane company, Z...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Fair livestock show and sale must go on in some form, according to Garfield County Commissioner Justin Dixon. In order to access some reimbursement of allocation money from the state. Dixon is concerned that a "cancellation" of the fair would cause the County to lose some funding, and cautioned against using that term. Instead, he suggested, it should be called a "restructure" of the traditional Fair. There will not be any attendance allowed, other than a limited n...
POMEROY-A search to replace resigning Garfield County Emergency Management Director (EMD) John Hisch has been initiated and Garfield County Commissioner Wynne McCabe has recommended the new Fire Chief James Cleveland. The resignation of John Hirsch, Garfield County Emergency Management Director (EMD), which is effective August 31, 2020, has ignited a search for a replacement. McCabe suggested to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at the meeting on August 10, that the newly hired Fire...
POMEROY–Garfield County Sheriff Drew Hyer announced the resignation of Deputy Richard Hamilton effective August 14, 2020. Hyer will be testing for new deputies on August 29, 2020. He also informed the Garfield County Commissioners he intends to sign on with a regional task force and officer-involved shooting team, and deadly force investigation regional team. It will include Pullman Police Dept., Washington State University, State Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, Whitman County, Asotin County, Clarkston Police Dept., and the City of Asotin. The t...
POMEROY- The Port of Garfield will seek an estimate for the design work to add the fairgrounds to the broadband fiber construction in phase one after receiving approval from the Garfield County Commissioners during the meeting August 10. Grant Morgan, Garfield County Public Works Director, said the County gave their approval to the Port to get an estimate for the design work needed to add the Fairgrounds to the phase one construction of the Port’s broadband fiber project. To expedite construction, Morgan plans to give the County Public Works p...
POMEROY-Sara Lunsford, Garfield County Fair Board President reported that the Fair Board had voted to cancel the 2020 Garfield County Fair with the exception of the market sales and livestock showing with animals already weighed and tagged to the Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), at the meeting August, 3. These events would follow strict guidelines and the Fair Board needs to know the number of participants for these two events. County Commissioner Bob Johnson reiterated the Governor’s current limit for gatherings of 10 people a...
POMEROY–The Port of Garfield Director Diana Ruchert, reported to the Port of Garfield Board of Commissioners the cost for the U.S. Forest Service building maintenance repairs is approximately $44,485: painting services $28,485, paint $8,000, and patio concrete $8,000. Per terms of the lease agreement, the Port is responsible for the repairs. In addition, the termination of the construction contract with M&L Construction has prompted Port Director Ruchert to place an advertisement for c...