Meetings of Opera House Society, Chamber of Commerce and City Council

By MARJORIE WOMACH

Opera House Society

Linda Wagner opened the Harrington Opera House Society meeting with the following members present: Mark and Sheryl Stedman, Edwin and Bunny Haugan, Carol, Becky Moeller, Marge Womach, Ellen Evans and Karen Robertson. Bunny Haugan read the minutes from the previous meeting and Ed Haugan gave the financial report, both accepted as presented. A new inquiry was received from a group, Harrington Quilting and Fiber Arts, wanting to schedule meetings in the Art Room. It was stated that the Art Room continues to be rented at $25 for up to three hours, the fee going to defray the expense for heat.

The building committee stated that the railing for the old staircase has been purchased and is ready for installation, which Jay Kane has agreed to do. Discussion took place regarding the acquisition of a defibrillator; Mark will contact the Lions Club to find out if their offer to pay half the cost is still valid, since the offer had been made well over a year ago. Cleaning of the building for the upcoming events was tentatively set for Tuesday morning. Billie Herron is waiting to hear back from the piano tuner as to when he is planning to come.

The first item of new business was a request by the school and Taunya Sanford for the school to make a presentation on the stage of the opera house on October 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. “Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth” will be performed at the school on October 9 and 10, with the finale at the opera house. The school received a Director’s Grant for $1,600 for the three days. The second request was by Carolyn Mattozzi representing the PTA, seeking to move the usual time of 10 to noon for Santa pictures to noon to 2 p.m. to coordinate with the bazaar which runs from noon to 5 p.m. The Society was willing to change the time to 11 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 1. At present, the Art Room has not found a piano teacher for this season.

Ed Haugan recently gave a tour to the Corbin group, another successful outing. The fall schedule is filling in with the first activity being the Fall Festival rummage sale September 21, Friday, 1-5, and 22, Saturday, 9-5. The Class of 1968 will tour the opera house on Friday at about 4 p.m. On Saturday, the Opera House will be open for tours most of the day. Members are encouraged to aid in sharing this responsibility.

John Nilsen, pianist, will perform October 6 at 7 p.m., by donation. The Fiddlers are coming October 13 at 7 p.m. Scott Kirby, pianist with multi-media, is coming November 9 at 7 p.m. Peter Davenport will speak on UFOs October 27 at 6 p.m. The Pine and the Cherry is confirmed for November 18 at 2 p.m.. The Society’s October meeting will be October 1 at 7 p.m. in the Art Room.

Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, September 12, the Harrington Chamber of Commerce met at noon at the Post & Office with the following present: Tim Tipton, Paula Harrington, Bunny Haugan, Cindy Haase, Dave Michaelson, Anita Smith (sitting in for Cade Clarke), Geoff Talkington and Heather Slack. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and the treasurer’s report given. Work continues on the Lincoln & Adams County visitor map and Chamber briefly discussed some potential titles for it. Haase presented a few samples for the chamber-member window clings and the group selected a type font. Chamber nominated the Egnew residence on the corner of 2nd and Adams St. for October Yard of the Month.

The Chamber moved forward on setting a budget for the Beer Garden (permit, insurance and products) at $500, the same as last year, for Fall Festival. The clean-up day with the Harrington School and the Chamber is Friday, September 21, beginning at noon and planning to be completed by 2 p.m.

City Council

Wednesday, September 12, the Harrington City Council met at 7:30 at city hall. The City of Harrington has been without a sitting mayor since the resignation of Dillon Haas July 31; and the Mayor Pro-tem, Justin Slack, was unavoidably out of town. Long-time councilman Mike Cronrath called the meeting to order with the following present: Peter Davenport, Levi Schenk, Tim Tipton, Bunny Haugan, Scott McGowan, Brent Wilday, Dick and Priscilla Derr, Jay Gossett, James Mann, Nathan Luck and Paul Gilliland. Visitors were recognized and the minutes from last month’s council meeting were approved. Cronrath was selected to chair the meeting. He opened the hearing on the Amended Capital Improvement Facilities Plan. Council had received a letter from former mayor Paul Gilliland withdrawing his name from the application for the mayor’s position; he cited family concerns requiring too much time. One letter of application was from a person living outside Harrington which disqualified him. Council received an email from Justin Slack, the only remaining applicant for mayor, in which he requested that the council not appoint him if he were not present. No action was taken, and they have until October 31 to decide.

McGowan provided the council with the price of gravel to be “one yard of gravel, delivered, the charge is $20.” Slack and former councilman Rick Becker feel that this price is too low, as it only covers the cost of the gravel and does not compensate for the use of equipment at $60 per hour nor McGowan’s wages. Davenport made a motion, seconded by Schenk, to close the hearing. Motion by Schenk, seconded by Tipton, to adopt resolution 210-2018, which was adopted with a vote of 4-0.

Tipton reported to the council on the Department of Ecology meeting which he called an eye-opening experience. Andy Tom wants to apply for a grant to enable the city to hire a hydro-geologist. Discussion was held regarding the city’s need to replace a pump at the wastewater treatment plant which burned out last year and which McGowan had reported to Mayor Haas. Since Haas took no action on the issue, the pump still needs new windings. It was suggested that McGowan keep log books for the sewer plant. McGowan, Haugan and the council all seem well-pleased with the support and assistance which has been offered by the Dept. of Ecology for completing the DMR reports. McGowan also offered this observation: “Flushable wipes are not flushable and they burn up the pump.”

Comments were made regarding the budget season approaching, and that they will consider the mayor’s salary. No action was taken. A letter of resignation was read from Tera Cronrath, city treasurer. Council voted to accept the letter, 3-0-1, councilman Cronrath abstaining. Gilliland praised the work that Tera had accomplished for the city and the great number of hours she spent creating programs for the city books. Following other favorable comments regarding her work, Gilliland offered his name for consideration to fill the vacancy, since it is a part-time position for which he would have adequate time. Cronrath suggested he submit a letter of application.

Discussion was held regarding the two terms: dangerous dog and potentially dangerous dog. This was due to a resident’s dog, unlicensed and unleashed, biting a city employee. The city held a hearing and the owner of the dog must keep the dog on a leash at all times and must prove that the dog has had a rabies shot.

Other topics of discussion included the surplus of the old fire truck, a 1946 Mack; potholes in the alleys needing attention; the Caterpillar sign on the present city hall building; signage for the vacant lot project and the safety of children on the old city hall hill and the crosswalk.