Harrington news

Two meetings were held Monday by the Society in the Art Room, one at 6 p.m. to discuss the October 1 Gala Event, followed by the regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Those attending were Linda Wagner, Mark and Sheryl Stedman, Gordon and Billie Herron, Ed and Bunny Haugan, Carol and Marge Womach. The Society is planning a dedicatory social event to celebrate the acquisition of the elevator and the grand piano. Discussion was primarily brain-storming to set the event parameters. Wagner was selected to chair the committee for the event. Cutting the ribbon for the elevator was discussed in relationship to the rest of the event, and would most likely be at the beginning of the event. Invitations were discussed, as was the possibility of having a mini-concert. The majority wanted the event to be more social than performing and to include all who have been involved with the Society from its inception.

During the regular meeting, the building committee reported it was awaiting the report on the energy audit in which they will recommend gas heating. The elevator had a problem during the open house for the car show, and the building committee is waiting to hear from the company this week. Replacement of handrails on the old staircase was discussed. They had been removed in previous years so the grand piano could be moved up the stairs. A request was also made for handrails on the stairs to the stage. These handrails for the center stairs need to be removable. Now that construction has been completed, the basement needs to be cleaned, perhaps in early September. Final approval of the elevator by the Dept. of Labor & Industries cost the opera house $129.

Heather Safe has nine piano students meeting once a month during the summer. Carol engages the extra children in movies or art while the others are in their lesson.

Coming events begin August 14 at 3 p.m. with a violin recital by Sherry McCaulley; August 19 with NuBlu at 7 p.m. and Needhams on September 23. The Gala Event is slated for October 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. October and November dates are beginning to fill in as well.

On July 12, the Commission met at city hall with Karen Allen, Celeste Miller, Amy Foley, Marge Womach and Dillon Haas present and Lindsey Harder and Anita Harmon attending by conference call.

Discussion was held regarding the potential project of restoring the old Harrington pillars on the north end of town. These two north pillars are on property now owned by Crop Production Services, and it was reported that the company would prefer the pillars be moved rather than repaired while on their land. Foley is collecting estimates for the Commission on the cost of repairing all four pillars, reconstructing the one pillar that is in ill-repair and moving two pillars and establishing a secure foundation for them. The Commission will take the issue to the city council for approval of the project, with potential new placements for the “north” pillars. These suggestions will include (1) the triangle park at the north end of town, (2) on Rt. 23 near the school and (3) at the city park. The Commission is working on a grant for this project, but the application cannot be sent in until a plan is solidified.

The Commission’s time line project is in the rough draft stage but nearly completed. The brochure that the group has been working on is not going to be done in the near future. Photos may still be added. The time line is an effort to succinctly show the projects that the group has had from its inception to the present. The brochure is directed more toward the business district, showcasing the buildings and their history.

The members of the Commission discussed changing their by-laws to allow for changing their monthly meetings to be quarterly meetings, during months when members are not so busy. This change would also need approval from the city council.

Bit of history: In 1930 the Harrington Commercial Club, with Jake Hopp, Jr. as its president, elected to build four pillars to mark the entrance to the town on the old North Central highway. The Commercial Club met weekly at the then Hotel Harrington for a noon luncheon. The project was conceived in March, and designs were obtained from Washington State College. At one time there were plans to have them lit. Once completed in October, however, they were topped with aluminum balls at a total cost said to be $200.

Council members Levi Schenk, Peter Davenport, Justin Slack and Mike Cronrath met with Mayor Dillon Haas, Scott McGowan (maintenance), Bunny Haugan (clerk) for the Harrington City Council meeting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Visitors for the session were Tim Campau, Dan Fromm, Joy Spaid, Ken Kennedy, Stephen Farris, Kristi Poteet and Marge Womach. Slack read the 6-Year Street Transportation Improvement Program and Resolution 2017-2022 that was prepared by Councilman Rick Becker. The Council seemed impressed with its contents and acknowledged the time and work that Becker had done.

