City's Public Works Director, Kenny Landkammer, to retire

POMEROY–The City Council has accepted and approved a retirement request from City Public Works Director Kenny Landkammer effective December 30, 2020.

In light of the upcoming vacancy, Councilman Mike Cassetto recommended a review of requirements and qualifications for the position. Councilman James Harris stated, "We need an established letter of qualifications" for the job before it is advertised."

Mayor Paul Miller will sign the Property Tax Increase Resolution before November 20 which was approved at the City Council meeting November 10.

City Clerk Shaun Martin, reviewed a letter from County Assessor Brian Bartels regarding local tax valuation. Points of discussion were a twenty percent increase in risk management, an increase in utility rates, loss of revenue due to the state taking over business licensing, and the cost of medical for city employees up by four percent. A committee consisting of Mayor Miller, Harris and Martin will look at utility rates.

The City and Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) will meet to discuss requests made by the BOCC for a two percent increase in the city's contract with the Sheriff's Department to $21,778.29 per month and for court services to $1,866.88 per month. Typically, the existing contract is "somewhat automatic if requested which has been made".

The City Council approved the final payment of $18,803.61 for the Columbia Fifth to Sixth Street Project to Nelson Construction concluding outstanding payments. Antonich also presented Bill #23343, the final bill for TD&H Engineering, for $3,969.05. He explained that this covered what remained of what TD&H owed for the geo tech work, remaining paperwork and the "punch-list" inspection of the project. Cassetto moved to pay the bill, Harris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Bill Preston of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will meet with Jen Blood and the clerk at 10 a.m. on November 19 to inspect the Sixth Street Bridge paving.

In other Council actions, the board approved Mike McKeirnan's request for relief from a water overage in the amount of $212.80. McKeirnan was charge of $425.60 for 295,000 gallons of water at 851 High Street.

Scoggin & Scoggin submitted a proposal of $9,862.09 to the city for the excavation and clean-up work of the billboard property located at the east end of town that was recently purchased by the city.

Resolution 20-2 addressed the City of Pomeroy's Six-Year Transportation Plan for 2021-2026 was approved.

Public Works Director Kenny Landkammer was not present but submitted a report that included a bid from Knox Concrete to repair the roof at city hall for $3,237.00. He also noted that the light poles on Main Street are being worked on and winter machinery maintenance is underway.

Jack Peasley of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) told the City Council Board that twelve local businesses and on no-profit had qualified so far for grant money provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act with only one denied due to a non-active Unified Business Identifier number.

Peasley, who has been working with community businesses with applying for CARES and other relief grant funding since March, indicated Congress recently made funding available to non-profit organizations. He stated that approximately $14,000 had been awarded to pay for an additional employee and labor at the city pool that was needed to meet COVID-19 requirements, Chromebooks for each city council member to use when they are unable to meet in person, and Chromebooks and video equipment for the school so it can conduct assemblies remotely via separate classrooms.

There are some businesses in town that have not utilized the grant opportunities largely because they haven't been impacted enough by the COVID restrictions to apply.

Sheriff Drew Hyer reported there were 129 calls to service in the month of October, including a vehicle prowl. Hyer said that the cougar issue in town had "pretty much come to a halt." One cougar was euthanized just out of town and there have been no more reported sightings. The department is still receiving a few calls from elderly residents regarding phone scams, and the sheriff reemphasized the importance of people to be aware of these and to never give any personal information to unsolicited phone callers.

Cassetto was notified that several trees at PeeWee Park where damaged from the last windstorm and needed to be trimmed. He was also asked if some evergreens could be planted to provide more shade.

James Fuchs was wished a Happy Birthday by the Mayor and other Council members before the meeting adjourned.

The next regular meeting will be held on December 8, 2020, at 7 p.m. A second hearing for the 2021 budget will be held on December 8, 2020, at 7 p.m. prior to the council's regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

Those in attendance at the Pomeroy City Council held on November 10, 2020 was Mayor Paul Miller, council members Susie Bowles, James Fuchs, Mike Cassetto and James Harris, City Clerk Shaun Martin and several guests.