Harrington News

City Council

[Editor’s note: A recording of the ZOOM meeting of the Harrington City Council is available on the YouTube page for the City of Harrington at http://youtube.harrington.city.]

Harrington – The Harrington City Council met via ZOOM Feb. 10, with the full council in attendance (Peter Davenport, David Buddrius, Stephen Hardy, Justin Slack, Levi Schenk), Mayor Nathan Luck, Clerk Janice Cepeda, Treasurer Mike Cronrath, Public Works Supervisor Scott McGowan, Code Enforcement Officer Jay Gossett and identified visitors: Joe Armand, Tim Tipton, Denisa Holling and Cherie MacClellan. Considerable discussion followed regarding approval of the bills.

Tim Tipton, representing the Harrington Chamber of Commerce, discussed the Town Square Project with particular attention to the Innovia grant and the water and sewer hook-up costs, since the Town Square Project is on city property. A group had been assembled to handle the project by creating a plan for the Town Square Park and obtaining grant funding and donations to bring the project to fruition. The project has its own budget, which it is following, as Tipton reported previously that the Innovia $30,000 matching grant was successful in that they collected $50,000 from donors to go toward the project. Some confusion occurred over how the city divides the city crew's wages for work on the water and sewer lines for the project and the hardware for the same. It has been estimated that the restroom building for the park will utilize $30,000. Councilman Davenport wanted assurance that the money is yet available. The money is in the bank under Harrington Community Fund for the Town Square Project. Tipton stated that the committee is meeting every Saturday to continue moving the project ahead as rapidly as possible this spring. Council voted 5-0 that Innovia be charged only for the water line hardware that went into the project and that the city would pay for the labor.

In the mayor's update, Luck focused on council committees after discussing the recent charges against the city's insurance for the roof on city hall (a separate claim), city hall water damage (being fixed and roof repaired by Diamond Construction), Memorial Hall roof leak and brick damage (a portion repaired by Diamond Construction), damaged sidewalk near the Hotel Lincoln (approved by insurance) and the damaged street light hit by a truck near Hotel Lincoln (truck’s insurance will pay).

Minimal comments were received on the potential need for a shed at the Harrington Hillcrest Cemetery. The mayor told the council members they must decide what the city wants to do regarding the cemetery shed. Discussion revealed the estimated cost of the light poles at $5,700.

A brief discussion occurred on the 2021 budget amendment for the utility rate. As the council had prepared notes that the audience was not privy to, it appeared that the council had already planned to increase the utility rates for the 2021 budget, which had recently been passed. A public hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. for proposed utility rates, which would include changing the inactive rates and allow for the increased cost of the garbage can. As part of a domino effect of these changes in the budget amendment, salaries were also mentioned.

Andy Tom discussed the amendment for the wastewater treatment plant contract with council. Luck said, "You all have that in front of you" in reference to the approval of the prior agreement to extend the time frame and discussions regarding Requests for Qualifications. The application for the grant will have a minimal cost of about $3,000 to $3,500 for the city. Council voted 4-0-1 (Davenport abstaining) to accept the motion for the amendment to the agreement.

Councilman Buddrius led a discussion on the "Junk Vehicle Ordinance" which is Ordinance #462 (originally dated April 9, 2008). Buddrius noted that the code enforcement officer is stymied because the ordinance has "no teeth." Buddrius referenced RCW 46.80.130 (storage and screening). He submitted a draft of his proposal for the council to consider. The amendment is to prevent nuisances in the city. The proposal is to have the area fenced or move the vehicles off of property within the city limits. He stated that "storage of junk vehicles within the city" is not allowed, and the city writing letters to the violators is not getting things done. Current Code Enforcement Officer Jay Gossett suggested monetary fines, since citizens do not respect the letters from the city. Slack said, "They will have to build a fence or pay a fine." Buddrius commented that private property does not fall under wrecking yards or junkyards per the RCW. Gossett stated that the RCW does not apply to businesses but added that there could be a cost to the city to haul off junk cars. A councilman asked "How do we enforce; what tools does the enforcement officer have to remedy the situation?" Buddrius said he wanted his proposal to be run past the city attorney. Mayor Luck stated that the enforcement officer could be hired year-round if that would help the situation. Buddrius asked if there was sufficient work to warrant hiring the officer for full-time, to which Mayor Luck said that he thought there might be.

A metal scrap bin was the final item on the agenda, put there by Buddrius. He said that in 2018 a scrap-metal dealer was coming to collect the scrap, but the arrangement eventually fell apart. Discussion circled between having the availability of a scrap bin or going to the transfer station individually or having the county provide a scrap-iron trailer.

Harrington Library Board Meets

Friday, Feb 12, the Harrington Library Board (Susan Larmer, Betty Warner, Katie Steward, Grace Moeller and Stacey Rasmussen) met with Librarian Marge Womach and Mayor Nathan Luck to discuss recent changes in the interior of the building and to consider options on minor remodeling projects to accommodate better use of space. With the alterations that occurred in the past weeks due to snow melting into the interior of the west end of the building, the mayor chose to personally inform the library crew of the present status and expectations. With some of the interior moved out of the water's pathway, the mayor is using this as a time to make other changes before returning items to their normal locations.

The city clerk has asked the mayor to rearrange the front area of filing cabinets, tables and display case from the clerk's space, which will alter the space of the library. All seemed agreeable to the potential changes, and an attitude of working together prevailed. The new look would at the same time remedy the issues of the back room, which was the area damaged by the melting snow.

Since this was the first meeting since the Covid-19 restrictions, the library board members updated their current status by each eagerly accepting reappointment to the board for the upcoming year.