Lobe sworn in; committee assignments made

Meeting Monday, February 11, the council and mayor Doug Plinski welcomed newest council member Landon Lobe, who was promptly sworn in by the mayor. Plinski then handed out committee assignments to council members.

The 13 committees are constituted as follows:

Finance & Admin: Lois Hubbard, Lois Harp.

Public Safety: Marlene Kramer, Lois Harp.

Sewer System: Frank White, Landon Lobe.

Solid Waste: Lois Hubbard, Frank White.

Water System: Landon Lobe, Frank White.

Parks & Recreation: Lois Harp, Landon Lobe.

Streets: Frank White, Landon Lobe.

Planning Commission: consists of volunteers from the community.

Library Board: consists of volunteers from the community.

Cemetery: Lois Harp, Marlene Kramer.

Airport: Lynn Schmidt, Stan Dammel (non-council-member volunteers)

Buildings: Lois Hubbard, Marlene Kramer.

Personnel: Marlene Kramer, Lois Hubbard.

The mayor is also considered a member of every committee unless the council determines a conflict of interest.

Police

Police chief Helen Coubra reported that her office responded to a violent sexual assault but that the remaining calls were routine matters.

Coubra also reported on plans to celebrate “National Night Out” in Odessa at Reiman Park on August 6 with a barbecue provided by her office. The purpose of the event is to raise public awareness of crime prevention strategies.

Odessa residents were reminded again to renew their dog licenses. Only about 10 households remain that have not yet renewed.

Public Works

Public Works director Rod Webster reported that the area behind the grocery store, the road to the water treatment plant and the alley behind the coffee house were graded. The Grange Supply Co. allowed the town to borrow the use of its grader.

Working with the Dept. of Ecology, Webster said he and his crew have been clearing out a backlog of solid waste from the water treatment plant. They have temporarily increased the bagging of solid wastes and their subsequent removal in order to get the volume down to a more manageable level.

Webster showed council members a sample of a new roofing material for the cemetery chapel. Council approved the choice, and the reroofing project will now be put out for bid.

Town clerk

Town clerk Gail Kiesz reported on the audit of the town’s books. There were no findings, the only matter of concern to the auditor being the number of non-functioning water meters, thought to be approximately 10 to 20% of all the meters in town. While the Public Works crew begins working to repair or replace the broken meters, consumers will be charged for water/sewer/garbage services based on their most recent history when the meters were still operational instead of at a flat rate, as is the case now. Only if the residence has no history will the flat base rate be charged.

The mayor added that up to 4% in revenue can be lost each year due to non-functional water meters.

Council member reports

Reporting for an absent Lois Harp, Plinski said the pool’s lift is being readied for shipment.

Marlene Kramer reported that the Old Town Hall committee is still gathering information and has scheduled another meeting for March 7.

Mayor’s report

The $329,800 federal grant for work on the Fifth Avenue project was awarded because school buses use the roadway several times every day. The road is therefore considered part of the federal connector system, the mayor explained. Meanwhile, he is still trying to find out more about why the Fourth Avenue project funding was denied.

Council approved a request from high school senior Kendall Todd to write a letter of recommendation for her to help her compete for a scholarship from the Association of Washington Cities. She has applied for the scholarship, and among other things she must shadow the town council and later on attend the state AWC convention in order to be considered for the award.