Harrington council discusses various grants

Mid-County Seniors

The Mid-County Seniors held their quarterly meeting in January. Present were President Tim Campau, Lorraine Gilliland, Aileen Sweet, Billie and Gordon Herron. Discussion centered on the need for a substitute cook for Elizabeth Wolfe when she is unable to be there. The program is presently managing on donated funds, but more funding is needed to keep Senior Meals afloat. Since expenses are said to be higher than income each month, suggestions were to send a letter to organizations in town requesting yearly donations and also to apply for grants. The cook had reported that the kitchen had not been inspected for two years, and Mayor Silhan informed the group that Lincoln County would be responsible for that on their regular inspection rounds.

City Council

The Harrington City Council met at city hall Feb. 9, with Mayor Jess Silhan chairing his first official council meeting with Stephen Hardy, David Buddrius, Joe Armand and Peter Davenport at the table and Levi Schenk attending by phone. Others attending included City Clerk Jere Lee, Janice Jantz (director, Lincoln Co. EDC), Chris Meats, Cindy Haase, Stan Roth, Denisa Holling, Lynn Bailey, Kris Moritz and Cynthia Silhan.

In response to an invitation by Mayor Silhan, Cindy Haase discussed the financial history of the Town Square Project. At present, about $5,000 to $7,000 remains of the original grant money (a $30,000 matching funds grant from Innovia). The total gathered had been in the neighborhood of $83,000. Two items caused the group to fall short: the cost of the bathroom was $9,000 over budget and the expense of the sidewalk on the north side of the lot was also higher than expected. A grant application for $15,000 is being submitted to complete the cement slabs for the restroom and gazebo. Haase answered several questions regarding the watering system and seasonal bathroom.

Janice Jantz, former city clerk in Harrington and current director of the Lincoln County EDC, provided information to the council on the grant that is providing fiber optics to three towns in Lincoln County: Almira, Creston and Harrington. Brief comments were made regarding a trip to Oakesdale and Colfax by Jantz, Silhan and others earlier on Wednesday where they heard more about the rural broadband program which will begin with these three towns in Lincoln County, as their "first build" and its $1,963,920 funding of a two million dollar grant which she had applied for. Describing the background Jantz said, "The EDC is the ADO for Lincoln County, the Associate Development Organization, through Washington State Commerce." She explained many of the functions of the EDC in Lincoln County, stating that it is not "all about grant writing". Lincoln County's goal is to provide affordable high-speed broadband to all of Lincoln County. Mayor Silhan asked about the projected completion date. Jantz stated that it is delayed, it is a supply issue, and the fiber is almost a year out, so they intended to have a projected start date in June of this year, and so "we might be looking at spring of next year." Harrington will need to provide a 10x15 piece of property on which the grant will furnish a building, the slab for the building, the generator and all of the IT equipment. This project will provide fiber to the premises of every house in Lincoln County. Hardy asked about the speed and cost, and her initial response was "for the one gig up, one gig down was like $99.99" and for the projected lowest package "150 up, 150 down (megs per second) with a range like $34.95 to $44." For addition details visit http://www.broadband.wa.gov.

Other issues covered by the council included the wastewater project with Andy Tom, workshops for the council and what rules apply to them, applications for public works positions, the city treasurer's position, junk vehicle ordinance, Covid money, city infrastructure, the expired lease with Johnson Towing and a citizen complaint regarding problems with her sewer line after it leaves her property and before it meets with the city sewer line.

HOHS

The Harrington Opera House Society met Feb. 7, 2022 at 7:05 p.m. at the Memorial Hall. Carol Giles called the meeting to order with the following present: Mark and Sheryl Stedman, Billie Herron, Ed and Bunny Haugan, Ellen Evans, Karen Robertson, Becky Moeller, Nancy Holmberg, Juanita Lee and two guests, Paula Harrington and Laura Gilliland Hayes. The group voted to approve a membership donation to PBS. Paula Harrington came to give an update on the Chamber's Vintage Country Fair and obtain official approval for the use of the Opera House by their quilt committee. They were given approval for June 17/18 for a two-day quilt show.

The building committee discussed a work day on Feb. 11 in the vault, the need for a table saw for the pew cushion project, an inventory process for a quilt collection, finding a construction company to assess the structural integrity of a portion of the south wall and finding a contractor to complete the Art Room restroom project.

The Fiddlers are considering a concert on May 15 at 2 p.m., and on June 10, Rebecca Hom will visit the local school and possibly offer an evening presentation with her tribute to a Harrington High alumna and WASP pilot, Katherine Applegate.

Laura Gilliland Hayes shared her interest and ideas of promoting a fun creative Art Day and asked about using the Opera House Art Room space. She envisions art classes that would introduce new types of art media and opening new art avenues to young and old in the community. She also touched on eventually offering basic sewing and cooking instruction similar to the “old” Home Ec classes at school if any interest was shown.

Volunteers are needed for various operations and maintenance for the organization. Time and talent are welcome. Please contact any member if you have questions about membership or involvement. Grant writers are also welcome. Robertson noted that it was time to be thinking about a newsletter. The next meeting is March 7.