Kristi Poteet approached the council to get a variance to allow her to run a dog grooming and boarding business in a Zone 2 area where said business is not allowed. This issue had been brought to the council last October when the council and then Mayor Paul Gilliland refused her petition while living in a Zone 2 house on the south hill of town. She and her husband and one adult son have moved from there to a house on Glover and 2nd, but still in Zone 2.

When asked if she was continuing to run her business, she said that she is. She is proposing having a maximum of five dogs boarded at a time. She will also have insurance, a business license and will put up a six-foot fence. Since she is knowingly violating the ordinance, Mayor Haas requested that she discontinue this until the council processes the variance proposal. She acknowledged that she has four cats and a few kittens, failing to mention that she had four dogs in her home last October, which it is assumed she still owns. One councilman said he uses her business knowing it was operating in defiance of the city council.

The maintenance supervisor’s report included a pump failure at the wastewater treatment plant, a broken mower frame, new requirements by the Dept. of Ecology on bio-solids and the old sewer infrastructure. Council action is limited by a rigid budget, likely indicating that no large sewer projects will be forthcoming. Experimentation with a “home-grown weed spray” has not provided a conclusive result. The weeds that were sprayed died, but more weeds came up, so it was not successful for use as a preventative weed killer.

Mention was made that the grain elevators have turned off their noise suppression equipment, but that it will be turned back on.

The mayor’s “game night” at Memorial Hall will start on Thursdays at 7 p.m., and no gambling and no electronic games will be allowed. No refreshments will be served. Online banking was discussed briefly, but the topic found little favor with the council, treasurer or clerk, and the same attitude was expressed for debit cards.

Councilman Schenk had presented the council with an ordinance regarding keeping chickens within the city limits, but the city attorney reported that it did not meet the form standard for an ordinance. Schenk will rewrite it and return to council next month for the council to vote on the issue. Details of his plan require a city employee to check the size of the area, measure distances from property lines and assess if the enclosures meet city standards. Creation of an “enforcement officer” position was mentioned, the main issue being finding money for it in the budget, and if found, creating a job description.

A citizen at the meeting was apparently offended that he was “forced to look at the back of a councilman’s head” during the meeting. He elaborated by saying that he is the employer of these councilmen and should be treated with respect. Mayor Haas assured the citizen that plans have already been made to change the seating arrangement so that the audience can see the faces of the council members, and that the citizen also had other choices of seats. Other comments were that the purpose of the council meetings is for the city to conduct business, that the Spokane City Council does not have open meetings and that a town in Lincoln County has the Sheriff’s office send a representative.

Thursday’s Summer Reading Program had 10 participants who learned about NASCAR drivers needing to be strong athletes. They were told that the temperature inside the car reaches 100 degrees, that there is no power steering and that the driver’s heart rate is the same as if they were running a marathon. During the activity period, the children built cardboard ramps and used metal hot wheels cars for a competition. A field was marked off, with the object of having the cars roll down the ramp and across the floor toward a white line but not crossing it.

Bridget Rohner read aloud “Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend: Louise Smith (1916-2006)” by Barbara Rosensstock. In the 1930s, when girls could not participate in all the boys’ activities, they could race. Louise learned to drive at age seven and later was racing and winning, prior to the advent of NASCAR. She raced for 11 years and was elected to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 43 years after she retired.

Snack time provided the children with blueberries, whipped cream and ice cream cones, foods providing nutrition fit for athletes. Before leaving the library they made cars to take home that were constructed of cardboard for the body, balloons and straws for power, the bottoms of paper cups for wheels and bamboo skewers for axles. All seemed genuinely delighted that their creations could run on their own steam.

Haas opened the small room of the Memorial Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday for a trial “Game Night” which was not advertised because it conflicted with the PTA’s “Movie Night.” Stacks of games were available. The mayor was challenged to a game of Pente by council member Peter Davenport, followed by perhaps a dozen more games. Shortly after this marathon began, Levi Schenk arrived and was observing others when Stephen Farris entered and was challenged by Schenk to a game of cribbage. This reporter could not be enticed to join in and left at about 9 p.m., as the four mentioned above were just beginning another game.