Harrington news

Council meeting

Wednesday evening, July 8, the Harrington City Council met with Mayor Paul Gilliland at the helm, and council members Peter Davenport, Terri Howe, Mike Cronrath and Levi Schenk in attendance; as were city clerk, Bunny Haugan and Alan Gay, of Stantec. Visitors included Priscilla and Dick Derr, Paul Charlton, Sharon Schultz, Donita Simons, Ashley Schenk, Crystal Hickman, Cody Anderson, Marge Womach and Justin Slack.

Alan Gay announced that Harrington was awarded the $59,000 grant/loan for the study of sump pump water, storm water, sump pump usage and the resultant affect on the Harrington sanitary water system and the treatment plant. At present, Harrington does not have a problem from the sump pumps, however, under extreme winter conditions, the flow of winter water can cause the lagoon system to get dangerously full. The “study” will begin next winter and continue to July 2016.

The Council had received a letter from Grace Moeller requesting to be placed on the Library Board to fill a vacancy. She had attended the last board meeting and all present recommended her to the position. The Council voted 4-0 for her appointment.

A hearing date was set for August 12 at 7:30 p.m. for the 6-Year Street Program, which is essentially an annual “wish-list” update with the Department of Transportation.

Mayor Gilliland provided the Council and community with an update on the dog license fees. Sixty-nine people have paid their license fee for 2015 while another 21 people with 32 dogs have not licensed them. The Mayor wants to send a final notice saying that the fees are doubled, plus $100 for non-compliance. The city currently has one dog in custody which has generated a bill of $154. The dog will be taken to Spokane in the next few days. A community member expressed concern that there were too many dogs at the Bly Apartments. The mayor acknowledged that seven dogs reside there.

Abatement notices on junk vehicles are effective. The Jacobsen trailer is now gone from Harrington. Notices about the yards that present a hazard were addressed and questions were made about specific residences. When complaints are made, the mayor stated, he and Scott McGowan go to assess the situation and attempt to determine if the property deserves an abatement notice and to determine which ordinances apply to that property.

Simons had added to the agenda a question pertaining to the 20 percent utility tax. The mayor stated that this tax is on garbage, water and sewer fees, and the funds go into the current expense fund.

The council discussed the Chamber of Commerce’s application for a Beer Garden in the city park for Fall Festival. There was a question as to whether any ordinance addressed beer in the city park, and the mayor said that we need to look. Councilman Cronrath stipulated that the Council needs to remain unbiased and have sufficient information in order to vote. Since the form was not filled out sufficiently by the Chamber, the Council could not act.

Summer Reading Program

More children signed up for the program this week, and it seemed that there were 17 present with several absent from the first week. Many of the children this year were also part of last year’s summer reading program. This session began with story time and selecting books to check out. The children were all well behaved in spite of their excitement about walking to the city park for the completion of the day’s activities. In single file, more or less, the young ones lined up and waited for instructions. “Clap twice if you hear my voice,” and the children responded so well. Out the door they went, leaving the librarian behind with her head spinning from all the noise and activity.

At the park they formed an introduction circle and learned the names of the other participants. Bridget Rohner brought a wonderful selection of art supplies for the decoration of the airplanes they were going to make and learn to fly. Several lessons were taught on “air” that can’t be seen. The children were learning that there can be a difference between flying into the wind rather than with the wind. After the planes were put together, the children were allowed to decorate them, and finally each was encouraged to try to launch their gliders. One child seemed to know in advance that a gentle touch helped the glider sail farther.

Following these lessons, they were allowed to play on the park equipment and even run through the sprinkler. Some parents arranged to pick up their children at the park as they had swimming lessons immediately after. It was a small group who returned to the library at five with signs that they had had a most enjoyable time on their outing.