Pool-only resolution heard by Dayton City Council

DAYTON-Dayton City Council approved Resolution 1509 during the May 9 meeting for the incorporation of the City of Dayton to be included into a proposed Columbia County Parks and Recreation District. Other resolutions approved were for a contract with Humbert Asphalt, Inc. for various street improvements and with Anderson Perry for engineering services for the Third Street Projects. Councilman Jim Sueuga reported for the Public Works Committee that the Touchet River Levy Group of various agency representatives, as well as elected representatives will be meeting in Dayton on May 25. Councilman Dain Nysoe suggested that now that the city has a planner, the Affordable Housing Commission should resume meeting and that three of the five positions need to be filled. Mayor Weatherford provided a brief update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project (WWTP) and Clark Posey gave his first report as planner.

Resolution 1509 was presented to Council for approval to include the City of Dayton in the creation of a Columbia County Parks and Recreation District for the purpose of a building and operating a swimming pool. Council held a workshop on the matter on April 25. Sueuga expressed concern that the junior district would be unfunded and that the proposal lacked a specific plan for funding operations and maintenance once the pool is built - only that would rely on the excess levies passing to fund it. However, he said he the voters should decide and that he would abstain from voting. All other council members voted in favor of it other than Nysoe who voted against it. The proposal will also go before the Town Council of Starbuck before the signatures for the petition are verified by the auditor. Once verified, it will go before the County Commissioners who will hold public hearings before voting on it to be placed on the ballot for registered voters to decide in November.

Resolution 1511 passed for a contract with Humbert Asphalt, Inc. for improvements on North and South Third Streets, J Street, Pearson Street, as well as the Main Street Sidewalk Project pending approval of funds from the Transportation Improvement and Public Works Boards. Council also approved two additional resolutions for engineering services from Anderson Perry for the Third Street projects.

Councilman Jim Sueuga of the Public Works Committee said the previously scheduled meeting was rescheduled for May 25 with the Touchet River Levy Group of representatives from various agencies and State and local legislators including Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Mark Shoesler, and Representatives Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Joe Schmick. The meeting will begin at Flour Mill Park at 10 AM and will continue north along the levy to review the flood hazard from the accumulation of sediment in the riverbed.

Councilman Dain Nysoe suggested to Council that now that the City has hired a planner, they resume Affordable Housing Commission meetings. He added that only 3 of the 5 members are active and Council would need to authorize the Mayor to appoint new members. He emphasized the need for more affordable housing in Dayton and he clarified that affordable housing is not the same as low-income housing. He said there is funding available to communities to create affordable housing developments and they need to have a working Commission to qualify. He suggested they work with Common Roots Housing in Walla Walla that also covers Columbia County. Councilmember Laura Aukerman added that they could work together with the Port of Columbia since they are discussing the housing needs in the County as part of their review of their Comprehensive Plan.

Mayor Weatherford provided a brief update on the WWTP that they are discussing the connection of the current system with the new system. They have well drillers arranged to come on the proposed property for the project to allow agencies to gather the required data for the next six to eight months. He recommended they hire a planner specifically for the WWTP project.

New City Planner Clark Posey gave his first report that he has issued several minor permits and is working with an unspecified developer concerning property along West Main Street.