Ephrata sets goals for 2008

Improving city services on list

EPHRATA - People typically come up with New Year's resolutions centering around improving personal health, finances or increasing time with family.

Cities and other entities apparently prefer a list of goals encompassing projects, tasks and specific improvements.

Ephrata's no exception. City leaders there vowed to make improvements ranging from repairing water lines, retaining police officers and more marketing.

Ephrata's six goals were set in 2007 by the city council and city staff, said Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago.

They are:

• To repair and replace aged water lines and streets

Some of Ephrata's water lines are over 60 years old, Crago said.

It was discovered that many water lines in town were built with surplus steel pipe from World War II. The pipe was only made to last about 30 years, he said.

City staff saw failures and breaks in the water lines and plans to start water line work this spring, paid for with a state trust fund loan, he said.

• To improve city services and performance of the staff

• To improve city parks following a community survey done in 2007

Major items people wanted included smaller trash cans scattered about, more park bathrooms and more weed trimming, weed pulling and mowing, according to the survey.

• To retain police officers

Ephrata's generally been a training place for officers moving on to the Grant County Sheriff's Office or other agencies, he said.

But officers are scheduled to receive a 13 percent raise this year and start working preferred 12-hour shifts, he said.

Officers living within about a seven-mile radius of Ephrata also have work cars to drive.

• Continue improvement of marketing and promotion of Ephrata

The city plans to market outside of Grant County to bring larger-named bands to the annual "Basin Summer Sounds" music festival in Ephrata. The city will also be involved with a tourism promotional book being done by Grant County.

• Continue implementation of the city's 10-year plan, which is more goals and projects over a longer time period.

The city council drafted goals and projects during its retreat in 2007. The city council is expected to set an open house to share more information about the plan.

One of the goals in the 10-year plan is to improve water pressure in the North and Southeast Heights areas of town.