Soap Lake mayor gifted city services

Attempt at good deed, causes conflict

SOAP LAKE — An attempted good deed by the Soap Lake mayor caused conflict among council Wednesday night.

Mayor Wayne Hovde gifted city resources to the Samis Foundation at no cost, violating the law and causing possible problems with the state auditor. The action was done without council's consent and was not brought up for discussion before the group putting them at odds with each other.

City equipment including a backhoe, dump truck, road grader and city employees were used to improve and remove materials located at the foundation's property site between Canna Street and Daisy Street.

"This activity was not authorized by any city policy, nor was it presented to the city council for discussion or any action," Councilmember Maynard Hagen wrote in a letter to Hovde.

"Mr. Hagen is correct," City Attorney Jim Whitaker said. "The mayor caused a city resource to be used on a property that was not in the interest of the city."

"Bring us into your world again," Councilmember John Hillman said. "Let us in."

He advised some council-members were beginning to feel left out of the decision-making process.

"I kind of feel the same way," Councilmember Kandis Lair said. "After the fact isn't how this is supposed to work."

There is an issue raised when council is only told about an action done by the mayor after it has been done and then told to vote on it, she said.

"I get this information off the street, second and third hand, that this is going around," Hovde said. "I guess I thought we were working together."

Hovde said he did not know he was doing something wrong. He thought he was making a decision reflecting well upon the city by helping an organization who is well-known in the city. He told the council he was bothered by how the conflict was kept from him, because if he had known earlier, he believes there could have been some resolution and prevention of rumors.

"The harm that has been done here has been insurmountable as I see it now," Hovde said. "I apologize for being enthusiastic and wanting to help the city. But I only apologize for doing it without the letter of the law."

"We're blowing it way out of proportion," Councilmember Barney Berg said.

Although he does not condone the action of the mayor, Berg said he supports the mayor for trying to take a step forward with the city by doing a good deed. Council should welcome opportunities when presented with one like the mayor did, he added.

"Nobody disagrees with that at all," Hillman said.

The council should know about actions before they happen, he said.

"I feel, at this point, there was a desire to roast somebody and the person that was roasted sits right here," Hovde said about himself.

Councilmember JoAnn Rushton agreed with the mayor.

"He's done everything he can for the city," Rushton said. "I think we should have talked to him about it and not roasted him."

She said council service is more than two nights a month and the council should try to get involved with the city more to keep up with what is going on.

By publicly scrutinizing the mayor, Rushton worries the negative situation will shadow the positive work done by the mayor and council. She thought the situation could have been handled more professionally.